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Former youth in care
UBC is committed to supporting the academic and personal achievements of former and current youth in care. Both the Okanagan and Vancouver campuses have a number of programs and services in place to help applicants reach their potential.
Watch: Former Youth in Care Student Experience at UBC
Youth In Care Admissions Policy
Learn more about the policyUBC recognizes that, as a child in care, you may have faced challenges that have affected your education. If you have satisfied the general admission and degree-specific requirements, but have not met your degree’s competitive average, we are still able to consider you for admission. UBC will assess your history, cultural knowledge, educational goals, and other achievements to determine your admissibility.
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100 +
former or current youth in care enrolled at UBC
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200 +
students that have benefitted from tuition waivers
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70
former youth in care who have graduated from UBC
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100 +
former or current youth in care enrolled at UBC
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200 +
students that have benefitted from tuition waivers
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70
former youth in care who have graduated from UBC
How to apply
Learn more about how to applyBe sure to self-identify as a youth in or from care on your application. UBC will provide you with important information on youth in care programs, financial awards, and student services specific to your situation.
Submitting your application requires you to pay the application fee. If you are prevented from submitting your application due to financial reasons, please contact Joseph Stevens (Vancouver campus) or Halyna Petryshyn (Okanagan campus) to discuss your options.
After you apply
There are a few more steps you’ll need to take after submitting your application. Find out what’s next depending on where you are in the process:
If you’ve self-identified as a youth in or from care in your online application to UBC, your admissions deposit will be automatically deferred. If you need to defer your housing deposit too, please contact Joseph Stevens (Vancouver campus) or Halyna Petryshyn (Okanagan campus).
Awards for youth in and from care
The Provincial Tuition Waiver Program
Learn more about the programThe BC Provincial Tuition Waiver Program covers the total cost of your tuition and mandatory fees for a range of programs if you were a youth in care in BC for a combined two years or aged out at 19.
The UBC Post Care Tuition Waiver Program
Learn more about the programThe UBC Post Care Tuition Waiver covers the cost of tuition and mandatory fees toward the completion of a first undergraduate degree for eligible students who have lived as a youth in care in BC.
Youth in Care Awards
Learn more about the awardsA number of scholarships and bursaries from private industry and not-for-profits are available to former youth in care. Each has its own requirements and deadlines, and offer different funding amounts. Some are available to youth with experience in care nationwide, not just in BC.
Learning for Future Grant
Learn more about the grantStudents receiving the Provincial Tuition Waiver for an eligible program can receive the Learning for Future Grant of $3,500 each program year. The LFG contributes to educational costs not included in tuition and fees, like textbooks, technology, or home internet.
Youth Futures Education Fund
Find out more about the fundThe Youth Futures Education Fund provides funds to help with educational costs beyond tuition and fees for students who were previously in government care and are attending a post-secondary institution on a tuition waiver.
Strengthening Abilities and Journeys of Empowerment (SAJE)
Learn more about the programThe SAJE program can assist you if you have been in foster care or had a youth agreement between ages 12 and 19. This program can provide a range of benefits towards housing, life skills and cultural connections, income stability, and health & wellness while you go back to school.
UBC Entrance Awards
The UBC Centennial Scholars Entrance Award program assists students in transition from secondary school and other post-secondary institutions to UBC. This initiative supports academically qualified students who show an interest in joining the UBC community, but who would not otherwise be able to attend without significant financial aid.
The Beyond Tomorrow Scholars Program for Black Canadian Scholars launched in September 2021 and creates a cross-campus community of Scholars who already bring diverse academic, community involvement and leadership experience. More than award recipients, Scholars participate in a range of programming and support designed for them to thrive at UBC.
Finding a home
Verukah began her undergraduate studies at Langara College before arriving at UBC as a transfer student, where, as a youth from care, she didn’t have to pay tuition fees. Now having graduated with two UBC degrees, she has excelled in her classes, built a strong network of lifelong friends, and is proud to call UBC home.
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“University can be so daunting to youth in care because it is a four-year commitment. However, there is no other place that I would have rather spent these last few years than here. I can honestly say that I have found the family I always wanted at UBC.”
Verukah | Cree and Métis | Williams Lake, BC | First Nations and Indigenous Studies, minor in Law and SocietyRead more
Support at UBC
The Youth in Care Alumni Program (YICAP) student group has been created to support you during your transition to post-secondary education. It will provide you with access to a network of students and staff, stimulate connections across campus, and open opportunities within the UBC community.
Former Youth in Care Student Welcome Orientation (Vancouver campus)
The annual welcome orientation introduces all new students to the UBC Vancouver community. You can meet your peers, alumni, and staff, and get acquainted with the campus, its people, and its resources.
Former Youth in Care events
UBC Vancouver hosts events and social gatherings for the diverse Former Youth in Care community every two weeks in our designated study lounge. You can meet other students and discover new opportunities to get involved on campus or in the community.
Connect with an advisor
After you are admitted, you will be connected to an academic advisor to help navigate your studies. There are designated academic advisors in several faculties on the Vancouver campus, including Arts and Social Work.
You will also connect with an enrolment advisor, Joseph Stevens (Vancouver campus) or Halyna Petryshyn (Okanagan campus). Josepha and Haylna are the designated campus contacts for youth in and from care and work directly with students from application to graduation, helping you understand the services offered by the university and external sources.
Housing
Former youth in care have priority access to housing on both UBC campuses, and all direct-entry first-year students are guaranteed housing. If you have a family and apply to the Vancouver campus, you’ll also have access to child-friendly residences. Be sure to review important dates and deadlines to apply.
Okanagan Campus
Housing on UBC’s Okanagan campus
Vancouver Campus
Childcare
UBC gives students the option to study and live on campus with their families. Both UBC Okanagan and UBC Vancouver have a number of childcare facilities for infants and children up to five years of age, as well as occasional out-of-school care.
Okanagan Campus
Childcare on UBC’s Okanagan campus
Vancouver Campus
Contact us
If you have questions about applying to UBC as a former youth in care, please contact us.
Vancouver campus
Joseph Stevens
Enrolment Services Advisor
joseph.stevens@ubc.ca
604.827.0105Okanagan campus
Halyna Petryshyn
Admissions and Awards Administrator, Enrolment Services
halyna.petryshyn@ubc.ca
250.807.8641Ready to be a UBC student?