*30% discount applies for Canadian Forces members and veterans
Delivery
Hybrid Mode (in-person and online guided learning)
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Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) Code: 52.0101 International students graduating from the Bachelor of Commerce program may be eligible to apply for a Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) if they meet all the eligibility criteria as outlined by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Students graduating with a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or doctorate degree DO NOT need to meet the CIP field of eligibility requirement.
What is a Bachelor of Commerce Degree?
The Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) will provide you with foundational knowledge of contemporary business and its practices. Based in Vancouver, Canada, this ACBSP-accredited degree prepares you for a successful career in business or management, where you will contribute constructively to a global economy.
UCW’s BCom program has also received the NCMA designation from CIM | Chartered Managers Canada.
The BCom program also includes three specializations, which allow enrolled students to focus their electives in the fields of Accounting, Marketing, or Technology Management.
Students currently enrolled in the BCom program are entitled to a free Associate Membership with CIM | Chartered Manager Canada, giving UCW students the chance to belong to Canada’s chartered management and leadership association while earning their degree.
Associate Members can participate in all the networking and professional development opportunities the association offers, helping them get ready for their new career after they graduate.
Graduates of the BCom program will be able to
Use managerial and financial tools to assess basic business issues critically.
Research and analyze business systems, processes and functions in the context of local, regional and global conditions.
Apply contemporary business methods to problems and contexts.
Create ethically and legally sound proposals, plans and projects.
Organize information to communicate persuasively to target audiences.
Demonstrate critical thinking and reflection skills in course deliverables.
Work productively in a collaborative and multicultural environment.
Hybrid Mode Delivery Model
Courses in the hybrid BCom program are taught using a hybrid learning model that blends on-campus classes and online guided learning. Each course is scheduled to have 2.5 hours of on-campus class and 1.5 hours of online guided learning per week during weeks 1-10 of each 12-week term. Final revisions, examinations and culminating evaluations are completed during weeks 11/12.
The BCom program is also available as a formal online program. To learn more about the differences between the hybrid and formal online version of the BCom program, please refer to the resources on the Undergraduate Programs webpage.
Learning Methods
Team activities are an intrinsic part of many courses and build skills vital for professional success. You will learn through a combination of the following methods:
Lectures and class discussions
Studying academic literature
Looking closely at case studies
Team activities
Course Coverage for CPA Programs
Thanks to an articulation agreement between UCW and the Chartered Professional Accountants (CPA) of British Columbia, students can transfer credit courses for direct entry into the CPA Professional Education Program (PEP). This means your career is accelerated by taking the required CPA PEP prerequisite courses while getting your degree, instead of waiting until after you have your Bachelor of Commerce.
Students who are missing one or more of the required courses for direct admission into the Chartered Professional Accountants Professional Education Program (CPA PEP) can complete the equivalent coursework at University Canada West.
A list of specific CPA prerequisite requirements that University Canada West students may be exempt from taking if they have the completed courses at UCW can be found here.
Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) with Specializations
BCom Course Structure
Students pursuing a BCom at UCW will join a cohort when they start their first term.
Students will progress through the first term of their program together by taking three core courses. Core courses will be offered on multiple days and at different times.
In subsequent terms, students have the flexibility to choose the sequence in which they enroll in courses if they meet the pre-requisite requirements.
Students pursuing a BCom degree part-time will progress at a different pace through the cohort system.
Elective/specialization courses are offered in accordance with the annual course rotation plan published by the University. Students are encouraged to review the course rotation plan and consult with Academic Advisors to create a program plan that fits their needs.
For further information about the cohort system see this FAQ.
ENGL 100 - Academic Writing
BUSI 100 - Business Fundamentals
CPSC 111 - Business Analytics
Block 1
COMM 140 - Business Communications
ECON 102 - Microeconomics
MATH 101 - Business Mathematics
ACCT 140 - Accounting Principles
ECON 104 - Macroeconomics
Elective 1 (1XX or 2XX)
Elective 2 (1XX or 2XX)
Elective 3 (1XX or 2XX)
Elective 4 (1XX or 2XX). Pre-requisite: Completion of 15 credits
Block 2
MATH 200 – Statistics. Pre-requisite: Completion of 30 credits including MATH 1XX
BUSI 201 - Business Environment. Pre-requisite: Completion of 30 credits including BUSI 100
MRKT 201 - Marketing Management. Pre-requisite: Completion of 30 credits including ENGL 100
ORGB 201 - Organizational Behaviour. Pre-requisite: Completion of 30 credits including ENGL 100
PHIL 210 - Business Ethics. Pre-requisite: Completion of 30 credits
Elective 5 (1XX or 2XX). Pre-requisite: Completion of 30 credits
WORK 298 - Career Preparation. Pre-requisite: Completion of 30 credits
CPSC 201 - Management Information Systems. Pre-requisite: Completion of 30 credits
Elective 6 (3XX or 4XX). Pre-requisite: Completion of 45 credits
Block 3
ACCT 301 - Managerial Accounting I. Pre-requisite: Completion of 60 credits including ACCT 101 or ACCT 140
HRMT 301 - Human Resource Management. Pre-requisite: Completion of 60 credits
FNCE 303 – Finance. Pre-requisite: Completion of 60 credits including MATH 1XX
OPMT 301 - Operations Management. Pre-requisite: Completion of 60 credits including MATH 200 or MATH 201
CPSC 311 - Data Visualization & Stories. Pre-requisite: Completion of 60 credits including CPSC 111
COMM 312 - Professional Communications. Pre-requisite: Completion of 60 credits including COMM 140
BUSI 325 - Business Law. Pre-requisite: Completion of 60 credits including BUSI 100
Elective 7/Specialization (3XX or 4XX). Pre-requisite: Completion of 60 credits including ACCT 103 or ACCT 140
Elective 8/Specialization (3XX or 4XX). Pre-requisite: Completion of 60 credits including ACCT 301
Block 4
BUSI 496 - Sustainable Business Practices. Pre-requisite: Completion of 90 credits including BUSI 201
Elective 9/Specialization (3XX or 4XX). Pre-requisite: Completion of 90 credits
Elective 10/Specialization (3XX or 4XX). Pre-requisite: Completion of 90 credits
Elective 11/Specialization (3XX or 4XX). Pre-requisite: Completion of 90 credits
Elective 12/Specialization (3XX or 4XX). Pre-requisite: Completion of 90 credits
BUSI 401 - Strategy & Decision Making. Pre-requisite: Completion of 90 credits including BUSI 201
Elective 13/Specialization (3XX or 4XX). Pre-requisite: Completion of 90 credits
Elective 14/Specialization (3XX or 4XX). Pre-requisite: Completion of 90 credits
Elective 15/Specialization (3XX or 4XX). Pre-requisite: Completion of 90 credits
WORK 498 - Capstone Project. Pre-requisite: Completion of 90 credits including WORK 298
At least 5 of the 3XX or 4XX level electives must be selected from business-related subjects (ACCT, BUSI, MGMT, MRKT, FNCE). At least 5 elective courses at any level must come from a non-business field (any course code other than listed above).
Specializations
At the time of application, students will be able to select one of the three specializations- Accounting, Marketing, or Technology Management- or to take the Bachelor of Commerce (General) pathway without a specialization. Selecting a specialization allows students to focus their studies on a specific area of business, gaining in-depth knowledge and practical skills tailored to their future career goals.
Students may apply to transfer into or between specializations until term 7 or the completion of 60 credits unless otherwise approved by the Dean.
The Accounting specialization in the Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) program equips students with in-demand skills for a successful career in accounting and finance, gaining a solid foundation in both theory and practical application. The program is aligned with CPA Canada requirements, allowing graduates to transfer up to 15 CPA preparatory courses and smoothly transition into the CPA Professional Education Program. This specialization prepares students for diverse career paths in public accounting, corporate finance, auditing and financial analysis.
Program requirement: In addition to the BCom degree core courses, the Accounting specialization requires at least 5 of the following courses:
Accounting (choose 5):
ACCT 303 —Managerial Accounting II
ACCT 305 —Auditing & Assurance
ACCT 307 —Income Taxation
ACCT 340 —Interm. Financial Reporting I
ACCT 341 —Interm. Financial Reporting II
ACCT 401 —Strategic Managerial Acct
ACCT 440 —Advanced Financial Reporting
The Marketing specialization will provide students with essential marketing concepts together with new technological trends in marketing to help develop a sound marketing strategy. The core marketing course will include courses such as marketing management, consumer behaviour and international marketing. In addition, a focus on digital marketing will include topics such as social media marketing, search engine marketing (SEM), search engine optimization, content marketing, mobile marketing and affiliate marketing.
In addition to the BCom degree core courses, the Marketing specialization requires 6 courses from the list below (at least 12 credits must come from the 300 or 400 level courses):
Essential Marketing (choose 4):
MRKT 221 -Service Marketing
MRKT 225 -Marketing Research
MRKT 302 -Integrated Marketing Comm
PUBR 300 - PR in Practice & Theory
MRKT 305 - Consumer Behaviour
MRKT 427 – Global Marketing
Digital Marketing (choose 2):
MRKT 223 -Digital Marketing Strategy
COMM 260 -Content Creation
COMM 304 -Social Media
BUSI 445 -E-commerce
The Technology Management specialization equips future business managers with solid technological skills that can be applied to improve business operations.
There are 3 areas in technology management:
Technology foundation - provides an overall understanding of modern technology.
Business applications – examines how new technologies can be applied to improve business operations.
Social aspect – explores topics such as security, ethical and legal issues related to the use of technology.
In addition to BCom degree core courses, the Technology Management specialization requires at least 5 courses from the following 3 areas:
Technology Foundation (take both):
BUSI 402 –-Crypto, Fintech & Blockchain
CPSC 441—Emerging Technologies
Business Applications (choose 2):
BUSI 323 – E-business
BUSI 445 – E-commerce
BUSI 302 – Digital Transformations
MGMT 307 — Managing Innovation
RSCH 404 —Research and Development
MRKT 223 —Digital Marketing Strategy
Social Aspect (choose 1):
CPSC 301 – Cybersecurity Awareness
CPSC 321 – Information Technology Ethics
BCom Elective Areas
Students may choose electives from Human Resource Management (HRM) and International Trade (see descriptions below). Each elective area consists of carefully designed courses that build specialized knowledge and practical skills, complementing the core BCom curriculum.
The Human Resource Management (HRM) elective area focuses on developing skills in talent acquisition, employee relations, training and development, compensation and organizational behaviour. Students learn how to align HR practices with business strategy, foster inclusive workplace cultures and manage human capital effectively. This elective area is ideal for those interested in leadership roles where understanding people, performance and policy is key. Graduates are well-prepared for roles such as HR coordinator, recruiter, training specialist or HR business partner. This elective area can serve as a pathway toward professional certifications like Chartered Professionals in Human Resources (CPHR).
HRMT 303-Occupational Health & Safety (previously 202)
HRMT 310-Industrial Relations
HRMT 302-Recruitment and Selection
HRMT 401-Strategic HR Planning
HRMT 402-Strategic Compensation
HRMT 405-Workforce Training & Growth
The International Trade elective area equips students with knowledge of global markets, cross-border trade regulations and international business strategy. Courses explore topics such as export-import management, trade agreements, supply chain logistics and global economics. Students gain an understanding of how political, cultural and economic factors impact international business. This elective area is ideal for students aiming to work in global commerce, government trade departments or multinational corporations navigating international expansion. This elective area serves as a pathway towards obtaining the FITT Diploma in International Trade and can lead to the Certified International Trade Professional (CITP) designation.
BUSI 310-Feasibility of Int'l Trade
BUSI 311-Int'l Market Entry Strategies
BUSI 322-Int'l Sales and Marketing
BUSI 324-Products for a Global Market
BUSI 403-International Trade Finance
BUSI 404-Global Value Chain
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Students must remain in Good Academic Standing to continue their studies at UCW. To remain in Good Academic Standing, undergraduate students must maintain a 2.00 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA). For full details about Academic Standing, refer to the current Academic Calendar here.
Entry Requirements
Canadian High School (Grade 12) diploma or equivalent with an overall average of C or better (2.0 on a 4.33 scale)
AND
Academic IELTS – 6.5 or better with a minimum of 6.0 in the writing band, or equivalent (for students whose first language is not English). More information is available in the English Proficiency section of this website.
You can complete the English pathway courses (University Access Program) in order to meet the English proficiency requirements of the Bachelor of Commerce program.
A Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) is required for prospective international students studying at UCW. To learn more, visit the PAL page on our website.
Graduation Requirements
UCW students must fulfill the program requirements in place at the time of their intake. For full details about Graduation Eligibility please refer to the current or relevant publication of the Academic Calendar.
Maria Fernanda Chavez Paredes
Bachelor of Commerce Student from Peru
"I chose UCW because the programs are well developed. UCW is competitive in front of other universities, public and private. It is also placed in one of the most beautiful places to live in the world."
"Upon graduating in 2021, I wasted no time in applying my new found expertise to my professional life. Within a few months, I was rewarded with a promotion to the position of Associate Vice-President.
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"My time at University Canada West (UCW) has been nothing short of outstanding. Balancing my part-time studies with family obligations and a full-time job seemed impossible at first, but UCW’s adaptable approach and supportive community made it all possible."
Tuition deposit for international students: $8,800
First term tuition deposit for domestic students: $650
*30% discount applies for Canadian Forces members and veterans on all programs.
**Additional costs related to textbooks and materials for each course are not included in tuition. Textbooks cost an average of $105 per course.
Tuition and fees at UCW are reviewed annually and adjusted, typically by up to 5%. Any changes take effect in January and will be communicated to students a few months in advance via email, prior to the start of the affected term.
This program is offered under the written consent of the Minister effective July 22, 2024, having undergone a quality assessment process and been found to meet the criteria established by the Minister. Nevertheless, prospective students are responsible for satisfying themselves that the program and the degree will be appropriate to their needs (for example, acceptable to potential employers, professional licensing bodies, or other educational institutions).
Explore UCW
Get all the details about programs, admissions and student life in one easy-to-access guide.
In Canada, a Bachelor’s degree typically takes four years of full-time study to complete. At University Canada West, the Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) is a four-year undergraduate program designed to equip students with a strong foundation in business and commerce.
Yes, a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) is worth it for students aiming to build a career in business, finance, marketing, accounting, management or even entrepreneurship. UCW’s BCom offers industry-relevant training, professional pathways (such as CPA) and flexible delivery options (online or hybrid), making it a strong investment in your future.
A BCom degree opens doors to a wide range of careers, including:
Accountant
Financial Analyst
Business Consultant
Marketing Manager
Project Manager
Entrepreneur
Operations Manager
Human Resources Specialist
Investment Banker
At UCW, students also benefit from career-focused support and have the option to pursue specializations in Accounting, Marketing or Technology Management (beginning Winter 2026 Term).
While both degrees focus on business, they are not exactly the same.
A Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) tends to focus more on management and leadership skills.
A Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) has a stronger emphasis on finance, accounting and economics, often with a more analytical and quantitative approach.
UCW offers a BCom, which is well-suited for students interested in technical business roles or pursuing professional designations like CPA.
The BCom is a highly respected degree in Canada and internationally. It provides a solid academic foundation and a versatile skill set that can lead to varied and well-paying careers across industries. At UCW, the BCom is also ACBSP-accredited and taught by experienced faculty with industry backgrounds, making it a strong and reputable choice for aspiring business professionals.
Explore our campuses
University Canada West is an innovative business and technology-oriented institution located in the heart of vibrant Vancouver. Established in 2004, UCW offers a range of career-focused programs including the Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Arts in Business Communication, Associate of Arts and Master of Business Administration. Courses are offered at our two downtown Vancouver campuses and online too. Offering courses online brings flexibility to education, allowing those who may not have otherwise had the opportunity to gain respected qualifications.
