Thompson Rivers University crest

General Studies: Bachelor's Degree (BGS)

Thompson Rivers University

Kamloops, British Columbia, CanadaWorld Rank #3,064

Official program page (opens in a new tab)

General Studies: Bachelor's Degree (BGS) at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, Canada is a bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts programme. The programme runs for 4 years, delivered in a hybrid format. Teaching is in English. Tuition is CAD 216 per credit for local students.

At a glance

Degree: Bachelor's Degree
Field: Liberal Arts
Duration: 4 years
Delivery: Hybrid
Language: English
Local tuition: CAD 216 / credit

Information for the 2027/28 academic year · Last reviewed September 2026 ·

Program details

Overview

The Bachelor of General Studies is the most flexible program offered by TRU OL. It accepts a high degree of PLAR (prior learning assessment and recognition) and transfer credit, making it ideal for those who have taken a non-linear path to education or have extensive work experience. You actually create your own program, as long as you meet the program requirements.

Requirements

Admission Requirements: Thompson Rivers University's Open Learning page for the Bachelor of General Studies lists open admission as the entry requirement, stating no required courses, minimum grades, prior credential, GPA or English-language test score (IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo or CAEL) for entry. Degree completion instead carries its own conditions: a minimum of 15 TRU credits completed in residence (distance or on-campus), an overall GPA of 2.00 or higher across all courses required for the degree, and a 120-credit structure including 6 credits of university-level English composition and literature, 45 upper-level credits and 69 elective credits. No portfolio, interview, work-experience or age condition is stated for admission on this page.

Application Details

Application Deadline: Domestic applicants (Canadian citizens and permanent residents) apply directly to TRU: for the September (Fall) intake the deadline is 1 May, for January (Winter) it is 1 September, and for the May (Summer) intake it is 1 January; applications for most programs open 1 October, and a deadline falling on a weekend or statutory holiday moves to the next working day. International applicants follow the same intake structure with deadlines of 1 May (September), 1 October (January) and 1 February (May); TRU still reviews later applications where space remains, though high-volume programs can close early, so admission runs on a rolling basis around these published cut-offs for the 2027 entry cycle. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.

About Thompson Rivers University

“Quansem Ilep”

Type: University
Control: Public
Campus setting: Urban
Founded: 1970
World rank: #3,064
Programs: 190
Location: Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada

View the full Thompson Rivers University profile

Similar programs in Canada

More programs at Thompson Rivers University

Other universities in Canada

Frequently asked questions

What degree does General Studies: Bachelor's Degree (BGS) award?

Thompson Rivers University awards a Bachelor's Degree in the field of Liberal Arts on completion of this programme.

How long does General Studies: Bachelor's Degree (BGS) take?

The programme runs for 4 years.

How much does General Studies: Bachelor's Degree (BGS) cost?

Tuition is CAD 216 per credit for local students.

Can General Studies: Bachelor's Degree (BGS) be studied online?

Partly — the programme uses a hybrid format combining online and on-campus study.

What language is General Studies: Bachelor's Degree (BGS) taught in?

The programme is taught in English.

Browse all articles →

Spotted something outdated or missing?

Help us keep this page accurate — it takes about 30 seconds.

Free calculators and converters to plan your study-abroad journey.

Latest Articles

Fresh guides and advice for studying abroad.

View all →

Compare Compare