BSc Specialization Application Tips
May 12, 2025
As UBC Science's BSc Specialization Application approaches, many students come to Science Advising asking questions. We're here to demystify the application process, highlight common misconceptions, and help you make strategic choices that are right for you.
Things to Know Before You Dig In
- Specialization Planning Timeline – the final planning and application stage of the process happens in May/June, which means courses taken in the upcoming summer session won't count towards eligibility requirements.
- Sufficient Progress – you must meet the requirements for sufficient progress to 2nd year class standing to be eligible to apply for a specialization. Pending summer courses don't count for sufficient progress evaluation either.
- Specialization admission requirements vs. first year required courses– know which courses you need to have completed to be considered for a specialization.
- Degree types – learn the differences between major, double major, combined major, honours, etc.
- BSc Specialization Application – there is a lot of information to help you prepare in advance of the application dates.
- Look through departmental websites and attend Meet Your Major - there are a lot of options you may not have considered!
Common Misconceptions and Mistakes
Applying to a specialization without meeting requirements
If you apply to a specialization that you don’t meet the requirements for (see #3 above), you will not be admitted to that option.
Thinking you're automatically progressed to 2nd year class standing
Being in UBC Science for one year doesn't mean you are automatically progressed to second year class standing. You must meet sufficient progress requirements for second year class standing by the end of the current winter session. See #2 above.
Selecting all three of your choices in competitive specializations
Several of our specializations (e.g., Cellular, Anatomical and Physiological Sciences, Pharmacology, Microbiology, Computer Science) have a very limited number of seats and can’t meet the high levels of student demand. Take this into consideration and be strategic when selecting your 3 ranked choices.
The Computer Science "umbrella"
There are nine specializations that draw on the available Computer Science seats:
- Majors in Computer Science, Cognitive Systems: Computational Intelligence and Design, and Mathematical Sciences;
- Combined Majors in Computer Science and Biology, Computer Science and Chemistry, Computer Science and Mathematics, Computer Science and Microbiology & Immunology, Computer Science and Physics, Computer Science and Statistics.
You are permitted to apply for up to two specializations within the computer science umbrella. This is because if your application isn't competitive for your first two CPSC choices, it will not be competitive for a third.
Thinking higher admission averages indicate harder specializations
Some students guess that specializations with higher admission averages are academically more challenging. However, this isn't necessarily the case. Admission averages reflect both the number of applicants and available spots, rather than the difficulty of the specialization, and these numbers can vary each year as the number of seats changes.
Understanding this can help you decide which specializations to rank for your three choices, allowing you to focus on your interests and strengths.
Common Concerns and Questions
What happens if I don’t get into any of my choices? Do I end up with no specialization?
If you are not successful with your three choices, you'll be notified and entered into a second round of the specialization process. However, this round includes only specializations that still have spots remaining and operates on a first-come first-serve basis.
I’m in the application and I only see drop-down menus. Where’s the rest of the application?
To complete this application, you select your top three choices and submit – there’s nothing more you need to do.
So what average do I need?
What 'average' is being used?
The average used for the BSc Specialization Application is your most recent overall Winter Session average only (or admission average, for transfer students).
Are there predetermined cutoff averages?
No. Students are placed into their first-choice specialization (so long as they meet eligibility requirements) ordered by average, as long as there's still room in the specialization. The cutoff average is the average of the student who gets the last spot in a specialization, and this varies from year to year. There are some variations in the placement process, and these are indicated on the BSc Specialization application pages.
Can you tell me what the minimum averages were last year?
Try not to fixate on averages. As mentioned above, the admission averages for entry fluctuate from year to year, and exceeding historical averages doesn’t guarantee admission in the current cycle. For a comprehensive view of these trends, you can view the historical admission averages.
Strategies for an Effective Application
Make sure you have completed the eligibility requirements – don't lose one of your three choices because you were ineligible!
Choose what you really want to study as your first choice
Don’t focus too much on historical data about averages. If you don’t apply, there’s a 100% chance you won’t be considered!
Keep your interests in mind and be strategic with your second and third choices
Pick a specialization where some requirements overlap with your most desired specializations. This overlap may let you work towards meeting requirements for multiple specializations next year. That may enable you to switch into a different specialization for third year if it’s still of interest.
After you’ve read through the specialization info on this website, connect with Science Advising if you still have questions.
