Academic Upgrading, Certificate

Program at a glance

Credential

Certificate

Work experience

None

Study options

Full-time or part-time

Open to International

Yes

Area of study

Upgrading & Preparatory

Length

4 months

Student Navigators

Weekdays 8am-4pm.
Valerie: Call 250-370-3847
Tia: Text or Call: 250-216-7156 or 250-370-3466

A supportive learning community

Advantages of upgrading at Camosun

Our scheduling is flexible to fit your busy life: part-time, full-time, daytime, or evening. Take advantage of Camosun's customized upgrading to meet the admission requirements for specific trades, human services, or access career programs.

If you’re working towards admission into another Camosun program and enrolled in the courses you need to meet its admission requirements, your application may be granted provisional qualification status. You’ll need to complete your prerequisite courses at least two months prior to the start of your chosen program.

As well as offering programs on both the Lansdowne and Interurban campuses, the School of Access engages with Community Learning Partners (CLP) off-campus sites to enhance your education. We also provide Help Centres staffed with expert tutors and filled with resources to assist you.

Get an additional head start on program electives by combining your upgrading with university transfer courses.

Apply today

BC Adult Graduation Diploma (BCAGD) and upgrading courses

Camosun offers a range of upgrading (college prep) courses in English, mathematics, biology, chemistry, and physics to prepare you to enter trades, career programs or college and university programs and courses to help you gain admission requirements or finish grade 12.

What you'll learn

Current students wanting information about your program, go to student planning in myCamosun.

Program outline

For more details, including courses, please see the program outline in the Academic Calendar.

Program outline

Certificate in Fundamental Academic Upgrading

The Foundations Academic Upgrading program is designed for students who want to upgrade their basic reading, writing, and math skills.

This program is available full or part-time and varies in completion time.

What comes next?

Completion of this program certificate can prepare students for academic upgrading courses at the Intermediate level, and, in some cases, will provide direct entry into some college programs. For a full understanding of how this certificate can lead to other programs, students are encouraged to see an Academic Advisor.

Certificate in Intermediate Academic Upgrading

The certificate in Intermediate Academic Upgrading is designed for students requiring upgrading in math and English, as well as students who wish to undertake career exploration combined with academic preparation.

This program is available full or part-time and varies in completion time.

What comes next?

Completion of this certificate prepares students for courses at the Advanced (math) and Provincial levels (English) with ENGL 050, and for direct entry into Technology Access Programs, Health Care Assistant, as well as the math for the Electrical Foundation Program.

Apply today

BC Adult Graduation Diploma (BCAGD) and upgrading courses

Tuition and fees

Effective from September 1, 2022, to August 31, 2023

Estimated tuition

Academic upgrading

For domestic students, 0-level upgrading courses are tuition-free. Tuition fees, for other courses, vary depending on the individual course fees for the classes you select.

For International students visit: International Tuition & Fees

Student fees

In addition to tuition estimates, student fees are calculated based on your enrolment. Refer to: Student Fees

Financial assistance

The Adult Upgrading Grant (AUG) covers student fees, deposit, tuition (if applicable), required textbooks and childcare support for eligible students enrolled in 0-level upgrading courses.

You may need to find more than one source of funding to help pay for your education and living costs while attending college. Check out sources of money you don't need to pay back as well as those that need to be repaid.

Financial Aid & Awards

Curriculum & courses

Course

Course name

Credits

Tuition

Admission requirements

Fundamental Upgrading and Intermediate Upgrading

Ready to get started?

When you apply you will need to submit proof that you meet the admission requirements.

Tip: Where a letter grade is specified, you must have proof of that grade or higher.

*Students are admitted based on their previous educational background and experience. A student should contact the Assessment Centre for an English or mathematics assessment.

For more details, including courses, please see the program outline in the Academic Calendar.

Apply today

Missing admission requirements?

Take an assessment or upgrade with us.

Talk to a student navigator or department chair

Student navigators and the chair are available to answer general questions and share their student experiences.

Email upgrade@camosun.ca or call weekdays, 8am-4pm

Valerie Neaves: Call: 250-370-3847
Tia Primrose: Text or Call: 250-216-7156 or 250-370-3466 (call)

Zahra Kimchi, Chair: khimjiz@camosun.ca or call 250-370-4911

For admissions questions contact:

Meet our instructors

Zahra Khimji

Chair - Academic and Career Foundations

Zahra has thirteen years of teaching experience in the Northwest Territories working closely with ABE and Indigenous students, as well as six years of ...

Puja Gupta

Math Instructor

I am originally from a small city in India. I moved to Canada in 2008 and landed in this beautiful territory of the Lkwungen, Esquimalt, and W̱SÁ ...

Mice Albano

English Instructor

Mice Albano has been a visitor to the land of the Lkwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ for the past 30 years. Her ancestors are from the Guarani nation in B ...

Jennifer Bennett

Instructor, English, Math and Computer Studies

Greetings! Originating from Ontario, I have English, Irish and French ancestry. I am grateful to have been a visitor on the beautiful land of the Coas ...

Karen Lightbody

English, Math and Computer Studies Instructor

I began supporting students in the School of Access in 2007 as an Instructional Assistant in English Language Development. Since that time, I have als ...

Mark Kunen

English and Math Instructor

In 1970, I moved to Canada from the United States. Camosun College has been my place of work since 1978. I teach English and sometimes Math at the Vic ...

Mayu Toyoda

Learning Coordinator, Learning Support

Augustine (Ruse) Rusekampunzi

Math Instructional Assistant - Academic Upgrading

ACF Math Upgrading

Zack (Richard) Zajchowski

Instructor, Academic and Career Foundations

I'm Richard Zajchowski, but everyone knows me by my nickname "Zack". I have enjoyed many years of teaching/learning work at various Canadian post-seco ...