As a First Year Engineering student at UBC, you will be registering for courses using a Standard Timetable (STT). This page will give you a comprehensive look at First Year STTs, registration, worklists, tips and tricks, and more.
General Registration Information
A Standard Timetable (STT) is a planned course schedule that contains most of your first year courses in a set timetable. All first years will register in an STT, and a few additional courses individually to complete your registration. There are a variety of STTs available to you as a first year Engineering student depending on your educational background and academic goals at UBC. Please read the STT section notes and the First Year Programs section below to ensure you register for all courses required for your program type.
Registration Basics and Tips
We recommend to review, How to Register for Courses page, How to Register for Courses video, and How to Navigate the Worklist video for basic information about how to use the UBC Course Schedule and registration system.
Tips:
- Registration times are staggered over multiple days. You will be assigned a certain day and time when 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 – create multiple worklists containing different STTs and WRDS 150B sections. Courses fill up quickly during registration, and having multiple registration options can help you register successfully if your preferred STT fills up before your registration time.
- Disregard the individual course status in the STT (blocked/full/restricted). The STT is available for registration if it is not marked as full, even if individual courses within the STT have been marked as full.
- If your desired WRDS 150B or Humanities course is full, register for the waitlist (if available). Waitlists are sections marked with a W that correspond to specific sections. For example, the waitlist for WRDS 150B 001 would be labeled WRDS 150B W01. To learn more about waitlists, please consult our Registration FAQ.
- The Student Service Centre (SSC) site and Course Schedule sometimes go down during registration due to overloaded servers. Don’t panic, the site will come back online shortly, and registration time slots will be adjusted as needed.
Which STT type should I register for?
STTs are labeled with a 2 letter code, and a description label to help you easily identify which STT is appropriate for you based on your previous academic experience, and academic goals at UBC. Please refer to the STT Type Chart below to determine which STT is appropriate for you.
STT Type Chart
| STT Letter Code | STT Description Label | Who the STT is for | Requirements and Restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|
| HS | High School Group | The standard First Year Program STT in which the majority students will register. | Completion of Pre-CALC 12 or equivalent. Completion of PHYS 12 or equivalent. |
| HP | High School Group (PHYS 12 Deficiency) | For students entering with a deficiency in PHYS 12 or equivalent. | Must be deficient in PHYS 12 or equivalent. |
| HV | High School Group (Varsity Athletes) | First Year varsity athletes | Must receive EAS approval to register in this STT. |
| HZ | High School Group with Enriched Math | For students who want to pursue enriched first year Calculus courses. | HZ STT is intended for students who have completed high-school calculus and have 95% or higher in BC Principles of Mathematics 12 or Pre-calculus 12. Interested students who do not meet these conditions may request permission from the Undergraduate Chair of the Mathematics Department. |
| PBME | Pre-Biomedical Engineering Pathway | For students accepted into the Pre-Biomedical Engineering Pathway. | Must be accepted into the PBME program through additional application process. |
| PM | Pre-Medical Alternative Pathway | For students accepted into the Pre-Medical Alternative pathway. | Must be accepted to the Pre-Med pathway through additional application process.. |
| ST | Science Transfer Group | For post-sec transfer students entering with Chemistry, Math and Physics credits | For transfer students who already have most of the Chemistry, Math and Physics courses from the First Year Program. |
How do I pick which STT section to take?
Once you know which STT type you need, choose STTs of that type. All STTs of the same type contain the same courses but the individual section times vary. After you select your timetable, add your non-STT (WRDS 150B and/or humanities) courses as outlined below.
Remember to pick several STTs that interest you because some may be full when it is your turn to register.
The STTs are full! What do I do?
If your desired STT section is full, please register in an open STT of the same type. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee students their top choice STT, so it is important that you always plan which alternative STTs you would want to register in.
If all the sections of your type of STT are full, please register for the corresponding Transitory STT. Please see the chart below.
Note: Do not register in an incorrect STT type if your desired STT type is full.
What is a transitory STT?
A transitory STT is a timetable with sections that do not contain the meeting dates and times. Because of this, your timetable will show up as blank. Do not panic. EAS will transition you to an STT with your final timetable by mid-August.
Which transitory STT should I register in?
Transitory STTs correspond directly with the letter code and label of the normal STTs.
| Normal STT Letter Code | STT Description Label | Transitory STT | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| HS | High School Group | HSAR | |
| HP | High School Group (PHYS 12 Deficiency) | HPAR | |
| HV | High School Group (Varsity Athletes) | - | No transitory STT. Contact EAS if you received permission for the HV STT and the STTs are full. |
| HZ | High School Group with Enriched Math | HZAR | |
| PBME | Pre-Biomedical Engineering Path | - | No transitory STT. Contact SBME if you were accepted into PBME and STTs are full. |
| PM | Pre-Medical Alternative Pathway | - | No transitory STT. Contact EAS if you received permission for the PM STT and the STTs are full. |
| ST | Science Transfer Group | - | No transitory STT. |
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 Student Service Centre (SSC), following the pathway below. The exception are students who held a degree prior to entering UBC Engineering (see Prior Degree Holder information below).
From the SSC > Grades & Records > Transfer Credits > Indicate UBC Vancouver on the drop-down menu
AP, IB or A-Level credits are added to your SSC 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
| First Year Courses | Equivalent AP/IB/A-Level Credits |
|---|---|
| APSC 100 | APSC 100 |
| APSC 101 | APSC 101 |
| APSC 160 | APSC 160 |
| CHEM 154 | CHEM 121 + 123 CHEM 120 + 115 + 130 + 135 CHEM 111 + 113 |
| MATH 100 | MATH 100, 102, 104, 120, 180, or 184 |
| MATH 101 | MATH 101, 103, 105, or 121 |
| MATH 152 | MATH 152, 221, or 223 |
| PHYS 157/158/159 | PHYS 117 + 118 + 119 PHYS 106/107 + 108 + 109 PHYS 131 + 118 + 119 |
| PHYS 170 | PHYS 170 |
| WRDS 150B | ENGL 1st, 100, 110, 111, or 112 WRCM 1st |
| Humanities Elective | Refer to Humanities and Social Sciences for course eligibility |
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 STT until you see the credits on your SSC 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 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 STT until you see the credits on your Student Service Centre (SSC) 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 the STT 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 sessional 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 courses taken in each STT, how to apply to our non-standard First Year Programs, and what courses need to be registered in addition to your STT.
Standard First Year Program
First Year Program Courses
| Course | Credit | Title | Included in STT? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|||
What courses do I need to register for in addition to my STT?
In addition to an STT, you need to add 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 | 3 | 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 STTs?
Only if you have been accepted into the Pre-Biomedical Pathway can register in a PBME Standard Timetable (STT). If you have not been accepted into the PBME program and register in a PBME STT will be automatically dropped without notification.
How do I register for a PBME STT?
You must apply and be accepted into the PBME program through an additional application. If you have been accepted in to Pre-Biomedical Engineering, you must self-register in a PBME STT during the first 3 days of first year registration. After this period, you will need to contact students@sbme.ubc.ca to register into a PBME STT.
My STT doesn’t include CHEM 121 and 123. Do I need to self-register for these courses?
You do not need to self-register for CHEM 121 and CHEM 123, this will be done by the Chemistry department later in the summer. You will see that on your STT it tells you which sections of CHEM 121 and 123 will be added.
Please ensure to check the time and date of the CHEM 121 and 123 sections listed on your STT description and be sure to leave those timeslots open so the Chemistry department can register you. If you register for a WRDS 150B section that conflicts with either CHEM course, you will be dropped automatically from the WRDS section. You will then have to register in a new WRDS 150B section.
What courses do I need to register for in addition to my STT?
You should register in an English/Communication course (WRDS 150B or one of ENGL 110, 111) which will NOT conflict with the Chemistry 121 and 123 sections that will be added at a later date. If you register for a WRDS 150B section that conflicts with either CHEM course, you will be dropped automatically from the WRDS 150B section and will have to register in a new WRDS 150B section.
If you are registered in a PBME STT, you can choose to complete the first year English/Communication requirement in the Winter Session or the following Summer Session. Also, you will not take a humanities elective in your first year. The Humanities and Social Science elective is completed in the upper years 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 SBME.
Pre-Med Alternative Pathway
The Pre-Med program 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 in the Pre-Med program should register for WRDS 150B and a 3-credit Humanities elective in addition to your STT.
Please refer to Pre-Med Alternative Pathway for more information about the program and how to apply.
First Year Program with Enriched Math
If you are interested in taking enriched Math courses, you will need to register for HZ timetables. 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. Instead of taking MATH 100 and 101, you will take higher level courses – MATH 120 and 121. The enriched MATH courses are limited and can be difficult to switch to in a regular HS timetable.
Interested students who do not meet these conditions may request permission from the Undergraduate Chair of the Mathematics Department.
If you are in this program, you should register for WRDS 150B and a 3-credit Humanities elective in addition to your STT.
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.
Pre-Biomedical Engineering: If you have been pre-approved for a PBME Standard Timetable (STT) and are deficient in CHEM 12 (or equivalent), register in the PBME 11 (Chemistry 12 Deficiency) STT section.
- 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.
- Register in a section of WRDS 150B or an equivalent first-year ENGL course that will not conflict with the chemistry lectures and labs noted in the PBME 11 notes. WRDS 150B or equivalent can be delayed to the following Summer Session.
What if I am deficient in Physics 12?
If you have a Physics 12 deficiency, this will modify the First Year Program. Physics 12 is a prerequisite to PHYS 157 in Term 1. PHYS 157 is a prerequisite to PHYS 158 in Term 2, and Physics does not waive these prerequisites. As a result of entering with a physics deficiency, you will complete:
- PHYS 100 (intended for students deficient in PHYS 12) in Term 1
- PHYS 157 in Term 2
- PHYS 118 (exempts PHYS 158) in the Summer Session following first-year*
Standard First Year Program: We have a limited number of Standard Timetables (STT) accommodating a physics deficiency, these are the HP STT. You will need to register for PHYS 118 (in March) for following Summer Session to complete the first year requirements.
Pre-Biomedical Engineering: If you have been pre-approved for a PBME STT and are deficient in PHYS 12 (or equivalent), register in PBME 04 (Physics 12 Deficiency) or PBME 18 (Physics 12 Deficiency). These STTs include PHYS 100 (Term 1) and PHYS 157 (Term 2). You will need to register in PHYS 118, which you will complete the following Summer Session. Register in WRDS 150B or an equivalent first-year ENGL course can be delayed to the following Summer Session.
*Physics 12 Deficiency Affect on Placement in Mechanical Engineering
- If you are considering Mechanical Engineering in the second year, the delay in completing the physics requirements will not satisfy the August 1 pre-requisite deadline for the Mechanical Engineering program (MECH2). You can still be considered for a placement in MECH2, but a 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.