Canadian Universities are usually top-notch when it comes to education. This has consequently led to an increased application rate from international students.
The University of British Columbia shares in this experience as their acceptance rate has gradually reduced.
A recent research has shown that over 80% of employers hire graduates with international experience. These statistics reflect that you need to study abroad to increase your employability.
So, if you’ve been looking for a Canadian University, UBC is a great option for you.
Carefully read through to the end of this article to gather all the specific information required to apply and gain admission into this school.
Why Study at the University of British Columbia?
The University of British Columbia (UBC) is an international centre for teaching, learning and research.
Therefore, this university continually ranks among the top 20 public universities in the world.
Today, ranking associations recognize UBC as North America’s most international university.
Founded in 1915, their motto, Tuum Est (It is Yours), is a clear direction of their plan to keep attracting and supporting those who have the drive to shape a better world.
As a result, UBC students, faculty and staff continue to adopt innovation and challenge the status quo, thereby placing them at the forefront of learning, innovation and engagement.
UBC encourages positive thinking, focused curiosity and initiative, so you can know your greatest potential.
Hence, this is because the core foundational values of UBC are excellence, respect, integrity, academic freedom and accountability.
As a top research university, UBC has over 58,000 students – both local and international students.
The two major campuses of Vancouver and Okanagan thereby nurture and groom these students in different subject areas.
Most importantly, they have a series called One-on-One wherein students interact with senior leaders at UBC.
So, with all these amazing perspectives and facilities, you should see why UBC is a perfect place for you.
Also Read: Outstanding International Student Award
What is the University of Columbia Acceptance Rate for Undergraduate Students?
At UBC, undergraduate students enjoy a lot of special benefits and opportunities.
In fact, UBC focuses more on undergraduate students so as to nurture and train them properly.
But you shouldn’t think that graduate students get less attention and guidance.
Undergraduate programs at UBC usually last for four to five years depending on your course.
Furthermore, the choice of your course also determines the campus at which you would reside and learn.
Today, the University of British Columbia undergraduate acceptance rate is 65%.
In the coming years, analysts have predicted it will further drop behind by some percentage.
There are ten faculties in UBC which have over 100 courses in them in general. Therefore, these faculties include;
- Business and economics
- Earth, environment, and sustainability
- Education
- Engineering and technology
- Health and life sciences
- History, law, and politics
- Languages and linguistics
- Math, chemistry, and physics
- Media and fine arts
- People, culture, and society
Conclusively, undergraduate students at UBC enjoy the access to directly connect with their alumni.
What is the University of British Columbia Graduate Students Acceptance Rate?
The Graduate School of UBC has programs separated into its campuses in Vancouver and Okanagan.
While its Vancouver campus offers programs in Computer Science, Endodontics and English, its Okanagan campus offers graduate programs in Data Science and Engineering as well.
Although the two campuses don’t share the same location, they have the same curriculum and calendar too.
Graduate students in Okanagan get to have supervisors who will guide them throughout their research process.
Master’s students in UBC pay $1,665.26 per instalment as domestic students while international students pay $2,925.58 per instalment.
However, if you can’t afford tuition for your graduate program, there are some scholarship opportunities for you which will disclose later in this article.
Apart from the regular Master’s and PhD program, UBC has another special graduate program.
This program is called the Interdisciplinary Studies Graduate Program.
Hence, this program is designed for advanced interdisciplinary research exceeding the provisions of existing departmental programs.
In this program, students don’t work within a circle of topics, instead, they research borderless.
Highly motivated students usually take up these programs so as to move towards an independent course.
Interested students in this program can apply with their specific topics which UBC will approve.
Above all, the University of British Columbia Graduate acceptance rate is 72%.
Check this out: Best University Cities 2024 for International Students
What is the University of British Columbia Acceptance Rate for International Students?
International students at UBC come from over 150 countries all over the world.
In essence, they welcome students to come into a place of true transformation and learning.
UBC offers amazing student support for its international students in order to help them.
An example of this support process is to help students who don’t speak English to eventually learn and adapt.
This is because the majority of their programs are taught in English as much as they teach other foreign languages.
As you know, international students pay different tuition from their domestic counterparts.
However, this doesn’t mean that they lose out on scholarship and funding opportunities too.
As an international student, you can be part of the social clubs and sports teams in UBC.
Furthermore, you enjoy excellent and conducive accommodation within your learning environment.
In summary, the University of British Columbia acceptance rate for international students is 77%.
Also Read: Mastercard Foundation Scholarship
What is the University of British Columbia Acceptance Rate GPA?
Calculating your GPA can be very stressful. However, with our student GPA calculator, your work just got easier.
You can easily calculate your GPA by inputting your scores per course as much as 50 courses.
Now that you have gotten your GPA, you need to check if you passed the benchmark in order to enter UBC.
Generally, the minimum acceptance rate GPA for UBC is 2.0. However, this doesn’t guarantee you’ll get admission.
Your best bet is to score nothing less than 4.0, so as to increase your chances of gaining admission.
Getting a great CGPA is very important, however, you also need to pass other admission requirements.
Hence, instead of getting worried about having a low CGPA, you can check how well you fit into other admission requirements.
These requirements will largely depend on your course and program.
So, for a course like computer science, what could the requirements be? Let me tell you.
What is the University of British Columbia Computer Science Graduate Admission?
The Computer Science program of UBC Okanagan’s campus basically teaches you how to improve computers.
In this program, students explore the basics of computing, analyze data structures and operating systems.
Additionally, they earn about software engineering, computer graphics and computational intelligence too.
As a graduate student at UBC Computer Science shool, you will design programs for clients.
The admission requirements for Computer Science follow a line of processes which include;
ONLINE APPLICATION
All applicants must complete an online application form and pay the application fee to be considered for admission to UBC.
TRANSCRIPTS
All applicants have to submit transcripts from all past post-secondary study.
Hence, the document submission requirements depend on whether your institution of study is within Canada or outside of Canada.
MINIMUM ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS
The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies establishes the minimum admission requirements common to all applicants, usually a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC).
Therefore, the graduate program that you are applying to may have additional requirements. Please review the specific requirements for applicants with credentials from institutions in:
Canada or the United States
International countries other than the United States
Each program may set higher academic minimum requirements. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission as it is a competitive process.
LETTERS OF REFERENCE
A minimum of three references is required for application to graduate programs at UBC. In essence, these references should be requested from individuals who are prepared to provide a report on your academic ability and qualifications.
STATEMENT OF INTEREST
Many programs require a statement of interest, sometimes called a “statement of intent”, “description of research interests” or something similar.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY
Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. Therefore, tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.
Minimum requirements for the two most common English language proficiency tests to apply to this program are listed below:
TOEFL (ibT) Overall Score Requirement 100
- ibT Reading 22
- ibT Writing 21
- ” Listening 22
- ibT Speaking 21
IELTS Overall Score Requirement 7.0
- IELTS Reading 6.5
- ” Writing 6.5
- IELTS Listening 6.5
- IELTS Speaking 6.5
SUPERVISION
Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their supervisor. Please follow the instructions provided by each program whether applicants should contact faculty members.
This program has not specified whether applicants should reach out to faculty members. Please review the program website for additional details.
TEST SCORES (GRE / GMAT OR SIMILAR)
Some programs require additional test scores such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Test (GMAT).
CITIZENSHIP VERIFICATION
Permanent Residents of Canada must provide a clear photocopy of both sides of the Permanent Resident Card.
Also Read: 11 Sure Ways to Get Scholarships in Canada
What are the Admission Requirements for UBC?
Before you can begin to consider whether you’ll stay in the Okanagan or Vancouver campus, you need to fulfill the admission requirements of UBC.
As expected, the University of British Columbia has different requirements for its programs.
Furthermore, different faculties have their own specific requirements.
But for this section, we will basically address the admission requirements for all programs on a general note.
Bachelor Degree Requirements
On the undergraduate level, the admission requirements come in seven phases such as;
- Canadian high school students
- International high school students
- University and college transfer students
- Advanced Placement students
- International Baccalaureate students
- Mature students
- English language competency
Canadian high school students
As a Canadain high school student, you need to fulfil requirements such as;
English language requirement
English is the language of instruction at UBC. So, all prospective students must demonstrate English-language competency prior to admission.
Hence, there are nine different ways to meet the English Language Admission Standard.
General admission requirements
Graduation from high school
Minimum of 70% in Grade 11 or Grade 12 English (or their equivalents)
At least six academic/non-academic Grade 12 courses (recommended, but not required)
Degree-specific requirements
All other requirements will come depending on your course of choice.
International high school students
All international students need to fulfil requirements such as;
English language requirement
English is the language of instruction at UBC. So, all prospective students must demonstrate English-language competency prior to admission. Hence, there are nine different ways to meet the English Language Admission Standard.
General admission requirements
Graduation from a university-preparatory program at a senior secondary school.
Hence, any nationally recognized certificate after secondary school is admissible.
Degree-specific requirements
All other requirements will come depending on your course of choice.
University and college transfer students
To apply to UBC as a transfer student, you are strongly encouraged to have completed 24 transferable credits – with at least a C average (60% where 50% is a passing grade), or a grade point of 2.0. Use the UBC transfer credit search tool to see how courses from your institution transfer to UBC. (Xanax)
Second-year applicants must normally have successfully completed 30 credits and satisfied all promotion requirements for advancement to that year
Third-year applicants must normally have successfully completed 48–60 credits and satisfied all promotion requirements for advancement to that year.
Applicants who apply with fewer than 24 credits will be evaluated on the basis of final secondary school grades and the partial post-secondary studies completed.
If this applies to you, you’ll need to meet all your high school’s curriculum requirements in addition to meeting the GPA for admission with the post-secondary courses you completed.
High school requirements differ depending on where you’re coming from.
Unless otherwise indicated by the program you are applying to, academic standing is based on the average of all courses attempted, including failed or repeated courses.
Advanced Placement students
All AP courses are eligible for admission consideration and can be combined with an approved Canadian high school or international high school curriculum to meet the University’s admission requirements.
Generally, we use school percentage grades in AP courses to calculate admission averages.
Your AP exam results may be included in the calculation if they are available at the time of admission.
Those results will be converted to the following percentages:
| AP Grade | % equivalent |
| 5 | 96 |
| 4 | 86 |
| 3 | 80 |
| 2 | 70 |
AP Capstone
AP Capstone complements the subject-specific knowledge gained through AP courses and exams and allows students to develop skills in research, analysis, writing, and presentation.
The AP Capstone Diploma Program, AP Seminar and Research Certificate, and AP Seminar and AP Research courses aren’t eligible for UBC transfer credit, but we will look at them positively when you apply.
First-year credit
If you achieve a grade of 4 or better on approved AP exams, UBC will grant you first-year university credit.
International Baccalaureate students
Candidates for the International Baccalaureate program must fulfil;
English language requirement
English is the language of instruction at UBC. All prospective students must demonstrate English-language competency prior to admission.
Hence, there are numerous ways to meet the English Language Admission Standard.
General admission requirements
- Completion of the IB Diploma with competitive scores, including at least three Higher Level courses and additional points for Extended Essay and Theory of Knowledge.
- Completion of Standard Level or Higher Level English A at a minimum score of 3, where English is the primary language of instruction. (If you are an international student with a score of less than 3 in IB English A [SL or HL], or you are taking English B [SL or HL], you may be eligible for UBC Vantage One programs.)
Degree-specific requirements
Other requirements will depend on the course of study the student chooses.
Mature Degree
Before you can apply for the mature degree, you must;
You must be outside of full-time education for at least four years
This includes high school and post-secondary institutions. If you have a prior undergraduate degree, you can apply as an unclassified student, or as a transfer student if you wish to complete a second degree. Students with a previous degree are not considered mature applicants.
Full-time study is three or more courses per term/semester or nine or more transferable credits per term/semester.
For example, if you are applying to start in September 2019, your last full-time attendance in school should have been in August 2015.
You can only apply to the following degrees
If you are seeking admission to a degree not listed below, we recommend that you enrol at another institution and then transfer to your program of interest.
| Okanagan | Vancouver |
| ArtsFine ArtsHuman KineticsManagementMedia StudiesNursingScience (if you have not taken math or science courses in the last four years, you are strongly encouraged to take refresher courses before applying) | Applied BiologyArtsFine Arts: Acting, Creative Writing, Film Production, Theatre Design and Production, Visual ArtFood, Nutrition, and HealthForest Resources ManagementForest OperationsForest SciencesKinesiologyMedia StudiesMusicNatural Resources ConservationWood Products Processing |
You must satisfy the degree’s requirements
As a mature applicant, you still need to meet the University’s English language requirement and certain faculty- or degree-specific requirements.
These vary according to where you attended high school or post-secondary.
They include but are not limited to, prerequisites, supplemental applications, portfolio, and audition requirements.
For most degrees, if you do not have the requirements at the high school level, you can present them at the post-secondary level.
If you are missing general admissions or degree-specific requirements, you will need to complete the prerequisites for admission at another institution.
The University reserves the right to determine whether or not you are eligible for the mature applicant category.
See also: International Major Entrance Scholarship at University of British Columbia 2024
English language competency
Prospective students of UBC can fulfil the English language competency through;
- Complete four or more consecutive years of recognized, full-time education in English within Canada
- Complete four or more consecutive years of full-time education in English in a country other than Canada
- Achieve a final exam grade of 70% or better on the provincial examination portion of Alberta English Language
- Achieve a final grade of 4 or better on Advanced Placement (AP) English Language & Composition or AP Literature & Composition;
- Achieve the competence standard indicated by one of the tests of English language proficiency that evaluates skills in listening, reading, speaking, and writing.
- Successfully complete six credits of post-secondary first-year English studies at a recognized university in an English-speaking country. You must submit a transcript showing completion of these courses by February 15. For students at North American post-secondary institutions registered in English courses in the January to April term, UBC will accept a final transcript showing completion of these courses until May 15, if there are spaces left in your degree.
- Graduate from a recognized degree program at an accredited university at which English is the primary language of instruction in a country where English is the principal language.
- Attend four or more years at an eligible international secondary school that uses English as the language of instruction but operates in a country where the primary language is not English.
- Achieve a UBC Certificate in English Language or CEL by completing Level 600 of the UBC English Language Institute’s English for Academic Purposes program on UBC’s Vancouver campus.
Note: If you are fully proficient in English but do not meet any of the nine options listed above, you may request a waiver for the English Language Admission Standard.
Master’s Degree Requirements
The master’s degree requirements at UBC differ for both local and international students.
Canadian Students
Applicants from Canda and U.S interested in a master’s degree program must hold the academic equivalent of a four-year bachelor’s degree from UBC with:
- a minimum overall average in the B+ grade range (76-79% at UBC) in third-year level and above courses; or
- academic standing 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
- applicants who have a four-year baccalaureate degree, or its academic equivalent, which does not meet the requirements stated above, but who have had significant formal training and relevant professional experience to offset such deficiencies, may be granted admission on the recommendation of the appropriate graduate program or faculty and approval of the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies.
International Students
The College of Graduate Studies welcomes applications from international students who hold a credential similar to an approved Canadian four-year undergraduate degree and who demonstrate superior academic standing.
These credentials will depend on your country of choice.
Furthermore, students who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents must apply for a study permit (student visa) to enter Canada.
Hence, applications can be made at any Canadian Consulate or High Commission.
All applicants from a university at which English is not the primary language of instruction must meet Language Proficiency Requirements prior to being extended an offer of admission.
Hence, all students must submit a formal application for admission (and the required fee) for an official evaluation of academic credentials.
The required overall grade is usually calculated from courses taken in the last two years of full-time study.
PhD Requirements
As a PhD student, you also need to fulfil certain admission requirements as well such as;
- a master’s degree (or equivalent) from an approved institution, with clear evidence of research ability or potential and a minimum overall average in the B+ grade range (76-79% at UBC) in all graduate courses;
- a bachelor’s degree, with one year of study in a master’s program with 12 credits of the first-class average, of which, normally, 9 credits must be at the 500 level or above and at least 9 credits must be of first-class standing, and clear evidence of research ability or potential. Transfer directly into a doctoral program is normally accomplished after the first year of study and will not be permitted after the completion of the second year in a master’s program; or
- in exceptional cases, applicants who hold an honours bachelor’s degree with an overall average in the A grade range and who demonstrate advanced research ability may be granted direct admission to a doctoral degree program on the recommendation of the admitting graduate program and approval of the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies.
In summary, to keep your registration as a doctoral student, students entering directly from a bachelor’s degree must, during the first year of study, complete 12 credits with a first-class average, of which at least 9 credits must be at the 500 level or above and at least 9 credits must be of first-class standing.
FAQ– University of British Columbia Acceptance Rate
Yes, UBC offers full scholarships to students in their first year which are actually renewable.
The minimum acceptance rate for UBC is 2.0 which doesn’t guarantee admission.
No. UBC is actually the third best university in Canada according to the latest rankings.
Yes. UBC is very competitive and this competition will increase in the coming years.
Conclusion
The University of British Columbia will continue to grow stronger and stronger.
Therefore, their acceptance rate will reduce as more and more students will fill in their applications.
Their research centres are increasing as their budgeting continues to grow.
When you look at universities at UBC, your picture of a future eventually becomes practicable.
So, don’t be discouraged by anything you hear, apply for a program in UBC today.
References
- ubc.ca/admissions/
- petersons.com/college/university-of-british-columbi
- niche.com/colleges/university-of-british-columbia
- uscollegeinternational.com/2019/02/28/ubc-acceptance-rate/
- reddit.com/r/UBC/is ubc acceptance rate over 50/
- International Major Entrance Scholarship at University of British Columbia 2024
- University of British Columbia Doctoral Fellowships in Canada 2024-2024
- University Of British Columbia UBC Tuition Fees In 2024
- Henaac Scholarship Program 2024 [Updated]
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