Major in Northern Studies (BA) at University of Northern British Columbia

Programme overview

The Major in Northern Studies is an interdisciplinary Bachelor of Arts on the circumpolar North, covering its environments, peoples and political and governance arrangements. It requires 54 credit hours of coursework within a 120 credit-hour degree, with 30 credit hours at the upper level.

Faculty: Indigenous Studies, Social Sciences and Humanities | Department: Northern Studies | Duration: 120 credit hours | Study mode: full-time | Location: Prince George, British Columbia, Canada

What you will study

Seven core courses (NORS 101, 311, 312, 321, 322, 331, 332), one methodology course, five courses from an Environment and Health list and five from a Culture and People list. Students may take an optional semester at another circumpolar university through exchange agreements. Block transfer of up to 60 credit hours is available from specified Yukon University diplomas.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Bachelor of Arts group (BC/Yukon high school entry): English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12, three approved academic Grade 12 courses and one additional Grade 12 course (academic or elective), with a minimum 65% average. Admission average is calculated from English Studies 12 and the next three highest academic Grade 12 courses plus one further Grade 12 course. Applicants from other provinces present the equivalent (for example, Ontario: OSSD with five 4U/4M courses including ENG4U, 65% overall). International applicants whose first language is not English show proficiency, for example TOEFL iBT 90 (at least 20 in each component), IELTS Academic 6.5 overall (at least 6.0 in each module), Duolingo 125 (at least 115 in each component) or PTE Academic 65 (at least 60 in each component).

Requirements published at program group level.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the courses you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Intakes: September, January and May semesters for general entry BA, BComm, BPl and BSc programs. Competitive entry programs (BASc Engineering, BHSc, BEd, BSW, Nursing) admit for the September semester only, with no January intake.

General entry (BA, BComm, BPl, BSc): domestic applicants are accepted continually; international deadlines are 11 July for September, 8 November for January and 9 March for May. Applications for the 2027-2028 intake open in early October.

BASc (Engineering) applications close 1 March 2027 for September 2027; BHSc closes 15 May 2027; BEd closes 15 February 2027; BSW closes 1 February 2027; Northern Collaborative Baccalaureate Nursing (domestic only) closes 31 March 2027; Northern Baccalaureate Nursing LPN pathway closes 15 January 2027.

Graduate application fee: CAD 76.50 for domestic applicants and CAD 153.00 for international applicants, non-refundable and paid at submission online or through the Cashier's Office.

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