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Our dedicated admissions and financial advisors will help you through the application process by writing about admission requirements, financial matters, the application, events and visits, and everything in between.
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How UBC will keep in touch with you

By Crissy Campbell on January 7, 2025

How UBC will keep in touch with you

Do you wonder what happens after you submit your application?

After you submit your application, the Admissions Office reviews it and creates an electronic file for you. In a week or two, you’ll receive an email listing the additional information you need to submit in order to complete your application.

 

Check your email

Your email address is a crucial piece of information to submit with your online application. Please be sure to use an email address that you will be checking frequently. Also check your email provider’s spam filters so that UBC emails with important information are not being filtered out.

If your email provider mistakenly deleted something we sent you, you can also log in to the Applicant Service Centre and click on the Message Centre to see all the emails the Admissions Office has sent to you.

If you have any questions, contact us.

 

If you applied before December 1

We have started reading the personal profiles of everyone who submitted an application by December 1.

Successful Presidential Scholars Award candidates will be contacted in mid-April.

 

 

Contact us with your application questions

By Crissy Campbell on January 6, 2025

Contact us with your application questions

If you have a question about your application or the application process, don’t put it off until the last minute – the sooner you get in touch with us, the sooner we can help. Here are some ways to connect with us directly.

Get in touch using our contact form

No matter where you are or which campus you’re applying to, you can ask UBC a question using our contact form.

Talk with us in person or on the phone

You can visit us at one of our Welcome Centres or give us a call during office hours and a UBC representative can answer your questions.

Connect with us on social media

You can also get answers to your admissions-related questions on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. We have UBC advisors and current students answering questions in real time, Monday to Friday, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (PST).

 

Don’t forget: the deadline for applying to UBC is January 15 at 11:59 pm (PST).

 

 

UBC application deadline is near

By Crissy Campbell on January 3, 2025

UBC application deadline is near

Deadlines: post-secondary life is going to be full of them, so it’s important not to miss the first – and arguably the most important. If you’re planning on applying to UBC for the September 2025 academic year, this is a friendly reminder that you have less than two weeks left to complete your online application.

 

If you’re still working on your application

If you’re still finishing things up, please remember that you need to submit your application and pay your application fee by January 15 at 11:59 pm (PST).

 

If you have already applied

If you’ve already submitted your UBC application, then you’re ahead of the game and you should keep an eye on the Applicant Service Centre under Admissions > Application Status for any updates, or to find out if UBC still needs any documents from you.

Please keep in mind that it may take two to three weeks for documents that you’ve submitted to be attached to your application, so don’t worry if you’ve sent or uploaded your transcript and you don’t see it in the Applicant Service Centre yet. If you are worried that your documents haven’t been received, please contact us.

 

If you have questions

The answers to general questions – like personal profile inquiries or how UBC evaluates your application – can be found in our Applying to UBC section.

If there are specific things you want to discuss about your application, we’re happy to provide timely answers before the application deadline. Please contact us by phone, by email, visit us in person, or connect with us on Facebook or Instagram.

 

 

Frequently asked questions from Canadian high school applicants

By Crissy Campbell on December 23, 2024

Frequently asked questions from Canadian high school applicants

We are already making admission offers to Canadian applicants who applied by December 1st. If you have been offered admission, congratulations! We will continue to make offers to all qualified applicants throughout the next several months. If you have not been offered admission, continue to monitor the Applicant Service Centre regularly.

At this point, you might have a few questions:

 

You’ve been admitted to your first choice, but now you would prefer your second choice. Will UBC still evaluate your second choice?

We always assume that your first choice is what you prefer. If you’ve received an offer of admission for your first choice, we’ll only evaluate your second choice if you contact us and if there is still space available in your second-choice degree. 

 

If you accept your second choice but there is no decision for your first choice, will UBC still evaluate your first choice?

Yes, we always evaluate first choices, whether you accept or decline your second-choice offer. If you accept your second-choice offer now you can always change it to your first-choice later if that is offered to you. If you change choices, you do not have to pay an acceptance deposit again.  

 

Where can you find your application status?

The best source of information on your application is always the Applicant Service Centre. When you log in to your account, you’ll find an up-to-date status for each of your degree choices.

 

 

Special admissions consideration for applicants with disabilities

By Crissy Campbell on December 19, 2024

Special admissions consideration for applicants with disabilities

UBC seeks to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students. Special consideration for admissions is a process where additional information is reviewed related to an applicant’s disability or ongoing medical condition when the condition may have affected their academic performance adversely. A disability alone does not qualify you for special admission consideration.

 

Who can apply?

Applicants to UBC have very strong academic records. You must meet both general admission requirements as well as degree specific requirements. Many applicants with disabilities meet UBC’s admission requirements and are admitted directly to their degree of choice. However, if an unsupported or recently diagnosed disability has impacted your ability to meet the admission requirements of your degree of choice, you can apply for special consideration for admission.

 

Are you eligible?

The presence of a disability alone does not qualify you for special admission consideration. Special consideration may be granted if, for example, your academic performance has been affected because:

  • You have been recently diagnosed with a disability.
  • Your disability was not accommodated completely or appropriately during your recent studies.

If you have received appropriate accommodations for your disability throughout your studies, you may not be eligible for UBC’s special consideration for admission.

 

How to apply for special consideration

Review the criteria for special admission consideration as well as the application form and instructions. If you are eligible, please submit your request as soon as possible. The special admission consideration application form and instructions are available on our website. It is recommended that you complete the form no later than the application deadline for your degree so that your request is approved promptly.

Remember: You are under no obligation to disclose your disability in your application to UBC unless you believe your disability will impact your ability to meet the academic standards of your degree of study.

International applicants: Submit your supporting documents

By Crissy Campbell on December 17, 2024

International applicants: Submit your supporting documents

Transcript and/or grade information

As part of UBC’s admission process, you’re required to submit documents that support your application, such as your transcript and/or grade information. Take a look at your email or check the Applicant Service Centre to find out what documents you need to send to us, and what format it must be received in. If you’re an international applicant, the deadline to submit your supporting documents is March 15, 2025.

Learn how to submit your supporting documents.

 

If you are delayed in receiving your documents

UBC will be as flexible as possible to ensure that your application is not disadvantaged by disruptions due to circumstances beyond your control. If you have been affected by such interruptions, please contact us and provide us your required documents as soon as you are able.

 

English language competency

All prospective students are required to demonstrate a minimum level of English before they’re admitted. Check the status of your application on the Applicant Service Centre to see whether you need to submit evidence of your English language proficiency. The deadline for meeting the English language requirements and submitting the related documents is February 15, 2025.

Find out how to meet UBC’s English Language Admission Standard.

 

 

Canadian students: Document submission deadlines and tips

By Crissy Campbell on December 17, 2024

Canadian students: Document submission deadlines and tips

As the final part of your UBC application, you’ll need to upload your documents for evaluation. Mark these important dates and deadlines in your calendar, and read on to find tips about document formatting and ordering transcripts based on your province.

 

BC and Yukon

January 31

  • Deadline to provide UBC with your BC Personal Education Number (PEN).
  • Deadline to order a transcript for UBC through the Student Transcripts website.

When ordering your transcript, be sure to select “Send my transcript now and allow this Post-Secondary Institution to request transcript updates,” and choose the default date (one year from the date of your order) so that UBC can receive your interim and final grades continuously. This will allow UBC to receive your transcripts electronically from the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care.

 

February 15

  • Deadline to meet UBC’s English Language Admissions Standard, if you have completed less than four consecutive years of study within Canada.
  • If you entered the school system after Grade 9 and have applied to a UBC Vancouver program: Deadline for your counsellor or principal to submit a request for you to be waived UBC’s language 11 requirement.
    • Please instruct your counsellor to submit this request — and be sure to give them plenty of advance notice before the February 15 deadline. To apply for exemption from the language 11 requirements, UBC needs a written statement from your principal or counsellor indicating your date of entry and grade of entry into the Canadian school system and your UBC reference number. Statements must be emailed to language11.waiver@ubc.ca.
  • If you are completing your IB diploma in Canada: Deadline for IB coordinators to submit your anticipated score results to UBC. This information is sent electronically and directly from your school to UBC.

 

Mid-March – end of April

  • As all grade information will be sent to UBC from the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care on a continuous and ongoing basis, you do not need to submit any paper transcripts.
  • After your application is reviewed, you will receive an admissions decision from UBC (unless you have already heard from UBC with a first round offer of admission) by email, or you can check your applicant status in the Applicant Service Centre from mid-March to the end of April.

 

Ontario

January 31

  • Deadline to provide UBC with your Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) reference number.

 

February 15

  • Deadline to meet UBC’s English Language Admissions Standard.
  • If you are completing your IB diploma in Canada: Deadline for IB coordinators to submit your anticipated score results to UBC. This information is sent electronically and directly from your school to UBC.

 

Mid-March – end of April

  • As all grade information will be sent to UBC through OUAC on a continuous and ongoing basis, you do not need to submit any paper transcripts.
  • After your application is reviewed, you will receive an admissions decision from UBC (unless you have already heard from UBC with a first round offer of admission) by email, or you can check your applicant status in the Applicant Service Centre from mid-March to the end of April.

 

Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and the Maritimes

February 15

 

March 1 – March 15

  • Upload a copy of your transcript/report card or Detailed Academic Report (see instructions below).

Please note: If you are completing your IB diploma in Canada, the deadline for IB coordinators to submit your anticipated score results to UBC is February 15. This information is sent electronically and directly from your school to UBC.

 

Which documents do you upload?

If you attend a linear school

If you attend a linear school (where you are taking year-long courses from September to June), you will need to upload:

  • a transcript/report card including final grades for Grade 11 courses and in-progress (interim) grades for all Grade 12 courses you are currently taking.

If your transcript does not contain any item listed above, you will need to wait until you have this information before you upload your documents.

If you attend a school with a different format

If you attend a school where your courses are taken sequentially (for example September to January, and February to June), you will need to upload:

  • a transcript/report card including final grades for your Grade 11 courses and final grades for any completed Grade 12 courses. If you are studying in Alberta, please upload only your Detailed Academic Report (DAR).
  • a list of in-progress courses as a separate document. This does not have to be an official document – it can be a list that you’ve typed up yourself or written by hand, as long as it is legible.

If your transcript does not contain any item listed above, you will need to wait until you have this information before you upload your documents.

If your school has a modified timeline in which your courses are completed (for example, your school may offer courses via quarter, quadmester, or quintet systems), you should still complete the steps above.

 

Document format and size

  • Your documents must be uploaded in PDF, TIFF, or JPEG format, and must not exceed 2 MB.
  • Multiple pages need to be collapsed into a single document. For example: If your transcript exceeds one page, you need to collapse the pages into a single PDF, TIFF, or JPEG and upload it through the Applicant Service Centre.

Please do not mail in a paper copy of your transcripts/report card. Doing so can slow down the review of your application.

 

Mid-March – end of April

  • After your application is reviewed, you will receive an admissions decision from UBC (unless you have already heard from UBC with a first round offer of admission) by email, or you can check your applicant status in the Applicant Service Centre from mid-March to the end of April.

 

If you have any questions, please contact us.

 

 

Why we love UBC’s Okanagan campus

By Crissy Campbell on December 13, 2024

Why we love UBC’s Okanagan campus

With UBC’s application deadline coming up next month – January 15, at 11:59 pm (PST) – you’re probably excited to select the university experience that will be the best fit for you. Know your options before you apply, and make sure you check out UBC’s Okanagan campus in Kelowna, BC.

UBC is consistently ranked among the top 40 research universities in the world, and UBC in the Okanagan is a great place to be challenged, to thrive, and to develop into a global citizen. For 10,610 undergraduate students from 110 countries, the campus provides an unparalleled mix of academics, community, and recreation.

 

10 reasons why we love UBC Okanagan

  1. At UBC Okanagan, most students get a spot in their preferred major or specialization. There are no space restrictions for popular majors like Computer Science and Psychology, or any Engineering program such as Mechanical or Computer Engineering.
  2. UBC’s Okanagan campus has the unique distinction of being founded in partnership with local Indigenous peoples, the Syilx Okanagan Nation. You can study the Nsyilxcn Language Fluency program created to sustain and revitalize language traditions, restore language competence, and protect the knowledge of Indigenous communities.
  3. There is a live video feed of the line-up outside the on-campus Tim Hortons. Give it a quick check before walking to get your coffee to make sure the line-up isn’t too long.
  4. The Okanagan is one of North America’s top grape-growing regions. You can study wine chemistry in a campus that is in the heart of 180+ wineries.
  5. Christine Schreyer, who teaches linguistic anthropology at UBC Okanagan, developed the Kryptonian language for the Superman: Man of Steel
  6. You can take part in the BARK program, which brings cute, friendly dogs to campus to help you de-stress.
  7. There’s a beach volleyball court on campus.
  8. As well as more traditional courses, you could choose to take classes on the popular culture surrounding Harry Potter, vampires, and superheroes.
  9. The Nechako residence offers an all-you-can-eat buffet every day, so you’ll never go hungry.
  10. There’s plenty of modern student housing with no shared bedrooms. After class, you can take in the views by relaxing on the rooftop patio of the Purcell residence.
  11. You can study several majors exclusive to UBC Okanagan, including sustainability, data science, freshwater science, zoology, and health promotion.

 

Explore UBC Okanagan 

Start by checking out the list of programs offered at UBC Okanagan, and read up on what it’s like to live in the Okanagan Valley. Would you rather live in residence or live off campus? Take a look at this video about one student’s move-in day to get a sense of how it might be for you.

The best way to get a feel for the Okanagan campus is to join us for an in person campus tour or a live virtual tour.

Ready to apply? Coming to UBC’s Okanagan campus could be the best decision you’ve ever made. To learn more about Kelowna and the Okanagan campus, email recruitment.ok@ubc.ca, or call 1.888.807.8521.