Ministry of Advanced Education
Degree Authorization
Online Application System
A review of the Degree Approval Process in British Columbia was launched in the fall of 2010 in order for government to review processes and criteria currently employed for evaluating and approving new degree proposals from institutions authorized to grant degrees in the Province.
An Advisory Panel was established to undertake this review that encompassed a wide consultation with institutions, organizations and individuals across the Province and make recommendations to government about how the process might be improved and redesigned. The Advisory Panel’s Report makes 35 recommendations to government on how to improve the degree approval process and the post-secondary system.
The quality of BC's post secondary institutions play a pivotal role in helping align education to government priorities and also leveraging our competitive advantage in attracting international students and delivering on regional employment needs. The Ministry is building on the outcomes of the Advisory Panel's report to expand and strengthen our quality assurance system across the entire post-secondary education sector.
All applications for ministerial consent or approval must be submitted through the Post-secondary Institution Proposal System (PSIPS). PSIPS is a Web-based application for the submission and review of degree program proposals, applications for exempt status, and use of the word “university*”.
PSIPS is a password-protected database. You will require a user ID and password to use the system. You will also need Adobe Acrobat software to save documents in Portable Document Format (PDF).
Each institution must identify one person to act as the institutional contact to obtain a user ID and password who is usually the senior academic officer of the institution.
Existing users
New institutions
Before you apply for a PSIPS User ID and Password:
- Please ensure you have reviewed the application and review steps, criteria and procedures, related legislation and other requirements, if applicable. (Choose one of the menu items in the left-side menu bar to find the information relevant to your institution.)
- Should you have questions or would like more information, please contact the Secretariat at:
Degree Quality Assessment Board Secretariat
Ministry of Advanced Education
PO Box 9177 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria BC V8W 9H8
Phone: 250-356-5406
Email: DQABsecretariat@gov.bc.ca - Please have your completed application and related appendices ready to submit to the Degree Quality Assessment Board Secretariat via the PSIPS system.
I am ready to submit my application and would like to request a user ID and password
*Note: Applications for ministerial consent to use the word “university” can only be submitted by private and out-of-province public institutions governed by the Degree Authorization Act.
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