Your first day at UBC Vancouver is coming up fast! Once you’ve accepted your offer, you’re ready to start thinking about the orientation options available for you this summer. Together, they’re designed to help you meet your first university friends, get ready to learn in a university setting, and hit the ground running as soon as classes begin in September.
Academic Essentials
Academic Essentials is an online program designed to help prepare you for success as you transition to university. The program offers four courses: University Learning in the Age of AI, Reading and Writing at University, Readiness for University Mathematics, and Live Well to Learn Well. You can choose to take one course, a few, or all four depending on your interests and goals.
Each course is offered online in a self-paced, self-directed format and is supported by facilitators who are current UBC undergraduate students. Along the way, they will help guide you through the course material, share their own first-year experiences, and offer practical tips for academic success.
Together, the Academic Essentials courses will help you build academic skills, strengthen your confidence and readiness for university, connect you with learning and wellness resources, and prepare you for today’s evolving learning environment, including the growing presence of AI in education.
Who should take part
All incoming first-year students to UBC Vancouver are encouraged to participate.
Dates and deadlines
Academic Essentials runs from July 6 to August 14. Registration is now open.
Jump Start at UBC Vancouver
Jump Start at UBC Vancouver is a three-day orientation program designed to give you a first look at university life, let you meet your professors and academic community, and help you make your first university friends at UBC Vancouver.
You can take part in Jump Start’s commuter stream or residence stream, depending on whether you’ll be living on- or off-campus in your first term. In both streams, you’ll enjoy scheduled group events with your classmates, as well as sessions and offerings you can take part in at your own pace. You’ll be assigned to a learning community which will be led by two upper-year students and a faculty fellow. Together, you’ll take part in fun activities like trivia nights, sports, dance tutorials, and art activities, as well as opportunities to explore campus and learn how to successfully transition from high school student to university scholar.
Who should take part
All first-year students coming to UBC Vancouver from high school are encouraged to participate.
Dates and deadlines
Jump Start at UBC Vancouver runs from September 2 to September 4, and Jump Start move-in day for residence students is on September 1.
Register now using your Campus-Wide Login (CWL). Registration closes July 2.
Imagine UBC
Imagine UBC is an exciting full-day event that welcomes new students to the campus community and helps them get acquainted with university life. For most students, Imagine UBC replaces the first day of classes. If you are a first-year student, you will have the chance to meet other students in your faculty, your Dean, and some of your future professors. You’ll also have an opportunity to learn about support services available on campus and get introduced to hundreds of student clubs and groups to help you make friends and get involved. If you are coming to UBC from another university or college, Imagine UBC is also for you! By participating in Imagine, you’ll be able to make connections that will help kick start your UBC experience.
Who should take part
All first year, transfer, and returning undergraduate students coming to UBC Vancouver are encouraged to participate.
Dates and deadlines
Imagine UBC happens on September 8. There is no need to register.
In late August, every first-year student will receive an email outlining their detailed Imagine Day schedule.