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Adult Basic Education - General Upgrading

Credential
Stand Alone Courses

Duration

If you're an adult learner looking to apply to post-secondary institutions or a high school student needing to improve your marks, the Adult Basic Education (ABE) courses at CapU are a great place to start to get into your select university program.

ABE courses are tuition-free for Canadian citizens and permanent residents and are available full-time or part-time, through online learning or in a classroom.

The department offers prerequisites in math, English, biology, chemistry, physics, computer science and history courses.

This Adult Education program can help you:

  • successfully complete your high school diploma courses and achieve your BC Adult Graduation Diploma (Adult Dogwood);
  • improve your marks in Grade 11 or Grade 12 courses needed as prerequisites for post-secondary studies;
  • improve your GPA in college programs;
  • complete university prerequisites; and
  • get your English 100 credit and English 12 in the same semester.

Now offered in Squamish

CapU students chatting in the Squamish cafeteria.

ABE courses are also offered at CapU’s newest campus in Squamish, B.C. 

Sign up to receive information about available and upcoming courses.

SIGN UP

Next steps

Apply & Register

If you're new to ABE, you'll need to first apply and register for courses.

Apply & Register

Adult Upgrading Grant

Apply for an AUG to help you pay for incidental fees.

Get the grant

ABE FAQ

Do you have a question about ABE? Find the answers here.

I have a question

Intakes

Important dates

Applications open

Jun 4, 2024 – Jul 8, 2025

Course Registration & Waitlisting start

Mar 3, 2025

Fee payment deadline

4:00 PM - Apr 29, 2025

Important dates

Applications open

Jun 4, 2024 – Jul 8, 2025

Course Registration & Waitlisting start

Mar 3, 2025

Fee payment deadline

4:00 PM - Apr 29, 2025

Important dates

Applications open

Jun 4, 2024 – Jul 8, 2025

Course Registration & Waitlisting start

Mar 3, 2025

Fee payment deadline

4:00 PM - Apr 29, 2025

Important dates

Applications open

Jun 4, 2024 – Jun 3, 2025

Course Registration & Waitlisting start

Mar 3, 2025

Fee payment deadline

4:00 PM - Apr 29, 2025

Important dates

Applications open

Oct 1, 2024 – Oct 7, 2025

Course Registration & Waitlisting start

Jul 3, 2025

Fee payment deadline

4:00 PM - Aug 25, 2025

Important dates

Applications open

Oct 1, 2024 – Oct 7, 2025

Course Registration & Waitlisting start

Jul 3, 2025

Fee payment deadline

4:00 PM - Aug 25, 2025

Important dates

Applications open

Oct 1, 2024 – Oct 7, 2025

Course Registration & Waitlisting start

Jul 3, 2025

Fee payment deadline

4:00 PM - Aug 25, 2025

Important dates

Applications open

Oct 1, 2024 – Oct 7, 2025

Course Registration & Waitlisting start

Jul 3, 2025

Fee payment deadline

4:00 PM - Aug 25, 2025

Important dates

Applications open

Feb 4, 2025 – Feb 3, 2026

Course Registration & Waitlisting start

Nov 12, 2025

Fee payment deadline

4:00 PM - Dec 15, 2025

Important dates

Applications open

Feb 4, 2025 – Feb 3, 2026

Course Registration & Waitlisting start

Nov 12, 2025

Fee payment deadline

4:00 PM - Dec 15, 2025

Important dates

Applications open

Feb 4, 2025 – Feb 3, 2026

Course Registration & Waitlisting start

Nov 12, 2025

Fee payment deadline

4:00 PM - Dec 15, 2025

Important dates

Applications open

Feb 4, 2025 – Feb 3, 2026

Course Registration & Waitlisting start

Nov 12, 2025

Fee payment deadline

4:00 PM - Dec 15, 2025

Important dates

Applications open

Jun 2, 2025 – Jul 7, 2026

Course Registration & Waitlisting start

Mar 2, 2026

Fee payment deadline

4:00 PM - Apr 27, 2026

Important dates

Applications open

Jun 3, 2025 – Jun 2, 2026

Course Registration & Waitlisting start

Mar 2, 2026

Fee payment deadline

4:00 PM - Apr 27, 2026

Important dates

Applications open

Jun 3, 2025 – Jun 2, 2026

Course Registration & Waitlisting start

Mar 2, 2026

Fee payment deadline

4:00 PM - Apr 27, 2026

Important dates

Applications open

Jun 3, 2025 – Jun 2, 2026

Course Registration & Waitlisting start

Mar 2, 2026

Fee payment deadline

4:00 PM - Apr 27, 2026

NOTE: Important dates may change.

How to Apply

Are you applying as a domestic or as an international student?

Most of the questions students have about the ABE programs are answered in our Frequently Asked Questions area.

Note: If you are a current or returning ABE student go to the next step.

Every student must apply to CapU through EducationPlannerBC (EPBC), a website for applying to universities and colleges across British Columbia.

Visit Apply Now to make sure you're ready to fill in your application.

In the education planner form:

  1. Create an account
  2. Select "Capilano University"
  3. Create an application
  4. Under program selection, select the term to start:
    • Fall, Summer or Spring
  5. Select the option that best describes you:
    • new applicant (domestic)
    • returning student
    • current student (changing program)
  6. Select credential:
    • Academic Upgrading
  7. Select program:
    • Adult Basic Education
  8. Select campus:
    • North Vancouver
    • Squamish
    • Sunshine Coast
    • Ts̓zil Learning Centre
  9. Upload your supporting documents (optional)
  10. Pay the application fees as applicable and complete the application submission. 

Find more information on How to Apply.

Apply on EPBC

Current students can contact any one of their current instructors to register.

Returning students (not a student in the current term, but have taken ABE courses in the previous 2 years), please email upgrading@capilanou.ca to request a registration appointment with an instructor.

After you’ve applied to CapU, we will email you an invitation to view our information session video and complete our required assessments on eLearn (Moodle).

In the email, we will give you instructions for how to access eLearn (Moodle).

We have assessments for English, math, and sciences, as well as questionnaires for our other subjects.

Our instructors need to know which class is at the right level for you, so before you can register for Adult Basic Education (ABE) courses, you’ll need to complete the assessments.

Note: The assessments have no academic value other than assisting instructors in placing students in the correct level for their studies.

You cannot register for courses until you’ve completed the assessments.

Once you are finished your assessments in eLearn, please email upgrading@capilanou.ca to request a registration appointment with an instructor.

New ABE students register for ABE courses on Zoom with an instructor.

During your 30-minute registration appointment, you can ask questions and select your courses.

Current and returning students

During the time arranged in Step 3, meet with an instructor via Zoom, and confirm your selection of classes with an email from your myCapU email account.

If you don’t pay your fees on time you may be charged a late fee or even deregistered from your courses. 

Canadian citizens and Permanent Residents do not pay tuition fees for ABE courses.

You will still pay:

Find more information about the Adult Upgrading Grant (AUG).

Financial Aid & Awards

Most of the questions students have about the ABE programs are answered in our Frequently Asked Questions area.

Note: If you are a current or returning ABE student go to the next step.

Every student must apply to CapU through EducationPlannerBC (EPBC), a website for applying to universities and colleges across British Columbia.

Visit Apply Now to make sure you're ready to fill in your application.

In the education planner form:

  1. Create an account
  2. Select "Capilano University"
  3. Create an application
  4. Under program selection, select the term to start:
    • Fall, Summer or Spring
  5. Select the option that best describes you:
    • new applicant (international)
    • new international applicant (current study permit holder)
    • returning student
    • current student (changing program)
  6. Select credential:
    • Academic Upgrading
  7. Select program:
    • Adult Basic Education
  8. Select campus:
    • North Vancouver
    • Squamish
    • Sunshine Coast
    • Ts̓zil Learning Centre
  9. Upload your supporting documents (optional)
  10. Pay the application fees as applicable and complete the application submission. 

Find more information on How to Apply.

Apply on EPBC

Current students can contact any one of their current instructors to register.

Returning students (not a student in the current term, but have taken ABE courses in the previous 2 years), please email upgrading@capilanou.ca to request a registration appointment with an instructor.

After you’ve applied to CapU, we will email you an invitation to view our information session video and complete our required assessments on eLearn (Moodle).

In the email, we will give you instructions for how to access eLearn (Moodle).

We have assessments for English, math, and sciences, as well as questionnaires for our other subjects.

Our instructors need to know which class is at the right level for you, so before you can register for Adult Basic Education (ABE) courses, you’ll need to complete the assessments.

Note: The assessments have no academic value other than assisting instructors in placing students in the correct level for their studies.

You cannot register for courses until you’ve completed the assessments.

Once you are finished your assessments in eLearn, please email upgrading@capilanou.ca to request a registration appointment with an instructor.

New ABE students register for ABE courses on Zoom with an instructor.

During your 30-minute registration appointment, you can ask questions and select your courses.

Current and returning students

During the time arranged in Step 3, meet with an instructor via Zoom, and confirm your selection of classes with an email from your myCapU email account.

If you don’t pay your fees on time you may be charged a late fee or even deregistered from your courses. 

Canadian citizens and Permanent Residents do not pay tuition fees for ABE courses.

You will still pay:

Find more information about the Adult Upgrading Grant (AUG).

Financial Aid & Awards

To attend classes in your program, you must register for courses. You can refer to your acceptance email in your myCapU email inbox for details.

View our page for admitted international students to learn how to prepare for your first day at CapU!

  • Students who want to request transfer credits from their previous institutions must submit official transcripts. If the courses are listed in the BC Transfer Guide, submit your official documents to the following address:

Centre for International Experience
Library Building, Room LB127
2055 Purcell Way
North Vancouver, BC
V7J 3H5

For courses from non-articulated institutions, please visit the Transfer Credit page for more information.

Official documents may include:

These documents must be sent directly from that institution to Capilano University. They must include the seal of the institution and the signature of the authorizing school representative.

We will accept photocopies of transcripts if certified by the authorizing university or college officer. Notarized copies are not acceptable.

Students may also submit photocopies of academic documents verified by the issuing authority. These authorities include the Ministry of Education, the high school, university, or college, the apostille* or by the appropriate examination board.

Notarized copies are not acceptable.

*Apostille countries refers to an international form of a notary seal as certified by the Hague convention. These would be official notary documents from countries such as Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, etc. and can be accepted in place of original or school-certified documents. The Apostille is prepared by either the Ministry of Education or the Ministry of Justice in these countries.

Please note: Documents issued in a language other than English must also include certified English translations. Documents must be in the original language of the issue and translated into English by a recognized translator, if required.

An academic document is original if issued to the student by the institution following that institution’s policies.
Notarized copies are not acceptable.

Fees

Tuition & Other Fees

ABE students do not pay tuition but are subject to other fees.

See the Fees

Mandatory Fees

Every CapU student pays certain mandatory fees to study at the University.

See Mandatory Fees

Incidental Fees

There are fees for certain services on CapU campuses. Find out more here.

See Incidental Fees

The courses below reflect the current program profile. Login to myCapMap to see the program requirements for the term you started.

myCapMap Login

Required Courses

Total program credits: 10.00

Adult Graduation Diploma Requirements

Total credits: 10.00

Required:

Choose 2.00 credits from the following list:

BENG 052

Or

Provincial Level English

2 credits

BENG 053 & 054

 

Provincial Level English

2 credits

Required:

Choose 2.00 credits from the following list:

BMTH 043 & 044

Or

Advanced Level math

2 credits

BMTH 047 & 048

Or

Advanced Level math

2 credits

BMTH 053 & 054

 

Provincial Level math

2 credits

Choose 6.00 credits from the following list:

 BFPS 052

Or

Provincial level Indigenous culture and history

2 credits

BMTH 053 & 054

Or

Provincial level math

2 credits

BCHM 053 & 054

Or

Provincial level chemistry

2 credits

BPHY 053 & 054

Or

Provincial level physics

2 credits

BBIO 053 & 054

Or

Provincial level biology

2 credits

BHST 052

Or

Provincial level history (Spring only)

2 credits

BCMP 051

Or

Provincial level computers

2 credits

BCMP 052

Or

Provincial level computers

2 credits

BCMP 053

 

Provincial level computers

2 credits

Total program credits: 10.00

We offer grades 10-12 equivalent courses in math, English, biology, chemistry, physics, computers and history.

How to Declare

For the official publication of programs, course descriptions and admission requirements please view the Capilano University Calendar.

Have a question?

Get in touch with us!

About this program

CapU's North Vancouver main campus or CapU Lonsdale

upgrading@capilanou.ca

About this program

ABE at kálax-ay Sunshine Coast campus

juttaangus@capilanou.ca

About this program

ABE at the Ts̓zil Learning Centre

TLC@capilanou.ca

General inquiries

Student Information Services
Library Building, room LB152

604-984-4900
604-984-1798 (fax)
registration@capilanou.ca