Additional Period Honours
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 Scholar" 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 percentage-graded 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.
Scholarships and Awards
Information on scholarships and awards available to academically outstanding students is available at Awards, Scholarships, and Bursaries. See also Financial Advice.
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 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.M.S.-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 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 of Study Status for the upcoming Winter Session.
Year 1 Continuation
B.M.S. Year 1 students who achieve (i) a sessional average of at least 55% and (ii) an average of at least 68% on their core courses will be assigned a Sessional standing of "In Good Standing" and may be eligible to continue in the B.M.S. program.
B.M.S. Year 1 students who achieve (i) a sessional average between 50% and 54.9% and (ii) an average of at least 68% on their core courses will be placed on Academic Probation and will be eligible to continue in the B.M.S. program. They will be placed on a reduced maximum credit load for the following Winter and subsequent Summer Sessions, as follows, and should prioritize registration in B.M.S. Core Requirements:
| ACPR Standing Registration | Winter Session | Summer Session |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum credit load per Session | 24 | 9 |
| Maximum credit load per Term | 12 | 6 (Term 1); 3 (Term 2) |
B.M.S. Year 1 students who achieve (i) a sessional average of at least 55% and (ii) an average below 68% on their core courses will be assigned a Sessional standing of "In Good Standing" but will be required to discontinue from the B.M.S. program. They will be consequently enrolled in the Faculty of Arts B.A. program.
B.M.S. Year 1 students who achieve (i) a sessional average of between 50% and 54.9% and (ii) an average below 68% on core courses will be required to discontinue from the B.M.S. program. They will be consequently enrolled in the Faculty of Arts B.A. program, placed on academic probation, and will follow B.A. Academic Probation regulations.
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”.
Summary of Continuation Requirements for students in Year 1
| Winter Session Average | Core Average1 | Sessional Standing | Program of Study Status in B.M.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55% or more | 68% or more | In Good Standing | In Progress |
| 50%-54.9% | 68% or more | On Academic Probation | In Progress |
| 55% or more | Less than 68% | In Good Standing | Discontinued |
| 50%-54.9% | Less than 68% | On Academic Probation | Discontinued |
| Less than 50% | n/a | Failed, Required to Withdraw | Dismissed |
1 Core Average is calculated on all required Core courses completed in the Winter Session.
Year 2 and Above Continuation
B.M.S. students who achieve (i) a sessional average of at least 55% and (ii) an average of at least 60% on their core courses will be assigned a Sessional standing of "In Good Standing" and may be permitted to continue in the B.M.S. program.
B.M.S. students who achieve a sessional average of at least 55%, but who either (i) achieve an average between 55% and 59.9% on their core courses or (ii) fail one or more core courses, will have their B.M.S. Program of Study Status reviewed by the B.M.S. Steering Committee.
B.M.S. students who achieve a sessional average between 50% and 54.9%, and who either (i) achieve an average between 55% and 59.9% on their core courses or (ii) fail one or more core courses, will be place on Academic Probation standing and will have their B.M.S. Program of Study Status reviewed by the B.M.S. Steering Committee. If, after review, the student is permitted to continue in the degree program, a Sessional standing of Academic Probation will be added to their academic record and they will be placed on a reduced maximum credit load for the following Winter and subsequent Summer Sessions, as follows:
| ACPR Standing Registration | Winter Session | Summer Session |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum credit load per Session | 24 | 9 |
| Maximum credit load per Term | 12 | 6 (Term 1); 3 (Term 2) |
If, upon completion of Sessional 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. 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. If their Winter Session sessional average rises to 55% or more, they will clear Academic Probation and regain Good Standing. However, for both Academic Probation and Good Standing evaluations, continuation in the B.M.S. is also contingent on a review of specific B.M.S. continuation requirements as stipulated above.
Upon completion of the B.M.S. Program of Study Status review, and at the discretion of the B.M.S. Steering Committee, students will be assigned a Program of Study status of either (i) In Progress or (ii) Discontinued. All students required to discontinue from the B.M.S. program will be consequently enrolled in the Faculty of Arts B.A. program, placed on academic probation, and will follow B.A. Academic Probation regulations. Note that student representatives on the Steering Committee will neither participate in nor attend B.M.S. Program of Study Status adjudication meetings.
B.M.S. students who achieve a sessional average of 55% or more, but an average below 55% on core courses, will be required to discontinue from the B.M.S. program. All students required to discontinue from the B.M.S. program will be consequently enrolled in the Faculty of Arts B.A. program.
B.M.S. students who achieve a sessional average of between 50% and 54.9%, but an average below 55% on core courses, will be placed on academic probation, be required to discontinue from the B.M.S. program and will be consequently enrolled in the Faculty of Arts B.A. program on academic probation.
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”.
Summary of Continuation Requirements for students in Year 2 and Above
| Winter Session Average | Core Average1 | Failed Courses | Sessional Standing | Program of Study Status in B.M.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55% or more | 60% or more | None | In Good Standing | In Progress |
| 55% or more | 55% - 59.9% | None | In Good Standing | Review |
| 55% or more | 55% or more | One or more | In Good Standing | Review |
| 55% or more | Less than 55% | n/a | In Good Standing | Discontinued |
| 50% - 54.9% | 60% or more | None | Academic Probation | In Progress |
| 50% - 54.9% | 55% - 59.9% | None | Academic Probation | Review |
| 50% - 54.9% | 55% or more | One or more | Academic Probation | Review |
| 50% - 54.9% | Less than 55% | n/a | Academic Probation | Discontinued |
| Less than 50% | n/a | n/a | Failed, Require to Withdraw | Dismissed |
1 Core Average is calculated on all required Core courses completed in the Winter Session. Core Plus courses are not included in the calculation of the Core Average.
Students who completed and transferred credit from a college or university-level course similar in rigour, content, and learning objectives to an approved Writing Component course may appeal to apply their transfer credits towards the Writing Component of the Writing and Research requirement. For further information students should consult Arts Advising.
Appeal for Readmission
Students who have more than one failed year in the Bachelor of Media Studies are required to submit a letter of appeal with their readmission application. The letter of appeal must be submitted to Enrolment Services at Brock Hall. See the Arts Undergraduate website.