Business English for International Professionals

This program provides students with a solid foundation in Canadian business English communications and helps them develop the confidence to communicate and interact with colleagues and clients in the Canadian workplace.

By the end of the program, you can expect to:

• know how to communicate effectively in a business environment
• feel confident in public speaking, meetings and presentations
• understand and be able to use common Canadian business English terms and expressions

If you’ve recently moved to Canada or are looking for employment in Canada for the first time, you may benefit from this program. You may already be employed and interested in enhancing your career skills or moving to a new job.

We recommend you have an English level equivalent to a B1 or higher of the Council of Europe’s Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) to enrol in the courses.

Fees are paid on a course-by-course basis and range from $365–$570 (including course materials). The total program cost is approximately $2,800-$2,900, including a non-refundable $175 application fee and depending on which electives you choose.

All fees are in Canadian dollars and subject to change. Fees are subject to GST where applicable. Fees may be paid by Visa®, Visa® Debit, Mastercard®, American Express®, money order or certified cheque.

For details on UBC’s payment policies, please see Refunds, Cancellations and Transfers.

This part-time program consists of four required courses and two elective courses of six to eight weeks each, for a total of 83 instructional hours. To obtain the award of achievement, all courses must be completed within 18 months.

You can have up to two previously completed English Communication Skills courses applied toward your award of achievement if you’ve taken the courses in the past year.

Required Courses

Elective Courses

The UBC Award of Achievement in Business English for International Professionals is a part-time program with options for online and/or in-person study that consists of four required courses and two electives.

Online courses are instructor supported with real-time classes, except for Business Writing Essentials which is instructor supported through feedback, online forums and virtual office hours.

Expect a highly interactive experience in the in-person and real-time classes, with group and pair work, and feedback from your instructor.

Expected effort

Expect to spend two to three hours per week on each course, including time spent in in-person or real-time classes, practising and reviewing material, and completing assignments.

To obtain the award of achievement, all six courses must be completed within 18 months.

Technology requirements

To take this program, you need access to:

• an email account
• a computer, laptop or tablet, using Windows or macOS
• the latest version of a web browser (or previous major version release)
• a reliable internet connection
• a video camera and microphone (to access real-time classes)

Assessment

You are assessed based on your participation and demonstrated improvements in your spoken skills. In Business Writing Essentials and Business Writing Style, you receive written feedback from your instructor on your assignments, but no letter or numerical grades.

To be granted the UBC Award of Achievement in Business English for International Professionals, you must attend 80% of your scheduled classes and complete all four required courses and at least two elective courses within 18 months. 

The admissions process helps to ensure that your needs, intentions and expectations are adequately matched to the program’s objectives and capabilities.

You can apply at any time for this program. You can have up to two previously completed English Communication Skills courses applied toward your award of achievement if you’ve taken the courses in the past year.

Application steps

1. Complete the online application form. You should include personal and/or career goals, interests and program expectations.
2. You will be directed to pay the $175 non-refundable application fee online.
3. Once you have been accepted into the award of achievement program, you can begin registering for courses.