Adult Upgrading

Why consider the Adult Upgrading Program?

• Complete the prerequisites you need for entry into college or university programs.
• Complete the Adult Graduation Diploma and get your Adult Dogwood.
• Complete classes for employment or to prepare for a promotion.
• Choose from on-campus semester courses, or directed studies courses with individual instructor support.
• Take just one course or design a program to meet your goals.
• Study full time or part time.
• Improve and develop effective academic study skills
• Improve literacy skills and personal life skills
• It’s tuition free! The BC government funds upgrading. Apply for the AUG grant to help to cover additional costs of returning to school.

For detailed information about UACE courses and programs: View official program outline.

Flexible course delivery options include:

• Semestered – scheduled face-to-face on-campus courses delivered at the Cranbrook campus.
• Directed Studies – self-paced directed studies courses with individual instructor support delivered at the Cranbrook campus and all of our regional campuses.

Please note:

UACE courses are offered at all College of the Rockies regional campuses, however not all courses will be available at all campuses. (Contact regional campuses directly for more information on specific course offerings).

Semestered:

The semestered upgrading courses at the Cranbrook campus are scheduled each semester for face-to-face delivery and follow our academic calendar with intakes in the fall and winter semesters.  Course offerings include Biology 090, Chemistry 080 and 090, Physics 080 and 090 , Math 080 and 090 , and English 090.

College of the Rockies 080 and 090 level courses are equivalent to grade 11 and 12 level courses respectively, in the BC Secondary School system and to Provincial Level courses in the Adult Basic Education system.

Benefits of this delivery include:

• Dynamic and engaging face-to-face classroom instruction
• Small class sizes
• For some college programs, upgrading courses can be taken while you are enrolled in your program
• You will develop effective academic study skills that prepare you for success in college and university courses

Directed Studies:

This is our most flexible delivery mode. Students can work at a college location but at their own pace and at times of their own choosing within available instructional support hours. Courses are supported by instructors who are interested in helping students meet their goals. Students can complete their course work from home, in the classroom, or meet on MS Teams webchat. Course offerings include all levels of Math, English, Biology, and Chemistry as well as electives such as Education and Career Planning, Work Experience, Portfolio Learning and College Success. For specific details on courses offered see the Course Descriptions section.

Benefits of this delivery include:

• DS courses delivered at our Cranbrook and Regional Campuses with instructors who are available to support students during the day, evening, or virtually through MS Teams
• Continuous intake courses. This means that students can start their courses at a time that works for them! Summer courses are available at the Cranbrook, Creston and Fernie campuses
• To keep up with your course, instructors will help students develop strong time management skills, intermediate computer skills, and skills to work independently
• Student will be able to access their courses through COTROnline and make use of unit guides, assignments, media, labs, and other resources
• There are no additional costs for textbooks as the program provides students with the textbooks and resources they need while you are taking our courses. (Textbook deposits may be required at regional campuses)

Are you looking to finish your high-school diploma? If you wish to complete the requirements for adult high school graduation, to obtain the BC Adult Graduation Diploma (Dogwood), meet with an Education Advisor or email the UACE Program Coordinator to determine which courses are necessary.

Admission Requirements

18 years of age or older within the calendar year they will be starting studies at the College (January to December), and has graduated from a British Columbia secondary school or equivalent; or will be nineteen (19) years of age or older on the first day of classes for the term and meets all program admission requirements and course requisites.

Qualifying Courses

• A Provincial Level English (Grade 12) or higher level post-secondary English course
• An Advanced (Grade 11) or Provincial (Grade 12) Level Math or higher level post-secondary math course

and

• Three additional Provincial (Grade 12 ) Level courses or higher level post-secondary courses (or a combination)

or

• An Advanced (Grade 11 ) Level Social Sciences and Two other Provincial Level Courses or higher level post-secondary courses (or a combination)

*Post-secondary upgrading courses are described as Provincial Level, Advanced Level, Intermediate Level and Fundamental Level.

• Provincial Level courses are equivalent to grade 12 courses in BC high schools and are listed as 090 level courses at the College of Rockies.
• Advanced Level courses are equivalent to grade 11 courses in BC high schools and are listed as 080 level courses at the College of the Rockies.
• Intermediate Level courses are equivalent to grade 10 courses in BC high schools and are listed as 070 level courses at the College of the Rockies.
• Fundamental Level courses are offered from Level 1 to 6 and equate to learning outcomes below the grade 9 level courses at BC schools and are listed as 010 to 069 courses at the College of the Rockies.

Pre-requisite Courses offered in the Upgrading for Academic and Career Entry Program:

Students who are not able to enter the 090 level English courses and 080 level Math courses are able to prepare for these courses through the ABE pre-requisite courses at the Grade 10 and Grade 11 level. See course descriptions for a complete description of each course.

090 Level Courses

College of the Rockies 090 level courses are equivalent to grade 12 level courses in the BC Secondary School system and to Provincial level courses in the Adult Basic Education system.

080 Level Courses

College of the Rockies 080 level courses are equivalent to grade 11 level courses in the BC Secondary School System and to the Advanced level courses in the Adult Basic Education System.

070 Level Courses

College of the Rockies 070 level courses are equivalent to grade 10 level courses in the BC Secondary School System and to the Intermediate level in the Adult Basic Education System.

010 to 060 Level Courses

College of the Rockies 010 to 060  level courses are equivalent to literacy to grade 9 level courses in the BC Secondary School System and to the Fundamental level in the Adult Basic Education System.

18 years of age or older.

Step 1 – Contact Us to Plan Your Upgrading Program

Email our Upgrading for Academic and Career Entry (UACE) Program Coordinator or book an appointment with one of our Education Advisors to create your upgrading plan. We want to help make sure you will be successful and will walk you through the following steps during our appointment:

• Complete your application
• Help you establish your learning goals. For example, what are you aiming for, where do you hope to get to in your upgrading and education plan, and how quickly you would like to get there
• Help you determine where you need to start
• Help you create a personal learning plan with the courses you need to achieve your learning goals

Step 2 – Register for your Course

Once you have completed your application and personal learning plan you can register for your course.

For the 2025/26 academic year (2025/SU, 2025/FA, 2026/WI, 2026/SP)

Although all upgrading courses are tuition free, college and student fees still apply.

Fees vary depending upon courses chosen:

• Adult Upgrading Semester courses: $56.79 per course
• Adult Upgrading Directed Studies:
  • 010 – 060 level – $27.85 per course, textbooks included
  • 070 – 090 level – $83.65 per course, textbooks included
• For each adult upgrading course there is an $11.50 Students’ Association fee to a maximum of 3 courses per semester for $34.50.
• For fall and winter terms, domestic students add UPass ($44.40/term) if taking two Adult Upgrading Directed Studies or three or more face-to-face (semester) courses (Cranbrook only).
• For spring term, domestic students add UPass ($22.20/term) if taking two or more face-to-face courses (Cranbrook only).
• There are no additional costs for textbooks as the program provides students with the textbooks and resources they need. (Textbook deposits may be required at regional campuses.)

Adult Upgrading Grant & Awards

Learn more about financial assistance by visiting: Adult Upgrading Grant and Awards.

_{*Tuition and Fees for domestic students are estimates and are subject to change. Depending on course electives there may be additional lab fees. Tuition and Fees do not include textbook costs or supplies. Tuition fees include student technology fees, student activity fees, and alumni fees. For more information, visit: Tuition and Fees.}