Arts and Social Sciences: International Year One (ELC Pathway Entry)

Is English the only thing standing between you and a degree at Simon Fraser University? Here, a 16-week full-time English stage run by SFU English Language and Culture (ELC) leads into International Year One (UTP Stage II) in Arts and Social Sciences at FIC. Once the English stage is complete, three terms of first-year university courses follow, taught at FIC on the Burnaby campus.

The ELC-FIC Pathway builds conversation, reading and writing through group work and real everyday English, and in its second term you sit the FIC Language Assessment Test to confirm you are ready to start. The academic year that follows includes a writing course such as ENGL112 Literature Now or WL101 Writing in World Literature, a quantitative course, and arts electives that range from history to labour studies and world literature. Because ELC classes are small and conversational, your confidence grows before the academic year.

Classes at FIC use SFU-designed content and instructors approved by SFU. Completing ten courses (30 or more units) with a cumulative 2.50 GPA guarantees you a second-year seat in the Bachelor of Arts offered by SFU’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, with majors such as political science, psychology and linguistics. Optional co-op is open to you through SFU once you have transferred.

Later career paths include civil service officer, corporate communications advisor, tourism coordinator, interpreter, research analyst and non-profit programme coordinator. This route is designed for students whose English is currently below the level needed for any FIC entry type, and who want one structured plan that carries them from language study all the way to a university degree.