As a First Year Engineering student at UBC, you will be registered into an engineering timetable, which contains the majority of your first-year courses. This page will give you a comprehensive look at First Year timetables, registration, worklists, tips and tricks, and more.
General Registration Information
An engineering timetable is a planned course schedule that contains most of your first-year courses in a set timetable. All first years will be registered in an engineering timetable before your registration appointment opens. You will self-register in a few additional courses individually to complete your registration. Please read the First Year Programs section below to ensure you self-register for the additional courses required to complete your engineering timetable.
Registration Basics and Tips
We recommend reviewing the Course Registration page for basic information about how to prepare for registration in Workday Student.
Tips:
- Registration appointments are staggered over the first-year registration period. You will be assigned a specific day and time (registration appointment) approximately two weeks before your registration period opens. It is important that you register as soon as your registration time slot opens – regardless of where you are in the world – for your best chance at securing your first choice of courses and sections.
- Be prepared for registration. Courses fill up quickly during registration, and having multiple registration options can help you register successfully. We recommend viewing the Creating a Saved Schedule page
- If your desired course is full:
- Humanities – register for the waitlist (if available). If a waitlist is not available, choose another course and continue to monitor if a seat becomes available for your preferred course. If it does, you can change your registration to your preferred course
- WRDS 150B: If the course is full, register for the waitlist available here and list your preferred sections
- To learn more about waitlists, please consult our Registration FAQ.
How do I apply my AP, IB or A-Level credits to the first year requirements?
View your transfer credits
If you are a current UBC student and have been awarded transfer credits, you can view your transfer credits on your Workday Student account following the pathway below. The exception are students who held a degree prior to entering UBC Engineering (see Prior Degree Holder information).
From Workday Student > Academics > Transfer Credits
AP, IB or A-Level credits are added to your Workday Student account in late summer. If your transfer credits have not yet been added by Enrolment Services, review the First-year Credit page to see which UBC credits you will receive when they are added to your academic record.
Transfer Credit Equivalencies to the First Year Program
Please refer to the Currently Assessed Advanced Credits table on the Advanced Credit page for information on transfer credit equivalencies.
ENGL 1st or WRCM 1st Credits Information
- ENGL 1st (3) or WRCM 1st (3) will satisfy the first-year English/Communication requirement (ie: WRDS 150B/ ENGL 112 / First Year English Course)
- ENGL 1st (6) or WRCM 1st (3) + ENGL 1st (3) will satisfy the first-year English/Communication (ie: WRDS 150B/ ENGL 112 / First Year English Course) and 3 credits of humanities and social science requirements
Important Notes
- Do not drop courses from your timetable until you see the credits on your Workday Student Transfer Credit page. You have until the course drop deadline to drop courses without a Withdrawal (‘W’) standing on your academic record
- ECON 1st does not satisfy the pre-requisite for courses that require ECON 101 or ECON 102
- AP CPSC 1st (3) does not cover APSC 160
- Only 3 credits of language courses may be applied toward the humanities and social science requirements
Should I drop the UBC course and use my transfer credits?
It is recommended that you complete the First Year Program Chemistry, Math, and Physics courses at UBC even if you have received transfer credits from AP, IB or A-Levels for these courses. The first year engineering program is designed to build a strong foundation for upper level courses, and a lack of complete knowledge from these courses may impact upper year courses.
Students are highly encouraged to attend the first two weeks of classes and thoroughly review course syllabi to ensure they have full knowledge of all course material before dropping the course.
If you take and complete a course with a final grade for which you have already received credit from AP, IB, or A-Levels, the UBC attempt will supersede the credits granted from AP, IB, or A-Levels. This means if you choose to take the course at UBC, you may forfeit the transfer credits.
Do not drop courses from your timetable until you see the credits on your Workday Student Transfer Credit page. You have until the course drop deadline to drop courses without a Withdrawal (‘W’) standing on your academic record.
How do I get the credit applied to my requirements?
If you decide to proceed and drop a course from your timetable after having received UBC credits from AP, IB, or A-Levels, you do not need to take further action. The credits will apply automatically, where applicable, towards the degree requirements. A grade is not assigned to these credits.
Note: Your academic period average will only include courses taken at UBC, but your transfer credits will apply toward the credit requirements.
First Year Programs
Learn more about the different engineering timetables, how to apply to our non-standard First Year Programs, and what courses need to be registered in addition to your engineering timetable.
Standard First Year Program
First Year Program Courses
| Course | Credit | Title | Included in the timetable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| APSC 100 | 3 | Introduction to Engineering I | Yes |
| APSC 101 | 3 | Introduction to Engineering II | Yes |
| APSC 160 | 3 | Introduction to Computation in Engineering Design | Yes |
| CHEM 154 | 3 | Chemistry for Engineering | Yes |
| MATH 100 | 3 | Differential Calculus | Yes |
| MATH 101 | 3 | Integral Calculus | Yes |
| MATH 152 | 3 | Linear Systems | Yes |
| PHYS 157 | 3 | Introductory Physics for Engineers I | Yes |
| PHYS 158 | 3 | Introductory Physics for Engineers II | Yes |
| PHYS 159 | 1 | Introductory Physics Laboratory for Engineers | Yes |
| PHYS 170 | 3 | Mechanics 1 | Yes |
| WRDS 150* | 3 | Strategies for University Writing or Engineering Communication *WRDS 150 or equivalent (ENGL 100, 110, 111 or 112) | No |
| Complementary Studies Electives | |||
| Humanities or Social Science Elective | 3 | One course totalling 3 credits of a humanities and social science elective. This is a non-scientific and non-technical course that is generally found in the Faculty of Arts. It is recommended that you select a 100-level course. If you are intending to pursue a minor in your third year, consider taking courses that might be applicable to the minor program. Please see Complementary Studies for further details and exceptions. | No |
The complete standard First Year Engineering curriculum consists of 37 credits. For information on course descriptions please log in to Workday |
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What additional courses do I need to self-register for?
In addition to the standard engineering timetable you will be registered in, you will need to self-register in a 3-credit Humanities and Social Science elective, and a 3-credit English/Communication course (WRDS 150B or equivalent, ENGL 100, 110, 111, or 112).
Pre-Biomedical Engineering Pathway (PBME)
PBME Program Courses
| Course | Credit | Title | Included in STT? |
|---|---|---|---|
| APSC 100 | 3 | Introduction to Engineering I | Yes |
| APSC 160 | 3 | Introduction to Computation in Engineering Design | Yes |
| BMEG 101 | 3 | Introduction to Biomedical Engineering | Yes |
| BMEG 102 | 2 | Biomedical Engineering Lab | Yes |
| CHEM 121 | 4 | Structure and Bonding in Chemistry | Yes |
| CHEM 123 | 4 | Thermodynamics, Kinetics and Organic Chemistry | Yes |
| MATH 100 | 3 | Differential Calculus | Yes |
| MATH 101 | 3 | Integral Calculus | Yes |
| MATH 152 | 3 | Linear Systems | Yes |
| PHYS 157 | 3 | Introductory Physics for Engineers I | Yes |
| PHYS 158 | 3 | Introductory Physics for Engineers II | Yes |
| PHYS 170 | 3 | Mechanics 1 | Yes |
| WRDS 150B | 3 | Strategies for University Writing or Engineering Communication *WRDS 150 or equivalent (ENGL 100, 110, 111 or 112) | No |
Who is eligible for the PBME Timetable?
Only if you have been accepted into the Pre-Biomedical Pathway can you be registered in a PBME Timetable. If you have not been accepted into the PBME program, you will be registered in a standard first year engineering timetable.
What additional courses do I need to self-register for?
You should register in an English/Communication course (WRDS 150B or one of ENGL 110, 111).
If you are registered in a PBME Timetable, you can choose to complete the first year English/Communication requirement in the Winter Session or the following Summer Session. You will not take a humanities elective in your first year, instead you will complete a Humanities and Social Science elective in year 2 or above of the Biomedical Engineering program. Please refer to the Academic Calendar for your program requirements.
If you have questions about the PBME curriculum, please contact the School of Biomedical Engineering (SBME).
Pre-Med Alternative Pathway
The Pre-Med alternative pathway offers an altered first year program to include the Chemistry courses commonly needed for Medical School applications. As a Pre-Med student, you will take CHEM 121 and 123 in place of CHEM 154.
If you are in the Pre-Med program, you should register for WRDS 150B and a 3-credit Humanities elective.
Please refer to Pre-Med Alternative Pathway for more information about the program and how to apply.
First Year Program with Honours Math
If you are interested in this program, you will be registered into a first-year timetable, which includes MATH 120 and 121 (instead of MATH 100 and 101). This option is intended for students who have completed high-school calculus and attained a score of 95% or higher in BC Principles of Mathematics 12 or Pre-Calculus 12.
We will be emailing students who have accepted their engineering offer of admission in mid-May. Further details of how to tell us that you would like to take Honours Math in your first-year will be in the email. Please ensure that you have students@apsc.ubc.ca on your “safe senders’ email list.
If you are interested in being registered in an Honours Math engineering timetable in 2024 winter, please complete this form by May 26, 2024 at 11.59pm (PDT). Honours Math engineering timetables are limited, and eligible students will be registered on a first come, first served basis. There will be a waitlist once seats are filled.
If you are in this program, you will need to self-register for WRDS 150B and a 3-credit Humanities elective.
Chemistry and Physics Deficiencies
What if I am deficient in Chemistry 12?
Standard First Year Program: Although CHEM 154 has a prerequisite of CHEM 12 or equivalent, first year BASc students will be permitted to continue with CHEM 154 without the prerequisite. We recommend that you check your offer letter for details.
Pre-Biomedical Engineering: If you have been pre-approved for a PBME Timetable and are deficient in CHEM 12 (or equivalent).
- You will be registered in CHEM 111 and 123 at the end of June/early July. CHEM 111 will be completed in lieu of CHEM 121.
- You will register in a section of WRDS 150B or an equivalent first-year ENGL course that will not conflict with your course in your schedule.
- WRDS 150B or equivalent can be delayed to the following Summer Session, and your Humanities and Social Science electives should be taken in year 2 or above.
What if I am deficient in Physics 12?
If you have a Physics 12 deficiency, you will be registered in a modified First Year engineering timetable. Without Physics 12 (which is a prerequisite for the first-year engineering Physics courses), you will be unable to take PHYS 157 in Term 1 and PHYS 158 in Term 2, as PHYS 157 is required for PHYS 158. As a result of entering with a physics deficiency,) you will complete:
- PHYS 100 in Term 1 (this is equivalent to Physics 12)
- PHYS 157 in Term 2
- PHYS 118 (exempts you from PHYS 158) in the Summer Session following first-year*
Pre-Biomedical Engineering Timetable: If you have been pre-approved for pre-biomedical engineering timetable and are deficient in PHYS 12 (or equivalent), your timetable will include PHYS 100 (Term 1) and PHYS 157 (Term 2). You will need to self- register in PHYS 118, which you will complete the following Summer Session. You can delay your registration into WRDS 150B or an equivalent first-year ENGL course to the following Summer Session.
*Physics 12 Deficiency Affect on Placement in Mechanical Engineering
- If you are wanting to pursue Mechanical Engineering, the delay in completing the first-year physics requirements will not satisfy the August 1 pre-requisite deadline for the Mechanical Engineering program (MECH2). You can still be considered for placement into MECH2, but placement in Mechanical Engineering will defer the start of most of the MECH2 courses until the following Winter Session. As a result, your program will be extended by an additional year.
- Please refer to the admissions requirements in Mechanical Engineering under Second Year Placement.
Questions?
- Consult the Registration FAQ.
- For first year and complementary studies registration questions, please Contact EAS.
- EAS will be offering virtual registration workshops where you can ask your registration questions. Please review the Virtual Registration Workshops page for more information.