UBC Admission Guide (Official Process)

About the University of British Columbia

The University of British Columbia is a large public research university with two main campuses: the Vancouver campus and the Okanagan campus in Kelowna. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programmes and is a member of the U15 group of research-intensive Canadian universities.

Requirements and deadlines differ by campus, faculty, and programme, so the official UBC admissions pages for your specific programme are the place to confirm the details that matter to you.

Broad-based admission explained

For many undergraduate programmes, UBC uses what it calls "broad-based admission": it considers your academic record together with a personal profile section, where applicants answer questions about their experiences, activities, and circumstances. The idea is to look beyond grades alone.

This means strong academics are important but may not be the only factor for some programmes. Read the official UBC guidance on broad-based admission and the personal profile so you understand what each programme asks for.

• Academic record and required prerequisite subjects
• A personal profile (short written responses), for many undergraduate programmes
• Programme-specific requirements where they apply

Where and how you apply

International undergraduate applicants apply to UBC through its official application system, following the instructions for their country and curriculum. Graduate applicants generally apply through UBC's Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and the relevant department. The exact portals, documents, and steps depend on your level and programme, so follow the official UBC "how to apply" instructions for your situation.

English-language proficiency

Applicants whose first language is not English, or whose schooling was not in English, are generally required to demonstrate English-language proficiency through an accepted test. UBC publishes the accepted tests and the minimum scores it requires, along with any exemptions. Confirm which test and score apply to your situation on UBC's official English-language admission standard page before booking a test.

• Commonly accepted tests include IELTS Academic and TOEFL iBT (verify the current accepted list on UBC)
• Required scores and exemptions are set by UBC and can change — check the official page

Deadlines, fees, and verifying the details

UBC's application deadlines, application fees, tuition, and document requirements change every academic year and vary by campus and programme. This guide deliberately avoids quoting specific marks, fees, or admit rates, since those figures date quickly and differ by programme.

Use the official UBC admissions website as your source of truth: confirm the current deadlines, application fee, required documents, and English-test scores for your specific programme and campus before you apply. After an offer, international students follow the official Government of Canada study-permit process — general information, not immigration advice — which you should verify on the official IRCC source.