Associate of Arts is an associate's degree in Liberal Arts programme offered by University Canada West in Vancouver, Canada. The programme runs for 2 years, delivered in a hybrid format. Tuition for international students is CAD 44,500 per total (CAD 21,320 per total for local students).
At a glance
Degree:Associate's Degree
Field:Liberal Arts
Duration: 2 years
Delivery: Hybrid
Local tuition: CAD 21,320 / total
International tuition: CAD 44,500 / total
Last checked September 2026 · Source: ucanwest.ca ·
Program details
Overview
The Associate of Arts at University Canada West is a two-year undergraduate credential equivalent to the first two years of a four-year bachelor's degree in the arts. Delivered in Vancouver in a hybrid format that combines on-campus classes with online guided learning each week, the program comprises 60 credits across 20 courses, including a preparatory orientation course, two required English courses, three science courses, six first-year arts courses in the humanities and social sciences, six second-year arts courses, and three electives. Instruction uses a mix of lectures, discussions, written assignments, presentations, and team-based tasks. After completing 30 credits, students can move into the Bachelor of Arts in Business Communication or Bachelor of Commerce at the same institution, and the credential is also accepted for transfer into bachelor's programs at other British Columbia degree-granting institutions. Admission requires a Canadian Grade 12 diploma or equivalent with an overall average of C or better, along with the required level of English proficiency for non-native speakers. Four intakes run each year, in Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer. The program suits students seeking a broad arts foundation before transferring into a bachelor's program, or those pursuing direct entry into the labour market with a two-year credential.
Requirements
Minimum GPA:2.00 / 4.33
Admission Requirements: Admission requires a Canadian high school (Grade 12) diploma or equivalent, with an overall average of C or better, equal to 2.0 on UCW's 4.33 GPA scale; meeting this minimum does not guarantee acceptance. Applicants whose first language is not English must present academic IELTS 6.5 or better with a minimum of 6.0 in the writing band, or an equivalent score, with students falling short able to complete UCW's University Access Program to meet the language requirement. International applicants must also obtain a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) before enrolling. The two-year, 60-credit/20-course program admits students in Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer terms; international students should note that Associate of Arts graduates are not eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit, unlike UCW's bachelor's degree graduates.
Application Details
Start Date:Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
Application Deadline:University Canada West has so far published only two terms of the current cycle: Fall 2026 closed 7 September 2026 for domestic applicants and 17 August 2026 for international applicants, three weeks earlier to allow time for study permits, while Summer 2026 closed 15 June (domestic) and 25 May (international). UCW has not yet posted Winter 2027 or Spring 2027 deadlines on its dates-and-deadlines page as of September 2026, and every published date is marked 'subject to change.' The university runs Fall, Winter and Spring intakes and allows deferrals of up to one year; admission is not described as rolling -- these are fixed per-term cut-offs, simply not yet published for the next two intakes. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
