Academic Recognition, Promotion, and Continuation

Additional Period Honours

Additional Period Honours refers to designations awarded to students to recognize excellent academic performance in each Winter session. The two types of Additional Period Honours are as follows:

1) Dean's Scholar

Dean’s Scholar designation recognizes the highest level of academic achievement in the Faculty of Arts.   

Students who complete at least 27 credits in a Winter Session, and who achieve an average of 85% or higher on at least 27 of these credits, will receive the notation "Dean's List" on their permanent record. 

2) Dean's List

Dean’s List designation recognizes exceptional academic achievement in the Faculty of Arts.

Students who complete at least 27 credits in a Winter Session, and who achieve an average of at least 80% but less than 85% on at least 27 of these credits, will receive the notation "Dean's List" on their permanent record.

Students registered in the Dual Degree Program in Arts and Science or the Dual Degree Program in Arts and Applied Science should consult the program page for Additional Period Honours within the Dual Degree structure.

Scholarships and Awards

For information on scholarships and awards available to academically outstanding students, see Awards, scholarships and bursaries. See also Fees, Financial Assistance, and Scholarships.

Honours and Awards at Graduation

The designation “with Distinction” will be notated on the degree parchment for any student who has achieved an average of at least 80% but less than 85%, calculated on all attempted UBC academic courses numbered 300* or higher. The designation “with High Distinction” will be notated on the degree parchment for any student who has achieved an average of at least 85%, calculated on all attempted UBC academic courses numbered 300* or higher.

*For students enrolled in the Major, Honours, or Minor in Music who took MUSC_V courses prior to the 2024 Winter Session, ensemble and composition courses with 100- or 200-level course numbers will count as 300- or 400-level courses, and hence as part of the upper-level average calculation, when taken in the third or fourth years.

Promotion Requirements

In order to progress from one year-level standing to the next, a student must successfully complete a sufficient total number of B.A.-eligible credits. These may include transfer credit as well as credit earned through exchange. Year-level standing impacts a student’s eligibility for specializations and courses, and is one of the factors considered when registration dates are set.

Promotion is evaluated annually upon completion of the Winter Session. Students who have successfully completed 27 credits are promoted to second year standing. Those who have completed 54 credits are promoted to third year standing, and those who have completed 84 credits are promoted to fourth year standing.

Continuation Requirements

Continuation, or a student’s eligibility to continue registering in their degree program, is evaluated annually upon completion of the Winter Session. Students are assigned a Sessional Standing based on the Sessional Average for the Winter Session, and are informed of their resulting Program on Study Status for the upcoming Winter Session.

Continuation is evaluated as follows:
 

Winter Session Average Sessional StandingProgram of Study Status
55% or more In Good StandingIn Progress
54.9% to 50% Academic Probation1In Progress
less than 50% Failed, Required to Withdraw2,3Dismissed
    

1 Students who attain a sessional average between 50% and 54.9% will be placed on Academic Probation. This will be noted on their academic record. Once a standing of Academic Probation has been placed on a student’s academic record, the student’s Program of Study Status will remain “In Progress”, but they will be placed on a reduced maximum credit load for the following Winter and subsequent Summer Sessions, as follows:
 

Academic Probation Standing RegistrationWinter SessionSummer Session
Maximumcredit load per Session249
Maximumcredit load per Term126 (Term 1); 3 (Term 2)

If, upon completion of continuation evaluation the following year, the student’s Winter Session sessional average again falls in the 50%-54.9% range, they will remain on Academic Probation. If their Winter Session sessional average rises to 55% or more, they will clear Academic Probation and regain Good Standing. There is no maximum number of instances of Academic Probation permitted; students may remain on Academic Probation for the duration of their studies, as long as their Winter Session average falls in the Academic Probation range.

2 Students who attain a sessional average of less than 50% in a Winter Session will be assigned a “Failed, Required to Withdraw" standing and their Program of Study Status will be “Dismissed”. 
3 For information on readmission after receiving “Failed, Required to Withdraw” standing, see Readmission.

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