Happy holidays!

Happy holidays!

Our offices at both UBC Okanagan and UBC Vancouver will be closed on December 23, 2023 to January 1, 2024 for the winter break. We will reopen on January 2, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. PT. If we don’t get to your inquiry before we go, please look for a reply after we return on January 2.

 

Holiday hours

UBC Vancouver

December 24 to January 2: Closed

Please see the Enrolment Services Advisors website for more information.

UBC Okanagan

December 24 to January 2: Closed

Please see our campus Contact Us page for more information.

 

We look forward to connecting with you about your application questions in the new year!

 

 

UBC Okanagan International Welcome Award

UBC Okanagan International Welcome Award

Are you an international student interested in applying to UBC Okanagan? UBC is pleased to announce a new award for first-year international students who choose to study at UBC Okanagan, the UBC Okanagan International Welcome Award.

 

The UBC Okanagan International Welcome Award is a one-time award of $5,000 given to all international students who are accepted and enrol into their UBC Okanagan first-choice degree.

 

UBC is one of the most international universities in the world and UBC Okanagan’s undergraduate students come from 110 different countries. The award is designed to welcome international students to the Okanagan campus and help them get the best possible start to their UBC Okanagan experience.

 

Who is eligible for the award?

 

All international first-year students who apply to UBC with a UBC Okanagan degree listed as their first choice will receive this award if they are accepted and enrol into their UBC Okanagan first-choice program.

 

The award is $5,000 and is received as a credit toward tuition fees for your first year of full-time study on the Okanagan campus. 50% of the award will be applied to Term 1 tuition and 50% of the award will be applied to Term 2 tuition.

 

How do you apply for the UBC Okanagan International Welcome Award?

 

Submit your application to UBC and list a UBC Okanagan degree as your first-choice.

 

If you are accepted to UBC on your UBC Okanagan first-choice degree, this award will automatically be applied against your tuition fees.

 

Why choose UBC Okanagan?

 

UBC Okanagan offers a world-class academic experience within a tight-knit academic community. The campus has smaller class sizes which means you get to know your award-winning professors personally and become a part of a supportive community of students, staff and professors.

 

The campus’s location in Kelowna, BC, means access to unmatched experiences. Kelowna is known for its growing tech industry and outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities, including hiking, biking, swimming, and skiing.

 

Learn more about UBC Okanagan:

Canadian students: Document submission deadlines and tips

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

 

February 15 – 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.

 

 

International applicants: Submit your supporting documents

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, 2024.

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, 2024.

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

 

 

Degree Spotlight: Fine Arts at UBC Okanagan

Degree Spotlight: Fine Arts at UBC Okanagan

Do you want to study a broad range of artistic disciplines as part of a tight-knit community? Do you want to train with the next generation of artists and cultural producers? Are you creative, curious, and engaged with the world around you? If so, the Bachelor of Fine Arts program at UBC Okanagan might be for you.

 

 

What you will learn

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) program at UBC Okanagan offers a major in Visual Arts and the program is a perfect balance of studio work and academic study, immersing you in hands-on critical and contemporary art education.

You will study in a variety of traditional media, such as painting, drawing, sculpture, analogue photography, and printmaking. You’ll also have the opportunity to work on digital media projects, including video, digital photography, sound art, animation, and the creation of virtual worlds. The degree is designed to prepare you for a career as an artist, so much of your time will be spent doing hands-on studio work.

As well as helping you build a strong foundation in all the fine arts, the program includes courses on art history and the theory of art, which will help you develop your own thoughts and curiosities behind the artistic process. You can also choose classes in Creative Writing, Art History, Visual Culture, Theatre, and Media Studies.

You don’t have to come to the program with a particular skill level. All you’ll need is a genuine curiosity for the world, and your instructors will teach you how to develop your art.

 

A destination degree

The BFA at UBC Okanagan is unique in its thriving fine arts community. You can learn from and collaborate with students across other programs, including Media Studies, Performance Arts, Creative Writing, Art History, and Visual Culture – something that’s not a possibility at larger campuses or as part of a larger program. The beautiful Okanagan, too, is not only home to a significant number of creatives and galleries, but is a lifestyle-focused region that offers plenty of inspiration. Working within this community, you’ll enjoy a self-directed program with the feel of an arts retreat.

On UBC’s Okanagan campus, students have access to sculpture, photography, and printmaking studios as well as a private studio space for senior-level students and the Asper Centre for Artists’ Video, which houses state-of-the-art video and digital editing equipment.

 

 

 

What makes the program unique?

 

  1. Gain confidence in your art. In your first two years, you’ll explore every discipline and build your skills as you narrow down your areas of specialty. Your third and fourth years will be driven by your own exploration, and as part of that final year, you’ll have your own studio space and dedicated supervisor to help.

 

  1. Build skills in the professional world. As part of your degree you’ll work on community engagement projects and learn skills such as how to manage an arts fundraiser. Your work will also be displayed in the community, helping you build an audience for your art.

 

  1. Study in an intimate setting. BFA class sizes are deliberately small, meaning it’s not only easy to make friends but to share ideas with your classmates.

 

  1. Learn from real artists. The instructors for the BFA program are all working artists themselves and have art practices, and can teach you about the industry as well as their disciplines.

 

  1. Join international and domestic students. UBC is the most international university in North America. You’ll make friends from all over the world during your time at UBC Okanagan, and be exposed to cultures beyond your own.

  

After you graduate

Graduates from the BFA program have gone on to careers as practicing artists, designers, artist collective and studio managers, preparators at art galleries, and into further study in degrees such as Architecture.

 

The student scoop

Meet Barb, a BFA graduate, whose career took her back to her Tlingit community to work alongside established artists in order to help others feel and express their culture through art.

 

English-language pathways at UBC

English-language pathways at UBC

If you’ve achieved outstanding academic results but haven’t met UBC’s English language requirements, UBC offers a number of programs to help.

There are multiple pathways available if you are accepted to study here but require additional support to improve your English.

 

Conditional Admission Program

The Conditional Admission Program (CAP) offers English-language preparation before you are admitted to your undergraduate degree at UBC Vancouver.

If you are selected for CAP, you will be accepted into your chosen degree program on the condition you successfully complete the UBC Faculty of Education English Language Institute English for Academic Purposes Program (EAP). The course provides full-time English-language training through either:

  • An 8-week accelerated session scheduled to start in July and finish at the end of August (only open to CAP students)
  • A 16-week session scheduled to start in January, May, or August/September (open to both CAP and other students)

Once you have successfully completed the EAP, you can transition into your degree program.

The application deadline for CAP is January 15, 2024 for studies beginning in September of 2024.

 

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.

The application deadline for Vantage One is January 15, 2024 for studies beginning in September of 2024.

 

English Foundation Program

The English Foundation Program (EFP) is offered at UBC Okanagan. An innovative accredited program, it provides university admission to students who meet all of the academic requirements for a Bachelor’s degree in Arts, Science, Applied Science, Management, Fine Arts, Media Studies, and Health and Exercise Sciences, but who do not meet UBC’s English Language Admission Standards.

The EFP combines intensive English language training and academic courses while engaging students in campus life. Its goal is to provide a balanced mix of academics, activities, experiential, and cultural learning on UBC’s Okanagan campus.

UBC applicants are automatically evaluated for the EFP if they meet the university’s admission requirements and have applied to study at UBC Okanagan. The application deadline for the EFP is January 15, 2024 for studies beginning in September of 2024.

 

 

Get a head start at university with the UBC Future Global Leaders online program

Get a head start at university with the UBC Future Global Leaders online program

Are you looking to challenge yourself academically, or boost yourself towards your academic goals? The UBC Future Global Leaders Winter Online program is designed for you. For ten weeks, learn online from UBC professors and affiliated instructors as you delve deeper into your academic interests, and discover what learning is like at the first-year level at a top-tier university. It’s a great way to figure out what your passions are while you’re still in high school, and prepare yourself for success at university and beyond.

 

What can you study?

This January, you can choose from four engaging academic courses, all taught by UBC instructors. Every academic course features 10 live virtual classes, designed to give you a taste of a university subject without the stress of exams.

  • Introduction to Business Foundations: Study the importance of core business functions, including finance, accounting, marketing and human resource management. If you’re interested in pursuing a degree in business, this course is the perfect fit.
  • Introduction to Engineering: If you’re fascinated by engineering, architecture or applied science, this course is for you. Find out about the engineering profession, and the disciplines of chemical, civil, computer, electrical, environmental and mechanical engineering.
  • Introduction to Psychology: Learn about the scientific study of the mind and behaviour. This program is excellent if you’re thinking of majoring in psychology or if you’re interested in the social sciences, applied sciences, or medicine.
  • Crime and Society: Contemporary Topics: If you’re interested in criminology, anthropology, sociology, psychology, law, enforcement, mental health, forensic psychiatry or public policy, this course is for you. You’ll investigate a range of contemporary topics in crime, including the relationship between public order and violent crime, innovations in drug enforcement, forensic psychiatry, and restorative justice.

Who can take part?

To register for a UBC Future Global Leaders Online 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. You don’t need to submit any transcripts to register.

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.

 

Registration is easy!

No application, transcripts, or proof of English is required. Just check your eligibility, and register for the courses you’re interested in!

The academic courses run from January 27 to April 13, 2024, with your 10 live virtual classes scheduled on Saturdays from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm PT.

 

UBC President Bursary Program for high school students in British Columbia

The UBC Future Global Leaders program will award a number of bursaries to Grade 11 high school students in BC. It will cover full tuition for one 10-week winter academic course of your choice.

To be considered for a 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
  • You must live in a lower income household, and your parent(s) or caregiver(s) must not have attended a university or university-college.

We accept bursary applications year-round and evaluate applications as we receive them.

 

University application and skills courses

If you’re in grade 11 or 12 and thinking ahead to university, you can learn skills and strategies today to get into your top-choice university, and succeed once you’re there.

  • Writing Effective University Applications shows you how to create convincing and memorable university applications. There are no live classes, so you can go entirely at your own pace. Ask your instructor a question at any time and get a response in 24-48 hours, and get personalized feedback on all of your written assignments. Register and start anytime!
  • Academic Skills for University Success helps you sharpen your skills before you start university so you can improve your performance, reduce stress and accomplish more. Find out how to make the most of your study time, take notes effectively, and develop good habits. Do this course at your own pace, and get instructor feedback on assignments.
  • Student Well-Being, Mental Health and Resiliency is a course designed to help high school students understand and develop their mental health and emotional awareness as they make the move to university life. You can complete this course at your own pace and there is no assessment. This course is offered at a subsidized price to increase accessibility.

Register and start anytime for these university application and skills courses.

International students: Join us online to learn about UBC

International students: Join us online to learn about UBC

Are you an international student or a Canadian student living abroad, interested in learning more about UBC, but don’t know where to start? Come and join us at one of our interactive online sessions!

Our events will give you the chance to ask questions and soak up crucial information about the application process in a relaxed way, all from the safety and comfort of your own home. After each 30-minute presentation, students can get answers to their questions during our 60-minute live chat. You will have a chance to chat with both advisors and current students.

 

UBC Online Presentation: Ask Us Anything!

Wednesday, November 29 from 8:30 am to 10:00 am PST

Wednesday, November 29 from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm PST

Learn about what our students are involved with and what to expect when you come to UBC! Chat live with advisors and students who will answer your questions about how to become a UBC student and what it is like to live and study here.

 

UBC Online Presentation: Last Minute Advice for Your Application

Friday, January 12 from 9:00 am to 10:30 am PST

Friday, January 12 from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm PST

Join our exclusive UBC Online Presentation: Last Minute Advice for Your Application to get helpful tips and answers to your questions before your application is due on January 15. At this online event, watch a live presentation led by UBC Advisors. Afterwards, we’re dedicating 60 minutes to a live chat, so you can ask all your application-related questions. Note: Registration for this event will open on January 5.

 

How to register

Registration opens one week before each event.

  1. Visit our tours and events page
  2. Click create account or log in using the buttons in the top right-hand corner.
  3. Based on your profile, we’ll show you a list of all the events available to you – just click the category you’d like to browse.
  4. To register, simply click the event card and follow the instructions to reserve your spot.

After you’ve created your account, you can find all of the events you’re registered for any time on the Your account page.

 

Note: We use the Adobe Connect webinar platform for our events. Students will need to launch the Adobe Connect application with a strong internet connection to view the presentation and participate in the live chat. It is better to use a laptop or computer instead of the mobile app.