Jump Start at UBC Vancouver - UBC | Undergraduate Programs and Admissions

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Your official welcome to UBC

If you’re entering first year at UBC Vancouver and coming directly from high school, you’ll want to register for Jump Start. The 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 at UBC Vancouver!

Get ready for Jump Start

You are eligible to register for Jump Start once you have received and accepted your offer of admission to UBC Vancouver. Before you register:

1. Check your admission status in the Student Service Centre.

2. Accept your offer of admission by clicking Admissions, selecting Accept Or Decline My Offer, accepting your offer to UBC Vancouver, and paying the deposit.

Because we know that Jump Start can have a positive impact on your academic success and transition to university, we are committed to ensuring that Jump Start is accessible to all students coming to UBC directly from high school. If the cost associated with Jump Start may prohibit you from participating, please contact us at orientations.jumpstart@ubc.ca.

Why Jump Start?

Make friends

Be ready to hit the ground running on your first day of class. Over the course of the week, you’ll meet other first-year students who are new to UBC just like you.

Meet profs and peers

Spend time with UBC professors and current students before classes start. They’ll introduce you to their research and the academic community, and give you tips to help you successfully transition from high school student to university scholar.

Learn about UBC

Find out about all the UBC services available to you, and discover more about the campus community you’ll be joining.

Students living in residence

If you’re planning to live in student housing on campus (known as “residence” at UBC) 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. All in-person Jump Start activities will follow BC Provincial Health Guidelines. Learn more about UBC’s response to COVID-19.

When does it start? Move-in for the Jump Start residence stream will take place on Sunday, August 27, and the multi-day program will go until Friday, September 1.

How much does it cost?

Jump Start program fee: 75 CAD (+ tax). This amount is non-refundable and must be paid when you register for Jump Start.
Fee for meals and housing during Jump Start: 362.64 CAD (+ tax). This amount must be paid when you accept your Winter Session housing offer.

Are you facing financial hardship? If you are facing financial hardship, you are eligible for a subsidized housing fee of 200 CAD (+ tax). You can select this option when paying your fee.

Are you an Indigenous student? If you have self-identified as Indigenous in the Student Service Centre, the 75 CAD (+ tax) program fee will be waived when you register using this form. Please note that, if you are living in residence, this waiver does not cover the meals and housing fee (362.64 CAD + tax). If you need additional support to register for Jump Start, please contact us at orientations.jumpstart@ubc.ca.

Students commuting to campus

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 commute, get to know campus and your Collegia, 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. All in-person Jump Start activities will follow BC Provincial Health Guidelines. Learn more about UBC’s response to COVID-19.

When does it start? The program begins on Wednesday, August 30 and goes until Friday, September 1.

How much does it cost? 75 CAD (+ tax). This amount is non-refundable and must be paid when you register for Jump Start.

Are you an Indigenous student? If you have self-identified as Indigenous in the Student Service Centre, the 75 CAD (+ tax) program fee will be waived when you register using this form.

What to expect: Academic

Learning Communities

You will be assigned to a group based on your faculty and stream, which will be led by an upper-year student leader and a faculty fellow. Together, you’ll participate in the full range of activities during the program. The average size of a Learning Community is 25–35 first-year students.

Student leaders

Your Learning Community will be led by two upper-year students in your faculty. Student leaders will steer group activities and help build connections between you and other new students, offer personal support, refer you to resources, and welcome you into the UBC community.

Faculty fellows

Each Learning Community is matched with a professor from their faculty. They will provide the unique opportunity to learn about the expectations of the university learning environment, the academic classroom setting, and how to interact with faculty members, plus offer a closer look into their discipline.

What to expect: Social

During Jump Start

We’re excited to offer a number of ways for you to introduce yourself and get to know your new friends throughout Jump Start. You’ll experience a variety of small and large group socials, including trivia nights, photo challenges, games, exercise, sports and dance tutorials, and art activities. There will be lots of ways to meet others!

After Jump Start

The Learning Community group you’re with during Jump Start will continue! Students in your group will live in the same residence area, or be a member of the same Collegium, so you can keep on connecting after Jump Start is done.

What to expect: Resources

Self-directed modules and activities

Make sure you’re introduced to the services and resources that will help you start your year well. During Jump Start, you’ll have access to self-directed activities to help you learn about the unceded Musqueam territory on which UBC Vancouver stands, explore health and wellbeing strategies, understand academic integrity, and more. You can also refer back to this information throughout your first term.

Hear from past students

“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.

“I would recommend Jump Start because it gives incoming first year students the chance to adjust to the transition from high school to university. Jump Start also allows incoming students to meet new people, get familiar with the campus, and learn more about what to expect during first year.“ – Emily S.

“I would recommend Jump Start because it has given me more time to get to know the campus and the people around me. I feel much more comfortable talking to new people and finding my way around campus than I did when I first arrived. I am glad that I already have this level of comfort now that classes are starting, and that I don’t have to try and figure it all out while also navigating my courses.” – Keira S.