Get ready for UBC life

UBC is a welcoming community that values diversity and is dedicated to equity, inclusivity, and mutual respect. Whether you’re from Coquitlam or Cartagena, Tokyo or Toronto, dozens of welcome events help you explore campus and make friends.

Choose a campus:

Vancouver
Okanagan

Vancouver campus

On this page:

Welcome events
Orientations
Campus tours
Campus community

Welcome events

Get excited for what’s sure to be an amazing year by attending one of our upcoming welcome events. This is the perfect time to learn more about UBC and meet some future peers.

May 29–31, 2020

Destination UBC Aboriginal Student Welcome

Aboriginal students

If you are a First Nations, Métis, or Inuit high school student in Canada, Destination UBC is your chance to visit UBC Vancouver and connect with the Aboriginal community before you arrive in the fall. During this weekend-long event, we’ll give you advice on transitioning to university life, and connect you with current students in your faculty or degree who can share helpful insider tips.

May 2020

UBC Welcomes You

Canadian students

UBC Welcomes You is a half-day informational event at UBC Vancouver where you’ll get your questions answered, connect with the UBC community, and start preparing for life as a UBC student before you arrive in the fall.

From July 6, 2020

Academic Essentials

All students

Prepare for your UBC classes by taking part in our Academic Essentials courses before you begin your first term. These online courses let you learn the skills you’ll need for UBC at your own pace, and give you a solid foundation to build on in September.

Orientations

During your first week on campus, there will be plenty to do and see. Our orientation events are a great chance to connect with classmates and get the lay of the land.

August 29 – September 4, 2020

Jump Start

All students

Jump Start is open to all first-year students coming to UBC from high school. Whether you are an international or domestic student, whether you plan to live on or off campus, Jump Start is for you. Registration opens in early 2020 and fills up fast!

September 8, 2020

Imagine UBC

All students

On the first day of classes, campus is transformed and the entire UBC community comes together to welcome you to your new academic community and celebrate the start of the school year.

Early September 2020

Aboriginal Student Orientation

Aboriginal students

Connect with other First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students through the First Nations House of Learning as you get to know your campus and get ready for an exciting school year ahead.

Early September 2020

AMS First Week

All students

From barbeques and dances to phenomenal speakers, UBC’s student society, the AMS, hosts dozens of events during the first week of classes to get you pumped for the school year ahead.

Early September 2020

Faculty orientations

All students

Find your place in your faculty community and meet other first-year faces from your degree at a student-run orientation event hosted by your Undergraduate Society.

January & May 2020

International Welcome

International exchange students
Visiting students
Transfer students

If you’re an international exchange, visiting, or transfer student who is arriving at UBC in the winter or spring, International Welcome will get you up to speed on study permits, health insurance, employment, and the services and resources available on campus.

Campus tours

A great way to get a feel for UBC before you arrive is to take a campus tour, which are led by current UBC students. They’ll take you to some of their favourite spots to study, work up a sweat, and relax between classes, and show you the best parts of the campus before your first day.

Learn more

Campus community

Foster a sense of a home away from home. Participate in clubs, join an athletic team, or seek out one of our many on-campus support centres.

Clubs and societies

Are you a budding stand-up comedian or avid environmentalist? Do you want to play Quidditch or try dragon boating? UBC Vancouver has more than 350 clubs and course unions for you to get involved with. Take a look at some of the clubs on offer before arriving on campus.

Sports and recreation

You don’t have to be a star athlete to stay active at UBC Vancouver. Join an intramural team or a recreational league, or take advantage of the state-of-the-art facilities and year-round programming at locations like the UBC Aquatic Centre, BirdCoop Fitness Centre, or Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Arena.

Aboriginal community

If you’re a First Nations, Métis, or Inuit student, you can visit the First Nations Longhouse to meet other Aboriginal students, or access campus services like tutoring, financial advising, or wellness programming. For Indigenous scholarship, you can go to the X̱wi7x̱wa Library, or stop by the xʷc̓ic̓əsəm Garden, which supports land-based teaching and community engagement.

International community

If you’re an international student, or just interested in exploring other cultures, there are places on campus where you can gather to exchange ideas. Visit the International Student Advising building have your questions about living in Canada answered, or check out the Global Lounge to socialize with other students from overseas.

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