Under a new pilot program—the first of its kind in British Columbia—students will be able to earn a college and university degree concurrently. Inspired by a similar model in Oregon, Simon Fraser University and Douglas College are designing an undergraduate program that co-admits applicants to both institutions.

Students will be able to move easily between the institutions while pursuing a 60-credit Associate of Arts degree from Douglas and/or a 120-credit BA degree from SFU. Their Douglas credits will count towards their SFU degree. Registrants need only fill out one online application to be co-admitted. They will not have to make the usual second application to move from college to university.

SFU and Douglas College will initially offer an undergraduate degree in arts and social sciences through the new program; they plan to eventually add a degree in the sciences. The program should be ready to accept an initial cohort of 75 students by late 2009. SFU and Douglas College will jointly set the new program’s admission and continuance requirements.