UBC admissions blog

As a UBC student, you’ll need to have reading, writing, and speaking skills in English, regardless of your first language or citizenship. To ensure you develop those skills, all UBC undergraduate students are required to earn between three and six credits of writing, communication, or English.

Is this the same thing as the English Language Admission Standard?

No, they’re two different things. The English Language Admission Standard (ELAS) is an admissions requirement that you had to meet before being admitted to UBC. Your Faculty’s first-year writing, communication, or English requirements are something you need to meet now that you’re a UBC student.

What are my first-year writing, communication, or English requirements?

To check how many credits you must complete and which courses will fulfill your degree requirements, please refer to the undergraduate degree requirements for your Faculty at UBC Okanagan or UBC Vancouver.

What is the first-year English course entry requirement?

UBC Okanagan

To stay enrolled in your first-year English courses, you must meet the first-year English course prerequisites for UBC Okanagan.

UBC Vancouver

First-year English courses for UBC Vancouver do not have any prerequisites.

UBC offers International Baccalaureate (IB), Advanced Placement (AP) credit and A-Level (British-patterned education) credit to new first-year students who are eligible. If you think you’re eligible for first-year credit based on your IB, AP, or A-Level courses and grades, you’ll need to follow these steps.

Step 1: Send us your scores

Arrange for your scores to be sent from the International Baccalaureate, College Board, or your Advanced Level Examination Board to UBC so we can evaluate your eligibility for first-year credit. For more information about which IB, AP, and A-Level courses are eligible for credit, and the minimum scores required, check out our online guide for first-year credit.

If you are waiting for credits to appear on your record, please be patient. You will likely see your credits start to appear in your Workday account from the final week of July until late August. To view your credits, log into Workday, go into your profile and click “Academics,” followed by “Transfer Credit.” Note that the “Transfer Credit” tab will only appear if you have been awarded transfer credit.

Step 2: Plan to register for your UBC courses

Make sure that you’re ready to register for your classes. Read up on tips for choosing your first-year courses, know your registration date for either UBC Okanagan or UBC Vancouver, build your saved schedules, and review your first-year credits in Workday.

Please note that it is only when your first year credits are updated, that you can consider making changes to your schedule and course registrations by the course change dates (also known as the add/drop deadlines).

If you have questions or concerns about what courses you need to register for – for example, whether you should be registering in first- or second-year courses – please contact your faculty or academic advisor at UBC Okanagan or UBC Vancouver for assistance and recommendations.

Other questions?

If you have other questions about degree planning and course selection, an academic advisor from your faculty at UBC Okanagan or UBC Vancouver will be the best resource.

Once you’ve been admitted to UBC Okanagan, it’s time to start getting to know your new home. UBC 101 is a series of online modules that will help you learn more about your campus, and take care of the basics before classes start.

What is UBC 101?

From textbooks to housing, medical insurance to degree planning, UBC 101 will set you up with the knowledge to help you succeed when you arrive on campus. As a new-to-UBC– Okanagan student, you’ll be automatically enrolled in UBC 101. This course contains a series of online modules that will:

• Introduce you to the history, traditions, and culture of UBC Okanagan.
• Guide you through your academic transition to university.
• Introduce you to on-campus support services.
• Help you take care of essential tasks, such as showing you how to register for your first-year courses.

The modules are designed to familiarize you with UBC Okanagan and the traditional territory where our students learn and grow. You’ll find out about all the advisors and orientation programs available to support you as you transition to UBC Okanagan. You will also learn more about the identity and cultural programs, career resources, learning supports, and wellness services that will assist you once you are on campus. Make sure you don’t miss the module that provides important information about course registration!   

When is UBC 101?

UBC 101 starts in mid-May and runs until mid-August, with asynchronous modules being released weekly. Completing the modules will take about one hour each week. It’s a relatively small time commitment with a big pay off!

How to access UBC 101

All new-to-UBC Okanagan students, except Bachelor of Education students, are eligible to take part in UBC 101. You’ll be automatically enrolled starting in mid-May.

You can access UBC 101 anytime by clicking the link to the orientation on your Canvas dashboard. That’s also where you’ll find any updates or news about the UBC 101 material.

Congratulations on your offer of admission to UBC Okanagan! Once you’ve decided UBC is the right place for you and accepted your offer, it’s time to take a look at your orientations before classes start.

This summer, these activities and events will help you build your community and meet your first friends, learn more about campus life, and get ready for your first day in September!

UBC 101

As a new-to-UBC-Okanagan student, you’ll be automatically enrolled in UBC 101. This course has two streams: an Indigenous student stream and a general student stream. Both streams contain a series of online modules that will help you discover the history, traditions, and culture of UBC Okanagan, learn about the academic transition to university, be introduced to on-campus support services, and take care of essentials. Make sure you don’t miss the module that provides important information about course registration.

UBC 101’s modules will be released every week between mid-May and mid-August. Completing the modules will take about 1 hour each week and your learning will be led by an upper-year UBC Okanagan student who can answer your questions and help you take care of the essentials before classes start.

Who should take part

All undergraduate students coming to UBC Okanagan, except Bachelor of Education students.

Dates and deadlines

If you’re eligible, you will be automatically enrolled starting in mid-May.

Jump Start at UBC Okanagan

Jump Start at UBC Okanagan will help you discover campus life and your new community, learn about opportunities, and connect with other students. This three-day event is a great way to make friends before the first day of term through fun social activities and educational workshops in small groups, led by upper-year peers.

You can take part in Jump Start’s commuter stream or residence stream, depending on whether you’ll be living on- or off-campus in your first term. Whichever stream is right for you, you’ll enjoy academic success workshops designed to welcome you to your degree, as well as the chance to connect with faculty members, staff, and other students who are available to help you throughout your time at UBC. You’ll find out what it’s like to learn in a university environment and can take part in sessions hosted by UBC Okanagan staff and faculty to show you the campus resources and services. By getting the fundamentals out of the way, you’ll have more time to focus on what matters on your first day.

Who should take part

All first-year undergraduate students coming to UBC Okanagan from high school.

Dates and deadlines

Jump Start at UBC Okanagan runs from August 28 to August 30. Residence students may move in on August 27.

Register now!

Create

Kick off your first year at UBC Okanagan with Create orientation. This free, campus-wide event is here to help you build connections to the people, places, and resources that will support and shape your university experience. Over the course of the day, you’ll meet other new students and connect with upper-level peers who are ready to answer all your questions.

You’ll learn about UBC Okanagan and be welcomed by UBC’s leadership. You can also discover more about the campus and Kelowna community at the Showcase Information Fair. After you’ve registered for Create, you will receive an official email in late August with your personal schedule, including your group number and other important information about the day.

Who should take part

All new-to-UBC Okanagan undergraduate students.

Dates and deadlines

Create takes place on September 2. Register now.

Indigenous Student Orientation

Indigenous Student Orientation (ISO) is designed to help undergraduate and graduate students prepare for a successful start at UBC and develop connections and meaningful relationships.

Join the Indigenous Programs and Services team during a fun-filled day where you will learn more about campus, get to know your peer mentor and other new-to-UBC Okanagan Indigenous students, and enjoy a lunch together while being entered to win some great door prizes.

Who should take part

Indigenous Student Orientation is open to all First Nation (status and non-status), Métis, and Inuit students new to UBC’s Okanagan campus.

Dates and deadlines

ISO takes place on Sunday, September 1, 2024. Register now.