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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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What the heck are rolling admissions?

By Crissy Campbell on March 3, 2024

What the heck are rolling admissions?

UBC evaluates your UBC application once it’s complete, which means we need to receive all your grades and other required information first. With more than 48,000 applications coming in from different school systems around the world, we receive all those grades and supporting documents at different times.

We can’t evaluate everyone’s application at the same time, so we send out admissions decisions as we receive and review information. That’s what we mean by rolling admissions.

If we received your grade information early in the year, we may have evaluated your application in January or February. But don’t worry: UBC uses the same admissions criteria for everyone. Students who receive offers by the end of February have to meet the same admissions criteria as those who receive offers in March or April.

 

 

When will you receive your UBC admission decision?

By Crissy Campbell on February 29, 2024

When will you receive your UBC admission decision?

We know that selecting universities to apply to is a huge decision – one that involves plenty of research and preparation. And although that part is done, you still have one big decision left: which admission offer will you accept?

The UBC Admissions Office is meticulously reviewing your application so that we can give you our decision as soon as we can – we want to help you make your big decision in good time. That being said, we’re not going to rush through our evaluation of your application – we want to make sure you get a carefully considered decision from us. As soon as we have evaluated your application, you will see our decision on the Applicant Service Centre under Admissions > Application Status.

 

Why do some students receive their admission decision before others?

The simple answer: we receive grades at different times depending on your school system.

For some of you, we started evaluating your application in mid-to-late January because you applied by December 1 to be considered for a first-round offer of admission. Right now, we are receiving International Baccalaureate anticipated grades for Canadian high school applicants, BC Ministry of Education grades, and OUAC grade information from Ontario, and we continue to receive international documents.

From March 1st to March 15th, applicants from Alberta, Manitoba, the Maritimes, and Saskatchewan will upload their documents so that we can evaluate their applications.

Our Admissions team has been reading personal profiles and evaluating applications as we receive grades and other information, and we will continue to do so until all applications have been carefully reviewed. We’re working as quickly and carefully as we can to give you an admission decision shortly after we receive all of your grade information.

 

Admission decisions are not first come, first served

Most important to you: we use the same evaluation criteria for everyone when their files are complete. If your files are complete in March, we will evaluate your application exactly as we have done for those whose files were complete in January. Our decisions are not made on a first-come, first-served basis, and we take great care to make sure you get the right decision shortly after your application is complete.

 

 

Some UBC degrees still accepting applications

By Crissy Campbell on February 28, 2024

Some UBC degrees still accepting applications

Although the deadline to apply for the 2024/25 Winter Session (September to April) has passed, certain UBC degrees are still accepting applications. If you’re planning to apply, you need to submit your application soon – unless a specific deadline is indicated, degrees will close their application without notice.

 

A flood of applications

As of February 26, 2024, the UBC Admissions office has received over 48,000 applications! If you’ve already applied, thank you for your submission. We’ve been busy answering your questions and making sure you’ll receive an email notifying you of which documents you need to submit. We’re eager to evaluate your application so we can send you a decision as soon as possible.

Thank you for your patience as we work through all of the applications we’ve received.

 

What comes after applying?

Check the Admissions Blog routinely for timely posts about how to submit your documents, when we’ll send offers of admission, self-reporting, and other important admissions-related details.

 

 

You’ve applied to UBC. Now what?

By Crissy Campbell on February 27, 2024

You’ve applied to UBC. Now what?

Congratulations on completing your UBC application! You’re one giant step closer to joining our vibrant community of students and faculty from around the globe.

 

Submitting your documents

Tens of thousands of UBC applicants like you have begun – or will soon begin – submitting their documents. The UBC Admissions Office is doing its best to read everyone’s personal profile and transcript as carefully and quickly as possible. We’re swamped with incoming documents, but we’re working very hard to process each one and give you a considered and fair decision as soon as we can. It may take a while for us to acknowledge that we’ve received your documents, so thank you for bearing with us at this busy time.

 

To find out what documents you need to send to us, check your email for a message from UBC, or log in to the Applicant Service Centre.

 

Your admissions decision

Depending on the degree you applied to, the standard of your application, and when your grades become available, high school applicants can expect an admissions decision any time between the end of January and May and post-secondary transfer applicants can expect an admissions decision any time between February and late June. Be sure to check your application status often in the Applicant Service Centre under Admissions > Application Status.

If you’re itching to know what comes next in the admissions process, check out the video below:

 

 

Until you hear back from us, take this time to learn more about the degree that you applied to. This is also a great opportunity to envision your future at UBC and have your questions answered by joining a campus tour, attending an event for applicants, or taking part in an online info session.

 

 

Should you join the Land One study option in first year?

By Crissy Campbell on February 23, 2024

Should you join the Land One study option in first year?

Transitioning from high school to university can seem daunting at first. To make the move as easy as possible, UBC offers a selection of first-year study options designed to help you build a community and take the stress out of registering for classes.

If you have been accepted into the Forestry or Land and Food Systems faculties, you are eligible to apply for the Land One study option.

 

What is Land One?

Land One includes a selection of core courses in Biology, Economics, Math, and English, as well as an integrative seminar. You’ll take all of these key classes with the 50 to 60 students who are admitted to the study option. You will also take part in a seminar, where you’ll enjoy hands-on experiences, build relationships with your instructors, and learn how to solve the problems that are negatively impacting our land.

 

Why should you choose a first-year study option?

If you’re looking to make new friends from your first day, Land One could be the right path for you. You’ll benefit from smaller class sizes in select courses and your seminar group, a dedicated study space, and low student-to-instructor ratios. Also, you will get to participate in experiential learning opportunities such as field trips and other hands-on activities.

 

 

Is Land One right for you?

To take part in Land One, you’ll need to take all of the classes required for the program, which will provide you with 16 credits that can be applied to meet your program requirements. On top of that, you’ll have time to choose additional courses in your first year that help you meet additional requirements and build your own educational path.

Land One’s seminar course covers a range of issues related to land use, climate change, food security, and sustainability. Much of your time will be spent discussing and addressing how to solve these problems, and you’ll also take part in some hands-on activities. You’ll also visit the UBC Farm to learn more about sustainable food systems, and enjoy a two-day field trip to UBC’s Malcolm Knapp Research Forest, where you’ll experience the coastal old-growth rainforest first-hand.

If you’re in Forestry, Land One is particularly useful if you plan to major in Forest Resources Management or if you’re taking your Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources Conservation.

If you’re in Land and Food Systems, you’re eligible for enrolment in Land One if you’re taking a Bachelor of Science in Applied Biology, or a Bachelor of Science in Food, Nutrition, and Health. Land One will prepare you for all majors across those two programs.

 

How to apply

Applications to Land One are now open and the deadline is May 15, 2024. Once you have been accepted into your Forestry or Land and Food Systems degree program, you will need to submit an online application through Land One’s website. As part of the process, you’ll be asked to write a letter of intent (500 words maximum) explaining why you want to join the Land One cohort. Land One is limited by size, so apply early!

Enrolment in the study option may require additional high school courses not required for admission, so it’s important to check the requirements online.

 

 

 

Study at UBC through our inclusive post-secondary initiative with STEPS Forward

By Crissy Campbell on February 13, 2024

Study at UBC through our inclusive post-secondary initiative with STEPS Forward

UBC prides itself on being a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students. If you have developmental or intellectual disabilities and are interested in attending post-secondary education in a way that supports your strengths and learning style, you can study at UBC through an inclusive post-secondary initiative with STEPS Forward.

 

What is inclusive post-secondary education at UBC?

Academics

If you are admitted through this initiative, you may enrol in UBC courses and select an area of study of your choice. You’ll be part of the same classes, tutorials, and labs as UBC students studying for their degrees, but as a participating auditor: a status that allows your assignments and exams to be modified to suit your individual learning style. You’ll also be supported by STEPS Forward inclusion facilitators at UBC to engage fully in your courses.

Upon successfully completing your studies, you’ll receive a Certificate of Completion at convocation alongside students earning their Bachelor’s degree in the same field.

Student life

During your time at UBC, you’ll enjoy student life in the same clubs and social spaces as other undergraduates, and – with the support of STEPS Forward inclusion facilitators – you will be supported in individualized ways to make decisions about what you want to explore on campus.

Career development

Over the summer months (April to August), STEPS Forward will help you to find paid work, internships, training, networking, and other volunteer opportunities that relate to your career goals.

 

Who is eligible?

There are no minimum academic requirements to be accepted – instead, STEPS Forward will look at your desire to learn and have a typical student experience. The initiative is committed to supporting the inclusion of students with significant and/or complex support needs.

Discover more about the criteria used to select students.

 

How to apply

  1. Get in touch with us to find out more about whether accessing your studies through UBC’s inclusive post-secondary initiative (STEPS Forward) is right for you:

 

  1. Attend an interview. The interview is a way for us to learn more about what you want to get out of post-secondary education. You’ll be asked questions about what you’re hoping to gain from the experience and how you’ll grow from UBC’s academic teaching and student life. TIP: Before your interview, think about topics such as:
    • What makes you feel great about going to school?
    • Why do you want to continue your education after high school?
    • How do you want to get involved with sports, clubs, and campus events?
    • How can you get the most out of being a student with facilitator support?

 

  1. Receive your offer. About a month after your interview, we’ll contact you to let you know if you are accepted. If your application is successful, STEPS Forward will set up a series of meetings with you over the summer to prepare with you and your chosen family, advocates, or allies.

 

The deadline to begin your application for Fall 2025 is December 30, 2024.

Take a self-guided virtual tour of UBC’s campuses

By Crissy Campbell on February 12, 2024

Take a self-guided virtual tour of UBC’s campuses

Now that your application has been submitted, it’s time to get to know our campuses better. A great way to get a feel for our campuses and what it’s like to be a student is through a campus tour!

As well as the student-led live virtual campus tours and the in-person campus tours that we offer for both UBC Okanagan and UBC Vancouver, we also have two great self-guided virtual tours – one for each campus – for you to explore in your own time.

 

ubc virtual tour

 

The self-guided tours, you can have a look at all the highlights you can look forward to as a student. The tour will walk you through key locations, giving you a feel for what it’s like to live and learn at UBC. You’ll see UBC’s residences, study spots, recreational facilities, academic buildings, and more.

On your journey you’ll be able to take a look at 360° panoramas, photos, and videos, and you can pause at any time to check them out. If you like, you can share your favourite spots on social media.

No matter which tour option you pick, we’re looking forward to showing you around!

 

 

 

Which Arts first-year study option is right for you?

By Crissy Campbell on February 7, 2024

Which Arts first-year study option is right for you?

After you’ve been admitted to the Bachelor of Arts degree, you’ll have to decide which courses to take when registration opens in June. That might seem like a long way off, but it’s worth thinking in advance about how you might like to structure your timetable.

There are two ways to shape your first year in the Faculty of Arts. The first, the Custom Timetable, lets you pick the classes you’re most interested in and build your own schedule. The second lets you join a predesigned course schedule for your first year, where you’ll take nearly all of your classes with the same people.

For Arts students, there are two of these predesigned options to choose from: Arts One and the Coordinated Arts Program (CAP).

 

What are Arts One and CAP?

Arts One and CAP allow students to study together in small classes (between 20 and 100 students). Each brings courses and ideas together across different disciplines – for example literature, history, psychology, economics, and philosophy – by focusing on a shared topic or theme.

To complete either study option, you’ll need to take all of the courses together , which are collectively worth 18 credits. You can also take up to two additional courses of your choice each semester.

 

Why should you choose Arts One or CAP?

Arts One and CAP ease the transition from high school to university by offering standard timetables, coordinated assignment schedules, access to an exclusive study space, dedicated academic advisors, and support from your fellow students and faculty.

Both study options admit a small number of students – around 100 in Arts One, and about 100 per stream in CAP. Because you’ll spend most of your time with your cohort – sometimes in groups as small as four in Arts One, and 25 in CAP – you’ll find it easier to make friends. You’ll also work closely with your professors, helping you to make personal connections with faculty. Taking Arts One or CAP sets you up for a variety of degree pathways, and allows you to satisfy the first-year writing and literature requirements.

 

What’s the difference between Arts One and CAP?

Arts One

Arts One is a single, integrated course that is led by five instructors who work together to create the assignments and a reading list based on the year’s theme.

You’ll read classical and contemporary texts and discuss their influence on culture and society, including novels, philosophical and political texts, films, drama, graphic memoirs, and more. The professors take turns to give the weekly lectures, and you’ll work closely with one instructor who will lead your twice-weekly seminar discussions (20 students) and once-weekly tutorials, where you and three other students will read and evaluate each other’s essays.

 

CAP

In CAP, you’ll get to choose from one of five streams, each offering a different combination of courses from across the Faculty of Arts. This year, your streams will be Environment and Society (previously People and Planet); Individual and Society; Law and Society; Political Science, Philosophy, and Economics; and Media Studies, and allow students and faculty to discuss ideas from various perspectives.

While your CAP courses are separate, faculty work together to connect the concepts and issues you’ll study, and to make sure your deadlines won’t overlap. Like Arts One, CAP classes are smaller than if you choose to create your own Custom Timetable, ranging from 25 students in the writing course to around 100 to 125 students in a lecture. As part of CAP, you’ll also have the chance to participate in an annual student conference, and in its stream-wide academic and social events during the term.

 

How to apply

For Arts One, you’ll sign up on Workday Student when registration opens in June by selecting the program course (i.e. ARTS 001A) and one seminar.

For CAP, you’ll also sign up when registration opens in June by selecting your chosen CAP stream.

Registration for Arts One and CAP is on a first-come, first-served basis.

 

Looking for more information? Read what it’s like to be an Arts One student and a Coordinated Arts Program student and why these students chose each program.