BEAP: Bishop’s English language and Acculturation Program
BEAP is a program designed for overseas students whose mother tongue is not English and who have never studied in an English language post-secondary institution. The program provides the linguistic and learning skills necessary to function at the University level in English through both formal study of English as a second language and through small group tutorials. The tutorials provide the elements necessary for success in North American post-secondary institutions: besides an acclimatization element, which will introduce the student to North American life, culture, and society, they also allow students to interact extensively in English and obtain additional help with their studies. Finally, the student finishing the BEAP Program will also have an opportunity to explore an introductory course in his or her discipline of choice before beginning the formal degree program.
Admission to BEAP requires the following minimum levels of English competency, or their equivalent:
1) A result of over 40% on the Bishop’s University E.S.L. placement test.
AND
2) A result of 480-525 on the TOEFL test (paper) or 157-206 TOEFL (computer).
or
3) A result of 575-690 on the TOEIC test.
or
4) A result of 4.5-5.5 on the IELTS test.
**Students who are not at this minimum level may be admitted at the discretion of the University into a prolonged BEAP program with beginners level components.**
For intermediate level students, the BEAP program normally will last two semesters. In the first semester, students will take part in an intensive English Second Language program. Five formal classes, limited to about 30 students each, will take up 15 hours per week, and will be supplemented by the obligatory tutorials for an additional 6 hours per week. For at least their first semester students are strongly encouraged to live in residence, side by side with Anglophone university students.
During the second semester of BEAP, students will have reached at least a high intermediate to advanced level of English competence. English Second Language instruction will continue, as will additional elements in the tutorials designed to make students familiar with North American learning styles. These will also be supplemented with a number of courses chosen specifically to prepare students for their chosen degree program. Business students, for example, will normally take BMG 090: Introduction to Business (or an equivalent); for Science students, courses of the standard U0 Science year which have not been completed might be required. The credit portion of the program is supplemented by low-enrolment tutorials and workshops geared to the student’s specific level of English.
Students may be obliged to repeat levels or courses should their progress be deemed insufficient for advancement to the next level. (Normally a minimum average of 65% is required.)
Sample Course Requirements: Students entering the BEAP program with an intermediate level of English as listed above* will usually be required to successfully complete the following 30 credits:
| Business students: | All other programs: |
|---|---|
| ESL(103, 104) or (110, 111) | ESL (103,104) or ESL(110, 111) |
| ESL121, 122 | ESL121, 122 |
| ESL125, 127 | ESL125, 127 |
| BMG090 | ESL 210 |
| ESL210 | ESL211, 212 |
| ESL211, 212 | One introductory course relevant to the chosen program |
| Plus tutorials | Plus tutorials |
* Conversion chart: http://secure.vec.bc.ca/toefl-equivalency-table.cfm
BEAP Program Completion: Students conditionally accepted to programs in the Williams School of Business must complete ESL210, ESL211, and BMG090 with a minimum cumulative average of 65% in order to enter their degree program. Students conditionally accepted to all programs outside the Williams School of Business must complete ESL210 and ESL211 with a minimum cumulative average of 60% in order to enter their degree program.
| LIST OF SCHOOL FEES+ | FALL 2012 Sept. to Dec. | WINTER 2013 Jan. to April | ACADEMIC YEAR Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fees & Copyright & Information technology fee | $7,468.95 | $7,468.95 | $14,937.90 |
| Student Services | $503.85 | $503.85 | $1,007.70 |
| Health Insurance | $276.00 | $276.00 | $552.00 |
| Tutorial Fees | $1,683.00 | $1,683.00 | $3,366.00 |
| TOTAL | $9,931.80 | $9,931.80 | $19,863.60 |
+All fees may be subject to change at any time.
Spring/Summer school fees may differ in total depending on the number of credits required.
Application for the BEAP program can be made online at www.gobishops.ca.
Room and board in BU residences is NOT included in the fee schedule. Residence fees, depending on housing and meal plan chosen, will vary between $6918.00 and $8702.00 for the Fall and Winter semesters combined, depending on options chosen. The residence fees for the spring/summer period will vary based on room and board and number of days in residence. Residence fees must be paid in full based on room and board chosen along with school fees prior to the start of each semester. Adjustments for residence fees can be paid at the start of each session should the total amount be higher for room and board.
