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

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 usto 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.

 

Attend an Information Session

Steps Forward is hosting a virtual Information Session on February 18 at 6:30 pm. 

For questions or more info, contact selena@steps-forward.org or join via Zoom on February 18.

Improve your English and earn a UBC degree with Vantage One

Improve your English and earn a UBC degree with Vantage One

Do you have an excellent academic record, but don’t quite meet UBC’s English language admission requirement? If you fulfil UBC’s general and degree-specific requirements, there are alternative pathways to help you achieve your UBC degree.

 

What is Vantage One?

UBC’s Vantage One programs are designed for international students who do not yet meet the English language requirement to enter directly into a UBC faculty. Vantage One courses last 11 months, and add English-language instruction to your first-year degree courses. You can choose from Arts, Science, or Engineering,  and you’ll be taught by award-winning UBC faculty members.

The Vantage One Science program takes place at UBC Vancouver and upon successful completion of the program you’ll progress into your second year of your Bachelor of Science degree at the Vancouver campus.

The Engineering program at Vantage One involves studying at both campuses, with the first 2 terms of the program taught at UBC Vancouver and Term 3 taught at the UBC Okanagan Campus. When you successfully complete your Vantage One Engineering program, you can continue your Bachelor of Applied Science degree at either UBC Vancouver or UBC Okanagan campuses.

The Vantage One Arts program is offered at UBC Vancouver. When you successfully complete the program, you can continue your Bachelor of Arts degree at the UBC Vancouver campus.

Why choose Vantage One?

The program is designed specifically for international students. Vantage One is a first-year cohort program, which means you’ll follow a set timetable and take nearly all of your classes with the same people, helping you to make friends from day one. It also includes an orientation, which will assist you with essential needs like health insurance, setting up bank accounts, and learning how to thrive in the classroom at UBC.

There are over 40 highly-trained faculty and staff at Vantage One, who will help you build on your academic performance, English language development, study skills, and readiness for your second year. While you will be completing the same courses as other UBC students, your classes will be tailored to you. They offer smaller class sizes, innovative teaching methods, language instruction integrated into your degree coursework, and the ability to connect closely with faculty. Best of all, taking part in a Vantage One program does not add extra time to your degree.

 

What are the requirements?

Vantage One accepts students with a minimum score of 70 on the TOEFL and 5.5 on the IELTS. Certain sub-scores apply for each test, so be sure to review the full English language requirements on the Vantage College website.

 

How do you apply?

  1. Choose your UBC Vantage One program: Arts, Science, or Engineering,
  2. Meet the Vantage One admission requirements.
  3. Apply online and pay the fee.
  4. Submit your required documents.
  5. Stay in touch.

If you have questions, you can contact Vantage One.

Tips for submitting your Visual Arts program portfolio

Tips for submitting your Visual Arts program portfolio

Visual Arts at UBC Okanagan is a hands-on, studio-based program that will help you in your goal of becoming an artist. You’ll study a variety of traditional media such as painting, drawing, sculpture and more, as well as digital media projects.

As part of the application, you’ll have to submit a portfolio of your work, as well as a letter of intent. Don’t worry! You don’t have to come to the program with an advanced skill level – that’s what your studies at UBC will help you develop.

 

What UBC is looking for

Rather than a polished body of work, UBC wants to use the portfolio to learn about how you engage with the world. All you need to demonstrate is a genuine curiosity and how it relates to making art. When you come to UBC Okanagan, your instructors will teach you how to develop your skills.

 

Portfolio checklist

Your portfolio should include:

  • An image description page
    • List the title, medium, size, and year of production for each piece in your portfolio.
    • Number each title to correspond with the images and/or videos of your work.
    • You can include a link to your personal website if you have one.
  • Between 15 and 20 images of your work.
    • Resize your images to a maximum of 160 dpi, and a maximum of 2000 px on the long side of the image.
    • You may wish to include up to 5 max sketchbook/process images that showcase their creative process
  • Up to three short video works, which are a maximum of three minutes each.
    • Let us know the URLs for these files in your image description list if they’re posted online (for example on YouTube or Vimeo). Remember to include any passwords.
    • You can send video documentation of your 3D work.
    • Please note that videos aren’t a required part of the portfolio if they are not part of your creative practice.
  • A letter of intent
    • In a maximum of 300 words, the letter should describe why you want to study Visual For example, what about art interests you? What are your future goals in the art world? Why do you want to study at UBCO specifically?
    • An artist statement is welcome but not required.
  • Place all your material into one document
    • This can be a .doc or .docx, or a .pdf file. Please don’t send PowerPoint or other presentations or formats, i.e. .pages, .txt, .key.
    • Please only have one image per page
    • Make sure this filename includes your name. Use the format Lastname_Firstname_Portfolio
    • Make sure that your total file is not larger than 5MB.

To get an idea of what we’re looking for, look at some examples of student portfolios.

How to submit your portfolio

You should send your portfolio and letter of intent together, either online or by mail.

If you choose to mail your portfolio, you must send it to:

Portfolio Review Committee
Department of Creative Studies
The University of British Columbia
CCS building – 1148 Research Road
Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7

If you want us to return your submission, you should use a reusable mailer and include the return postage cost. Alternatively, you can enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

 

Submission deadline

You must submit your completed portfolio by January 31, 2024.

 

 We’re looking forward to seeing your work!

 

Science One: a first-year study option

Science One: a first-year study option

Once you’ve decided to apply for the Bachelor of Science degree, it’s time to start thinking about how you’d like to structure your first-year courses.

One option is to take Science One, where you’ll get a predesigned course schedule for your first year and take nearly all of your classes with the same people.

What is Science One?

Science One is a first-year program that integrates Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics. The program focuses on the connections between disciplines, while teaching both the foundational content and the tools and approaches of modern scientific research — within a single, 28-credit course.

 

Why should you choose Science One?

Science One offers an immersive learning experience and a solid foundation for your undergraduate education. It also makes the transition from high school to university smoother with standard timetables, coordinated assignment schedules, a set space in the library to study, and support from a community of students and faculty. All Science One teachers attend each other’s classes to dynamically shape your curriculum, and you’ll share your own work and study space with your instructors.

Because Science One takes a select number of students, you’ll find yourself spending a lot of time with your cohort, which will help you make friends. You’ll also be taught by a select number of professors who will decide together what will be on the curriculum each week and how the disciplines will interact – meaning that you’ll make close personal connections with your profs. There will also be the opportunity to take part in peer-group workshops or field trips.

 

Is Science One right for you?

Science One is challenging. It has a competitive application process, and teaches first-year science at one of the highest levels at UBC to a tight-knit group of students. You’ll be one of just 80 individuals, and will be supported by nine instructors, offering you an excellent student-to-professor ratio of 9:1. You’ll also take part in weekly workshops, learn from guest lecturers, and have extra instruction in science literacy and computer programming. The curriculum includes mentorship on two major research projects – the results of which can be published in undergraduate journals – and you’ll attend student conferences.

Science One is also a social experience. You’ll help elect student representatives to sit in on the Science One Team meetings and the Science Undergraduate Society (SUS), and take part in mentorship and social activities such as the Winter Formal and talent shows.

 

How to apply

If you want to take part in Science One, you’ll need to submit an application at the same time or shortly after you apply to UBC’s Bachelor of Science degree, as registration opened on December 1, 2024. You are encouraged to apply early, as applications will be assessed in the order they’re received. Applications received after April 30 may be considered, but not with the same priority as those before that date.

 

Explore your university interests with the UBC Future Global Leaders program

Explore your university interests with the UBC Future Global Leaders program

Updated: February 4, 2025

If you’re a high school student aged 15 to 18, get a head start on your academic goals with the UBC Future Global Leaders program. Explore your academic interests with a top-tier university, try a popular subject without the stress of exams, and make lifelong friends. This pre-university program is a great way to work out what your passions are while you’re still in high school, and prepare yourself for success at university and beyond.

Study on campus

At our UBC Future Global Leaders Summer On-Campus program, you can choose between living the full university experience by staying in a UBC student residence, or commuting daily to UBC Vancouver. Either way, you’ll spend an unforgettable summer discovering your passions and challenging yourself, making new friends, and exploring UBC’s stunning campus. When you finish your program, you’ll receive a letter of completion.

 

Discover your interests and passions

Choose from over 35 unique courses and mini schools in:

  • Business and Economics
  • Engineering and Technology
  • Health and Life Sciences
  • History, Law, and Politics
  • Media and Fine Arts
  • People, Culture and Society

Each two-week program includes morning classes, afternoon workshops, and fun social activities. You can also consider taking courses in additional sessions and stay at UBC for four or six weeks.

 

On-campus session dates

Session 1: July 7−18, 2025

Session 2: July 21 – August 1, 2025

Session 3: August 4 – August 15, 2025

See all UBC Future Global Leaders On-Campus courses and dates.

Study at home

Future Global Leaders blog

You also have the option to study from home with our Future Global Leaders Summer Online program. These courses run for three weeks, Monday to Friday, and include two hours of live online classes per day. You’ll also have access to a Virtual Lounge hosted by our online student ambassadors. Online courses will include psychology, business, engineering and more.

Online session dates

Session 1: July 7 – 25, 2025

Session 2: July 28 – August 15, 2025

See all UBC Future Global Leaders Online courses and dates

 

How to register

Registration is now open! No application, transcripts, or proof of English is required. You will need to set up a Family Account to enrol in UBC Future Global Leaders courses and mini schools. If you are participating in the on-campus program, you will also need to submit an information package to finalize your registration.

Registration is first-come-first-served. We recommend registering early as some of the courses fill up very quickly. Learn more about how to register in the UBC Future Global Leaders program.

 

Who can take part?

To register for a UBC Future Global Leaders 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.

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.

 

UBC President Bursary Program for high school students in British Columbia

The UBC Future Global Leaders program awards bursaries to Grade 11 high school students (or those who have just completed Grade 10) in BC, who have financial need. Each bursary covers full tuition for one on-campus or online course of your choice.

To be considered for the 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, live in a lower income household, and your parent(s) or caregiver(s) must not have attended a university or university-college.

 

See what the UBC Future Global Leaders program is like

Degree Spotlight: Bachelor of Fine Arts at UBC Okanagan

Degree Spotlight: Bachelor of Fine Arts at UBC Okanagan

Do you want to study a broad range of artistic disciplines as part of a tight-knit community? Do you want to train with the next generation of artists and cultural producers? Are you creative, curious, and engaged with the world around you? If so, the Bachelor of Fine Arts program at UBC Okanagan might be for you.

 

 

What you will learn

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) program at UBC Okanagan offers a major in Visual Arts and the program is a perfect balance of studio work and academic study, immersing you in hands-on critical and contemporary art education.

You will study in a variety of traditional media, such as painting, drawing, sculpture, analogue photography, and printmaking. You’ll also have the opportunity to work on digital media projects, including video, digital photography, sound art, animation, and the creation of virtual worlds. The degree is designed to prepare you for a career as an artist, so much of your time will be spent doing hands-on studio work.

As well as helping you build a strong foundation in all the fine arts, the program includes courses on art history and the theory of art, which will help you develop your own thoughts and curiosities behind the artistic process. You can also choose classes in Creative Writing, Art History, Visual Culture, Theatre, and Media Studies.

You don’t have to come to the program with a particular skill level. All you’ll need is a genuine curiosity for the world, and your instructors will teach you how to develop your art.

 

A destination degree

The BFA at UBC Okanagan is unique in its thriving fine arts community. You can learn from and collaborate with students across other programs, including Media Studies, Performance Arts, Creative Writing, Art History, and Visual Culture – something that’s not a possibility at larger campuses or as part of a larger program. The beautiful Okanagan, too, is not only home to a significant number of creatives and galleries, but is a lifestyle-focused region that offers plenty of inspiration. Working within this community, you’ll enjoy a self-directed program with the feel of an arts retreat.

On UBC’s Okanagan campus, students have access to sculpture, photography, and printmaking studios as well as a private studio space for senior-level students and the Asper Centre for Artists’ Video, which houses state-of-the-art video and digital editing equipment.

 

 

 

What makes the program unique?

 

  1. Gain confidence in your art. In your first two years, you’ll explore every discipline and build your skills as you narrow down your areas of specialty. Your third and fourth years will be driven by your own exploration, and as part of that final year, you’ll have your own studio space and dedicated supervisor to help.

 

  1. Build skills in the professional world. As part of your degree you’ll work on community engagement projects and learn skills such as how to manage an arts fundraiser. Your work will also be displayed in the community, helping you build an audience for your art.

 

  1. Study in an intimate setting. BFA class sizes are deliberately small, meaning it’s not only easy to make friends but to share ideas with your classmates.

 

  1. Learn from real artists. The instructors for the BFA program are all working artists themselves and have art practices, and can teach you about the industry as well as their disciplines.

 

  1. Join international and domestic students. UBC is the most international university in North America. You’ll make friends from all over the world during your time at UBC Okanagan, and be exposed to cultures beyond your own.

  

After you graduate

Graduates from the BFA program have gone on to careers as practicing artists, designers, artist collective and studio managers, preparators at art galleries, and into further study in degrees such as Architecture.

 

The student scoop

Meet Barb, a BFA graduate, whose career took her back to her Tlingit community to work alongside established artists in order to help others feel and express their culture through art.

 

Degree Spotlight: Applied Science

Degree Spotlight: Applied Science

Are you interested in joining a top-ranked engineering program? Do you want to develop innovative solutions that will make a difference in people’s lives?

UBC’s Applied Science program may be for you. The Bachelor of Applied Science (Engineering) has 14 degree programs across our two campuses that offer exciting research, team collaboration, and co-op opportunities.

As an Applied Science student, you will join a top-ranked engineering program where you can collaborate, design, and develop innovative solutions. You will develop highly sought-after skills that prepare you for a versatile career where you can contribute to solving the world’s most complex challenges.

What will you learn?

You’ll gain a broad understanding of engineering in your foundational first year, then select a program to focus on for the remainder of your Engineering degree.

Foundational First Year

UBC’s Engineering foundation year will introduce you to math, chemistry, physics, and communication courses, giving you the fundamental knowledge you need to succeed as an engineer. You’ll also get hands-on opportunities to apply your knowledge and work on exciting engineering design projects. After your first year, you’ll be in a great place to decide which engineering program you’d like pursue in your degree.

Second Year Placement

In your second year, you will need to make some decisions about a specific engineering program you’d like to specialize in during your Applied Science degree. But no matter where your curiosity takes you, each program will offer an exciting opportunity to develop your unique skills and discover new ones through coursework, applied research, and co-op opportunities.

Student Spotlight

Rahman sitting on stairs at UBC Okanagan

“From a young age, I’ve been captivated by how things are made and how they work, which sparked my curiosity about engineering in the first place. This passion led me to choose Manufacturing Engineering, a field that perfectly aligns with my fascination with creating efficient, innovative, and sustainable manufacturing systems.” Read about Rahman’s experience in the Manufacturing Engineering program.

What can you do after graduating?

Graduates of the Applied Science program leave UBC with hands-on experience and highly employable skills. Some jobs that our Engineering graduates have include:

  • Business Development Executive, Unity Technologies
  • Project Manager, Microsoft Education Product Team
  • Vice President, Planning & Strategy, Base Metals
  • Project Engineer with the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation
  • Mechanical Staff Engineer at Intel Corporation
  • Materials & Sustainability Engineer at Boeing
  • Senior Hardware Engineer, Apple
  • ADAS Software Engineer, General Motors
  • Ports and Marine Engineer at WSP

Degree Spotlight: Science at UBC Okanagan

Degree Spotlight: Science at UBC Okanagan

Are you interested in a versatile Science degree with flexible program options that encourage you to explore your interests?

Whether you want to study the behaviours of the animal kingdom, understand the structure of cells, learn how to protect species and ecosystems or learn how to make decisions supported by data, the Bachelor of Science program at UBC Okanagan will let you build your degree into what you want and discover your passion.

What you learn in Science at UBC Okanagan

As a student in the Bachelor of Science program, you can complete a General Science degree or choose from among 17 majors and numerous minors. These are nationally and internationally recognized programs and several have strong ties with Indigenous communities and Indigenous lands.

In your first year, you build a foundation of skills in core science subjects while exploring other areas of interest through a combination of classroom and hands-on lab work.

Some of the program options include:

Zoology

Explore the animal kingdom as a biological scientist by studying behaviours, physiology, anatomy, and the entire animal organism. You’ll gain practical experience and skills in laboratory and fieldwork, computers, and communication.

A UBC degree in Zoology prepares you for a range of careers in areas such as conservation, environmental assessment, aquaculture, forensic biology, and toxicology.

 

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Investigate the world at the molecular level in biochemistry and molecular biology, the study of chemical compounds and reactions that occur in living organisms. This program includes a wide variety of foundational and advanced courses that cover metabolic pathways, the chemistry of winemaking, pharmacology, and more. You can choose to specialize in biochemistry or the more medical aspects of cell and molecular biology.

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology can lead to work in mass producing chemicals that are usually found in the body in tiny amounts, mapping the human genetic code, or creating genetically engineered crops that are more resistant to adverse weather conditions, spoilage, disease, and pests.

Graduates from the program go on to graduate or medical school, or careers in fields such as biotechnology, food science, and pharmacology.

 

Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology

Ecology, evolution and conservation biology is an interdisciplinary field that draws on natural history, behaviour, genetics, mathematical, and environmental sciences.

By studying ecology, you master the tools needed to understand natural systems and improve the impact human activity has on the natural world. Studying evolutionary biology provides a focus on the origin and maintenance of biodiversity, an understanding of the adaptive processes that explain reproductive tactics and animal behaviour and the tools required for investigating ongoing evolutionary processes in natural systems. Studying conservation biology gives you practical tools and approaches for protecting species and ecosystems.

This program offers a wide variety of foundational and advanced courses that explore topics ranging from the fundamental processes underlying adaptive evolution, speciation, and extinction to techniques used by wildlife ecologists.

 

Earth and Environmental Sciences

 Develop an understanding of the fundamental natural processes that shape Earth and its environment, and an appreciation of how humans are influencing its future. The Earth and Environmental Sciences program allows you the flexibility to pursue your interests, from the solid earth sciences to the environment. Choose from courses covering mineral resources, water resources, river hydrology, climate and paleo-climate, hydrogeology, land use management, environmental assessment, geochemistry, and other topics.

As an Earth and Environmental Sciences graduate, you could work for mineral exploration and resource extraction companies, environmental and geotechnical consulting firms, provincial and federal geological surveys, provincial and federal ministries that oversee environment, habitat, and land use, and government research laboratories.

 

Data Science

Data Science is an in-demand field that focuses on making decisions supported by data. It’s grounded in statistics to formulate relevant questions and determine the answer based on data, and in computer science to manipulate and visualize data efficiently.

A BSc in Data Science can help you find an exciting career across a broad range of industries and organizations, everything from marketing analyst to data engineer.

Student Scoop

Meet Jason. He came from Jakarta to study Data Science at UBC Okanagan and was the recipient of two awards, the International Major Entrance Scholarship and the Outstanding International Student award. “Being able to share ideas in both a classroom and community setting allows me to gain new perspectives.” – Jason Samuel Suwito

 

Why choose Science at UBC Okanagan?

Science at UBC Okanagan emphasizes hands-on, experiential learning. Research opportunities are abundant and unique and students study in a close-knit community with access to their professors. The program has strong ties with Indigenous communities and Indigenous lands.

Graduates of the program have a variety of post-graduate opportunities, including med school, dentistry, veterinary school, and law.