Welcome to zerotextbookcost.com, the project homepage for BCIT’s BCcampus-funded project to grow Zero Textbook Cost! Our hope is that by the time this project is done, this website will be full of useful open resources.
With the ZTC initiative we are dedicated to make high-quality education more affordable for everyone at BCIT. By replacing traditional, expensive textbooks with Open Educational Resources (OER), we ensure that students have everything they need to succeed from day one, without the financial burden.
“Students spend up to $1,750 per year on textbooks alone, accounting for nearly 15% of total education costs, before classes even begin.”
Draper & McNally (2020)
What does ZTC mean for an instructor?
- having no required textbook,
- assigning open educational resources (OER), such as an open textbook,
- assigning BCIT Library resources that are free for students,
- assigning instructor-created resources, such as instructor notes or other resources posted on the Learning Hub,
- assigning free online resources.
ZTC Faculty Testimonials
“Affordability and knowledge that faculty are developing their own training materials rather than using others’ pre-packaged resources.”
Faculty Member, school of Business + Media
Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) initiatives have a big effect on the lives of both students and educators.
Our team is dedicated to demonstrating this impact by uncovering the benefits of open education and advocating for ZTC adoption.
“Instead of a textbook, students apply that money toward hardware and software they’ll actually use in their careers.”
Faculty Member, School of Business + Media
Follow our Journey in Real Time
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Real Data, Real Impact: The Power of ZTC
As part of our mission to increase awareness of Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) initiative at BCIT, our team recently conducted a review of Zero Textbook Cost research. We wanted to move beyond just “general idea” and look at the real data regarding how textbook prices impact the average student’s financial health across Canada. “Students are…
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BCIT’s ZTC Progress 2025
2025 marks a turning point for student affordability at BCIT. With the official launch of the Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) initiative, our team has hit the ground running. While we are only one month into the project, the progress since December has already set a strong foundation for what’s to come.
