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Preparing for your personal profile

By Crissy Campbell on November 1, 2024

Preparing for your personal profile

It’s fantastic that so many of you are currently working on your online application to UBC. Starting early means you’ll have time to reflect on your answers to the personal profile section: an important part of UBC’s admissions decision.

The personal profile asks you six or seven questions about challenges you have overcome, significant achievements in your life, your academic pursuits, and what you have learned from these experiences. The questions differ depending on the degree program you are applying for, and you’ll find out what you’ll be asked when you begin your application.

 

Does everyone have to submit a personal profile?

Not all applicants are required to submit a personal profile, and others will have additional requirements, such as portfolios or auditions. To find out if your degree requires a personal profile, start the online application process and follow the instructions.

 

How do we assess your profile?

When we evaluate your application, two trained UBC readers will look for four qualities in your personal profile: engagement and accomplishment, leadership, substance, and voice. This is a chance for us to find out more about you and your experiences beyond academics. We want to hear about your life and achievements – what have you learned, and how have these moments allowed you to grow?

We are not looking for a particular experience, and there are no right or wrong answers. Be authentic, and focus on what you want to say about yourself and how you want to say it, rather than writing what you think we want to hear.

 

Do you need to record a video interview?

If you are applying to the UBC Sauder School of Business’s Bachelor of Commerce degree, you will be asked to provide video responses to interview questions in addition to your personal profile. You will be prompted to create your video responses within your application, including detailed instructions on how to include the video interview in the personal profile section of your application. Read our tips and watch a video about creating your video interview.

If you have not started working on your application yet, we encourage you to begin as soon as possible to make sure you have everything you need to submit your application on time.

 

Your personal profile and disruptions outside of your control

We know that disruptions can arise that may affect your access to extracurricular activities at school or in your community. We will be as flexible as possible to ensure that your personal profile is not disadvantaged by disruptions caused by things outside of your control.

Remember that when we assess your personal profile, we take into account all of the activities you’ve done across multiple years, not just the ones you hoped to complete in Grade 11 or 12. Your examples can come from any aspect of your life, including within your family or smaller community. There are no right or wrong answers – we’re not looking for certain activities or a long list of achievements, but rather your reflections on what you’ve experienced.

 

Good luck! We’re looking forward to learning more about you.

 

How to find your degree-specific requirements

By Crissy Campbell on October 31, 2024

How to find your degree-specific requirements

If you are planning on applying to UBC, it is important to figure out early what the admission requirements are and what you need to apply. Requirements for admission vary depending on where you attended high school, which UBC campus you hope to attend, and which degree you’re applying to.

 

Meeting UBC’s admission requirements

There are three parts to meeting the admission requirements when applying to UBC:

  1. You need to meet the English Language Admission Standard;
  2. You need to meet the general admission requirements;
  3. And you need to meet the degree-specific requirements. Degree-specific requirements can include prerequisites, supplemental applications, portfolios, and audition requirements.

 

So how do you find out what your degree-specific requirements are?

To find out what your degree-specific prerequisite requirements are, go to the requirements page that applies to you: Canadian high school students, International high school students or International Baccalaureate students.

Here, you can choose the campus you are applying to, select where you attended high school (if applicable) and select the degree that you are applying to, to get a list of your prerequisite requirements.

In addition to prerequisites, some degrees require additional application materials, such as portfolios or auditions. If you’re applying to any of these degrees, a supplemental application or additional materials may be required.

Log into UBC’s Applicant Service Centre and start the online application process to find out what degree-specific materials you need to include in your application.

 

Questions?

Contact us and we can help you find your degree-specific requirements.

Degree Spotlight: Arts at UBC Okanagan

By Crissy Campbell on October 30, 2024

Degree Spotlight: Arts at UBC Okanagan

Are you looking for a degree that will give you a broad range of knowledge and teach you how to think critically, be creative, problem solve, and communicate effectively?

UBC Okanagan’s Bachelor of Arts degree is a flexible, innovative arts degree designed for the 21st century, taught by award-winning instructors. The degree integrates foundational knowledge with interdisciplinary opportunities in social justice, sustainability and Indigenous content, and prepares you for global citizenship.

 

What you learn in Arts at UBC Okanagan

You can choose from more than 20 majors in the Bachelor of Arts at UBC’s Okanagan campus. Students start their degree taking foundational courses, and at the end of year one or two can choose a program to major in to complete their degree.

Some of the program options include:

Indigenous Studies

In the Indigenous Studies program, you will learn about Indigenous governance, the justice system, land claims, traditional ecological knowledge, the protection of heritage, Indigenous theory, and more.

Indigenous Studies will give you the opportunity to design research projects relevant and respectful to an Indigenous community or agency and implement the project working on-site in that community or agency.

Graduates leave with the skills to pursue a career in government, Indigenous Peoples organizations, Indigenous leadership roles, and resource management.

Find out what you can do with a degree in Indigenous Studies after you graduate

 

Faculty Spotlight

Meet Jeannette Armstrong, an Associate Professor in the Indigenous Studies program, who is also an award-winning writer, activist, novelist and poet. Her research into Indigenous philosophies and Okanagan Syilx thought and environmental ethics has been recognized locally and globally.

 

Philosophy, Politics, and Economics

The Philosophy, Politics and Economics program brings together three of the most important fields in forming our understanding of society. This degree uniquely blends these three fields to allow you to form a critical understanding and interpretation of the world.

You’ll explore logic, ethics and how to question critically; the interests and institutions that form public policies and the rules by which we are governed; and how we make decisions as individuals and groups in our increasingly global world market.

With a Philosophy, Politics and Economics degree you can pursue a career in business or government, or undertake studies in law, business, commerce, journalism, social work, education, or public administration.

Find out what you can do with a degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics after you graduate

 

Student Spotlight

Meet Kevin Ilomin, an alum of the Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) program who believes that the broad, interdisciplinary approach to learning is what makes the PPE program at UBC’s Okanagan campus one of the best in Canada.

Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies

Learn about the world and our place in it through a deeper understanding of sexuality, femininity, embodiment and social justice. This dynamic and interdisciplinary program draws from across the humanities and social sciences and focuses on the historical and contemporary role of gender in global cultures. This program encourages you to engage in critical thought, challenge stereotypes, and contribute to social change. Courses draw on theoretical analysis, research, history, and literary sources to examine gender issues and the experiences of women.

Find out what you can do with a degree in Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies

 

Computer Science

Discover how to use your artistic creativity with technology in UBC Okanagan’s Computer Science BA program. Different from a BSc Computer Science degree, this program gives you the opportunity to complement your Arts degree with computer science courses.

The program appeals to students who are interested in both computer science and visual arts (game or website design), psychology (programming for cognitive science, psychology, and human and computer interactions), English (technical writing), languages (automation of text translation), philosophy (computer ethics), or law (information security and privacy, and forensics).

You will develop the skills and knowledge to pursue a variety of in-demand careers, including as an application developer, game designer, desktop publisher, animator, or quality control specialist.

Find out what you can do with a BA in Computer Science

 

Student Spotlight

Meet Eric Huang, an undergraduate student in the Computer Science program who says that it has given him opportunities that would be hard to come by anywhere else.

 

Economics

Economics will change the way you look at the world, increase your understanding of fundamental human behaviour, and improve your reasoning, problem solving, and decision-making abilities. Economics is the study of how people, institutions, and nations manage resources such as time, money, and materials. In this program, you will increase your skills in deductive reasoning, abstract and critical thinking, and your understanding of the historical, cultural, and social context of economic institutions, policies, and events. Economists study how behaviour reflects and responds to incentives.

Find out what you can do with a degree in Economics

 

Creative writing

The Creative Writing program on UBC’s Okanagan campus provides you with an opportunity to study literature and literary criticism, and to bring what you learn from these studies into your own work. Course options include poetry, creative non-fiction, short fiction, novels, playwriting, screenplay, writing with media, editing and publishing, and community learning. The program fosters a supportive community of faculty and peers in which you’ll find encouragement to explore new genres and writing forms.

You’ll be actively involved in writing projects, chapbook production, magazine editing, new media work, student anthology production, and community learning projects. You’ll also have the chance to build a varied body of work for your own portfolio – all while studying under a faculty of award-winning writers dedicated to helping you experiment and grow as a writer.

Find out what you can do with a degree in Creative Writing

 

Why choose Arts at UBC Okanagan?

As a student in the Bachelor of Arts at UBC Okanagan, you’ll have options to tailor your degree, including a sustainability component, a digital literacy component, and a diversity and cultures component.

Because UBC Okanagan is a smaller campus, you can build close relationships with fellow students in small-group programs, and connect with professors early in your academic career.

You’ll graduate with transferable skills that you can apply to many different jobs.

 

See a full list of Arts programs at UBC Okanagan

Degree Spotlight: Nursing at UBC Okanagan

By Crissy Campbell on October 29, 2024

Degree Spotlight: Nursing at UBC Okanagan

Do you want a fulfilling career helping people and promoting health and healing? Are you looking for a degree that will give you skills that will always be needed in today’s world?

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at UBC Okanagan is continuously ranked as one of the top Schools of Nursing in Canada. The program will provide you with the skills you need to deliver outstanding health care within an increasingly complex health care system.

 

What will you learn?

UBC Okanagan’s Nursing program emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach to developing the skills required to become a registered nurse (RN). Within the program you will practice safe, quality, evidence-informed health care grounded in humanizing the experience of health and illness.

As a Nursing student at UBC Okanagan, you will have lots of opportunities to explore various experiences within Nursing, including global and rural health exchanges where you can gain insight into global and rural health issues by doing a placement in Ghana, Zambia, or Haida Gwaii. You’ll also have opportunities to explore different areas within Nursing by doing hands-on work in different specialities and specializations.

 

Student Scoop

Ashley in the nursing lab at UBC Okanagan

“Once I complete my schooling, my aim is to work closely within the Indigenous population. My passion lies in patient-centered care and ensuring cultural safety, and I’m eager to make a meaningful impact in these areas,” says Ashley H. about pursing nursing. Read about Ashley’s experience as a student in the nursing program at UBC Okanagan.

 

Why choose the Bachelor of Nursing program at UBC Okanagan?

 

1. You can take the degree right out of high school. Many other Nursing programs are after-degree programs, which means that you take them after you already have a bachelor’s degree. Since UBC Okanagan’s Nursing program is a four-year degree program, students can enter the program with no previous post secondary education.

 

2. The program is open to international students. Unique to our Okanagan campus, the nursing program is open to both domestic and international students.

 

3. Your practicum starts in your first year. As a student in the Nursing program, you get to work with real patients starting in your first year. Throughout the four years of the program, you’ll get a lot of practice hours in many different practice settings, which will let you explore different specializations and will give you a glimpse of the many different ways you can apply your Nursing degree in the real world.

Our Okanagan campus has a state of the art nursing simulation lab that mimics the look, feel and smell of a real hospital. The lab uses cutting-edge simulation technology and these realistic contexts prepare you for clinical practice.

 

4. You’ll be part of a close-knit community. The Nursing program at UBC Okanagan has a great sense of community. The program is unique in that it is a world-class program on a world-class campus but students have the benefit of a close-knit, smaller community in a beautiful region of British Columbia.

 

5. You can take advantage of research opportunities. You can conduct research throughout your degree as you engage in service learning projects and/or change projects, and in your fourth year you will also have the opportunity to do a Research Preceptorship, where you can work directly with a researcher. Watch Rachel Epp, a fourth year nursing student, talk about her research practicum.

 

 

UBC Okanagan’s nursing simulation lab.

 

What a wonderful career, where you can be taking someone’s pulse while holding their hand. That’s what I love most about my career in nursing—that it’s good for the soul.” – Matthew Rigby, UBC Okanagan Nursing alum.

 

 

What can you do after graduating?

Graduates of UBC Okanagan’s Nursing program are in high demand. As a registered nurse you will be qualified to provide professional nursing services, deliver health-education programs, and provide consultative nursing services.

Nursing is also a profession of lifelong learning and you can decide to continue your education by choosing to specialize, upgrade your skills or get your Master of Science in Nursing.

 

 

First-round offers of admission to UBC

By Crissy Campbell on October 28, 2024

First-round offers of admission to UBC

A limited number of highly competitive high school students who follow a Canadian curriculum will receive first-round offers of admission from UBC. These students can expect to hear from UBC as early as mid-December, for a September 2025 start.

Here’s what you need to know about the process.

 

How to be considered for a first-round offer of admission

First-round offer of admissions are assessed on available final grades (usually your Grade 11) and your personal profile. To be considered for a first-round offer of admission, you must:

  • Apply by December 1, 2024.
  • Submit any materials that you have completed so far by December 10, 2024:
    • BC/Yukon students need to request an electronic transcript be sent to UBC via the BC Ministry of Education’s Student Transcript Service and ensure UBC has their Personal Education Number (PEN) on their application.
    • Ontario students need to submit an OUAC Reference number as part of their application so UBC can receive grades electronically from the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre. If you are not applying via OUAC, contact the Admissions office and we will let you know how to provide your grades.
    • Alberta and Nova Scotia students need to complete the academic profile section of the UBC online application.
    • Students from all other provinces simply need to submit their online application and the Admissions office will contact you on how to provide your grades.
  • Have very competitive grades and personal profile.
  • Meet all the admission requirements, including the degree-specific course requirements.

 

When you’ll receive a decision

First-round offers of admission to UBC will start mid-December and continue until the end of February. If you are not offered a first-round offer of admission by the end of February, you will automatically be evaluated again in March through the regular admissions process, once your February-March grades are available.

If you are not sent a first-round offer of admission, you won’t be disadvantaged in any way from being awarded a place at UBC.

 

Programs that do not provide first-round offers of admission

Because some programs require an audition, interview, or additional supplemental processes, they do not fall within the first-round offer timelines. These include, but are not limited to:

  • Bachelor of Fine Arts (Vancouver)
  • Bachelor of Design in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urbanism
  • Bachelor of Dental Science
  • Bachelor of Media Studies (Vancouver)
  • Bachelor + Master of Management (Vancouver)
  • Bachelor of Music

Please note that only your first-choice program will be considered for a first-round offer.

 

Next steps after receiving a first-round offer of admission

If you receive a first-round offer of admission, the next steps are:

  • All students must maintain their academic standing in order to keep their offer.
  • Spring 2025: UBC will verify interim grades.
  • July 2025: UBC will verify all final grades.

Please note that you are responsible for completing the degree-specific course requirements and providing UBC with the documents confirming these conditions have been met. If you fail to meet any of the conditions listed above, you may lose your offer of admission to UBC.

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

 

 

Degree Spotlight: Bachelor of Sustainability

By Crissy Campbell on October 25, 2024

Degree Spotlight: Bachelor of Sustainability

Sustainability is one of the biggest challenges facing our planet. A Bachelor in Sustainability at UBC’s Okanagan campus will give you the skills to critically assess and propose solutions to contemporary sustainability challenges, such as climate change, pollution, and social and economic inequality.

UBC Okanagan’s Bachelor of Sustainability, the only dedicated degree in sustainability in Canada, will develop your skills and knowledge to enable you to take action to solve sustainability problems at both a local and global scale.

 

Hands-on learning and research

As a Bachelor of Sustainability student, your degree is fully immersive, with research and community-based learning opportunities imbedded in the curriculum.

Because UBC Okanagan is located in a unique environment, you’ll have access to urban, agricultural, and wilderness environments that will become your real-world labs.

You will have the opportunity to work together with faculty to conduct or assist with research projects. You can participate in research either as a volunteer research assistant, or through Directed Studies opportunities.

 

Meet your professor

Meet Lael Parrott, a professor in Sustainability at UBC’s Okanagan campus.

“The UBC Okanagan campus is exceptional because it has easy accessibility to different environments for teaching and research. Urban, agriculture, and aquatic systems are all local. This is an incredible asset…The students can go out and see the ecosystems they’re studying. It’s not just textbook knowledge.”

 

What you learn in the Bachelor of Sustainability

The Bachelor of Sustainability combines a broad interdisciplinary approach – course content spans the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences – with focused concentrations to develop your skills and knowledge.

All students take core Sustainability courses along with courses specific to their concentration. You can choose from the following four concentrations:

 

Environmental Analytics

The Environmental Analytics concentration supplements core knowledge of sustainability with powerful modeling and simulation techniques that exploit geographical data. You will to understand, model, simulate, explain, and extrapolate the behaviour of complex environmental systems.

Environmental analytics graduates will be well-equipped to tackle sustainability challenges through evidence-based data analysis. Job opportunities range from climate action analyst and impact assessment analyst to sustainability consultant and data analyst.

Learn more about Environmental Analytics

 

Environmental Conservation and Management

The Environmental Conservation and Management concentration provides you with an understanding of the challenges of sustainably managing and preserving terrestrial and freshwater environments and resources.

You will gain a comprehensive understanding in environmental and natural resources management, land use and ecosystem services assessment, resource economics, and environmental impact assessment.

Job opportunities range from environmental assessment specialist and sustainability consultant to environmental coordinator and Indigenous resource management.

Learn more about Environmental Conservation and Management

 

Environmental Humanities

Environmental sciences can tell us what is happening to our planet, but not why. The Environmental Humanities seek to explain and transform the cultural and historical foundations of environmental crisis.

You will enter into constructive dialogue with other subject areas to analyze and address a wide range of issues in sustainability.

Job opportunities range from impact assessment analyst and environmental assessment specialist to sustainability specialist and advisor in sustainability reporting.

Learn more about Environmental Humanities

 

Green Chemistry

The Green Chemistry concentration analyzes how modern society relies implicitly on an affordable supply of materials, textiles, fertilizers, and medicines, all of which must be synthesized from other substances by chemical reactions.

A sustainable society is impossible without the creation of improved production methods for these commodities. Such efforts will require the development of new synthetic procedures with an increased reliance on innocuous solvents, renewable and benign reagents, and efficient catalysts.

Job opportunities range from junior environmental analyst and environmental technician to environmental assessment specialist and advisor in sustainability reporting.

Learn more about Green Chemistry

How to plan your high school courses to succeed at UBC

By Crissy Campbell on October 24, 2024

How to plan your high school courses to succeed at UBC

Thinking about applying to UBC? UBC receives thousands of applications every year and, unfortunately, we don’t have room for everyone. So how can you improve your chances of getting accepted? Academic excellence is important, but we also look at more than just grades.

Here’s a quick guide on how you can best prepare for applying to UBC so that you can improve your chances of admission.

Admission requirements

For your application to be considered, you will need to meet the admission requirements. This includes the English Language Admission Standard, general admission requirements, and degree-specific requirements.

Course planning

It’s never too early to start thinking about what you’ll study at UBC. Knowing what degree(s) you’re interested in will help you choose your high school courses that meet the degree requirements. After selecting courses that fulfill the degree requirements, fill out your schedule with other courses that interest you, challenge you, and are relevant to the degree you’ll be applying to.

Find more information on planning your high school courses and use this worksheet to map out your plan.

Experiences beyond academics

In addition to making good course choices, be sure you follow your interests outside the classroom too. You’ll have the chance to tell us about your sports, leadership activities, community involvement and more in the personal profile section of your UBC application. This will tell us a lot about you and how you’ll do at university.

 

Ready to apply? It’s helpful to understand what we look for when evaluating your application.

Updates to international study permits

By Crissy Campbell on October 23, 2024

Updates to international study permits

The Canadian government has recently made changes for international students who want to study in Canada, including changes to the study permit process and a cap on the number of students receiving study permits. We understand that these changes may be concerning, but UBC is confident that all qualified international students who want to come to UBC will be able to join our community. 

As you know, international students need a valid study permit to attend UBC. Study permits are issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the government department that handles immigration. As an international student, you’ll either need to extend your existing study permit from inside of Canada or apply for a new study permit from outside of Canada.

Changes to the study permit process

Last winter, the Canadian government issued changes to the study permit process. The process is different depending on if you are an international student outside of Canada or an international student inside of Canada. Here are the steps for how to apply for a study permit.

Cap on study permits

For international students who need to apply for a study permit, UBC is confident that the new cap gives us enough room to welcome all qualified students who wish to join UBC.

 

UBC values international students and the important contributions they make to UBC’s academic and research mission. They bring unique and diverse perspectives to the learning environment and our campus communities. Across all fields, international students are contributing to UBC’s excellence in countless ways.

 

Our priority is to support the academic success of UBC’s current international student community while also ensuring that Canada and UBC continue to welcome new international students from around the world who want to contribute to our vibrant academic community.”

Read more in a statement from the Provosts at UBC Okanagan and UBC Vancouver.

Watch a message from the President of UBC

 

UBC is here to help. If you have questions, please contact International Student Advising at UBC Okanagan or UBC Vancouver for support.