In North America, undergraduate refers to those who are studying towards a bachelor’s degree. The most common method consists of four years of study leading to a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), a Bachelor of Science (B.S.), or Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.).

Degrees in law and medicine are not offered at the undergraduate level and are completed as graduate study after earning a bachelor’s degree. Neither field specifies or prefers any undergraduate major, though medicine has set prerequisite courses that must be taken before enrollment.

Some students choose to attend a college for two years prior to further study at another college or university. Colleges are usually operated independently subject to guidance from BC Ministry of Education. Colleges may award Associate Degrees after two years of education. Those seeking to continue their education may transfer to a four-year college or university (after applying through a similar admissions process as those applying directly to the four-year institution). Some colleges have automatic enrollment agreements with a local four-year college, where the college provides the first two years of study and the university provides the remaining years of study, sometimes all on one campus. The college awards the associate’s degree, and the university awards the bachelor’s and master’s degrees.