Pathway to a Kinesiology Degree in Canada: From BC Transfer System Colleges to UBC Okanagan

CISM Staff

Publish: June 25, 2026

Last Update: July 17, 2026

Pathway to a Kinesiology Degree in Canada: From BC Transfer System Colleges to UBC Okanagan

CISM Staff

Publish: June 25, 2026

Last Update: July 17, 2026

For students passionate about human movement, sports science, rehabilitation, and health promotion, Kinesiology is one of Canada’s most versatile and in‑demand academic pathways. A popular and flexible route for international students is to begin with university‑level first‑year courses at a BC Transfer System college, then transfer into the Bachelor of Health and Exercise Sciences (Kinesiology) program at UBC Okanagan (UBCO).

This pathway is ideal for students from Hong Kong, Mainland China, Macau, Taiwan, Japan, and other international systems who want a supportive transition into Canadian university studies.

💡Why Start at a BC Transfer System College?

FSS & CISM represents many public colleges across British Columbia, as well as three private colleges that are officially recognized within the BC Transfer System. All institutions listed on the BC Transfer Guide (www.bctransferguide.ca) offer courses that are evaluated and transferable to BC universities, including UBC Okanagan.

Benefits of Starting at a BC Transfer System College

Lower admission requirements than direct university entry
Smaller class sizes and more personalized academic support
Lower tuition fees for the first year
Flexible intake options (January, May, September)
Guaranteed transferability of approved courses through the BC Transfer Guide
Smooth pathway to UBC Okanagan and other BC universities

🎓Common First‑Year Courses for Kinesiology Transfer

Students typically complete:

Human Anatomy & Physiology
Introduction to Kinesiology
Psychology
Chemistry
English Academic Writing
Statistics
Health, sport, or social science electives

These courses are recognized by UBC Okanagan when students apply for transfer into the Bachelor of Health and Exercise Sciences (Kinesiology) program.

📑General Admission Requirements for BC Colleges (University Transfer Programs)

Because there are public and private colleges within the BC Transfer System, the following outlines the general admission standards commonly accepted across most institutions offering University Transfer (UT) programs.

BC High School Graduates

BC Grade 12 graduation
English 12
Math 11 (Pre‑Calculus or Foundations)
Biology 12 recommended
Chemistry 11 recommended

Hong Kong Students (HKDSE)

HKDSE completion
Minimum Level requirements in four core subjects (varies by institution)
Science subjects required by different institutions

Taiwan High School Graduates (Supplementary Information)

Senior High School Graduation Diploma from Taiwan.
Focus on Grade 12 English and Mathematics grades (completion of Advanced/Academic Mathematics, such as Math Alpha/Beta or equivalent math courses, is strongly recommended).
High school-level Biology and Chemistry are recommended (highly beneficial for a smooth transition into first-year university science courses).

Mainland China Students (General High School)

Completion of Senior Secondary Grade 3
Academic average around 70–75%
Science subjects required by different institutions

English Proficiency Requirements

All students must meet the minimum English language requirement to be admitted directly into a University Transfer program.

Most BC Transfer System colleges accept (but are not limited to):

IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0)
TOEFL iBT 80+
Duolingo English Test 110+

Students who do not meet the English requirement may begin with an English upgrading or academic English program before entering the UT stream.

↪️Transferring to UBC Okanagan – Bachelor of Health and Exercise Sciences (Kinesiology)

UBC Okanagan evaluates transfer applicants based on university coursework, not high school grades.

Typical Transfer Requirements:

24–30 transferable university credits
Students must present a competitive GPA that meets UBC Okanagan’s admission standards for the year of application.
Completion of first‑year science courses such as:
- Anatomy & Physiology
- Chemistry
- Psychology
- Academic Writing
- Statistics

Once admitted, students continue into Years 2–4 of the Bachelor of Health and Exercise Sciences (Kinesiology) program.

⚠️UBC does not publish a fixed GPA cutoff for transfer admission. Competitiveness varies each year based on applicant volume and the academic strength of the applicant pool.