Classification of programs and credentials

8 - Undergraduate program

This category includes academically-based programs which normally require a secondary school diploma for admission or a college diploma in Quebec. Educational activities in these programs can generally be counted towards a bachelor's degree (applied, general or honours) or in some cases, a professional degree. Undergraduate degrees normally allow entry into a master's-level program. Professional degree programs are undergraduate degree programs that lead to entry-to-practice professions such as Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS, DMD), Bachelor of Law or Juris Doctor (LLB, JD, BCL), Doctor of Medicine (MD), Doctor of Optometry (OD), Pharmacy (PharmD, BS, BSc, BPharm), and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM). When the admission does not require a previous degree, but the outcome of the program can be seen as beyond a first undergraduate degree, there is some flexibility and provinces and territories can choose to report these professional degree programs in the Postsecondary Student Information System (PSIS) as post-baccalaureate non-graduate degree programs. Note that Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) degrees are reported in PSIS either as undergraduate degrees or post-baccalaureate non-graduate degrees, depending on whether they are considered "post-degree" in outcome.

8.1 - Undergraduate short credential

This category includes attestations or other short credentials for an undergraduate program. These are academically-based programs which normally require a secondary school diploma for admission or a college diploma in Quebec. Educational activities in these programs can generally be counted towards a bachelor's degree (applied, general or honours). These are formal qualifications granted upon successful completion of programs that are shorter than programs where a certificate, associate degree, diploma or degree is the formal qualification awarded.

8.2 - Undergraduate certificate

This category includes certificates for an undergraduate program. These are academically-based programs which normally require a secondary school diploma for admission or a college diploma in Quebec. Educational activities in these programs can generally be counted towards a bachelor's degree (applied, general or honours).

8.3 - Undergraduate associate degree

This category includes credentials granted upon completion of sixty transferable credits of an undergraduate program. This category applies mostly to British Columbia and Yukon. Educational activities in these programs can be counted towards a bachelor's degree (applied, general or honours).

8.4 - Undergraduate diploma

This category includes diplomas for an undergraduate program. These are academically-based programs which normally require a secondary school diploma for admission or a college diploma in Quebec. Educational activities in these programs can generally be counted towards a bachelor's degree (applied, general or honours).

8.5 - Undergraduate degree

This category includes degrees for an undergraduate or a professional degree program. These are academically-based programs which normally require a secondary school diploma for admission or a college diploma in Quebec. This includes bachelor's degrees (applied, general or honours) and in some cases, professional degrees. Undergraduate degrees normally allow entry into a master's-level program. Professional degree programs are undergraduate degree programs that lead to entry-to-practice professions such as Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS, DMD), Bachelor of Law or Juris Doctor (LLB, JD, BCL), Doctor of Medicine (MD), Doctor of Optometry (OD), Pharmacy (PharmD, BS, BSc, BPharm) and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM). When the admission does not require a previous degree, but the outcome of the program can be seen as beyond a first undergraduate degree, there is some flexibility and provinces and territories can choose to report these professional degree programs in the Postsecondary Student Information System (PSIS) as post-baccalaureate non-graduate degrees. Note that Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) degrees are reported in PSIS either as undergraduate degrees or post-baccalaureate non-graduate degrees, depending on whether they are considered "post-degree" in outcome.

8.6 - Other undergraduate credential

This category includes other recognized credentials for an undergraduate program. These are academically-based programs which normally require a secondary school diploma for admission or a college diploma in Quebec. This category excludes undergraduate short credentials, certificates, associate degrees, diplomas and degrees.