Scholarships and awards for international students
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$ 35 M+
in international student financial assistance
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108 +
countries represented among award recipients
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560 +
International Scholars since 2001
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$ 35 M+
in international student financial assistance
-
108 +
countries represented among award recipients
-
560 +
International Scholars since 2001
Joining UBC’s community of award winners
When you receive an award or scholarship, you join a community of engaged and supportive young leaders and changemakers who enrich UBC with their diverse perspectives, lived experiences, involvement, and innovation.
While studying at a global top 40 university, and North America’s most international university, you’ll have the chance to grow, connect, research, and innovate.
UBC offers a wide range of opportunities inside and outside the classroom – from co-ops and undergraduate research to clubs and study abroad – to round out your degree and help you contribute to the university’s thriving community.
Merit-based awards
As soon as you receive an offer of admission to UBC, you’ll automatically be considered for these merit-based awards. Consideration is based on your demonstrated academic achievement and your extracurricular involvement.
International Major Entrance Scholarship
International Major Entrance Scholarships (IMES) are awarded to exceptional international students entering undergraduate programs at UBC. Students receive their IMES when they enter their first year at UBC, and the scholarships are renewable for up to three additional years of study. The number and level of these scholarships awarded each year vary, depending on available funding.
For the 2025/2026 academic year, IMES awards will be valued at $10,000 – $20,000/year.
Eligibility
To be considered for the IMES, you must:
- Be new to UBC, entering directly from secondary school.
- Be an international student who will be studying at UBC on a Canadian study permit (student visa). (Changes to your citizenship status will affect your IMES eligibility.)
- Demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and intellectual promise, as well as impressive extracurricular and community involvement.
- Not be nominated for a need-and-merit-based International Scholars award.
- Apply to UBC by the admissions deadline.
Outstanding International Student Award
The Outstanding International Student (OIS) Award is a one-time, merit-based entrance scholarship awarded to qualified students when they are offered admission to UBC. Students selected for this award show strength academically and display involvement outside of the classroom.
For the 2025/2026 academic year, OIS awards will be valued at $10,000 – $25,000.
Eligibility
To be considered for an OIS Award, you must:
- Be new to UBC, entering directly from secondary school or post-secondary (university or college).
- Be an international student studying at UBC on a Canadian study permit (student visa). (Changes to your citizenship status will affect your scholarship eligibility.)
- Demonstrate outstanding academic achievement and strong extracurricular involvement.
- Not be nominated for a need-and-merit-based International Scholars award.
- Apply to UBC by the admissions deadline.
How to apply for merit-based awards
If you apply to UBC by the admissions deadline, you will automatically be considered for the International Major Entrance Scholarship and the Outstanding International Student Award.
Scholarship and evaluation timeline
Merit-based awards are evaluated based on an applicant’s academic and personal profile. All international undergraduate applicants are considered for OIS and IMES awards, so the award evaluation process is highly competitive.
Admissions decisions and award evaluations are two separate processes. You will be considered for merit-based scholarships after you receive an offer of admission to UBC. While offers of admission may start rolling out in January, scholarship decisions are made between mid-March to the end of April.
Due to the large volume of applicants eligible for awards consideration, only successful recipients will receive notification of an award offer. Recipients of the IMES and OIS awards will receive their award offer in advance of their admission acceptance deadline date. Most students’ deadline will be May 1. The award offers are final and recipients will have up until their admissions offer deadline to accept their awards offer.
Financial Planning
Our OIS and IMES are merit-based awards and we are unable to take financial need into consideration. Recipients of OIS and IMES awards are encouraged to create a financial plan for the duration of their degree at UBC as these awards do not cover the full cost of education. Visit financial planning for helpful resources and calculators to help you create your own individual plan.
UBC Okanagan International Welcome Award
The UBC Okanagan International Welcome Award is a $5,000 award applied to international students’ first-year tuition at UBC Okanagan.
All international students who apply to UBC with a UBC Okanagan degree listed as their first choice and who are accepted and enrol into their UBC Okanagan first-choice program, will receive this award. The $5,000 award is a credit toward tuition fees for your first year of full-time study on the Okanagan campus. 50% of the award will be applied to Term 1 tuition and 50% of the award will be applied to Term 2 tuition, as long as students are enrolled in a minimum number of credits.
The award is designed to welcome international students to the Okanagan campus and help you get the best possible start to your UBC Okanagan experience.
Eligibility
To be considered for the International Welcome Award, you must:
- be a first-year international student,
- select a UBC Okanagan degree listed as your first choice, and
- be accepted to UBC Okanagan and enrol into your first-choice degree.
How to apply
If you are accepted to UBC on your UBC Okanagan first-choice degree, this award will automatically be applied as a credit on your student account after you have accepted UBC’s offer of admission. You’ll be able to see this credit on your Applicant Service Centre account once classes start in September.
UBC alumnus Daniel Mundeva explains how the International Scholars program helped him achieve his goals
International Scholars Program
The International Scholars Program brings some of the world’s brightest young undergraduates to UBC. International Scholars are high academic achievers who have demonstrated exceptional extracurricular activities, show a desire to create global and social change, and they are dedicated to giving back to their communities.
Earn a globally recognized degree at a top university
A UBC degree opens doors and connects you to a vast alumni network across the globe.
Study with the brightest students in the world
You’ll join a community of engaged and supportive young leaders and study among the best and the brightest. You and your fellow Scholars will enrich UBC and the global community with your diverse perspectives, committed involvement, and innovative initiatives.
Take advantage of unique learning opportunities
You’ll have access to numerous opportunities inside and outside the classroom that will enrich your university experience.
Access dedicated advising and support
You’ll be supported by a team of dedicated International Scholars Program advisors throughout your undergraduate degree, plus a network of staff from across UBC’s faculties and services who will encourage your academic, personal, and career development.
UBC Vantage One scholarships and awards
UBC’s Vantage One program is for academically strong international students whose English language proficiency does not yet meet the requirements for direct admission into UBC.
If you are a new UBC Vantage One student, you’re eligible for UBC Vantage One awards. These scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, intellectual promise, and extracurricular or community involvement. Some of the scholarships also consider financial need. UBC Vantage One awards include:
- International Major Entrance Scholarship for Vantage One
- Vantage One Entrance Award
- Vantage One Excellence Award
Timelines, application processes, and eligibility criteria vary for the different UBC Vantage One awards.
Achieving a UBC degree through Vantage One
Valeria knew she wanted to study outside of her home country of El Salvador, and always placed UBC at the top of her list. When she applied, she discovered her English skills didn’t quite meet UBC’s language requirement. So Valeria took the Vantage One program in her first year to strengthen her English skills, winning the Vantage Excellence Award.
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“I applied to a couple of other Canadian universities, and another one in Mexico. UBC was my dream school because I loved the Psychology program, and, of course, the beautiful Vancouver campus. After getting all the acceptance letters I ended up choosing UBC because I was awarded the prestigious Vantage Excellence Scholarship. This scholarship was far more than I could’ve ever imagined, and it allowed me to study in my dream university and more.”
Valeria | UBC Vancouver | Vantage OneRead more
Plan your finances
University is a significant financial investment that will pay returns for the rest of your life.
To get a full picture of what your first year at UBC will cost – including tuition and books, meals and living costs, transportation expenses, and more – enter your details into the UBC cost calculator. You can try as many different calculations as you’d like to help get a breakdown of your first-year costs.
Scholarships and awards for current international students
UBC continues to support international students through a variety of in-program scholarships and awards. Scholarship and award amounts will vary, as will their renewability.