C.3.3 General Admission Requirements
Approved/revised: January 25, 2021
POLICY
General Admission Statement:
Eligibility for admission is based on citizenship, age, English language and academic requirements. Specific program admission requirements or course prerequisites must be met in addition to any general admission requirements. In cases where applicants may not meet the specific admission requirements for a desired program or course, NVIT offers programming which may lead to the qualifications necessary for specific program entry.
General Admission
In all cases, specific program admission requirements or course prerequisites take precedence over general admission requirements and should be checked at the time of application. Although some programs and/or courses at NVIT do not require Grade 12 or equivalent, the following qualifications are generally accepted where Grade 12 or equivalent is listed as a requirement for admission:
a) Students who have graduated from a BC secondary school;
b) Students who have a BC Adult Graduation Diploma;
c) Students who have completed the GED meet the general admission requirements for Grade 12 or equivalent, but are also required to complete an assessment and are subject to specific program and/or course requirements;
d) Mature students who have not graduated from a BC secondary school may be admitted to the College Readiness program, or desired program, upon completion of an assessment indicative of required English and Math requirements.
Citizenship and Immigration Requirements
NVIT accepts applications for admission from prospective students only if they
a) Are citizens of Canada; or
b) Hold status granted by Employment and Immigration Canada as Permanent Residents (landed immigrants), proof of which must be submitted; or
c) Hold a valid study permit issued by Immigration Canada, proof of which must be submitted. Students applying under this section are specifically referred to the sections of this calendar dealing with International Students and International Student Fees.
English Language Requirement
To create the best possible learning environment at NVIT it is critical that all students be able to participate in classroom activities and complete written assignments. English is the language of instruction and communication at NVIT. Therefore, all applicants must demonstrate fluency in English by fulfilling one of the following options:
1. Two years of full-time study at grade 8 or higher level with English as the language of instruction. Studies that are part of an English as a Second Language program cannot be used toward fulfilling this option; or
2. Successful completion of BC English 11 (or equivalent acceptable to NVIT) with a minimum grade of C+; or
3. Successful completion of a university transferable post-secondary level English course with a minimum grade of C; or
4. A minimum score of 213 on the computer-based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) test with a minimum essay score of 4.0; or
5. A minimum score of 550 on the paper-based TOEFL test and a minimum TWE (Test of Written English) score of 4.0; or
6. A minimum score of 4 on the LPI (Language Proficiency Index) within the past 2 years; or
7. A minimum score of 6.0 on each of the academic listening, reading, writing, and speaking modules of the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) exam.
Mature Status
For admission purposes, a mature student is one who is 19 years of age or older, and who has been out of school for at least one year. Adults are encouraged to apply to specific programs even if they are unable to meet specified educational requirements since other factors such as maturity and work experience may be considered in some programs. If students do not meet minimum educational requirements for a desired program, they may demonstrate these requirements through an assessment and/or upgrade by completing appropriate program admission requirements and course pre-requisites.
Under Age Students
Underage students who are less than 19 years of age prior to the first day of classes may be granted special admission to a program upon the written recommendation of the appropriate Dean, or designate, of the specific program. The Nicola Valley Institute of Technology reserves the right to determine whether to permit an under-aged student to register. Students must have written consent of the parent or legal guardian. These students fall under one of the three categories:
1. Students generally have an outstanding academic record and will complete Grade 11 in the year that they are applying for admission. They also require the authorization of the appropriate secondary school principal and receive early entry admission status; or
2. Students have completed grade 12 in the year in which they are applying for admission; or
3. Students have enrolled in a program under an agreement with the local School District such as ACE-IT or a Dual Credit Agreement.
Prerequisites/Admission Requirement Waivers