Option Declaration

Most students will be able to self-declare their option (specialization) on Workday Student when they attain a Year 3 class standing (year level).

We encourage you to declare your option as soon as you’re eligible. This will assist you in planning your saved schedules and ensure your access to required courses for your chosen option when your registration opens.

You can register in one option only.

Students who are unable to self-declare their option can submit an option declaration request.

How to self-declare your option

To declare your option, review the video tutorial on this page and the Workday tutorial Declaring or changing your primary major, honours, or specialization. When following the steps in these tutorials, note that your current program of study is Bachelor of Commerce (Vancouver). Click on the white Request button in the right-most column of that row to proceed. Do not select the orange Add Program of Study button.

Once you’ve declared your option, you won’t be able to change it yourself in Workday.

If you're registering for the 2026 Winter Session, please self-declare your option in Workday or submit the option declaration request form by 11:00pm on June 21, 2026 at the latest. This will allow our office to determine remaining space in competitive options and process requests prior to registration for students who did not achieve minimum grades in required courses.

If you have not self-declared in Workday or submitted the request form by the June 21 deadline you will be placed in the General Business Management option. Requests to switch from the option will be evaluated in mid-July after all Year 3 students have registered, and approved only if eligibility requirements for the requested option are met AND there are seats remaining. There are no guarantees that you will be switched to your preferred option even if you have met all minimum grade requirements so do not miss the deadline.

If you have been granted deferred standing (SD) for any courses required for Accounting or Finance, you will be considered for your preferred option once you have completed your exams and your final grades have been posted. You should still declare and register for an alternate option as backup.

If you’ve been selected for the Global Supply Chain and Logistics Management option, our office will add you to your option.

Self-declaration requirements for Accounting and Finance

Space in these options is limited, so students pursuing either one of these options must achieve minimum grades in prerequisite courses to self-declare:

• For Accounting, a minimum grade of 60% in each of COMM_V 293 and COMM_V 294
• For Finance, a minimum grade of 67% in each of COMM_V 190, COMM_V 191, COMM_V 293, COMM_V 294, COMM_V 295, and COMM_V 298

Option declaration after Term 1

If you meet the requirements for Year 3 after completing your Term 1 winter session courses, your class standing will be automatically updated and you'll be eligible to declare your specialization. Given that many Term 2 option courses will already be fully enrolled, it's unlikely that you'll be able to start taking required courses for your option until the following winter session, in September.

Option declaration request form

You can request assistance if you’re unable to self-declare your option in Workday if any of the following scenarios apply to you:

• You transferred to third year from another institution – Year 3 transfer students who are new to UBC do not have access in Workday to self-declare options until September. Assuming you are eligible for the option that you are requesting, OSAS will add you to that option so that you are able to register in your required option courses when your registration opens.
• You have transfer credit for one or more courses for which minimum grades are required (Accounting or Finance) – Workday is unable to check transfer credit grades for the option selection process. OSAS will review grades achieved in applicable transfer courses to determine your eligibility if you are requesting Accounting or Finance
• You did not achieve minimum grades in one or more courses required for Accounting or Finance – Your request will be prioritized based on your previous academic performance if space remains once eligible students have declared. We cannot guarantee a decision prior to your registration appointment.

Option Declaration request form  

Option switches

If you’ve just self-declared your option in Workday, but have decided to pursue a different option instead, please submit the option declaration request form to initiate the change.

While it may be possible to switch options once you’ve reached Year 4, space is often limited. Typically, we won’t consider a switch request if you’ve completed more than two courses required for your current option. We will not consider any requests as a means to complete a double option.