Colleges University of British Columbia

University of British Columbia www.ubc.ca

The University of British Columbia is a public institution located in the Canadian province of British Columbia. UBC opened in 1915 and has two main campuses: the Vancouver campus and the Okanagan campus located in Kelowna. The Vancouver campus, the larger of the two, is situated next to the City of Vancouver and is located 10 km (6 mi) west of downtown. Both UBC campuses combined accommodate a large number of international students. University housing is guaranteed for first-year UBC undergraduates, and priority is also granted to newly admitted internationals. The Vancouver campus offers more than two dozen academic divisions, while the Okanagan campus has eight. First-year international students can enroll in the Vantage One program at UBC’s Vantage College, which aims to help students improve their English. Upon completion, students transition into the second year of their UBC degree program. Examples of UBC research facilities include Canada’s national TRIUMF subatomic physics laboratory, the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at UBC Farm and the Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention.

Academics

UBC’s academic activity is organized into faculties and schools. UBC has 12 faculties at its Vancouver campus and seven at its Okanagan campus. UBC Vancouver has two academic colleges: Interdisciplinary Studies and Health Disciplines, while UBC Okanagan has a College of Graduate Studies. At the Vancouver campus, the Faculty of Art is the largest faculty with 20 departments and schools, while the Faculty of Science is the second largest faculty with nine departments. The Sauder School of Business is UBC’s Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration. The School of Architecture offers a program accredited by the Canadian Architectural Certification Board at the bachelor’s level and the master’s level. UBC students can study abroad for a semester or a year at over 200 partner institutions. Popular majors include Biology, Computer Science, Psychology, and International Relations.

Special Highlights

Student Union. The Alma Mater Society of the University of British Columbia, or AMS, represents UBC undergraduate students within the Vancouver campus. The society’s mandate is to improve the quality of educational, social, and personal lives of UBC students. The AMS supports and administers student clubs and maintains the Student Union Building, known as the Nest, and the services it houses. The heart of student activity at UBC Vancouver, it has numerous amenities including a performance centre, an art exhibition space, a large ballroom, a three-story climbing wall, radio broadcast facilities, a daycare, shops and food outlets, a pub, and a large rooftop garden and public space with a water feature and outdoor seating. Connected to the Nest via underground tunnel in the adjacent Student Life Building, the 425-seat Norman Bouchard Memorial Theatre is also run by the student union.

Museums & Art Galleries. The Belkin Art Gallery features “art that starts you thinking.” with its nationally acclaimed contemporary art gallery with bold exhibits that challenge the eye and mind. With free admission and more than 4,500 artworks, the gallery is a highlight of the UBC visual arts scene and home to one of BC’s largest public art collections. The Chung-Lind Gallery, located in the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, features collections of rare and culturally significant materials from Canada’s history. From maps, letters, and photos to paintings and books that represent early BC immigration and settlement, particularly of Chinese people in North America. Visitors may explore the complementary exhibits from the Wallace B. Chung and Madeline H. Chung Collection and the Phil Lind Klondike Gold Rush Collection.

School Mission & Unique Qualities

UBC’s mission is to pursue excellence in research, learning, and engagement to foster global citizenship and advance a sustainable and just society across British Columbia, Canada and the world. The Vancouver campus is ideally located near several beaches and has views of the North Shore Mountains. The 7.63-square-kilometre (1,890-acre) Pacific Spirit Regional Park serves as a green-belt between the campus and the city. The campus is home to numerous gardens. The UBC Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research holds a collection of over 8,000 different kinds of plants used for research, conservation and education. The Okanagan Campus was established in 2005 next to Kelowna International Airport. UBC Okanagan offers 62 undergraduate and 19 graduate programs in a range of disciplines including Arts, Science, Fine Arts, Engineering, Nursing, Human Kinetics, Education, and Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies.

Student Reviews…

“Although UBC is huge, it is easy to feel a little bit lost at times, but because of its big size, it’s also easy to find your niche. UBC has one of the most gorgeous campuses in the world, plus a great international community that’s extremely diverse. If you can afford it, make sure to live on campus. There are always new and exciting things happening.”