Engineering and Fabrication Technologies (Diploma)
DOMESTIC APPLICATIONS
Winter 2025: Applications are closed
Fall 2025: Apply Now!
INTERNATIONAL APPLICATIONS
Please visit the International Application Deadline page to find out when applications may be available.
Overview
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 create anything you want – from key rings to robots to airplanes – 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 constructing and programming robots, using Raspberry Pi to control mechanical devices and using cutting-edge fabrication technologies such as water jet cutters and laser cutters.
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 courses in the Diploma in Engineering and Fabrication Technologies program, along with meeting a minimum GPA, satisfies the requirements of the UBC Engineering Transfer Program and can make you eligible for a seat in the second-year of 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.
Admissions Requirements
Applicants to the Engineering and Fabrication Technologies Diploma Program must meet the following criteria in order to receive admission to the program and priority registration:
- General College Admission Requirements
- Chemistry 12 with a minimum grade of C+ or acceptable substitution*
- Physics 12 with a minimum grade of C or acceptable substitution*
- Precalculus 12 with a minimum grade of B or acceptable substitution*
* In most cases, university transferable coursework completed in the above subject areas can be used toward meeting the cohort priority registration eligibility requirements.
Preferential GPA Admission: Applicants will be offered admission based on the Grade Point Average (GPA) of the courses required for admission. Applicants with the highest GPAs will receive the first offers.
Cost
Calculate your tuition and see the approximate cost of taking your program at Douglas College with the tuition & 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.
Program Requirements
Graduation Requirements For Students Completing By Summer 2023:
- Successful completion of 68 credits
- 25% (17 credits) of all coursework must be completed at Douglas College
- A minimum grade of "C" is required in all coursework
- A minimum program GPA of 2.33 is required
- Time limit to complete program graduation requirements: seven (7) years
Graduation Requirements For Students Completing After Summer 2023:
- Successful completion of 68 credits
- 50% (34 credits) of all coursework must be completed at Douglas College
- A minimum grade of "C" is required in all coursework
- A minimum program GPA of 2.33 is required
- Time limit to complete program graduation requirements: seven (7) years
Course Requirements:
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| Required Courses: | ||
| CHEM 1150* | 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 Fabrication |
4.00 |
| ENGR 2200 | Prototype and Practical Skills 2: Electronics Design |
4.00 |
| ENGR 2999 | Applied Engineering Project: Field Protoype Development | 3.00 |
| MATH 1120 | Calculus I | 3.00 |
| MATH 1220 | Calculus II | 3.00 |
| MATH 2210** | 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 | Electromagnetism, Optics, Modern Physics |
5.00 |
| Elective | 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: | ||
| CHEM 1210 | Chemical Energetics and Dynamics | 5.00 |
| 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 |
| ENGR 1180 | Introduction to Engineering Analysis | 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 |
* CHEM 1110 may be used as an acceptable substitution for CHEM 1150.
** MATH 2232 may be used as an acceptable substitution for MATH 2210.
*** A University Transferable course is a course that transfer to one of the Research Universities - SFU, UBC (UBCV or UBCO), UNBC or UVIC in the BC Transfer Guide. Please contact the Engineering Coordinator for information on choosing electives.
**** Some students may require further English upgrading before taking CMNS or ENGL courses. Please check the course prerequisites for more information.
Academic Standard
To maintain status in the Diploma in Engineering and Fabrication Technologies program, students must meet the following criteria:
- maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.33 each semester; AND
- achieve a minimum grade of C in all registered academic courses; AND
- register in the required course load each semester (a minimum of four courses per semester).
NOTE: if any of the above criteria are not met, students may be placed on program probation for one semester. Any students on program probation that do not meet the above criteria may be removed from the program. Students who are not able to remain enrolled in the program, may complete the credential through open enrolment.
Program Guidelines
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.
FAQs
Successful engineers tend to have the following qualities:
- self-awareness
- integrity
- creativity
- social and ethical responsibility
- critical thinking skills
- problem solving skills
- good listening and observational skills
- collaborative and teamwork skills
- aptitude in math and science
- interest in technology
- proficient written and verbal communication skills
- time and stress management skills
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.
Applications are accepted starting 12 months prior to the start of a semester. This program has two intakes per year in the Fall and Winter semesters. Students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible as offers to the program are sent on a first-qualified, first-admitted basis.
Please see the Becoming a Student section of the website for further application information.
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.
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 cie@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.
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.
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 cie@douglascollege.ca.
All of the courses in the Engineering Foundations Certificate are fully transferable to universities in British Columbia. 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 program and the Diploma in Engineering and Fabrication Technologies program. Both programs are university transferrable.
Engineering Foundations is a full-time, one-year certificate program designed for students interested in pursuing an engineering degree at another institution. The Engineering Foundations program offers the courses necessary for first year engineering, including chemistry, physics and calculus. The one-year certificate is fully transferable to the UBC SFU and UVic engineering programs.
Engineering and Fabrication Technologies is a full-time, two-year diploma program designed to offer a balance between academic and applied knowledge that will help prepare you for a career in engineering or allow you to transfer to a university program. The Diploma in Engineering and Fabrication Technologies program includes several hands-on applied courses where you will pick up plenty of new skills! These practical skills include constructing and programming robots, using a Raspberry Pi to control other devices, and fabricating prototype devices using technologies such as water-jets and laser cutters.
Yes! Douglas College Engineering has transfer agreements with UBC Engineering, SFU Engineering, UVIC Engineering and the UBC Wood Products Processing program. These agreements allow Douglas College Engineering students to get a seat in the second year of the above-mentioned programs, provided they meet certain conditions. More information is in the more information tab on this page.
Students who do not meet the conditions of the transfer agreements can still transfer to the institution of their choice by way of the competitive entry transfer mechanism using transfer credits from Douglas College to another post-secondary institution.”
There is a transfer agreement between Douglas College and SFU Engineering. The more information tab found above on this page outlines all of the course requirements for this agreement.
Alternatively, if you complete the Diploma in Engineering and Fabrication Technologies you will have the option to choose all the necessary courses to transfer into second-year engineering at SFU, as well as additional second-year course requirements. Furthermore, you’ll gain a wealth of hands-on experience from several practical courses.
There is a transfer agreement between Douglas College and UBC Engineering. The more information tab found above on this page outlines all of the course requirements for this agreement.
Alternatively, if you complete the Diploma in Engineering and Fabrication Technologies you will have the option to choose all the necessary courses to transfer into second-year engineering at UBC, as well as additional second-year course requirements. Furthermore, you’ll gain a wealth of hands-on experience from several practical courses.
There is a transfer agreement between Douglas College and UVIC Engineering. The more information tab found above on this page outlines all of the course requirements for this agreement.
Alternatively, if you complete the Diploma in Engineering and Fabrication Technologies you will have the option to choose all the necessary courses to transfer into second-year engineering at UVIC, as well as additional second-year course requirements. Furthermore, you’ll gain a wealth of hands-on experience from several practical courses.
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:
Testimonials
Erin and Cameron
Erin Winkelmann, former DEFT student.
Cameron Mackay, former Engineering Foundations student.
More Information
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 Diploma in Engineering and Fabrication Technologies (DEFT) program transfer credit and makes them eligible for admission into the second-year of the Engineering degree program at the University of British Columbia-Vancouver (UBCV). The DEFT program provides transfer credit and guaranteed admission into the second-year of the Engineering degree program 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, 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 to UBCV is limited; it may be possible for UBCV to accept additional students depending on demand during any given year. There is no restriction on the number of seats for transfer to UBCO.
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 complete the courses exactly as listed in S1-S3 in three consecutive semesters starting from Fall (S1).
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.
- All required pathway courses must be taken at Douglas College within five consecutive semesters of starting in the Fall semester of a given year academic year. Students starting the program in any other semester are ineligible for this transfer pathway.
- Students must apply to UBC Engineering for admission by the application deadline in S4 of year two of the DEFT program. The admission offer cannot be deferred to a later year.
- Students must meet all other general requirements for admission to UBC, including the English language admission requirement. See above note regarding ARTS ELEC.
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 3.5-3.7 GPA-range. Note that transfer via this pathway is highly competitive.
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.
- Students must complete all courses in the DEFT program at Douglas College, choosing the courses as given in the table above. No courses may transferred in from another institution.
- Students must successfully complete all of the courses in the above list with a minimum UVic GPA of C+ (or UVic 3.0 or DOUG 2.33) and no courses with grades less than C. This includes the courses listed above as well as any additional courses the student may take while at Douglas College.
- Students must have eight (8) courses completed or in progress at the time of application to UVic.
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.