Frequently asked questions

Applications for the Bachelor of Education as a second degree open on October 1 and close January 31. The next cohort begins in mid-August and ends the following June. Classes take place at the Abbotsford campus with practica arranged in local school districts. Starting in August 2024, classes will take place at the Mission campus. 

You are strongly encouraged to come to a Teacher Education information seminar well ahead of your application.

Within the Bachelor of Education, there is the elementary/middle school option and the secondary school option. Both run parallel to each other and are 10 months in length. Courses are typically scheduled Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm, though sometimes it is necessary to schedule classes into the evening and on Saturdays. There are two practica as part of the program: a 5-week school experience in the fall and a 12-week certifying practicum in the winter semester.

You need to have a recognized Bachelor degree with a minimum of 120 credits.

• For the elementary/middle school option, there are eight specific elementary breadth courses which are required and 12 upper-level credits in teachable subject areas.
• For the secondary school option, there are specific course requirements related to each one of the four teachable subjects areas (social studies, English, sciences, math).

Applicants to either cohort will require one English composition course, one course in English literature, EDUC 200, and EDUC 300. There are specific completion deadlines for required course work.

Please note that the BEd is currently not open to international applicants. 

You can attend classes in Abbotsford. You may complete your practicums in the Abbotsford, Mission, Chilliwack, Langley, Fraser-Cascade, or Maple Ridge school districts. You are expected to travel to practicum sites and in-service sessions and must have reliable means of transportation.

We have 64 available seats available within the Bachelor of Education cohort: 32 teacher candidates will be admitted into the elementary/middle school option, and 32 teacher candidates will be admitted into the secondary school option (16 for the science/math stream and 16 for the humanities stream).

You can apply to both options; however, you will need to submit two applications. Upon admission, you will choose the option in which you wish to remain.

If you choose the secondary school option and want to be considered for both the humanities and science/math stream, you will also need to make a decision upon admission.

You should be prepared to accept a placement deemed appropriate by the department. While every effort is made to place you a school within a reasonable distance from your home, you should be prepared to travel up to one hour to your school placement. Coordinators consider many factors in finding the best possible placement, including an environment that optimizes your professional growth. It is the coordinator’s role to make contact with school administration and staff to recruit teacher mentors and facilitate placements. Practicum sites are selected from the Chilliwack, Mission, Abbotsford, Langley, Fraser-Cascade, and Maple Ridge school districts.

The Bachelor of Education consists of three semesters with a total of 55 credits. Tuition fees and ancillary costs are estimated at approximately $13,000 for all three semesters. Tuition fees will be paid in installments for each one of the three semesters, according to the credit load in each semester.

Books and additional supplies cost approximately $100 per course. The criminal record check (required by the Ministry of Public Safety for all prospective teacher candidates) is currently $28. In addition, you must have a reliable mode of transportation for travel to and from practica sites.

Finally, other expenses will be incurred during the duration of the program including fees for teacher certification ($250), annual professional memberships ($90) and costs incurred when acquiring a professional wardrobe.

Once you have submitted your application, the Office of the Registrar and the Teacher Education department ensure that all your documents (transcripts, references, and résumé) have been received. If your application is considered "complete", it is forwarded to the Teacher Education Admissions committee for review. Interviews will then be made available by invitation. These will take place during the first two weeks of March. Admission decisions are usually made by mid-April.

Applications open November 15, 2018, and close January 31, 2019, for admission into the July 2019 cohort. 

The Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Mentorship will be offered every two years beginning in July 2019.

Yes. You can complete the program while working full or part-time. The six courses are scheduled over two school years and include two 3-week summer institutes (July 2019 and July 2020). Courses offered during the school year will be scheduled around the work week and take place on evenings/weekends at the UFV Abbotsford campus or in school facilities in local school districts.

The Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Mentorship is a part-time program designed specifically for working educators. It is a 30-credit program consisting of 6 courses spread over 22 months.

Courses are delivered through small group seminars, full cohort classes, blended learning activities, independent study, and fieldwork (site-based research based on an area of inquiry related to leadership and mentorship).

The MEd is a cohort model with a maximum of 24 students.

Yes. The Master of Education is recognized by the BC Teacher Qualification Service. Upon completion of the program, you will be eligible for a category upgrade from the Teacher Qualification Service and a subsequent pay increase.

Tuition for the program is $17,122 with fees spread over six semesters. You can apply for graduate studies scholarships. For more information, visit UFV Financial Aid and Awards. There is also a graduate stipend available if you choose the become a teacher mentor. Learn more about becoming a teacher mentor.

The Master of Education program requires that international applications meet the following additional criteria:

• Proof of a valid teaching certificate from the country (of origin) where they achieved their professional certification.
• Letter from the Teacher Regulation Branch stating that the certificate is equivalent to the BC Teaching Certificate.
• Two years of experience teaching in country of origin, plus successful completion of a six week practicum (with 80% teaching responsibilities) supervised by a certified teacher or administrator or evidence of a minimum of three months (300 hours) of volunteer teaching experience in a Canadian certified teacher’s classroom. It is preferred that the practicum or volunteering is completed in BC.
• Letters of reference must come from those who directly supervised the practicum or volunteering experience.