Registering for courses

Start with a plan

Before you register, carefully review your degree requirements and make a plan (and a backup plan) that includes all of your required and elective courses. Think ahead beyond the current year to make sure that you're taking any prerequisites now for courses you wish to take in later years.

Degree requirements

On this page, learn:

How to find your registration date
How to pay your acceptance deposit (if new to UBC Sauder)
How to pick your courses, build your worklists, and register
How to manage your registration
How your transfer credits will apply toward your degree requirements
How a reduced course load can impact certain eligibilities

Find your registration date

UBC Enrolment Services will notify you of your specific registration date and time by email in June/July for the winter session and February for the summer session. Your winter session registration time is determined by your previous winter session average. Your summer session registration time is determined by your Term 1 average in the current winter session. The higher your average, the earlier your registration date and time will be.

Registration dates

Pay your acceptance deposit if new to UBC Sauder

Your registration status will remain blocked until your registration opens. If you were newly admitted to UBC Sauder this year, you must pay your acceptance deposit before you’ll be able to register. Starting 2021 Winter Session, the registration deposit has been removed from most undergraduate degree programs.

Pick your courses, build your worklists, and register

Review your program requirements to see which courses to take and then log in to the Student Service Centre (SSC) to start building your worklists. Not sure how? Watch the video tutorials for detailed instructions.

Registration video tutorials

It’s your responsibility to arrange a conflict-free timetable. To help, we’ve broken it all down into simple steps for each year. You'll also receive registration instructions specific to your year by email at least one week before your registration date.

Registering for Year 1

Step 1 - Register in a standard timetable

All new Year 1 students must register in an STT. Students within each STT will belong to a cohort of 25-30 students who share the same course schedule. Within these smaller groups, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to form meaningful connections with other students in your cohort and collaborate on team-based coursework. You‘ll find the full list of available STTs on the Student Service Centre course schedule website.

You cannot switch course sections or drop individual courses from your standard timetable. If you have advanced (first-year) credit for any courses within your STT, contact the UBC Sauder Undergraduate Office for assistance after you have registered. Do not attempt to drop these courses yourself as you may accidentally drop your entire STT and lose your place in it.

All BCom students will take MATH 100 regardless of whether or not they completed Calculus 12 (or an equivalent course) in secondary school.

If you're enrolled in the Combined Major in Business and Computer Science (BUCS), your STT will include MATH 101, however, it will not include your required Computer Science courses. After registering in your STT, you must register in CPSC 110 in Term 1 and CPSC 121 in Term 2. Refer to the BUCS program requirements for details.

Note: Course registration for newly admitted Year 1 students ends on July 15. After July 15, you will lose your eligibility to register in the BCom program. If you receive your offer of admission after this date, you can register for courses until classes start.

Step 2 - Register in a non-Commerce elective

Register in 3 credits of electives in Term 1 or Term 2 (likely the alternate term to your COMM 196 course unless you have advanced credit for any courses within your STT). Choose non-Commerce electives that interest you or complement your career goals or work towards your program requirement. Keep in mind that the BCom program requires senior-level electives (courses numbered 3xx or 4xx) that you will take in Years 3 and 4 (or sooner). Some senior-level electives have prerequisites so plan your program accordingly (e.g., MATH 101 is a prerequisite for many senior-level ECON courses).

Avoid taking non-Commerce electives that are not for credit in the BCom program. Confirm that the electives you have selected will count for credit in the BCom program by reviewing the not-for-credit tables at the bottom of the Elective requirements page.

Important: Pick an STT that will work with your other courses and commitments. Switching sections in STTs is not permitted.

Registering for Year 2

Step 1 - Register in core Commerce courses

New to UBC Sauder in 2023W Year 2 students (transfer students from other faculties at UBC or other post-secondary institutions):

Second year students do not register in a standard timetable for Year 2 courses. You must build your timetable by registering in each of the Year 2 requirements individually or through your worklist.

Check the SSC to confirm the transfer credit you have received. You do not need to register in any courses for which you have already received credit. When planning your schedule, note that many Term 2 Commerce courses have prerequisites that must be successfully completed in Term 1 before attempting them.

Note: Course registration for newly admitted Year 2 students ends on July 15. After July 15, you will lose your eligibility to register in the BCom program. If you receive your offer of admission after this date, you can register for courses until classes start.

Term 1	Term 2	Either term
COMM 190²	COMM 191³	COMM 196
COMM 192	COMM 203⁵	COMM 202⁴
COMM 293	COMM 294⁶	COMM 205
COMM 295⁸	COMM 105	COMM 296⁷
		COMM 298⁹
¹ If you do not have transfer credit for any required Commerce courses, we recommend that you complete COMM 203 and COMM 205 during the summer after Year 2 or in Year 3. Note that transfer students are not required to complete COMM 101; in lieu of COMM 101, transfer students take three credits of Commerce or non-Commerce electives at any level. ² COMM 190 requires registration in both a lecture section and a corresponding lab section. ³ Prerequisite COMM 190 must be completed in Term 1 prior to taking COMM 191. ⁴ COMM 202 requires registration in both a lecture section and a corresponding tutorial section. ⁵ Prerequisite COMM 192 must be completed in Term 1 prior to taking COMM 203. ⁶ Prerequisite COMM 293 must be completed in Term 1 prior to taking COMM 294. ⁷ Co-rerequisites COMM 293 and COMM 295 must be taken concurrently or be completed prior to taking COMM 296. ⁸ ECON 301 and ECON 303 (both must be completed) can be taken instead of COMM 295 to fulfill this requirement. Three of the six credits will apply toward your non-Commerce electives requirement. ⁹ Co-requisites COMM 190, COMM 293 and 295 must be taken concurrently or completed prior to taking COMM 298. COMM 298 must be taken in Term 1 if applying to the Early Start to Finance option. Note: Transfer students may take the Year 2 Commerce core requirement COMM 204 during the summer after Year 2 or in Year 3 after successful completion of prerequisites COMM 190 and COMM 191.

Consult program requirements to determine your remaining requirements. If you require assistance in determining your program requirements, please contact the UGO.

If you're enrolled in the Combined Major in Business and Computer Science (BUCS), review your requirements to plan your timetable.

Continuing in 2023W Year 2 students (direct entry students who attended Year 1 at UBC Sauder):

Second year students do not register in a standard timetable for Year 2 courses. You must build your timetable by registering in each of the Year 2 requirements individually or through your worklist.

Register in COMM 190 (formerly COMM 290), COMM 191 (formerly COMM 291), COMM 192 (formerly COMM 292), and/or COMM 196 (a minimum grade of 60% in COMM 196 is required) only if you did not successfully complete them in Year 1. Be mindful of corequisites and prerequisites when planning your timetable.

Term 1	Either Term
COMM 293	COMM 202¹
COMM 295²	COMM 203³
	COMM 204⁴
	COMM 205
	COMM 294⁵
	COMM 296⁶
	COMM 298⁷
¹ COMM 202 requires registration in both a lecture section and a corresponding tutorial section. ² ECON 301 and ECON 303 (both must be completed) can be taken instead of COMM 295 to fulfill this requirement. Three of the six credits will apply toward your non-Commerce electives requirement. ³ COMM 192 must be completed prior to taking COMM 203. ⁴ COMM 190 and COMM 191 must be completed prior to taking COMM 204. ⁵ COMM 293 must be completed prior to taking COMM 294. ⁶ Co-requisites COMM 293 and 295 must be taken concurrently or completed prior to taking COMM 296. ⁷ Co-requisites COMM 190, COMM 293 and 295 must be taken concurrently or completed prior to taking COMM 298. COMM 298 must be taken in Term 1 if applying to the Early Start to Finance option.

Consult program requirements to determine your remaining requirements. If you require assistance in determining your program requirements, please contact the UGO.

If you're enrolled in the Combined Major in Business and Computer Science (BUCS), review your requirements to plan your timetable.

Step 2 - Register in electives

New Year 2 students:

You will not have room in your schedule to register in any electives unless you have transfer credit for some of the required Year 1 and 2 Commerce courses or you choose to defer one or more required Year 2 Commerce courses to the subsequent summer session or Year 3. Be sure to check promotion requirements before deferring any courses.

Continuing Year 2 students:

Registering for Year 3

Step 1 - Choose an option

When your registration opens, you must choose your option prior to registering for your courses. To register for your option, you need to select the applicable specialization code on the SSC. Select the option and then click the ADD SPEC button.

If you have already been admitted to the Co-op Program, you must use SWITCH SPEC to switch from Co-op to your option. You will be re-added to Co-op after your registration.

Note that some options have cutoff averages and/or require that you complete all prerequisites before taking option courses. The Undergraduate Office (UGO) will verify that students declaring an option meet the option cut-off average to ensure readiness to succeed. If you do register in an option for which there is a cut-off and you do not meet the anticipated cut-off average as listed on the website, the UGO will contact you and will assist you in making changes to your option and your COMM/COHR course registration.

If you’ve been selected for the Global Supply Chain and Logistics Management option, the UGO will add you to your option. You will receive further information about course registration prior to your registration date.

If you were admitted to the Combined Major in Business and Computer Science (BUCS), you do not select an option. Visit Program requirements to learn more.

Note: Course registration for newly admitted Year 3 students ends on July 15. After July 15, you will lose your eligibility to register in the BCom program. If you receive your offer of admission after this date, you can register for courses until classes start.

Step 2 - Register in option courses

Register in your required Year 3 option courses (6 to 9 credits varying by option). You must be registered in at least 6 credits of option courses to be officially in an option. For example, to be in the Accounting option, you must have successfully registered in COMM 353 and COMM 354.

Make sure that you have completed prerequisite courses for your option. Note that some options require that you complete all prerequisites in Year 2.

Step 3 - Register in any remaining Year 2 Commerce core requirements

Register in any remaining Year 2 Commerce core requirements that you have not yet completed (Year 2 requirements that are not completed by the end of Year 3 may prevent you from being promoted to Year 4).

Step 4 - Register in core Commerce courses

COMM 396 (390)¹
COMM 393
COMM 394
COMM 395¹

¹ COMM 396 (390) and COMM 395 are required prerequisites for the Year 4 capstone requirement: one of COMM 491, COMM 497, COMM 498. We strongly recommend that you complete both courses in Year 3.

Step 5 - Register in electives

International exchange

If you're studying abroad in this year, do not register in any UBC courses during your exchange term(s); only register in courses for the term that you will be attending UBC. Go Global will register you in an exchange code to indicate that you are on exchange, which will trigger your tuition for the term and enable awards staff to review your eligibility for the Go Global International Learning Award. If you do register in any courses in the term(s) that you are scheduled to be on exchange, you will be dropped from these courses. If for any reason you do not go on exchange, the UGO will assist you to register in any required COMM/COHR courses.

Registering for Year 4

When your registration opens, register for both terms – winter Term 1 (September to December) and winter Term 2 (January to April), or summer Term 1 (May to June) and summer Term 2 (July to August). Courses fill up quickly, so don’t delay.

Don’t confuse your worklists with your registered classes!

You must register for the courses in your worklist when your registration opens to officially be in them. If you make changes to your courses after you initially register, be sure that you're making changes to your registered course list and not one of your worklists.

Add, drop, and switch sections in a course

You can make changes to your registered courses without a withdrawal (W) standing on your transcript until the deadline posted on the course schedule. When making changes to your registration, be sure that you’re updating your list of registered courses and not just a worklist.

Important: Review each course section’s withdrawal deadlines carefully. They vary depending on the duration and credit value of the course.

Withdraw from a course with a W standing

If you withdraw from a course after the first withdrawal deadline, a W standing will be noted on your transcript and refunds will be processed according to the tuition refund schedule. You can withdraw with a W standing until the second withdrawal date posted for the section on the course schedule. Beyond then, you cannot drop the course.

Official course change dates

If you need to withdraw from a course after the published deadline due to extenuating circumstances, speak with an advisor in the Undergraduate Office (UGO). A change to your registration after the second withdrawal deadline is an academic concession that requires approval from the UGO. Supporting documentation is required.

Impacts of course withdrawal

It is your responsibility to consider the possible impacts of a course withdrawal, and weigh the benefits and disadvantages before making a final decision.

Any of the following may be affected by a course withdrawal:

Your academic record

Tuition fees

Full-time status as an international student

Courses with prerequisites and option declaration

Promotion to the next year level and graduation

Academic distinctions

Varsity sports

Eligibility for funding

Postgraduate academic programs and employment

While UBC provides the flexibility for you to register for most courses up to two weeks after their start date, you must accept certain responsibilities when joining a course that is already underway. Some things to consider before registering:

It's your responsibility to learn any material that has already been taught. This will involve self-study. While your instructor may be available during office hours to answer questions, they will not have time to re-teach all of the material that has already been discussed before you started attending the course. The onus is on you to catch up.
Many courses at UBC Sauder require active participation in class. You must complete all previously assigned readings and coursework at your earliest opportunity so that you are fully prepared to contribute to class discussions and engage in group work.
Some instructors discourage late registration in their courses if group work or assignments are required during the first two weeks. Talk to your instructor as soon as you join the class. They may recommend that you take their course at a later date so that you can attend classes from the start of term.

2023W registration information will be emailed two weeks prior to your registration open date. A copy of the detailed registration guide will also be available for download below.

Year 4

Do you need help understanding your requirements? Meet with an academic advisor to discuss your course plan.

Get advice

Need help registering in a required Commerce class?

Registration assistance

BCom Course Planning Worksheets

Need help keeping track of your credits? Use the BCom Course Planning Worksheets as a guide for your course planning needs as you progress through your BCom degree.

View the worksheets

How does a 'W' affect my academic standing?

Don’t be concerned about having a W standing on your transcript. It simply indicates that you withdrew from a course. Course withdrawals are not included in calculating your sessional or graduating averages. Remember though that you will not receive a full refund of your tuition past the first withdrawal deadline. (Please note if you're accessing resources that have credit requirements, a W may impact your eligibility.)

Are you eligible to receive transfer credits from AP, IB, or A-Levels?

If your high school studies included Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), or British-patterned education (A-Levels), you may be eligible to receive transfer credit that you can use toward your BCom degree requirements.

Advanced Placement

High school subject	UBC course granted (including credits)
Economics: Macroeconomics	ECON 102 (3)
Economics: Microeconomics	ECON 101 (3)
Calculus AB or subscore of AB in Calculus BC	MATH 100 (3) - This is equivalent to MATH 104.
Calculus BC	MATH 100 (3) and MATH 101 (3)

High school subject	UBC course granted (including credits)
Business and Management HL	COMM 1st (3) - Not for credit in the BCom program.

International Baccalaureate

High school subject	UBC course granted (including credits)
Economics HL	UBC ECON 1st-year level (6 credits)

High school subject	UBC course granted (including credits)
English Language and Literature A HL	UBC ENGL 1st-year level (6 credits)
English Literature A HL	UBC ENGL 1st-year level (6 credits)

British-patterned education

High school subject	UBC course granted (including credits)
Accounting	COMM 293 (3)
Business Studies	COMM 1st-year level (3), precludes credit for COMM 100 and COMM 101 - You cannot use these credits toward your BCom degree. You must take COMM 101 in your first year at UBC.
Economics	ECON 101 (3) and ECON 102 (3)
Literature (English)	ENGL 110 (3) and ENGL 1st-year level (3)
Mathematics	No credit
Mathematics (Applied)	No credit
Mathematics (Further)	MATH 100 (3) and MATH 101 (3)

Make arrangements to have your final official test results sent directly to UBC Undergraduate Admissions as soon as possible as it may take several weeks from when they are received for credit to be awarded. You may not see transfer credit on your student record until after you’ve registered for your courses. Course withdrawals will not be granted or backdated should any transfer credit be awarded after the course withdrawal deadline.

Transfer credit will be applied toward your degree requirements automatically once it has been granted. You don't need to do anything to activate or use it.

First-year credit tables

Maintain your eligibility for student loans

Government loans, grants, and interest-free status all require students to be enrolled in at least 60% (80% for Newfoundland loans) of a full-time course load in each term. Given the credit structure of the BCom program, the minimum number of credits you must be enrolled in varies at different year levels. Consult the course load guide at students.ubc.ca to ensure that you meet the requirements to maintain your funding. Note that eligibility to receive scholarships and to live in UBC residence is determined by separate registration criteria.

Consult the course load guide

If you’re thinking about reducing your course load during the winter session (fewer than 30 credits), be mindful of commitments and considerations that require you to be registered in a minimum number of credits to maintain your eligibility.

Are you meeting promotion requirements?

Have you received awards or funding?

Are you living in UBC Student Housing?

Are you an international student?

Do you want to be eligible for academic honours?

Are you a Varsity athlete?

Are there other considerations unique to you?

Search form

Registering for courses

Start with a plan

Find your registration date

Pay your acceptance deposit if new to UBC Sauder

Pick your courses, build your worklists, and register

New to UBC Sauder in 2023W Year 2 students (transfer students from other faculties at UBC or other post-secondary institutions):

2 COMM 190 requires registration in both a lecture section and a corresponding lab section.

3 Prerequisite COMM 190 must be completed in Term 1 prior to taking COMM 191.

4 COMM 202 requires registration in both a lecture section and a corresponding tutorial section.

5 Prerequisite COMM 192 must be completed in Term 1 prior to taking COMM 203.

6 Prerequisite COMM 293 must be completed in Term 1 prior to taking COMM 294.

7 Co-rerequisites COMM 293 and COMM 295 must be taken concurrently or be completed prior to taking COMM 296.

8 ECON 301 and ECON 303 (both must be completed) can be taken instead of COMM 295 to fulfill this requirement. Three of the six credits will apply toward your non-Commerce electives requirement.

9 Co-requisites COMM 190, COMM 293 and 295 must be taken concurrently or completed prior to taking COMM 298. COMM 298 must be taken in Term 1 if applying to the Early Start to Finance option.

Note: Transfer students may take the Year 2 Commerce core requirement COMM 204 during the summer after Year 2 or in Year 3 after successful completion of prerequisites COMM 190 and COMM 191.

Continuing in 2023W Year 2 students (direct entry students who attended Year 1 at UBC Sauder):

1 COMM 202 requires registration in both a lecture section and a corresponding tutorial section.

2 ECON 301 and ECON 303 (both must be completed) can be taken instead of COMM 295 to fulfill this requirement. Three of the six credits will apply toward your non-Commerce electives requirement.

3 COMM 192 must be completed prior to taking COMM 203.

4 COMM 190 and COMM 191 must be completed prior to taking COMM 204.

5 COMM 293 must be completed prior to taking COMM 294.

6 Co-requisites COMM 293 and 295 must be taken concurrently or completed prior to taking COMM 296.

7 Co-requisites COMM 190, COMM 293 and 295 must be taken concurrently or completed prior to taking COMM 298. COMM 298 must be taken in Term 1 if applying to the Early Start to Finance option.

New Year 2 students:

Continuing Year 2 students:

1 COMM 396 (390) and COMM 395 are required prerequisites for the Year 4 capstone requirement: one of COMM 491, COMM 497, COMM 498. We strongly recommend that you complete both courses in Year 3.

1 Three of the six credits from COMM 466 New Venture Design can be used to satisfy the capstone requirement (3 credits equivalent to COMM 497). Admission to COMM 466 is by-application only.

2 Three of the six credits from COMM 483 Leadership and General Management can be used to satisfy the capstone requirement. Admission to COMM 483 is by-application only..

3 Prerequisites COMM 396 (390) and COMM 395 must be completed before taking any of COMM 491, COMM 497, and COMM 498.

Register for both terms

Worklists and registered courses

Manage your registration

Add, drop, and switch sections in a course

Withdraw from a course with a W standing

Impacts of course withdrawal

Late registration

How does a 'W' affect my academic standing?

Are you eligible to receive transfer credits from AP, IB, or A-Levels?

Maintain your eligibility for student loans

Impacts of a reduced course load

*Registered does NOT include your transfer credits. It is the total number of credits that you are enrolled in during a winter session (September to April).

*Registered does NOT include your transfer credits. It is the total number of credits that you are enrolled in during a winter session (September to April).

*Registered does NOT include your transfer credits. It is the total number of credits that you are enrolled in during a winter session (September to April).

*Registered does NOT include your transfer credits. It is the total number of credits that you are enrolled in during a winter session (September to April).

*Registered does NOT include your transfer credits. It is the total number of credits that you are enrolled in during a winter session (September to April).

Explore myBCom

² COMM 190 requires registration in both a lecture section and a corresponding lab section.

³ Prerequisite COMM 190 must be completed in Term 1 prior to taking COMM 191.

⁴ COMM 202 requires registration in both a lecture section and a corresponding tutorial section.

⁵ Prerequisite COMM 192 must be completed in Term 1 prior to taking COMM 203.

⁶ Prerequisite COMM 293 must be completed in Term 1 prior to taking COMM 294.

⁷ Co-rerequisites COMM 293 and COMM 295 must be taken concurrently or be completed prior to taking COMM 296.

⁸ ECON 301 and ECON 303 (both must be completed) can be taken instead of COMM 295 to fulfill this requirement. Three of the six credits will apply toward your non-Commerce electives requirement.

⁹ Co-requisites COMM 190, COMM 293 and 295 must be taken concurrently or completed prior to taking COMM 298. COMM 298 must be taken in Term 1 if applying to the Early Start to Finance option.

¹ COMM 202 requires registration in both a lecture section and a corresponding tutorial section.

² ECON 301 and ECON 303 (both must be completed) can be taken instead of COMM 295 to fulfill this requirement. Three of the six credits will apply toward your non-Commerce electives requirement.

³ COMM 192 must be completed prior to taking COMM 203.

⁴ COMM 190 and COMM 191 must be completed prior to taking COMM 204.

⁵ COMM 293 must be completed prior to taking COMM 294.

⁶ Co-requisites COMM 293 and 295 must be taken concurrently or completed prior to taking COMM 296.

⁷ Co-requisites COMM 190, COMM 293 and 295 must be taken concurrently or completed prior to taking COMM 298. COMM 298 must be taken in Term 1 if applying to the Early Start to Finance option.

¹ COMM 396 (390) and COMM 395 are required prerequisites for the Year 4 capstone requirement: one of COMM 491, COMM 497, COMM 498. We strongly recommend that you complete both courses in Year 3.

¹Three of the six credits from COMM 466 New Venture Design can be used to satisfy the capstone requirement (3 credits equivalent to COMM 497). Admission to COMM 466 is by-application only.

²Three of the six credits from COMM 483 Leadership and General Management can be used to satisfy the capstone requirement. Admission to COMM 483 is by-application only..

³ Prerequisites COMM 396 (390) and COMM 395 must be completed before taking any of COMM 491, COMM 497, and COMM 498.