University of British Columbia (UBC)

The University of British Columbia (UBC) is located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It ranks 3^rd among Canadian universities and offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs. It also has a secondary campus in the Okanagan Valley where 8,000 of its 60,000 students are currently enrolled. UBC includes 18 faculties, 12 schools, and 2 colleges.

Flying Chalks’ fun fact: The list of famous UBC alumni includes 3 Canadian Prime Ministers and 7 Nobel Prize winners!

University website | UBC international students/UBC exchange student website

Language of Instruction:

English

Admission Requirements:

Admission requirements are program-specific. Proof of English proficiency is required.

For UBC exchange students:

Students from one of UBC’s partner universities are eligible to come as part of UBC exchange program. Some programs are not available to exchange students. For information on course-specific restrictions, check out UBC exchange program course information.

Application instructions for UBC exchange students:

UBC exchange program application

Language Proficiency:

http://www.calendar.ubc.ca/Vancouver/index.cfm?tree=2,19,911,0#18812

Courses:

UBC’s course catalogue can be found here.

Course registration process:

Remember that you must start the application process through your home university. Once your university forwards your information, UBC will contact you with instructions on how to proceed with your application.

Click here to find out more information on the restrictions that UBC exchange students need to comply by. This link reflects some of the key dates for applying to UBC on exchange.

Attendance Policy:

Specific attendance policies are often up to the course instructor. In general, any student who misses 40% or more of the classes can be excluded from taking the final exam. Students with disabilities should register with the Disability Resource Center, which grants them the right to be given reasonable accommodation for absences arising from their condition. Detailed information on your course’s attendance policy is usually provided in the syllabus.

UBC Calendar:

You can check out UBC academic calendar here at UBC Calendar

The UBC Vancouver campus is located along the coast on the far western edge of the city.

Campus Map:

http://maps.ubc.ca/PROD/index.php

Selected Facilities:

• UBC Gym / Fitness center

This includes both a gym and a climbing wall. Buying a membership allows you the use of both during regular opening hours. The prices are C$30 for one term, C$60 for two terms, and C$7 for a drop-in visit. There are also a number of programs offered by the fitness centre including yoga, Pilates, and boot camp. These programs have their own costs. You can save money on them by purchasing a pass. A C$92 pass that entitles you to 10 boot camp classes for example, saves you C$2 per class. Passes can be purchased in-person at the fitness centre.

Everything related to the fitness center can be found at UBC Gym/Fitness centre.

• UBC Swimming Pool

The swimming pool at the Aquatic centre is free of charge for students currently enrolled at UBC. You will need to scan your student card on every visit. Find out more about at UBC Swimming Pool

Food on campus:

There is a wide range of food options available on campus to satisfy your cravings. The University Village Marketplace and Student Union Building (SUB) are good places to start.

There are also fast food joints, restaurants, cafés and food trucks, amongst many others scattered all about the campus. You can get burgers, Thai food, sushi, pizza, sandwiches and much more. There is also a grocery store if you would prefer to make your own food. Here is a sampling of on-campus eateries:

• Bento Sushi
• Subway
• Domino’s Pizza
• It’s All About Thai
• The Dog House Hot Dogs
• Tim Horton’s
• Pita Pit

Flying Chalks’ recommendations: Trying to find great food at budget-friendly prices is all too often a part of the student experience.

• Honour Roll - Cheap and popular place to get pre-made sushi
• Pie R^2 - Pizza by the slice at student-friendly prices.
• The Pit Pub - Cheap drinks, good pub food, and a fun atmosphere make this a good place to spend some leisure time!

Flying Chalks’ tip: You also have the option of getting reloadable meal plan cards that can save you anywhere from 5%-12% at select eateries. Some of these cards can also be used for services (such as printing) and merchandise at selected vendors on campus.

Campus Transportation:

The UBC campus is quite large. While walking everywhere is certainly good for your health, you also have the option of catching a ride on one of the community shuttle buses. There are two different routes (C18 and C20) allowing you to get around more conveniently. The buses run every 30 minutes and run until shortly after midnight. Keep in mind that regular one-zone bus fare applies. You can, however, use your UBC U-pass for transit. The cost is included in your student fees.

For more information, click here.

UBC study abroad program offers international students a great way to connect with the nature. The UBC campus feels like its own little student town. There are plenty of opportunities to indulge your interests and connect with other students. You can also go hiking on one of the local trails, hit the beach, or meet people over a beer at one of the five pubs located on campus.

Flying Chalks’ recommendation: If you are feeling a little more adventurous, check out Wreck Beach, located on the C20 shuttle route. Wreck beach is a 7km clothing-optional beach connected to the campus. It is quite popular among students, faculty, and Vancouverites in general. It really comes alive in the summertime and, with its laidback atmosphere and interesting mix of people, is an excellent place to spend the day.

Orientation program:

International Welcome is a special orientation program that caters to foreign students. It takes place in May, September, and January.

Student clubs:

With over 300 different UBC clubs currently available, you’re sure to find something that catches your fancy. UBC clubs are an excellent way to make some new friends who share your interests.

A list of clubs can be found here at UBC clubs.

Flying Chalks’ recommendation: Check out the UBC Exchange Student Club! It aims to get exchange students involved in campus life through various events and weekend trips.

University events:

You can find daily university happenings here at UBC events. UBC events provide opportunity for students, alumni and staff to connect with one another.

There is a lot of hiking and nature to take in all around campus. There are a number of regional parks and beautiful stretches of Pacific rainforest surrounding UBC that you can visit. In addition, UBC’s coastal location also meant that numerous beaches are easily within reach.

As UBC is like a small town, you will have no trouble finding the basics, as well as plenty of entertainment and nightlife. If you get bored of your on campus options, you can also board a bus and head into the city. Bus number 44 goes from the UBC bus loop to Waterfront Station in downtown Vancouver where you can easily walk or take a train to Vancouver’s many attractions (check out some of our travel recommendations below!).

For food:

If you’d like to eat off campus, take a bus to Waterfront Station in the downtown area where you can find a huge variety of restaurants. There are a lot of restaurants along the 99 bus route, especially along Broadway St.

Alternatively, you can take a walk down Cambie, Burrard, Granville, or Cordova St. and see what catches your eye.

For nightlife and entertainment:

There are five pubs on campus, including the excellent Pit Pub. Off-campus, your best bet is the downtown Vancouver area. Take a bus to Waterfront Station where you can either walk around or transfer down to Granville or Burrard Station. All three of these areas are teeming with good places to spend an evening.

If you want to catch a movie, the Norm Movie Theatre in the SUB is a good choice, or you can go downtown to the Scotiabank Theatre on Burrard St.

Flying Chalks’ recommendations:

• Check out the Cambie Hostel and Pub on Cambie St. It is a popular weekend hangout for all ages and typically busy on Friday and Saturday nights. You can expect to find a nice mix of locals and travelers.
• Funky Winker Beans is more of a punk bar located near the Cambie on Hastings St. Its cheap drinks and live music attract quite a lot of students.

Flying Chalks’ tip: British Columbia has some fairly strict liquor regulations compared to some other provinces or the neighbouring United States. If you want to go to a bar, make sure you bring two pieces of identification as that is required by law. Just a passport, for example, may not be enough. The second piece of I.D. can be anything with a signature on it (picture not necessary). Some examples would be a signed credit card, student card, or health card.

For daily necessities and groceries:

There are a few options available for you to buy groceries. The University Village Marketplace area has a small grocery store, while the Wesbrook Village area contains a Save-on-Foods supermarket. If you are into organic food, there is an organic food shop in the Student Union Building (SUB).

You can take care of most things on campus at the SUB, Wesbrook Village, or the University Village Marketplace. Amenities include pharmacies, banks, ATM machines, hair salon, optician, and other things. For a list, click here.

For shopping:

While you can get the basic necessities on campus, you should head downtown if you want to shop for clothes and other accessories in a shopping mall. Pacific Center is Vancouver’s largest mall and can be found near Granville Station.

Flying Chalks’ recommendations:

If you want to go off campus and check out the sights Vancouver has to offer, here are a few suggestions:

1. Stanley Park - Stanley Park is a huge forested area located along the coast near downtown Vancouver. It’s a great place to spend an afternoon and contains a number of attractions including the Vancouver Aquarium. You can go for a walk along the trails or the seawall or just have a picnic. The #19 bus goes into the park.
   
   
    
2. Gastown - Gastown is the historic part of Vancouver and is home to many bars, restaurants, and shops. You can also just take a pleasant walk through the cobblestone streets. To get there, get off the sky-train at Waterfront Station and walk east along Cordova St. to Water St.
   
   
    
3. Granville Island - Granville Island is a public market located on the waterfront in downtown Vancouver. You can take a walk among the stalls to see if anything catches your eye or chill at one of the restaurants or pubs. It is also home to the Granville Island Brewing Co. which offers tours and tastings. To get there, you can take the #50 bus from Gastown.
   
   

Getting from Vancouver International Airport to UBC:

The airport is about 15km away from UBC and your transport options are somewhat limited.

Public transport

If you want to save money, you can opt to take public transport. The Canada Line sky-train runs from the airport but does not go directly to the university. As of May 2016 there is no rapid transit connection to the campus. You have to take the Canada Line train to Broadway City Hall station and then transfer to a city bus. You can catch the 99 bus directly outside the sky-train station which will take you all way to UBC. You can expect to pay about C$7-C$9 for the whole trip and it should take a little over an hour.

Taxi

Taxis are not cheap, but if you have the money, it does make for an easier trip than dragging your luggage around on trains and buses. Cabs are available at the airport 24/7 and it will cost you around $50-$60 to get to UBC. The trip will take about 25-30 minutes if traffic is light.