Crissy Campbell, Author at UBC | Undergraduate Programs and Admissions

Beyond Tomorrow Scholars Program

By Crissy Campbell on November 20, 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. 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. 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

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, 2024, which is also the date you must have submitted your application of admission to UBC 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.

Don’t miss the Presidential Scholars Award deadline

By Crissy Campbell on November 11, 2024

Don’t be late for this incredible opportunity!

Canadian citizens and permanent residents who want to be considered for a Presidential Scholars Award must complete their UBC application for admission by December 1, 2024 (11:59 pm Pacific Standard Time). That’s in three weeks’ time.

Writing your online application and preparing your personal profile is not something you’ll want to rush, so make sure you’ve left enough time to complete both parts.

What are Presidential Scholars Awards?

Presidential Scholars Awards are one-time awards of approximately $5,000, or renewable awards of up to $80,000 which are paid over four years. The Awards are offered to Canadian high school students (including Quebec CEGEP students) who excel academically as well as demonstrate leadership achievements in the arts, community, athletics, or their school.

How do you apply?

If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada, and you are applying to UBC from high school or CEGEP, you can select to be considered for a Presidential Scholars Award by answering “Yes” in the Awards section of UBC online application. You must complete your application for admission by December 1, 2024 (11:59 pm Pacific Standard Time).

Applicants will be evaluated on their first-choice degree based on their academic profile and personal profile.

Not interested in a Presidential Scholars Award?

If you don’t want to be considered for a Presidential Scholars Awards, you can opt to not be considered on the application, and you’ll have until January 15, 2025 to apply to UBC. Don’t let that deadline stop you from applying earlier, though – with your application out of the way, you can truly relax over the winter break.

Start now by checking out our online application tips.

International Scholars Awards application deadline

By Crissy Campbell on November 8, 2024

Each year, UBC offers need- and merit-based awards to international students through our International Scholars Program. These students enrich our community with their distinct perspectives, committed involvement, and global initiatives. If you are an international student interested in learning more about becoming an International Scholar, read on!

What awards are available?

Four prestigious awards are offered through UBC’s International Scholars Program: the Karen McKellin International Leader of Tomorrow Award, the Donald A. Wehrung International Student Award, the International Impact Award, and the Vantage One Excellence Award.

UBC offers approximately 35 scholarships each year across all four awards, which are given to exceptional international students entering undergraduate studies at UBC. You won’t select which award you wish to receive when you submit your application – our team will automatically consider you for the awards that you are eligible for.

The Karen McKellin International Leader of Tomorrow Award

This award recognizes exceptional prospective international undergraduate students who demonstrate superior academic achievement and exemplary leadership skills that support and empower others through collaboration, empathy and active listening. It recognizes students who have made a positive impact through their involvement in various school and community service projects and initiatives, and attained notable achievement in other academic or extra-curricular pursuits.

The Donald A. Wehrung International Student Award

This award recognizes outstanding international undergraduate students from impoverished or war-torn areas who have achieved academic excellence under challenging circumstances, and who would be unable to attend university without significant financial assistance. Students should demonstrate leadership potential and a strong commitment to making a positive impact in their communities.

International Impact Award

This award is offered to exceptional students who have demonstrated leadership as well as commitment to and solutions for sustainability and climate change, natural resource conservation and management, social justice, equity and inclusion, or societal health and wellness. Priority is given to first generation learners and those from diverse lived backgrounds.

The Vantage One Excellence Award

This award is offered by UBC Vantage College for academically outstanding international students who do not yet meet the English Language Admission Standard for direct admission to UBC. The awards range in value up to the full cost of a student’s academic program and living expenses. Students should demonstrate leadership skills, impactful involvement in student affairs and community service, and notable achievement in other academic or extra-curricular pursuits.

Who can qualify for the Program?

All four awards are need- and merit-based, and are specifically for students who would not be able to attend UBC without significant financial assistance. As part of the application, you will be required to complete a full financial declaration in order to determine eligibility, and you will need to be nominated for the Program by your school counsellor or head teacher. Once your teacher nominates you for the International Scholars Program, you will not be considered for any other UBC award.

(If you don’t have significant financial need and are therefore not eligible to be nominated for an International Scholars Award, you will automatically be considered for the Outstanding International Student Award and International Major Entrance Scholarship if you apply for admission to UBC before January 15, 2025.)

Meet our scholars

Get to know some of our current International Scholars, including where they come from, what they are studying, and what they have to say about the Program.

How do you apply for the International Scholars Program?

The application for the Program is now open. Visit the International Scholars website for complete information about eligibility and to access the nomination/application portal.

When is the deadline?

Your International Scholars Awards application must be submitted by midnight Pacific Time on November 15, 2024. You must also complete the UBC online application by December 1, 2024.

By January 31, 2025, you must meet UBC’s English Language Admission Standard for direct-entry, or the English language requirement for UBC Vantage College if you have applied to a Vantage One program and are hoping to be considered for the Vantage One Excellence Award.

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