Updates for counsellors

Updates on Canadian student admissions

First review of applications

In the past, Canadian students were able to apply for early admission by December 1. Starting September 2025, students studying at Canadian curriculum high schools who apply to UBC will be evaluated in a new, more continual admissions process. This means that these students can apply at any point after the application opens in early October. Their application will be reviewed as soon as we have all of the information needed to complete the assessment.

While this process has changed for students studying in Canadian curriculum high schools, the process remains the same (as last year) for students not studying in Canadian curriculum high schools.

Many of UBC’s programs are competitive and have limited space, and not every student will receive an offer of admission after the first review of their application. If we cannot provide a decision upon first review of a student’s application, additional grade information (with updated Grade 12 course grades) will be requested, and a subsequent review will be conducted. These subsequent reviews will typically take place in March and April.

If your student is an IB Diploma student, the process will remain the same as last year. IB Diploma students will still be evaluated on anticipated grades as they become available in February.

When UBC makes offers of admission

UBC makes offers of admission to Canadian high school students from late October to June. The Admissions team tracks applications and analyzes trends in applicant grades every year. If a program is very competitive, UBC typically makes offers of admission only to the strongest applicants in the early stages of the admission cycle. If a program is less competitive, UBC may make more offers of admission in the early stages of the admission cycle.

UBC does not fill all spaces in a program in the early stages of the admission cycle.

How space in a program is determined

UBC has a limited number of domestic students it can enrol each year, and this limit is determined by the provincial government. This impacts the number of students who can be admitted to UBC. If many students apply to a particular program, only the most qualified students will receive an offer of admission depending on the number of spaces available.

English Language Admission Standard

Duolingo is now accepted as a stand alone test to meet English Language Admission Standard.  

New support services for international students

Study Permit Concierge Service

A complimentary service is available to guide students through the study permit application process. Students can email study.permit@ubc.ca to schedule a meeting. US citizens are encouraged to connect directly with the International Student Advising office. 

New Global Pathways program (Okanagan)

There is a new Global Pathways program for international students attending UBC at the Okanagan campus. This program is for international students to assist with planning their career and immigration success.

Program updates

Listed below are the changes to degrees and majors/specializations that took place within the last year.

Degrees

Bachelor of Commerce (Okanagan) previously the Bachelor of Management in (Okanagan).

Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources (Vancouver) combined several Forestry programs into one degree. *Now offering majors in Bioeconomy Sciences and Technology, Forest Management, Forest Operations, Forest Sciences, Conservation and Wood products. 

Bachelor of Indigenous Land Stewardship (Vancouver) is a newer degree. 

Bachelor of Education (Okanagan) redesigned the 11-month Bachelor of Education program.

Bachelor of Applied Science:

• New transfer routes available at both UBC Okanagan and UBC Vancouver, called the Common First Year Engineering Curriculum. These are excellent options for high school students that may not meet the competitive entrance average for UBC Engineering or may be looking to start their first year closer to home.
• Degree specific requirements for the Bachelor of Applied Science at the UBC Okanagan campus were updated in Fall 2024.

Major/Specialization

Business and Markets (Vancouver) is a newer program. It is a program in the Bachelor of Science in Food and Resource Economics (Faculty of Land and Food Systems).

Computer Engineering (Okanagan) is a newer program. It is a program in the Bachelor of Applied Science (Engineering).

Data Analytics (Vancouver) is a newer program. It is a program in the Bachelor of Science in Food and Resource Economics (Faculty and Food Systems).

Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (Okanagan) has a new Honours program. It is is a program in the Bachelor of Arts.

World Literatures is a new minor. It is a minor in the Bachelor of Arts (Okanagan).