Admission requirements Archives - UBC | Undergraduate Programs and Admissions

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.

How to find your degree-specific requirements

By Crissy Campbell on October 31, 2024

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:

You need to meet the English Language Admission Standard;
You need to meet the general admission requirements;
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?

First-round offers of admission to UBC

By Crissy Campbell on October 28, 2024

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.

How to plan your high school courses to succeed at UBC

By Crissy Campbell on October 24, 2024

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.

What are the requirements for admission to UBC?

By Crissy Campbell on September 23, 2024

Each year, UBC receives approximately 50,000 undergraduate applications like yours from across Canada and around the world. You may be applying directly from high school or transferring from another university or college, studying at a Canadian school, or following any one of a number of international curricula. English may be your first language, or your second or third or fourth.

Each person who applies to UBC is unique, so each of you will have your own way of meeting our requirements. Here are four questions to ask yourself before you begin your application.

Four questions to ask yourself before applying to UBC

1. Do you meet UBC’s English language requirement?

English is the primary language of instruction at UBC. All prospective students are required to demonstrate English language competency before they’re admitted.

2. Do you meet UBC’s general admission requirements?

Your general admission requirements will vary depending on whether you’re a Canadian high school student, an international high school student, or a post-secondary transfer student from Canada or abroad.

3. Do you know what you’re interested in studying at UBC?

You don’t need to select a program or major just yet (e.g., English or Biology), but you’ll need to identify which degree you’re working toward (e.g., Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science). Choosing what to study will help you determine which degree-specific requirements you must meet when you apply to UBC and help you understand how your application will be reviewed.

When you complete your application, you can select a first and second choice of degree. You don’t have to indicate a second choice if you don’t have one or if you only meet the requirements for your first-choice degree, but it’s always a good idea to keep your options open. Some degrees are offered on both UBC Okanagan and UBC Vancouver, so one approach is to apply for the same degree on both campuses as your first and second choices.

4. Does your chosen degree require a personal profile or supplemental application?

All high school applicants and some transfer applicants are required to submit a personal profile as part of their application to UBC. Depending on the degree you choose, a supplemental application, portfolio, or audition may be required, too.

Find your admission requirements

No matter where you’re from, what you want to study, or which UBC campus you’re applying to, our Undergraduate Programs and Admissions website can help you find the admission requirements that apply to you.

Still have questions? Contact us and we’ll point you in the right direction.

British Columbia and Yukon: New Grade 11 requirements starting September 2026

By Crissy Campbell on June 5, 2024

If you’re in Grade 10 or Grade 11 you may already be planning your courses for when you apply to UBC. Starting in September 2026, UBC’s Grade 11 requirements for the Vancouver campus are changing. Read below to see how this may affect you.

For students applying for September 2025

If you will be applying to UBC for September 2025, there are no changes to the Grade 11 requirements.

For students applying for September 2026

If you will be applying to UBC’s Vancouver campus for September 2026 and you are a high school student in British Columbia or Yukon, there are changes to the Grade 11 requirements. Depending on the degree you are applying to, the Grade 11 requirements have been simplified or are no longer required.

Find the degree(s) you plan on applying to and review these changes to plan your Grade 11 courses.

Looking for more help on planning your courses? Read our course selection tips for high school students.

Course selection tips for high school students

By Crissy Campbell on March 8, 2024

If you’re hoping to attend UBC in September 2025 or 2026, it’s already time to start planning the rest of your high school courses. Here’s a few tips to help you prepare and choose the Grade 11 and 12 or junior- and senior-level courses you’ll need for admission.

Know your requirements

Choose Grade 12 or senior-level courses that meet:

your high school graduation requirements;
UBC’s general admission requirements;
UBC’s degree-specific requirements.

Your general admission and degree-specific requirements will depend on the UBC campus and degree you choose, and the high school curriculum you’re studying as a Canadian student or an international student.

When you apply to UBC, you’ll have the chance to pick a first-choice and second-choice degree. Make sure the Grade 12 or senior-level courses you choose meet the requirements for both degrees.

If you haven’t chosen a degree yet, don’t worry! Just make sure that, at minimum, you meet UBC’s general admission requirements. Every UBC degree has specific requirements beyond the general admission requirements, but some degrees have fewer than others.

You can use these worksheets to help you plan your courses.

Make sure you meet UBC’s English language requirement

Since English is the primary language of instruction at UBC, you will be required to demonstrate a minimum level of English before you’re admitted. There are nine ways to meet UBC’s English Language Admission Standard for an undergraduate degree.

Start thinking about your personal profile

UBC will evaluate your application based on a combination of your academic achievements and personal experiences. The personal profile is your opportunity to tell UBC what you are most proud of, what is most important to you, and what you have learned from your experiences inside and outside the classroom. Start thinking about what you are learning – and want to learn – from those experiences in the coming year.

Do your best

A competitive university like UBC receives more applications than offers it can give out. We wish we could admit all qualified applicants, but we just don’t have the space. UBC has a comprehensive approach to admissions that focuses primarily on your marks in academic courses, but also considers the breadth, rigour, and relevancy of your coursework.

Stay up to date

UBC’s admission requirements can change from year to year. Be sure to refer to the Applying to UBC page for the most up-to-date information.

What are the requirements for post-secondary transfer admission to UBC?

By Crissy Campbell on December 13, 2023

If you are currently attending a post-secondary institution and you have successfully completed high school, you may apply to UBC as a transfer student.

The deadline to apply as a transfer student depends on the program you wish to transfer into. While the majority of transfer programs have an application deadline of January 15 there are some exceptions:

Each transfer student is unique, so you will have your own way of meeting the requirements. But you can start the application process by asking yourself these questions.

Five questions to ask yourself before applying as a transfer student to UBC

1. Do you meet UBC’s English Language Requirements?

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 and there are nine ways to meet UBC’s English language admission requirement. The deadline to submit documents showing that you meet the English language requirements is February 15.

2. Are you in good academic standing at your current university or college?

The minimum academic standing to be considered for admission to UBC is an admission average of C (60%, where 50% is a passing grade), or a 2.0 on a 4.0 point scale calculated on the most recent 30 credits attempted.

Please note that the number of applicants to UBC exceeds the number of spaces available and meeting this minimum entrance requirement does not guarantee admission, as entry into many degree programs is competitive and some require specific prerequisites. UBC assesses post-secondary applicants on a combination of factors, including grade point average (GPA), required prerequisite courses, and a review of your overall academic history. We may also require you to submit a personal profile, supplemental application, portfolio, or audition. For more information, review What we look for.

3. Have you completed a minimum of 30 transferable university or college credits?

Generally, UBC needs to calculate the total number of transferrable credits completed at the post-secondary level as a part of your admissibility and year placement. Review how UBC calculates your year level based on post-secondary credits completed.

You don’t need to have completed all of these credits when you apply. Your application will be considered on the basis of your interim transcripts, which include final grades for courses completed to December, and any courses in-progress from January to April. You have until the spring to submit your final credits and grades.

4. Do you meet the degree program entry requirements?

Students who meet the minimum credit requirements still need to meet the degree-specfic requirements to transfer into the program they are applying to.

5. What documents do I need to submit?

To apply as a transfer student, you will need to submit an application form, your transcripts from all your current and previous post-secondary institutions, and your high school transcripts. Some programs may require supplemental materials, such as a personal profile, supplemental application, portfolio, or audition. Check the Applicant Service Centre for details on what documents you need to submit.

Looking for more information? Review the admissions requirements for post-secondary transfer students and refer to the BC Transfer Guide to see how courses transfer to UBC.