Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) courses are designed to eliminate mandatory textbook costs for students by replacing traditional paid textbooks with open educational resources (OER), library-licensed materials, and instructor-created content that is free to access from the first day of class.
At BCIT, ZTC supports BCIT’s commitment to accessible, inclusive, and high-quality education, ensuring that financial barriers do not prevent students from fully participating in their learning.
“65% of students skip purchasing required textbooks due to high costs, putting their learning and academic success at risk from the very first day of class.” —Draper & McNally (2020)
Why ZTC Matters
Textbook costs continue to be a significant financial burden for post-secondary students. Research shows that many students delay or skip purchasing required textbooks due to cost, which can negatively affect learning outcomes, course engagement, and academic performance (Senack, 2014; Florida Virtual Campus, 2016). ZTC courses remove this barrier by ensuring that all students have equal access to required learning materials, regardless of their financial situation.
“24,000+ students have saved nearly $13 million through Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) courses, while achieving equal or better academic outcomes compared to traditional textbook-based courses.” – Jiang et al. (2023)
What Counts as a ZTC Course
A course qualifies as Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) when no required textbooks or learning materials need to be purchased by students. Instead, ZTC courses use a combination of open educational resources (OER), library-licensed eBooks and articles, open-access journals, and instructor-created or curated materials to support learning.
Optional or supplemental resources may still be recommended; however, they are not required for course success, and students are able to complete the course without any mandatory material costs.
ZTC at BCIT
BCIT’s Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) initiative is supported through collaboration between faculty members, BCIT Library Services, and academic departments. Instructors receive support in identifying, adapting, and integrating high-quality open and library-licensed resources that align with course learning outcomes.
By adopting ZTC, instructors help lower the overall cost of education, promote student success and retention, and support sustainable and innovative teaching practices across BCIT classrooms.
