Planning for a Successful First Term

Students may request that AP, A-Level, IB, CEGEP and university-level credits earned at another institution be applied toward their Quest degree. Coursework must meet the standards of Quest’s Transfer Credit Policy for the educational quality of the learning experience, and for the comparability of the nature, content and level of the learning experience to that offered at Quest.

For a course to transfer, it must be in a discipline, or closely aligned with a discipline, taught at Quest (e.g., a course in Marine Biology would be acceptable, but SCUBA diving would not; a course in Geology would be acceptable, but a course in rock climbing would not). It must also have been letter graded for credit (e.g., a non-credit, or Pass/No Pass graded, art course would not count), and the student must have received a high mark in the course, which typically translates to a C or equivalent. Finally, the course must have been at the college level (remedial work is not transferrable).

Ordinarily, no more than 16 blocks of credit for coursework completed prior to admission to Quest may be transferred (only four of those may be from advanced level high school courses) and at least 50% of a student’s total credits must be taken at Quest.

Please visit the Registrar’s Office page in the Quest Portal, under Academics for more information or email our Registrar office.

Your first two Blocks at Quest are Cornerstone and Rhetoric, followed by Quantitative Literacy in Block 3.

The Cornerstone Block is the first course all students take upon entering Quest. Its purpose is twofold: to introduce students to Quest, and to investigate a significant question through a variety of academic perspectives. The question for Cornerstone is: what is knowledge? By investigating this question, we explore the unexamined principles and assumptions that underpin our views on science and culture. When we classify something as knowledge, we are implicitly appealing to a system of values: what is knowable is worthwhile, if not for its own sake, at least for its utility. For example, we believe that astronomy expands what we know, but astrology does not. Why? To respond that the former is science while the latter is nonsense merely reiterates the view that the one is knowledge and the other not, and so fails as an answer. We make progress on this question by investigating three sub-questions: (i) what assumptions do we have about knowledge; (ii) what is scientific knowledge; (iii) what is knowledge itself? In answering each of these, we are better able to say what knowledge is.

After the Cornerstone Block, all students take a required block in Rhetoric. The theme for each Rhetoric course varies according to the individual Tutor, but all sections of this block are designed to give students the opportunity to work intensively on writing and presentation at the outset of their Quest career. Students will learn more about reading and writing in the disciplines, research and academic integrity, incorporating resources, and useful techniques for writing university-level papers. Throughout the entire class, we focus on improving students’ critical thinking skills. Verbal communication is also a focus, and students will have the opportunity to present in front of their peers. The lessons of cogent writing and speaking will serve students throughout their university career and throughout their lives.

The Quantitative Literacy course is in Block 3. The ability to understand quantitative information is essential for engaged participation in today’s society, and rhetorical arguments are enhanced by the clear and accurate presentation of quantitative information. This course is designed to develop understanding of, and confidence with, elementary quantitative skills and knowledge needed throughout the Foundation.

Different disciplines use quantitative information in different ways and so the skills are divided into four strands: Number, Graphs, Algebra and Measurement. Students who come to Quest with a high level of quantitative literacy can demonstrate this knowledge by means of a diagnostic test at the end of the Cornerstone Block. Those scoring 60 or higher in all four strands will be exempt from the Quantitative Literacy course. Students can opt to write the diagnostic during the Orientation weekend or can attend review sessions during Block 1 before writing the diagnostic at the end of Cornerstone.

See our 2022-2023 Term Calendar to find out when classes are in session and when holidays take place.

As an incoming student, you are already registered for your first three Blocks: Cornerstone, Rhetoric and Quantitative Literacy. During your Rhetoric Block in October you will register for the last Block of the Fall term; if you are exempt from taking the Quantitative Literacy course you will also register for Block 3 at that time. Spring registration for incoming first-years will be in December.

Each term, students register for courses online through Self-Service for the following term. Prior to registration, students must submit a $500 enrolment deposit. Please see the Academic Calendar for university policies related to registration. Communication regarding registration is sent to students via their Quest email prior to each registration period.

You can find instructions on how to register for courses by reading this document and checking the Registration Information Portal page.

Health and Counselling Services
Campus Counsellors are available by appointment for short-term confidential counselling. We offer both urgent and regular one-on-one sessions Monday-Friday and Saturdays as well as educational and therapeutic groups. There is no charge for our services. The counselling team is a great resource for referring you to community counsellors for those in need of more long-term support throughout the year.

The Quest on-campus Health Clinic is open one morning and one afternoon per week. Individual medical appointments can be booked online. Medical doctors are available by appointment for all types of medical consultation. Medical appointments are confidential between the doctor and the patient and will not be disclosed in any way to Quest staff. Students can access doctors for all types of illness, including STI testing, psychiatry referrals, injury, etc.

Guard.Me Health Plan
All students are required to have valid health insurance. All international students (non-Canadians) will be automatically enrolled in the guard.me health plan. For a summary of the plan, click here. For more information, visit the Portal.

International students with alternate health insurance may choose to opt out of the guard.me plan, by completing the Health Insurance Opt-Out Form through the Portal. International students also have the option of enrolling in the BC Medical Service Plan (BC MSP) after a three-month waiting period; however, this is set-up independently by the student and is not coordinated through Quest. For more information on BC MSP, visit the Portal.