Fall 2026: Applications are closed
Please visit the International application deadline page to find out when applications may be available.
Are you a creative person with big ideas? Looking for a career that will challenge you? Engineers are responsible for solving many of the challenges of modern life. As an engineer, you have the ability to tackle these problems by using your knowledge of science and mathematics.
What you'll learn
In the first year of the two-year Diploma in Engineering and Fabrication Technologies program, you will complete the academic courses required for the first year of a bachelor’s degree in engineering at a university.
In the second year of the program, you’ll develop practical skills in design and prototyping in our fabrication lab using industry-standard equipment. If you transfer to university to complete a bachelor’s degree in engineering, these practical skills will give you a competitive edge when applying for co-operative education placements. You’ll gain experience with constructing and programming robots, using a Raspberry Pi to control mechanical devices, and using cutting-edge fabrication technologies such as water jet cutters and laser cutters.
Get paid, full-time work experience during your studies
Put your skills to work by joining the optional Co-operative Education Program, which alternates semesters of study with paid, full-time work in your field. You’ll earn money while gaining experience, building your resume and getting an employer reference, all before you graduate.
Transfer to university
All academic courses in the Diploma in Engineering and Fabrication Technologies program are university transferrable, and will fulfil the requirements for the first year of a bachelor’s degree in engineering at most universities in BC.
Completion of the Diploma in Engineering and Fabrication Technologies program in five consecutive semesters starting in the Fall semester, with a minimum GPA of 3.1, meets the requirements of the UBC Engineering Transfer Program and makes you eligible for guaranteed year two admission in UBC’s Engineering degree program. See the “More Information” tab for full eligibility details.
In addition, if you meet the minimum GPA and course completion requirements, you are also eligible for a guaranteed seat in the second-year of the UVic engineering degree program. See the more information tab for full eligibility details.
Applicants must meet the admission requirements listed below:
* In most cases, university transferable coursework completed in the above subject areas can be used toward meeting the admission requirements.
Preferential Admission: Applicants who satisfy the admission requirements of the program will be ranked based on the Grade Point Average (GPA) of the courses required for admission. Applicants with the highest GPAs will receive the first offers.
Calculate your tuition and see the approximate cost of taking your program at Douglas College with the tuition and fee estimator. See costs broken down into categories including tuition fees, textbooks, student activity fees, U-Pass and more.
For more information, refer to the tuition fee charts.
Graduation Requirements:
Course Requirements (see note 1):
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| Required Courses: | ||
| CHEM 1150 (see note 2) | Chemistry for Engineering | 4.00 |
| CMPT 1109 | Computer Programming I | 3.00 |
| CMPT 2200 | Designing with Raspberry Pi | 3.00 |
| ENGR 1110 | Engineering Graphics & Design | 3.00 |
| ENGR 1190 | Introduction to Engineering Design | 4.00 |
| ENGR 2100 | Prototype and Practical Skills 1: Mechanical Prototyping |
4.00 |
| ENGR 2200 | Prototype and Practical Skills 2: Electronics Design and Prototyping |
4.00 |
| ENGR 2999 | Applied Engineering Project: Protoype Development |
3.00 |
| MATH 1120 | Calculus I | 3.00 |
| MATH 1220 | Calculus II | 3.00 |
| MATH 2210 (see note 3) | Applied Linear Algebra | 3.00 |
| MATH 2321 | Calculus III | 3.00 |
| MATH 2421 | Introduction to Differential Equations | 3.00 |
| PHYS 1110 | Mechanics | 5.00 |
| PHYS 1210 | Optics, Electromagnetism, and Circuits |
5.00 |
| Elective (see note 4) | Select one university transferable Arts elective | 3.00 |
| Select one course from the following two options: | ||
| CMNS 1135 | Professional Communication for Engineering Students | 3.00 |
| ENGL 1130 | Academic Writing | 3.00 |
| Select three courses from the following options: | ||
| CMPT 1209 | Computer Programming II | 3.00 |
| CMPT 2276 | Introduction to Software Engineering | 3.00 |
| CMPT 2300 | Data Structures and Algorithms | 3.00 |
| ECON 1250 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3.00 |
| ENGR 1100 | Engineering and Technology in Society | 3.00 |
| MATH 1130 | Discrete Mathematics I | 3.00 |
| MATH 2260 | Probability and Statistics for Science & Engineering |
3.00 |
| MATH 2440 | Calculus IV | 3.00 |
| MATH 3316 | Introduction to Numerical Analysis | 3.00 |
| PHYS 1170 | Mechanics for Applied Science | 3.00 |
|
Total Credits |
|
68.00 |
1)To maintain status in the Diploma in Engineering and Fabrication Technologies program, students must register in a minimum of four required courses per semester in at least two out of three semesters per year. If this condition is not met, students may be placed on program probation for one semester. Any students on program probation that do not meet this condition may be removed from the program. Students who are not able to remain enrolled in the program may complete the credential through open enrolment.
2) CHEM 1110 may be used as an acceptable substitution for CHEM 1150.
3) MATH 2232 may be used as an acceptable substitution for MATH 2210.
4) UT Arts - An Arts course is defined to be any 100- or 200-level course in a subject area for which there is a Baccalaureate of Arts degree at: SFU, UBC, UBCO, UNBC, or UVIC (including Math and Economics). Arts courses are mostly available in the Faculty of Languages, Literature, and Performing Arts, and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, but can also include ECON courses and some MATH courses. Please contact the Engineering Coordinator for information on choosing electives.
Program Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this program and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the program, consider the previous version as the applicable version.
Successful engineers tend to have the following qualities:
As an engineering student, you will build on these qualities to develop the knowledge, attitudes, and competencies to work and excel in the engineering field.
This program has one intake per year, in the Fall semester. Students must start the program in the Fall intake to maintain eligibility for the UBC guaranteed transfer pathway.
Applications for Fall semester are accepted starting on October 1 of the year prior to starting at Douglas College. Applicants who satisfy the admission requirements of the program will be ranked based on the Grade Point Average (GPA) of the courses required for admission. Applicants with the highest GPAs will receive the first offers.
The two engineering programs are open to all students meeting the admission requirements to the College and the entrance requirements to the programs.
The standard entrance requirements for the engineering programs are found on the “program requirements” tab found above on this page.
In addition, there are standard entrance requirements for Douglas College:
Douglas College General Admission Information
Yes, you may apply for admission to the College in order to complete all the prerequisite courses. You can then apply for the program while completing the program entrance requirements.
Contact the Engineering Coordinator for advice on entrance requirements.
The fees for the program are the standard course fees for domestic and international students. The exact values can be found on the Douglas College website:
At this time our programs are not offered via part time studies; they have been designed to be taken as full-time study. However, students who have taken courses in advance of entering the engineering programs will have a reduced course load.
Contact the Engineering Coordinator for advice on part-time options. Students should be aware that transferring in any courses from other post-secondary institutions will make them ineligible for any guaranteed transfer pathways in place with the DEFT program.
International applicants are encouraged to apply. Douglas College International is dedicated to meeting the unique needs of our international students. Please direct your inquiries to dciadvising@douglascollege.ca.
Yes! You can apply to the program at any time during your studies at Douglas College. If you are accepted, the courses you have taken will count toward the completion of your credential and you will have a reduced course load. However, students should be aware that using previously completed courses from Douglas College or another other post-secondary institution may make them ineligible for any guaranteed transfer pathways in place with the DEFT program. Contact the Engineering Coordinator for advice on using previously completed courses to satisfy program requirements.
Any courses taken at other institutions must be submitted to Douglas College for transfer evaluation. If transfer credit is granted, up to 50% of the credential requirements may be satisfied by transfer credits. The remaining 50% of the credential requirements must be taken at Douglas College. However, students should be aware that using previously completed courses from another other post-secondary institution will make them ineligible for any guaranteed transfer pathways in place with the DEFT program. Contact the Engineering Coordinator for advice on using previously completed courses to satisfy program requirements.
International applicants are encouraged to apply. Douglas College International is dedicated to meeting the unique needs of our international students. Please direct your inquiries to dciadvising@douglascollege.ca.
All of the courses in the Engineering Foundations Certificate are fully transferable to universities in British Columbia and are designed to be equivalent to the first year of an engineering degree. Most, but not all, of the courses in the Diploma in Engineering and Fabrication Technologies program are transferable to universities in British Columbia. You can check the BC Transfer Guide to see which Douglas College courses transfer to what other institutions.
There are two engineering programs at Douglas College: the Engineering Foundations Certificate (EFC) program and the Diploma in Engineering and Fabrication Technologies (DEFT) program. Both programs are designed to be university transfer programs.
The EFC is a full-time, one-year program designed for students interested in pursuing an engineering degree at another institution. The EFC offers the courses necessary for the first year of an engineering degree, including chemistry, physics and calculus. The one-year certificate is fully transferable to the UBC, SFU and UVic engineering degree programs.
The DEFT is a full-time, two-year program designed to offer a balance between academic and applied knowledge that will allow you to transfer to a university engineering degree program and help prepare you for a career in engineering. In exchange for an extra year of study at Douglas College, the DEFT provides you with a more manageable workload by allowing you to take fewer courses over each semester as compared to the EFC. In addition, the DEFT program allows you to take courses toward your second year at university, reducing your course load upon transfer. Finally, the DEFT program allows you to develop hands-on skills that will help you land a great co-op job upon transfer to a university engineering degree program.
Yes! Douglas College Engineering has guaranteed transfer agreements with UBC Engineering (Vancouver and Okanagan), SFU Engineering, UVIC Engineering and the UBC Wood Products Processing program. These agreements allow Douglas College Engineering students to get a guaranteed seat in the second year of the above-mentioned programs, provided they meet certain conditions. Please see the "More Information" tab on this page.
Students who do not meet the conditions of the guaranteed transfer agreements can still transfer to the institution of their choice by way of the competitive entry transfer pathway. Please see the "More Information" tab on this page for further details.
There is a guaranteed transfer agreement between Douglas College and SFU Engineering. The "More Information" tab found above on this page outlines all of the course requirements for the agreement.
If you complete the Diploma in Engineering and Fabrication Technologies you will have completed all the necessary courses to transfer into second-year engineering at SFU, as well as some additional second-year degree requirements. Furthermore, you’ll gain a wealth of hands-on experience from several practical courses that will help you land a co-op job upon transfer to SFU.
There is a guaranteed transfer agreement between Douglas College and UBC Engineering. The "More Information" tab found above on this page outlines all of the course requirements for the agreement.
If you complete the Diploma in Engineering and Fabrication Technologies you will have completed all the necessary courses to transfer into second-year engineering at UBC, as well as some additional second-year degree requirements. Furthermore, you’ll gain a wealth of hands-on experience from several practical courses that will help you land a co-op job upon transfer to UBC.
No. To maintain eligibility for the UBC guaranteed transfer pathway, you must start the program in the Fall intake. If you start the engineering program in the Winter intake, then you will not be eligible for the guaranteed transfer pathway to UBC (but you will be eligible for the competitive transfer pathway). See the “More Information” tab on this page for further details.
There is a guaranteed transfer agreement between Douglas College and UVIC Engineering. The "More Information" tab found above on this page outlines all of the course requirements for the agreement.
If you complete the Diploma in Engineering and Fabrication Technologies you will have completed all the necessary courses to transfer into second-year engineering at UVIC, as well as some additional second-year degree requirements. Furthermore, you’ll gain a wealth of hands-on experience from several practical courses that will help you land a co-op job upon transfer to UVIC.
All classes are offered during the day with some in the late afternoon or evening. The program is offered at the New Westminster campus.
Some of the courses in the program are offered in every semester, while others are offered only once per year. It is best to contact the Engineering Coordinator for more information about specific course offerings.
For students entering in the Fall (September) intake, it will take up to one year (two or three semesters) to complete the Engineering Foundations Certificate program. For students entering in the Winter (January) intake, it may take longer than one year (up to five semesters) to complete the program due to course sequencing and offerings. Please consult the Engineering Program Coordinator for more information. It is strongly recommended that students start the Engineering Foundations Certificate program in September.
There are no specific scholarships for the engineering program, but scholarships may be available through the College in general for domestic and international students:
Tuition deposit
When offered a full-time seat in this program a non-refundable, non-transferable $350 tuition deposit is required.
Transfer agreements
Guaranteed Admission Transfer Agreements
UBC ENGINEERING
The Engineering Transfer Program provides students enrolled in the Douglas College Diploma in Engineering and Fabrication Technologies (DEFT) program transfer credit and makes them eligible for guaranteed admission into the second year of the Engineering degree program at the University of British Columbia-Vancouver (UBCV) and at the University of British Columbia-Okanagan (UBCO).
Under the terms of this agreement, DEFT students complete courses toward the UBC Engineering program over five consecutive semesters at Douglas College starting in the Fall semester, then transfer into the second year of the UBC Engineering degree program for the start of the following academic year. Note that the number of seats for this transfer pathway is limited. However, it is possible for UBC to accept additional students depending on demand during any given year.
Requirements:
Students must take the following twenty courses, in the order specified below:
Fall (S1) 14 credits | Winter (S2) 15 credits | Summer (S3) 13 credits | Fall (S4) 14 credits | Winter (S5) 12 credits |
| CMPT 1109-3 | ENGR 1190-4 | CHEM 1150-4 | ENGR 2100-4 | CMPT 2200-3 |
| ENGR 1110-3 | MATH 1220-3 | ENGL 1130-3 | ENGR 2200-4 | ENGR 2999-3 |
| MATH 1120-3 | PHYS 1170-3 | ARTS ELEC-3* | MATH 2321-3 | MATH 2421-3 |
| PHYS 1110-5 | PHYS 1210-5 | MATH 2210-3 | MATH 2260-3 | MATH 2440-3 |
* UBC ARTS ELEC: ECON 1150 is strongly recommended. For students who do not meet UBC’s English language admission requirement, choose one of ENGL 1102, 1106, 1109, 1114, 1115 or 1118. Contact the Engineering Coordinator for more information.
Students must have a GPA of at least 3.1 on the pathway courses listed in the first three semesters (S1-S3) of the above table for transfer to UBCV and a GPA of at least 2.8 for transfer to UBCO. Courses taken in S4 and S5 will not be used for the admission GPA calculation, but the admission offer is conditional on completion of these courses.
Note: Should the GPA requirement change while a student is completing the DEFT, the requirement that was published at the outset of their diploma program will be honoured.
For UBCV, note that the admission offer refers only to admission to the Faculty of Applied Science. Once a student is admitted, there is another competition for program specialization (Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, etc.). Admitted students are ranked and assigned to a specialization according to their stated preferences. If a student's first choice of specialization fills, then the student is put into their second or third choice of specialization. There is no further competition process for transfer to UBCO.
Competitive Entry Pathway: Students who do not meet the Guaranteed Transfer Pathway requirements may be eligible to enter the UBC Engineering degree program based on the existing college transfer criteria for admission: https://engineering.ubc.ca/admissions/undergraduate/transfers.
Specifically, students must have the equivalent of at least 27 UBC credits of first-year UBC Engineering program courses (9 Douglas College courses) at the end of the Winter semester in order to be considered for transfer to second-year engineering for the following September. Courses taken in the summer semester will not be used for determining admission into second-year engineering, but will be counted for transfer credit.
The GPA admission requirement for competitive transfer is set by UBC Engineering and is typically in the 3.7-3.9 GPA-range. Note that transfer via this pathway is highly competitive. Students should instead consider the guaranteed transfer pathway between the Douglas College Diploma in Engineering and Fabrication Technologies program and UBC Engineering, which requires an entrance GPA of 3.1 or higher: https://www.douglascollege.ca/programs-courses/catalogue/programs/DPEGESS
UVIC ENGINEERING
This transfer pathway provides students in the Douglas College DEFT program direct transfer credit and guaranteed admission into the second-year of the Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) degree program at the University of Victoria (UVic). Under the agreement, Douglas College DEFT students take first-year and some second-year Bachelor of Engineering courses at Douglas College, except ENGR 130, then transfer into the second-year of the UVic engineering degree program.
ENGR 130 (Introduction to Professional Practice) is a course completed by all students in the BEng program soon after they begin the UVic program. Douglas College students will take this course after transfer to UVic.
Requirements:
Contact the engineering program coordinator (engineering@douglascollege.ca) for advice on course selection or drafting a timetable, as some of the above courses are offered only once per year. Given below is the UVic-transfer schedule that DEFT students are advised to follow. Note: The admission guarantee is based only on the courses and conditions in the semesters s1-s3. The DEFT-UVic pathway includes additional courses that are not required for the admission guarantee to hold. However, the additional courses are required to complete the DEFT and can be used to satisfy degree requirements at UVic. Note that the additional courses could have an impact on the guarantee if a grade of less than C is obtained.
Fall (S1) 14 credits | Winter (S2) 15 credits | Summer (S3) 13 credits | Fall (S4) 14 credits | Winter (S5) 12 credits |
| CMPT 1109-3 | ENGR 1190-4 | CHEM 1150-4 | ENGR 2100-4 | ENGR ELEC-3* |
| ENGR 1110-3 | MATH 1220-3 | CMNS 1135-3 | ENGR 2200-4 | CMPT 2200-3 |
| MATH 1120-3 | PHYS 1170-3 | ENGL 1130-3 | MATH 2321-3 | ENGR 2999-3 |
| PHYS 1110-5 | PHYS 1210-5 | MATH 2210-3 | MATH 2260-3 | MATH 2421-3 |
* Engineering Elective course to be taken from the “Select three courses from the following options” section of the diploma program requirements. MATH 2440-3 is strongly recommended; ENGR 1100-3 in semester S3 is an alternate option. See Engineering Coordinator for more information.
NOTE: Douglas College students will compete on an equal footing with UVic students for placement in their chosen program: Biomedical, Civil, Computer, Electrical, Mechanical or Software, which begin in second year. Where any program is oversubscribed, competitive grades are considered. Students whose grades are not competitive enough to gain admission in their first choice of program will be offered an alternate program.