Tour UBC’s Okanagan and Vancouver campuses

Tour UBC’s Okanagan and Vancouver campuses

If you’ve submitted your application to UBC – congratulations! We’re looking forward to learning more about you.

While you wait for your admissions decision, you can get a head start on deciding whether UBC is the right place for you by joining us for a campus tour.

You can find lots of great info and photos about what it’s like to be a UBC student on Instagram and TikTok, but there’s really no substitute for connecting with some of our current students and having them share their knowledge and experiences with you. Our students are excited to show you their favourite spaces on campus, and to answer your questions about life and learning at UBC.

 

What to expect

We have two tour options at both of our UBC Okanagan and UBC Vancouver campuses – in-person campus tours and live virtual tours.

In-person campus tours

Visit us on campus and take a walking tour to get to know UBC. Tours are run by friendly student ambassadors who are excited to show you around campus.

UBC Okanagan tours last 90 minutes and UBC Vancouver tours run for 2 hours.

 

Live virtual campus tours

During your Zoom tour, you’ll learn more about UBC, see photos from some of our favourite spots at UBC Vancouver or UBC Okanagan, and hear from real students about their experiences in class, residence, and beyond.

UBC Okanagan tours last for 75 minutes, and UBC Vancouver tours run for 90 minutes.

 

Tour schedules

We offer tours for UBC Okanagan and UBC Vancouver on multiple days every week. You can find our most up-to-date schedules and discover how many spots are available by visiting the campus tours webpage.

 

How to register

To view all upcoming Okanagan and Vancouver tours, and to register, visit our Tours and Events page.

If you are Indigenous (a member of a First Nation, Métis, and/or Inuit community in Canada) and would like to register for an Indigenous campus tour or connect with an Indigenous advisor, please email our Indigenous campus tours team at indigenous.tours@ubc.ca.

 

Can’t make it to one of our in-person campus tours or a live virtual tour?

No problem! If you are unable to attend one of our in-person tours or one of our live virtual tours or you want to learn more about UBC at your own pace, you can also experience our two campuses by taking a self-guided virtual tour.

ubc, virtual, tour, Vancouver, Okanagan, campus, visit

 

Also, if you are in Kelowna and are unable to attend one of our scheduled in-person campus tours, the staff at the Student Recruitment desk (UNC222) in the University Centre would be happy to provide you with a Self-Guided Walking Tour handout for the Okanagan campus.

Explore your university interests with the UBC Future Global Leaders program

Explore your university interests with the UBC Future Global Leaders program

If you’re a high school student aged 15 to 18, get a head start on your academic goals with the UBC Future Global Leaders program. Explore your academic interests with a top-tier university, try a popular subject without the stress of exams, and make lifelong friends. This pre-university program is a great way to work out what your passions are while you’re still in high school, and prepare yourself for success at university and beyond.

Study on campus

At our UBC Future Global Leaders Summer On-Campus program, you can choose between living the full university experience by staying in a UBC student residence, or commuting daily to UBC Vancouver. Either way, you’ll spend an unforgettable summer discovering your passions and challenging yourself, making new friends, and exploring UBC’s stunning campus. When you finish your program, you’ll receive a letter of completion.

Discover your interests and passions

Choose from over 30 unique courses and mini schools in:

  • Business and Economics
  • Engineering and Technology
  • Health and Life Sciences
  • History, Law, and Politics
  • Media and Fine Arts
  • People, Culture and Society

Each two-week program includes morning classes, afternoon workshops, and fun social activities. You can also consider taking two courses in another session and stay at UBC for four or six weeks.

See all UBC Future Global Leaders On-Campus courses and dates.

Study at home

Future Global Leaders blog

You also have the option to study from home with our Future Global Leaders Summer Online program. These courses run for three weeks, Monday to Friday, and include two hours of live online classes per day. You’ll also have access to a Virtual Lounge hosted by our online student ambassadors. Online courses will include psychology, business, engineering and more.

See all UBC Future Global Leaders Online courses and dates.

 

On-campus and online course dates

 

On-campus session dates:

Session 1: July 1−12, 2024

Session 2: July 15 − July 26, 2024

Session 3 July 29 – August 9, 2024

 

Online session dates:

Session 1: July 1 – 19, 2024

Session 2: July 22 – August 9, 2024

 

How to register

 

Registration is now open. No application, transcripts, or proof of English is required.

To register for the on-campus program:

  1. Select the course you’re interested in, in your preferred session.
  2. Choose between Canadian student and international student, residence option and commuter option, and pay a $500 deposit or pay in full.
  3. Click add to cart.
  4. Click complete registration and make your payment.

To register for an online course:

  1. Select the course you’re interested in in your preferred session.
  2. Click add to cart.
  3. Click complete registration and make your payment.

Registration is first-come-first-served. We recommend registering early as some of the courses fill up very quickly.

 

Who can take part?

 

To register for a UBC Future Global Leaders course, you must be 15 to 18 years old and have completed Grade 10 or equivalent. We suggest that you have a grade point average of 78% or letter grade B or higher, or a minimum IB final grade of 5.

If you want to register for an academic course and English is not your first language, we recommend an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of 6.0 or equivalent, or TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) Internet-based score of 80 or equivalent. You don’t need to provide your scores, and can self-assess your own levels.

 

UBC President Bursary Program for high school students in British Columbia

The UBC President Bursary Program for Summer 2024 is now closed.

The UBC Future Global Leaders program awards bursaries to Grade 11 high school students (or those who have just completed Grade 10) in BC, who have financial need. Each bursary covers full tuition for one on-campus or online course of your choice.

To be considered for the bursary, you must have an overall average of 80% or higher, and 80% or higher in Grade 11 English (or equivalent). If you are entering Grade 11, you must have an overall average of 80% or higher, and 80% or higher in Grade 10 English (or equivalent). You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, live in a lower income household, and your parent(s) or caregiver(s) must not have attended a university or university-college.

 

University Applications and Skills courses

 

You can also get ready to apply to university with our online university preparation courses, Writing Effective University Applications, Academic Skills for University Success, or Student Well-Being, Mental Health and Resiliency. These courses are self-paced, and you can log in anytime. As part of the course, you’ll get personalized feedback from the instructor on your university application assignments.

See all University Applications and Skills courses.

See what UBC Future Global Leaders program is like

 

 

 

Improve your English and earn a UBC degree with Vantage One

Improve your English and earn a UBC degree with Vantage One

Do you have an excellent academic record, but don’t quite meet UBC’s English language admission requirement? If you fulfil UBC’s general and degree-specific requirements, there are alternative pathways to help you achieve your UBC degree.

 

What is Vantage One?

UBC’s Vantage One programs are designed for international students who do not yet meet the English language requirement to enter directly into a UBC faculty. Vantage One courses last 11 months, and add English-language instruction to your first-year degree courses. You can choose from Engineering or Science, and you’ll be taught by award-winning UBC faculty members.

The Science Vantage One program takes place at UBC Vancouver and upon successful completion of the program you’ll progress into your second year of your Bachelor of Science degree at the Vancouver campus.

The Engineering program involves studying at both campuses, with the first 2 terms of the program taught at UBC Vancouver and Term 3 taught at the UBC Okanagan Campus. When you successfully complete your Vantage One Engineering program, you can continue your Bachelor of Applied Science degree at either UBC Vancouver or UBC Okanagan campuses.

Why choose Vantage One?

The program is designed specifically for international students. Vantage One is a first-year cohort program, which means you’ll follow a set timetable and take nearly all of your classes with the same people, helping you to make friends from day one. It also includes an orientation, which will assist you with essential needs like health insurance, setting up bank accounts, and learning how to thrive in the classroom at UBC.

There are over 50 highly-trained faculty and staff at Vantage One, who will help you build on your academic performance, English language development, study skills, and readiness for your second year. While you will be completing the same courses as other UBC students, your classes will be tailored to you. They offer smaller class sizes, innovative teaching methods, language instruction integrated into your degree coursework, and the ability to connect closely with faculty. Best of all, taking part in a Vantage One program does not add extra time to your degree.

 

What are the requirements?

Vantage One accepts students with a minimum score of 70 on the TOEFL and 5.5 on the IELTS. Certain sub-scores apply for each test, so be sure to review the full English language requirements on the Vantage College website.

 

How do you apply?

  1. Choose your UBC Vantage One program:  Engineering or Science.
  2. Meet the Vantage One admission requirements.
  3. Apply online and pay the fee.
  4. Submit your required documents.
  5. Stay in touch.

The application deadline for Vantage One is January 31, 2024 for studies beginning in September 2024.

 

Application deadline extended to January 31

Application deadline extended to January 31

Good news! UBC has extended its application deadline for most undergraduate degrees to January 31, 2024.

Applying to university can be an important, exciting, but sometimes stressful time for many students. We’d like to do our part to reduce the stress. So please take advantage of this extra time to complete and submit your application to UBC by January 31, at 11:59 pm Pacific Time.

If you have any questions about the application process, visit How to apply. And if you need any help with your application, please contact us.

Tips for submitting your Visual Arts program portfolio

Tips for submitting your Visual Arts program portfolio

Visual Arts at UBC Okanagan is a hands-on, studio-based program that will help you in your goal of becoming an artist. You’ll study a variety of traditional media such as painting, drawing, sculpture and more, as well as digital media projects.

As part of the application, you’ll have to submit a portfolio of your work, as well as a letter of intent. Don’t worry! You don’t have to come to the program with an advanced skill level – that’s what your studies at UBC will help you develop.

 

What UBC is looking for

Rather than a polished body of work, UBC wants to use the portfolio to learn about how you engage with the world. All you need to demonstrate is a genuine curiosity and how it relates to making art. When you come to UBC Okanagan, your instructors will teach you how to develop your skills.

 

Portfolio checklist

Your portfolio should include:

  • An image description page
    • List the title, medium, size, and year of production for each piece in your portfolio.
    • Number each title to correspond with the images and/or videos of your work.
    • You can include a link to your personal website if you have one.
  • Between 15 and 20 images of your work.
    • Resize your images to a maximum of 160 dpi, and a maximum of 2000 px on the long side of the image.
    • You may wish to include up to 5 max sketchbook/process images that showcase their creative process
  • Up to three short video works, which are a maximum of three minutes each.
    • Let us know the URLs for these files in your image description list if they’re posted online (for example on YouTube or Vimeo). Remember to include any passwords.
    • You can send video documentation of your 3D work.
    • Please note that videos aren’t a required part of the portfolio if they are not part of your creative practice.
  • A letter of intent
    • In a maximum of 300 words, the letter should describe why you want to study Visual For example, what about art interests you? What are your future goals in the art world? Why do you want to study at UBCO specifically?
    • An artist statement is welcome but not required.
  • Place all your material into one document
    • This can be a .doc or .docx, or a .pdf file. Please don’t send PowerPoint or other presentations or formats, i.e. .pages, .txt, .key.
    • Please only have one image per page
    • Make sure this filename includes your name. Use the format Lastname_Firstname_Portfolio
    • Make sure that your total file is not larger than 5MB.

To get an idea of what we’re looking for, look at some examples of student portfolios.

How to submit your portfolio

You should send your portfolio and letter of intent together, either online or by mail.

If you choose to mail your portfolio, you must send it to:

Portfolio Review Committee
Department of Creative Studies
The University of British Columbia
CCS building – 1148 Research Road
Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7

If you want us to return your submission, you should use a reusable mailer and include the return postage cost. Alternatively, you can enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

 

Submission deadline

You must submit your completed portfolio by January 31, 2024.

 

 We’re looking forward to seeing your work!

 

The UBC online application closes in three days

The UBC online application closes in three days

This is the final stretch! You’ve got three more days until the UBC application closes, so put the finishing touches on your personal profile and make sure to submit before the deadline. As a final reminder, you must submit your application and pay the fee by January 15 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

 

Need some tips?

If you’re still finishing things up, you can review our top online application tips or check out the video below.

 

 

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 uploaded to your application, so don’t worry if you’ve sent in a transcript and you don’t see it in the Applicant Service Centre yet.

 

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. Please contact us using our online form or social media if you need to get in touch.

 

 

Don’t miss out on the Schulich Leader Scholarships

 

 

Have you demonstrated excellent leadership abilities and academic results during your time in high school? Are you planning to pursue a degree in STEM? If so, you could be eligible for a Schulich Leader Scholarship.

 

What is a Schulich Leader Scholarship?

Schulich Leader Scholarships recognize students across Canada who plan to study a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) subject on either of UBC’s campuses.

 

Award value

If you’ve chosen to study Engineering, your Schulich Leader Scholarship will be worth $120,000. You’ll receive annual payments of $30,000 over a period of four years.

For STEM faculties outside of Engineering, the awards are valued at $100,000. You can expect annual payments of $25,000 over a period of four years.

 

Are you eligible?

To be eligible, you must:

  • Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada who is graduating from a Canadian high school, secondary school, or CEGEP in the 2023/2024 academic year.
  • Be nominated by your high school, secondary school, or CEGEP.
  • Meet the following criteria:
    1. Academic excellence; and
    2. Leadership, charisma, and creativity.
  • Be entrepreneurial-minded and intend to pursue a career in one or more of the focus areas of technology, engineering, entrepreneurship and business enterprise, and applied scientific research.
  • Not be pursuing a career as a practicing physician and/or medical researcher (e.g., doctor, dentist, nurse, psychologist, pharmacist, optometrist, etc), and not intend to become a professor and conduct theoretical research.
  • Not be focusing on activism (i.e., environmental, political, or societal).

Strong consideration will be given to students with financial need.

 

Eligible degree programs

You are eligible for the award if you apply to one of the STEM faculties listed below:

Engineering Programs

  • Faculty of Applied Science (Vancouver Campus)
  • Faculty of Applied Science (Okanagan Campus)

Science & Math Programs

  • Faculty of Science (Vancouver Campus)
  • Faculty of Science (Okanagan Campus)

Review the details of the eligible UBC faculties and programs.

How do you apply?

Your high school, secondary school, or CEGEP must nominate you for the award. High schools may nominate one student per year, and CEGEPs may nominate up to four students.

For more information on the application process, take a look at the Schulich Leader Scholarships website.

 

When is the deadline?

The Schulich Leaders nomination period closes on January 30, 2024 in Canada.

If you’re nominated by your school, you must submit a separate online Schulich Leader application by February 20, 2024. A link to this application will be emailed by representatives from the Schulich Leader Scholarships office.

Winners will be notified by June 15.

 

 

Reminder: When to upload your documents

Reminder: When to upload your documents

Updated: January 23, 2024

If you don’t have your documents ready to upload at the time that you apply to UBC, don’t worry – you’re not required to yet.

The deadline to complete UBC’s online application is January 15, 2024 January 31, 2024 (deadline extended).

Your supporting documents do not need to be uploaded until after you’ve submitted your application. The deadline to upload those documents will differ depending on whether you’re a Canadian or international student, what province you’re studying in, whether you’re a transfer student, and the curriculum you’re learning.

Most of those deadlines will fall in March 2024, but you should find out your exact date and requirements well ahead of time. After you’ve applied, UBC will send you an email that outlines which documents you are required to submit, and when you’re required to submit them.

For more tips on when and how to upload your documents, keep checking the UBC Admissions Blog.