UBC admissions blog

Medical insurance and health coverage are important topics for all new students – whether you’re coming from another province or territory, or from across the globe. As a UBC student, you must have both basic and extended health insurance coverage. Here’s a quick look at what steps you need to take.

How do I get basic health insurance?

Canadian students

BC students

If you’re a resident of BC and currently covered by MSP, no action is required on your part.

Out-of-province students

If you’re a Canadian student with a health plan in another province or territory, you do not need to switch to BC MSP. You’ll be covered by the health plan in your home province or territory as long as you remain a student. If you choose to switch to MSP, you’ll need to apply.

Students coming from abroad

If you’re a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada coming to Canada after living abroad, you may already have health coverage in BC or another Canadian province or territory. If you don’t, you’ll need to apply for MSP and make arrangements to join the Global Campus Health Plan or another private temporary insurance plan for the first three-month period before your MSP coverage takes effect.

International students

Canada has a public healthcare system. Everyone living in British Columbia (BC) for longer than six months is required to join MSP, a basic health insurance policy for the BC residents. If you’re an international student, you’ll need to apply for MSP as soon as you arrive in BC.

MSP has a three-month waiting period before your MSP coverage starts. You’ll automatically be enrolled in a private temporary health insurance plan called iMED to cover your three-month MSP waiting period after you register for courses if you are a new to UBC student. Check your Workday Account Activity to confirm you are charged for iMED. Your iMED coverage will begin on August 1, and it will be valid until October 31. If you are a one-term exchange student or Visiting International Research Student, you have different coverage dates.

A couple of tips:

• If you arrive in BC before August 1, purchase advance iMED coverage.
• If you arrive after August 31, submit a date change form so that your iMED dates match your MSP waiting period.
• If you already have MSP, you will be covered by another provincial health plan for the waiting period, you have health insurance through a third party organization who is funding your studies, or you will complete your entire program online from outside Canada, be sure to apply to opt-out of iMED by the deadline.

Visit the health insurance for international students page to learn more about the differences between iMED, MSP and the AMS/GSS Health and Dental plan (Vancouver campus) or SUO Health and Dental Plan (Okanagan Campus). If you have questions about healthcare or coverage in Canada, please contact an International Student Advisor on the Okanagan or Vancouver campus.

How do I get extended health insurance?

Extended health and dental plans are designed to take care of some expenses not covered by basic health insurance plans. As a UBC student, you will be automatically enrolled in the extended health and dental plan offered by the UBC Students’ Union Okanagan (UBCSUO) on the Okanagan campus or the Alma Mater Society/Graduate Student Society (AMS/GSS) on the Vancouver campus when you register for courses. Certain exceptions may apply, so make sure you check your Workday Account Activity to confirm that you’ve been enrolled and charged the appropriate fee.

For details on your coverage, or how to opt out if you already have equivalent coverage, please visit the Studentcare website.

What if I have a pre-existing medical condition?

If you’re being treated for a medical condition, consult your healthcare professional to make sure you’re well enough to take on the challenge of university. If you’re well enough to attend UBC, you’ll need to plan for treatment during your studies.

Find out if the treatment you need is available at UBC or nearby, how much it costs, and whether it will be covered under your basic and/or extended health insurance. The Student Health Clinic on the Okanagan campus and Student Health Service on the Vancouver campus offer on-campus medical clinics. If you are an international student you can also connect with International Student Advising on the Okanagan or Vancouver campus for guidance.

What if I have a documented disability?

If you have a documented disability and require disability-related accommodation or academic support, please make an appointment to discuss your eligibility with the Disability Resource Centre on the Okanagan campus or Centre for Accessibility on the Vancouver campus.

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.