Admissions Blog | Undergraduate Programs and Admissions

English-language pathways at UBC

By Crissy Campbell on November 27, 2024

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, 2025 for studies beginning in September of 2025.

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, 2025 for studies beginning in September of 2025.

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, 2025 for studies beginning in September of 2025.

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

By Crissy Campbell on November 22, 2024

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 professors and affiliated 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.
Medical Anthropology: Contemporary Topics: If you’re interested in studying medicine, health sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, psychology, or dentistry, this course is for you. Medical anthropology is the study of health, illness, and healing from a cross-cultural perspective and draws on theories in anthropology to create better healthcare. You’ll explore topics such as medical regulation, genetics, cancer, addiction, medical ethics, mental health, and the law.

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 18 to March 22, 2025, with your 10 live virtual classes scheduled on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. 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.

Beyond Tomorrow Scholars Program

By Crissy Campbell on November 20, 2024

Updated: November 28, 2024

UBC’s Beyond Tomorrow Scholars Program supports Canadian students (citizens, permanent residents and protected persons of Canada) who self-identify as Black, meet UBC’s admission requirements and show an interest in joining and contributing to the UBC community, but who would not be able to attend without significant financial assistance.

Renewable awards

Through the program, new students can access annual renewable awards of up to $80,000.

Students must be entering directly from high school or transferring from another post-secondary institution and must be applying to a direct entry undergraduate program at UBC.

“If I hadn’t received the Beyond Tomorrow Scholars award I definitely wouldn’t be here. Just financially, it would have been really hard, especially attending university outside of [my city]. And that would have been really sad for me because I was really excited to attend UBC and that was what I had my heart set on. So, I’m really, really thankful that I got this award and that I’m able to be here.” – Joan N., Beyond Tomorrow Scholar, UBC Vancouver

Programs and supports

UBC Beyond Tomorrow Scholars are more than award recipients. Students participate in a range of programming and services designed to develop their leadership skills.

As a Beyond Tomorrow Scholar, you will experience cross-campus support throughout your time at UBC with dedicated advisors and mentors. There are workshops, retreats, conferences and other opportunities to make meaningful relationships with your cohort, your program, and the wider community.

“I have found community at UBC [Okanagan] with the African Caribbean Student Club. I was the only Black graduate in my [high school] class so coming from that it’s been really comforting. I feel safe here.” – Uno N., Beyond Tomorrow Scholar, UBC Okanagan

Apply Now

To apply, you must complete the UBC Entrance Award Application and select the Beyond Tomorrow Scholars Award. The deadline to apply to the award is ~~December 1~~ December 15 (deadline extended). You must submit your UBC application by December 1.

As part of your Beyond Tomorrow Scholars Award application, you must include a Student Application form, a Description of Circumstance essay outlining your personal, family, and financial situation, a Parent/Guardian Form to provide information on your family’s finances, if applicable, and contact details for a personal reference who is able to comment on your character, interest in UBC, and financial circumstances.

If you have further questions about the Beyond Tomorrow Scholars Program or related to admission into UBC, please do not hesitate to contact us at beyond.tomorrow@ubc.ca. We’re looking forward to receiving your application!

Degree Spotlight: Applied Science

By Crissy Campbell on November 19, 2024

Are you interested in joining a top-ranked engineering program? Do you want to develop innovative solutions that will make a difference in people’s lives?

UBC’s Applied Science program may be for you. The Bachelor of Applied Science (Engineering) has 14 degree programs across our two campuses that offer exciting research, team collaboration, and co-op opportunities.

As an Applied Science student, you will join a top-ranked engineering program where you can collaborate, design, and develop innovative solutions. You will develop highly sought-after skills that prepare you for a versatile career where you can contribute to solving the world’s most complex challenges.

What will you learn?

You’ll gain a broad understanding of engineering in your foundational first year, then select a program to focus on for the remainder of your Engineering degree.

Foundational First Year

UBC’s Engineering foundation year will introduce you to math, chemistry, physics, and communication courses, giving you the fundamental knowledge you need to succeed as an engineer. You’ll also get hands-on opportunities to apply your knowledge and work on exciting engineering design projects. After your first year, you’ll be in a great place to decide which engineering program you’d like pursue in your degree.

Second Year Placement

In your second year, you will need to make some decisions about a specific engineering program you’d like to specialize in during your Applied Science degree. But no matter where your curiosity takes you, each program will offer an exciting opportunity to develop your unique skills and discover new ones through coursework, applied research, and co-op opportunities.

Student Spotlight

Rahman sitting on stairs at UBC Okanagan

“From a young age, I’ve been captivated by how things are made and how they work, which sparked my curiosity about engineering in the first place. This passion led me to choose Manufacturing Engineering, a field that perfectly aligns with my fascination with creating efficient, innovative, and sustainable manufacturing systems.” Read about Rahman’s experience in the Manufacturing Engineering program.

What can you do after graduating?

Graduates of the Applied Science program leave UBC with hands-on experience and highly employable skills. Some jobs that our Engineering graduates have include:

Business Development Executive, Unity Technologies
Project Manager, Microsoft Education Product Team
Vice President, Planning & Strategy, Base Metals
Project Engineer with the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation
Mechanical Staff Engineer at Intel Corporation
Materials & Sustainability Engineer at Boeing
Senior Hardware Engineer, Apple
ADAS Software Engineer, General Motors
Ports and Marine Engineer at WSP

UBC Centennial Scholars Entrance Award

By Crissy Campbell on November 18, 2024

Updated: November 28, 2024

Are you a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person in Canada hoping to attend UBC, but aren’t sure how you’ll finance it? If so, you may want to apply for a Centennial Scholars Entrance Award. These awards assist students who are academically qualified and hope to contribute to the UBC community, but would not be able to attend without substantial financial help.

Renewable and one-time awards

The awards can either be a one-time amount, or a sum given annually over four years. The value of the awards can range up to $80,000.

Centennial Scholars Entrance Awards are available to students at both UBC Okanagan and UBC Vancouver, and are given to incoming high-school students and post-secondary students transferring to direct-entry programs (programs you can enter directly in your first year of study).

Apply now for a Centennial Scholars Entrance Award

The application for the award is available online and is due by ~~December 1~~ December 15 (deadline extended). But you must submit your admission application to UBC by December 1 in order to qualify. The award application includes an overview of your financial situation (including information from your parents, if applicable), an essay-style description of your circumstances, and a reference form with questions for a third party who is willing to speak to your accomplishments, character, and, if possible, your financial need.

Good luck with your applications! We’re looking forward to seeing new faces next year.

Reminder: the December 1 deadline is near

By Crissy Campbell on November 15, 2024

Reminder that if you are applying to UBC and want to meet the December 1 deadline for first-round offers of admission and scholarships and awards, the deadline is just over two weeks away.

December 1 deadline for first-round offers of admission

If you are a Canadian high school applicant and you wish to be considered for a first-round offer of admission, you must apply by December 1. First-round offers are given to highly competitive high school students who follow a Canadian curriculum and can expect to hear from UBC as early as February, for a September start.

If you are a Canadian post-secondary transfer applicant and you wish to be considered on the basis of interim transcripts (transcripts that include final grades for courses completed to December, and that list any courses in-progress from January to April), you must also apply by December 1.

December 1 deadline for scholarships and awards

December 1 is the deadline for Canadian high school students who wish to be considered for the Presidential Scholars Awards and UBC Centennial Scholars Entrance Awards, and it’s the deadline for international students who wish to be considered for the UBC International Scholars Program awards.

Ready to be a UBC student? Apply now.

Early application deadline for post-secondary transfer students

By Crissy Campbell on November 13, 2024

There’s more than one way to become a UBC undergraduate. The majority of our students are admitted directly, but UBC also has a number of spots available to those who have started their studies at a different post-secondary institution.

If you are a Canadian post-secondary student and you hope to transfer to UBC next year, read on to learn more about the application process.

Application deadline and process

UBC has an early application deadline for those transferring from a Canadian post-secondary institution.

First, you’ll need to apply by December 1, 2024, and then submit all your post-secondary transcripts that show all completed courses and all in-progress courses by January 31, 2025. If you complete these two steps, your application will receive an early assessment on these transcripts. If there are specific deadlines associated with your degree of choice, you will be notified once you have submitted your application.

If you attend a new institution that wasn’t included on your application, it’s important to contact us right away.

UBC Okanagan guaranteed admission

As a post-secondary student, you may be eligible for guaranteed admission to UBC’s Okanagan campus. You’re eligible for guaranteed admission to UBC Okanagan’s Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Management, or Bachelor of Science if you have:

Achieved a 2.8 grade point average (GPA) on the most recent 8 to 10 transferable (24 – 30 transferrable credits) courses you have taken; and
Met the minimum English Language Admission Standard (ELAS) and degree-specific transfer requirements.

What if you’re placed on the waitlist?

If you are placed on the waitlist based on this early assessment, there is no need to reapply. Your application will remain in our system and you will be notified of a final decision by June.

Remember, applying early doesn’t increase your chances of gaining admission, but it can mean your application will be considered earlier, and you’ll receive an update about your admission status sooner – most likely between February and April.

What happens if you miss the December 1 deadline?

If you apply between December 2, 2024 and January 15, 2025, we will notify you about which documents we need in order to complete your application for review, and how we would like you to submit those documents.

Learn more about application deadlines for post-secondary students, or contact us to ask your questions. Good luck!

UBC’s English Language Admission Standard

By Crissy Campbell on November 12, 2024

When you are applying to UBC, in addition to meeting the general admission requirements and the degree-specific requirements, you must also meet UBC’s minimum English Language Admission Standard (ELAS).

Since English is the primary language of instruction at UBC, all prospective students are required to demonstrate a minimum level of English before they’re admitted.

Meeting the English Language Admission Standard

If you’ve completed four or more consecutive years of recognized, full-time education in English within Canada, or in a country other than Canada where English is the principal language, then you meet UBC’s English Language Admission Standard.

Another way to meet the ELAS is to achieve a minimum score on a recognized English proficiency test, such as the Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL) Test, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

For more ways to meet the ELAS, find the nine ways to meet UBC’s minimum English Language Admission Standard for an undergraduate degree on the Vancouver campus and the eleven ways to meet UBC’s minimum English Language Admission Standard for an undergraduate degree on the Okanagan campus.

Submitting documents

If you’ve applied and need to submit evidence of English language proficiency, you will receive an email from UBC. The deadline to submit documents showing you meet the ELAS is February 15.

If you do not meet the ELAS requirement, you may be interested in one of our academic English development programs.

Ready to be a UBC student? Find out how to apply.

About this blog

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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