Software Development
Bow Valley College
The four-term diploma moves from programming and databases to mobile development and a capstone project. Check the laptop requirement before buying equipment, then compare the cost of each term. Bow Valley also has a separate Software Development post-diploma certificate, so the credential belongs on your shortlist alongside the subject.
Plan the tuition ↓
Bring a Windows laptop
The college requires a Windows-based laptop and does not support MacOS for this program; its minimum specification includes Windows 11, 16 GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD. Recommended equipment has 32 GB of RAM and a 1 TB SSD. Allow for that purchase if your current computer does not qualify.
Plan the tuition by term
Published 2026-27 estimates are a planning reference. They are not a price guarantee for a later intake.
International tuition
| Study period | Estimated tuition |
|---|---|
| Term 1 | $9,849 |
| Term 2 | $10,076 |
| Term 3 | $9,849 |
| Term 4 | $10,082 |
| Total of displayed terms | $39,856 |
The table uses the college’s whole-dollar term estimates. Mandatory fees are additional. This planner also leaves books, equipment and other personal costs for you to budget separately.
Check the college's fee schedule ↗Make a tuition plan
- Selected tuition
- $9,849
- Application payment
- $150
- Your living estimate
- $0
- Planning subtotal
- $9,999
This subtotal includes only the selected tuition, one application and your entered living estimate. It excludes mandatory fees and other unentered costs. Enter living costs in the same dollars as the college's tuition.
One international career-program application
Confirmation payment credited toward first-term tuition and fees
The credited confirmation payment is part of tuition and fees, so it is not added to tuition a second time.
Read the application payment guide ↗International intake status
These are labels displayed by the college's source when observed, rather than a guarantee of places. Confirm availability on the official program page before applying.
| Intake | International label |
|---|---|
| Winter 2027 | Closed |
| Fall 2027 | Open |
Three admission routes
The college lists these alternative routes. English-language proficiency is a separate check from the academic subjects below.
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School subjects
Credit in English 30-1 or at least 65% in English 30-2, plus credit in Math 30-1 or Math 30-2. The college also accepts equivalent courses.
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GED
Successful completion of the GED, with minimum standard scores of 520 in Writing Skills, Interpreting Literature and Art, and Math.
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College assessment
Satisfactory results on Bow Valley College's Admission and Placement Test.
Check English proficiency separately
The general language table applies to this diploma. IELTS Academic requires 6.0 overall with every band at least 6.0. Other listed routes include TOEFL 83, Duolingo 110, PTE Academic 59–64, CLB 8 in each strand, and BVC Academic English 2 at B−.
Education alternatives
- Canadian English courseSuccessful completion of an Alberta Education English Language Arts course, or equivalent from education in Canada, that meets the program’s academic English requirement.
- Secondary educationTranscripts showing three years of full-time high school with English as the language of instruction.
- Post-secondary educationTranscripts showing successful completion of one year of full-time post-secondary education with English as the language of instruction.
- Test validity
- Two years from testing
- At program start
- Results must still be valid
- Evidence
- Official results required
From fundamentals to a capstone
The published course sequence starts with programming, web fundamentals and relational databases. Later terms include object-oriented programming, algorithms and two mobile-development courses using React Native. The final term includes a Software Development Diploma Capstone Project.
Term 115 credits
Complete the following courses:
| Code | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MATH1901 | Math for the Computer Industry | 3 |
| MGMT1103 | Essential Skills for Teams Collaboration | 3 |
| SODV1101 | Programming Fundamentals | 3 |
| TECH1101 | Web and Internet Fundamentals | 3 |
| DATA1201 | Introduction to Relational Databases | 3 |
Term 215 credits
Complete the following courses:
| Code | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DESN2301 | User Experience Design | 3 |
| SODV1201 | Introduction to Web Programming | 3 |
| SODV1202 | Introduction to Object Oriented Programming | 3 |
| TECH1201 | Networking Essentials | 3 |
| TECH1102 | Internet of Things | 3 |
Term 315 credits
Complete the following courses:
| Code | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MGMT1104 | Project Management in Software Development | 3 |
| SODV2101 | Rapid Application Development | 3 |
| SODV2201 | Web Programming | 3 |
| SODV2202 | Object Oriented Programming | 3 |
| SODV2205 | Mobile Application Development with React Native I | 3 |
Term 415 credits
Complete the following courses:
| Code | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DATA2201 | Relational Databases | 3 |
| SODV2401 | Algorithms and Data Structures | 3 |
| SODV2403 | Mobile Application Development with React Native II | 3 |
| SODV2999 | Software Development Diploma Capstone Project | 3 |
| TECH2102 | Enterprise Computing | 3 |
More program guides
Sources and planning scope
- Official program requirements ↗
- English language requirements ↗
- Tuition and additional fees ↗
- International application payments ↗
Sources checked 29 October 2026. The tuition dataset identifies 2026-27. The intake resource has conflicting freshness metadata, so its observed labels require confirmation before use as current availability. Individual admission, equivalency and immigration decisions remain with the relevant institution or authority.