UBC admissions blog

Updated July 8: Registration is now closed.

If you’re entering first year at UBC Vancouver and coming directly from high school, you’ll want to register for Jump Start at UBC Vancouver. This multi-day program is designed to give you a first look at university life, let you meet your professors and academic community, and help you make your first friends!

What to expect

You’ll be assigned to a learning community which will be led by two upper-year students and a faculty fellow. Together, you’ll participate in a full range of activities during the program, from discovering the university learning environment and the classroom setting to fun events such as trivia nights, photo challenges, games, exercise, sports and dance tutorials, and art activities.

Residence stream

If you’re planning to live in student housing on campus (known at UBC as “residence”) in your first year, Jump Start gives you the opportunity to move in early, get to know campus, and meet new friends in-person. You will enjoy scheduled group events with your classmates, as well as sessions and offerings you can take part in at your own pace.

Move-in for Jump Start’s residence stream takes place on August 27. The three-day program runs from August 28 to August 30.

Commuter stream

If you’re planning to live off campus and will be commuting to UBC in your first year, Jump Start gives you the opportunity to practice your route to classes, get to know your new campus and your Collegium, and meet your first friends in person. The three-day program will include scheduled group events with your classmates, as well as sessions and offerings you can take part in at your own pace.

Jump Start’s commuter stream begins on August 28 and finishes on August 30.

Register now

Registration is now open! Visit the Jump Start Vancouver webpage to complete the registration form, pay the program fee, and save your spot.

Jump Start registration will close on June 27 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.

Registration is now closed.

What students are saying

“My experience in Jump Start was warm and friendly. At first, the environment was scary because a lot of the other attendees did not talk much, but over a couple of ice breakers, everyone’s shells started to melt away. We’d have break times for lunch and in our Collegia, everyone would sit down together in the biggest group possible and talk and laugh. I think attending Jump Start is a great experience overall because it really helped me break out of my own shell. For example, I wasn’t afraid to reach out to the people I had just met at Jump Start on social media. Even now, I still talk to them and I think some of my closest friends at UBC are the ones I made in Jump Start.” – Kayree R.

“Jump Start is such a great way to start the school year. I got to meet so many people who share common interests with me, and many of them I know I will be close friends with for life. It is also the perfect transition from summer to university, and also a great way to meet people and become familiar with the campus prior to classes.” – Katie A.

Are you looking to challenge yourself academically, or boost yourself towards your academic goals? The UBC Future Global Leaders Winter Online program is designed for you. For ten weeks, learn online from UBC professors and affiliated instructors as you delve deeper into your academic interests, and discover what learning is like at the first-year level at a top-tier university. It’s a great way to figure out what your passions are while you’re still in high school, and prepare yourself for success at university and beyond.

What can you study?

This January, you can choose from four engaging academic courses, all taught by UBC instructors. Every academic course features 10 live virtual classes, designed to give you a taste of a university subject without the stress of exams.

• Introduction to Business Foundations: Study the importance of core business functions, including finance, accounting, marketing and human resource management. If you’re interested in pursuing a degree in business, this course is the perfect fit.
• Introduction to Engineering: If you’re fascinated by engineering, architecture or applied science, this course is for you. Find out about the engineering profession, and the disciplines of chemical, civil, computer, electrical, environmental and mechanical engineering.
• Introduction to Psychology: Learn about the scientific study of the mind and behaviour. This program is excellent if you’re thinking of majoring in psychology or if you’re interested in the social sciences, applied sciences, or medicine.
• Crime and Society: Contemporary Topics: If you’re interested in criminology, anthropology, sociology, psychology, law, enforcement, mental health, forensic psychiatry or public policy, this course is for you. You’ll investigate a range of contemporary topics in crime, including the relationship between public order and violent crime, innovations in drug enforcement, forensic psychiatry, and restorative justice.

Who can take part?

To register for a UBC Future Global Leaders Online course, you must be 15 to 18 years old and have completed Grade 10 or equivalent. We suggest that you have a grade point average of 78% or letter grade B or higher, or a minimum IB final grade of 5. You don’t need to submit any transcripts to register.

If you want to register for an academic course and English is not your first language, we recommend an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of 6.0 or equivalent, or TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) Internet-based score of 80 or equivalent. You don’t need to provide your scores, and can self-assess your own levels.

Registration is easy!

No application, transcripts, or proof of English is required. Just check your eligibility, and register for the courses you’re interested in!

The academic courses run from January 27 to April 13, 2024, with your 10 live virtual classes scheduled on Saturdays from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm PT.

UBC President Bursary Program for high school students in British Columbia

The UBC Future Global Leaders program will award a number of bursaries to Grade 11 high school students in BC. It will cover full tuition for one 10-week winter academic course of your choice.

To be considered for a bursary:

• You must have an overall average of 80% or higher, and 80% or higher in Grade 11 English (or equivalent). If you are entering Grade 11, you must have an overall average of 80% or higher, and 80% or higher in Grade 10 English (or equivalent).
• You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• You must live in a lower income household, and your parent(s) or caregiver(s) must not have attended a university or university-college.

We accept bursary applications year-round and evaluate applications as we receive them.

University application and skills courses

If you’re in grade 11 or 12 and thinking ahead to university, you can learn skills and strategies today to get into your top-choice university, and succeed once you’re there.

• Writing Effective University Applications shows you how to create convincing and memorable university applications. There are no live classes, so you can go entirely at your own pace. Ask your instructor a question at any time and get a response in 24-48 hours, and get personalized feedback on all of your written assignments. Register and start anytime!
• Academic Skills for University Success helps you sharpen your skills before you start university so you can improve your performance, reduce stress and accomplish more. Find out how to make the most of your study time, take notes effectively, and develop good habits. Do this course at your own pace, and get instructor feedback on assignments.
• Student Well-Being, Mental Health and Resiliency is a course designed to help high school students understand and develop their mental health and emotional awareness as they make the move to university life. You can complete this course at your own pace and there is no assessment. This course is offered at a subsidized price to increase accessibility.

Register and start anytime for these university application and skills courses.

If you are currently studying at a high school in the United States, we’d love for you to join us on Thursday, November 24 for our US Thanksgiving event to get a taste of what you can look forward to as a UBC undergraduate student.

Current UBC students, staff, and advisors will show you the very best of what the university has to offer, and why UBC is consistently ranked among the top 40 research universities in the world.

Event highlights

• Learn about our campus through a tour led by current UBC undergraduate students.
• Delve deeper into student life with a student panel discussion and lunch.
• Have your questions about your application, admissions, awards, and specific programs at UBC answered by specialized advisors.
• Meet other prospective students coming from the United States!

Registration

You can register for our US Thanksgiving event here.

If you have any issues with registering, please contact us at vancouver.tours@ubc.ca.

We look forward to connecting with you!