What we look for
UBC’s admission process is competitive and comparative. Keep in mind that your application will be evaluated against all of the others we have received this year for the same degree.
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Watch: How UBC evaluates your application
You’ve applied to UBC. Now what? Behind the scenes, UBC’s Undergraduate Admissions Office is taking a closer look at your application, including your grades, the courses you chose, and your personal profile.
Admission requirements
First, we make sure you meet UBC’s admission requirements. Have you graduated from high school? Can you demonstrate a certain level of English? Do you meet the specific requirements for the degree you’re applying to? If you meet these admission requirements, we take a closer look at your application.
Your grades
UBC considers your grades in all Grade 11 (junior level) and Grade 12 (senior level) classes, paying special attention to courses that relate to the degree you’re applying to. Specifically:
- We look at your grades in all academic courses. That doesn’t include career education courses, physical and health education courses, faith-based courses, skills-based courses, or courses in applied design and technology. To encourage you to explore subjects outside your comfort zone, we’ll exclude your lowest grade (as long as the course is not a degree-specific requirement or relevant to your intended area of study at UBC).
- We look at your grades in courses that fall under key subject categories related to your chosen degree. Check the admission requirements for your chosen degree to see which of the following subject categories apply: Language Arts, Mathematics and Computation, Sciences, Second Languages, Social Studies, and Visual and Performing Arts. If you completed a Grade 11 (junior level) and Grade 12 (senior level) course in the same subject, we’ll focus on the Grade 12 (senior level) grade.
- We look at your grades in key courses. Your key courses will be determined by your chosen degree, but English 12 (senior-level English) or Pre-Calculus 12 (senior-level Calculus) are among the most common.
Your course choices
UBC also looks closely at which courses you chose to take in high school.
- Did you pursue all of your academic interests by taking a range of different subjects?
- Did you challenge yourself by taking academic courses, advanced courses, or first-year university courses?
- Did you demonstrate knowledge in your chosen area of study by taking courses related to the degree you applied to at UBC?
Your achievements beyond academics
The personal profile is an important part of UBC’s online application. It is required for most high school applicants, and for university or college transfer students applying to certain programs. It gives us a sense of who you are, what you’ve overcome, and what you’ve achieved. It also helps us assess whether you’re prepared for university studies and deserving of an entrance scholarship or award by telling us what you’ve learned about your experiences, your academic and extracurricular achievements, and your leadership qualities.
For post-secondary transfer applicants
If you are a well-qualified student attending a post-secondary institution, we welcome your application to transfer to UBC. UBC may assess post-secondary applicants on a combination of factors, including your grade point average (GPA), any required prerequisite courses, and a review of your overall academic history. We may also require you to submit a personal profile, supplemental application, portfolio, or audition.