The University of British Columbia

University of British Columbia or UBC, established in 1908 and opened in 1915 is a public university in the Canadian state of British Columbia. This can be called a global center for learning, teaching, and research as it nurtures and inspires over 68,000 students worldwide. It is located in two places, one in Vancouver and the other in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley. Vancouver location has their Robson square which is the extension of their campus, Learning Exchange, and their Center for Digital media. Most of the students, i.e 58,000 students study at this location while 11,000 students study at their Okanagan campus. Students from over 140 countries dream of taking admission here. It was ranked among top 100 public universities in the world by global ranking partners and the QS World University ranked it 34 for 2024. Times Higher Education (THE) ranked it 40 in the overall world universities and 13 in the Impact rankings for 2023. US News and World Reports ranked it 35 among the global universities for 2023. UBC has two regional bases in India and Hong Kong for local connections.

Programmes At The University of British Columbia

UBC has about 254 undergraduate and 244 postgraduate programs in various fields, such as Business, Education, Science, Health and Medicine, Humanities, and Engineering. They provide clinical education to their Faculty of Medicine students at more than 80 training sites in Columbia.

Courses are delivered in four ways:

• In-person
• Online
• Hybrid
• Multi-access

Undergraduate degree programs

Domestic student tuition amounts 2025

Program	Duration	Domestic	International
Applied Science Engineering	2-5 Years	$7,846.59	$ 60,622.65
Arts	4 Years	$5,960.10	$ 47,189.40
Commerce	2-4 Years	$8,832.00	$ 61,061.10
Computer Science	4 Years	$5,960.10	$ 48,610.20
Design in Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Urbanism	4 Years	$9,604.80	$ 47,079.60
Fine Arts	5 Years	$5,960.10	$ 47,189.40
International Economics	4 Years	$9,536.40	$ 57,085.80
Kinesiology	4 Years	$5,960.10	$ 48,610.20
Media Studies	4 Years	$7,932.30	$ 47,189.40
Music	5 Years	$6,754.78	$ 44,670.22
Nursing	20 Months	$5,960.10	$ 47,278.80
Pharmaceutical Sciences	4 Years	$5,960.10	$ 48,610.20
Science	4 Years	$5,960.10	$ 48,610.20
Applied Science	1 Year	$7,350.79	$ 31,369.02

Post-baccalaureate programs 2025

Program Type	Program	Duration	Total Tuition Fees
Undergraduate	Dentistry (DMD)	4 Years	$ 84,272.16
	Education- BEd teacher education	11 Months	$ 61,939.80
	Education: Diploma Program	2 Years	$ 30,969.90

Graduate degree programs

Program	Duration	Total Tuition Fees
Master of Business Administration (MBA)	16 Months	$ 98,341
Master of Computer Science	2 Years	$19,380
Master of Data Science	10 Months	$ 54,732
Geographic information system (GIS)	9 Months	$10,000
Master of Education	2 Years	$30,900
Master of Engineering	1 Year	$ 23,913
Master of Fine Arts	2 Years	$19,000
Master of Health Administration	2 Years	$59,640
Master of Journalism	2 Years	$19,000
Master of Laws (LLM)	1 Year	$9,690
Master of Library and Information Studies	2 Years	$22,202
Master of Nursing	2 Years	$19,000
Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs	2 Years	$19,000
Master of Science	2 Years	$19,000
Master of Urban Design	1 Year	$ 40,388

ADMISSION

Students Intake 2025

Course Period	Course Type	Intake Dates
Spring	Graduate	December 15, 2025 February 23, 2025 April 12, 2025 May 22 to 24, 2025 May 27 to May 30, 2025
Fall	Graduate	May 1, 2025 July 31, 2025 October 11, 2025 November 27 to 29, 2025

Eligibility Criteria

Undergraduate Programs

The eligibility criteria for undergraduate programs at UBC vary depending on the specific program and the applicant’s academic background. However, here are some general eligibility requirements:

• Academic qualifications: Applicants must have completed a secondary education equivalent to British Columbia’s Grade 12, which includes at least five academic courses. The specific courses required vary depending on the program, but generally include English, mathematics, and science.
• Language proficiency: Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency by taking an approved English language test, such as the TOEFL or IELTS.
• Minimum grades: Applicants must meet the minimum academic requirements for their chosen program. These requirements vary depending on the program, but generally require a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
• Additional requirements: Some programs may have additional requirements, such as submission of a personal statement, portfolio, or reference letters. Applicants should check the specific requirements for their chosen program on the UBC website.

In addition to meeting the eligibility criteria, applicants must also submit an application by the deadline and pay the application fee. It is important to note that meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to UBC, as admission is competitive and based on a holistic review of the applicant’s academic achievements, personal qualities, and other factors.

Graduate Programs

The eligibility criteria for graduate programs at UBC may vary depending on the specific program and department. However, there are some general requirements that apply to most graduate programs at UBC:

• Bachelor’s degree: Applicants must have a four-year bachelor’s degree (or its equivalent) from a recognized university or college. The degree should be in a field relevant to the graduate program they are applying for.
• Minimum GPA: Applicants are usually required to have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or equivalent. However, some programs may require a higher GPA.
• English language proficiency: Applicants whose first language is not English are required to demonstrate proficiency in English by submitting scores from an approved English language proficiency test, such as TOEFL or IELTS.
• Letters of recommendation: Applicants are usually required to submit two to three letters of recommendation from academic or professional references who can attest to their qualifications for graduate study.
• Statement of purpose: Applicants are usually required to submit a statement of purpose or personal statement outlining their academic background, research interests, and career goals.
• Standardized tests: Some graduate programs may require applicants to submit scores from standardized tests such as the GRE or GMAT.

Master’s Program

Candidates for master’s programs must possess an academic record of a four-year UBC bachelor’s degree, which includes:

An academic record with at least 12 credits of third- or fourth-year courses in the A grade range (80% or higher at UBC) in the field of study; or a minimum cumulative average in third-year level and above courses in the B+ grade range (76-79% at UBC).

It’s important to note that these are general requirements and specific graduate programs may have additional requirements or different criteria for admission. Applicants should carefully review the admission requirements for the specific program they are interested in applying to.

Find The Shortlist of Top MBA Universities In Canada

How To Apply?

You can register into the course by following the steps given as below. However, Find the detailed procedure on their official website.

• Once you know the timeline and registration dates, you can begin your registration procedure.
• Registration deposit is applicable for most certificates and diplomas. However, it has been removed from most UG degree programs for continuing students. It is applicable if you are new to UBC which is non-refundable.
• Check your degree requirements and make sure to fulfill them. This is available in the Academic Calendar.
• Work on your worklists which are nothing but draft class timetables candidates need to create before registration to plan courses. Login to course schedule tool and create them.
• Register for your desired classes quickly. Keep multiple worklists ready in case courses are full.
• Once registration completes, you may add or drop classes as you wish before course change deadline.

Alumni and Achievements

The University of British Columbia can be called as one of the finest in the world and Canada. Its alumni has over 3,75,999 from over 160 countries. This university has produced some notable personalities worldwide.

• 8 Nobel laureates – Bertram Brockhouse CC FRSC FRS (Nobel Laureate in Physics)
• 3 Canadian Prime Ministers – Justin Trudeau PC MP (Canada’s 23rd and current prime minister), John Turner (Canada’s 17th prime minister)
• 65 Olympic Medals – 19 gold
• 74 Rhodes Scholars
• Other popular alumni – Jeff Wall (prominent Canadian artist, and most prominent figure of the Vancouver School)

Rankings & Awards

The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a well-regarded institution with numerous rankings and awards to its credit. UBC is consistently ranked among the top 50 universities in the world by QS World University Rankings. In 2022, it was ranked 45th in the world. UBC is ranked 34th in the world by Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022. UBC is consistently ranked among the top 50 universities in the world by ARWU. In 2021, it was ranked 35th in the world. UBC is ranked 25th in the world by U.S. News & World Report’s Best Global Universities 2022. UBC is consistently ranked among the top universities in Canada by Maclean’s magazine. In the 2021 rankings, it was ranked second among medical-doctoral universities in Canada. UBC has won numerous awards over the years, including the 2017 Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award from the Canadian Bureau for International Education, the 2016 Innovative University of the Year Award from the World Education Congress, and the 2015 Sustainable Campus Excellence Award from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.

Outstanding International Student Award

After receiving an admissions offer from UBC, worthy applicants are eligible to apply for the Outstanding International Student (OIS) Award, a one-time merit-based entrance prize. Students who are chosen for this honor exhibit both academic strength and extracurricular activity.

The OIS awards for the 2025 academic year will range from $10,000 to $25,000.

Scholarship

International Major Entrance Scholarship

Outstanding international students enrolled in UBC’s undergraduate programs are given the opportunity to apply for International Major Entrance Scholarships (IMES). When a student enrolls in UBC for the first time, they obtain their IMES, which they can keep for up to three extra years of study. Different scholarships are awarded annually in different amounts based on the available funds. The value of IMES awards for the 2025 academic year is $20,000.

Placements

UBC has a strong reputation for producing highly employable graduates who go on to successful careers in a variety of fields. The university offers a wide range of programs, including undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs, that prepare students for careers in many different industries. Top recruiters include:

• Amazon
• Microsoft
• Deloitte
• PwC
• KPMG
• Ernst & Young (EY)
• TD Bank
• RBC
• BMO Financial Group
• Telus

Accommodation & Other Facilities

UBC Vancouver campus is located at the tip of the point Grey Peninsula amidst the forest with sea on one side. More than 400 hectares in size 

UBC Vancouver campus accommodates as many as 13,000 students in their 15 residences. Most of the first year students are guaranteed for winter session residence and are assigned to Orchard Commons, Totem Park, or Place Vanier residences. Students need to purchase their meal plan to live here. Rest of their residences are assigned to their upper year and graduation students. Typical cost for a room and meal plan for the first year is around CAD 12,000 to CAD 14,500 a year. However, based on the room type, the fee may range between CAD 10,300 to CAD 15,000 a year.

You can find more details regarding accommodations for international students here.