The University of British Columbia is the British Columbia’s oldest public research university situated in Vancouver, consistently ranked among the top twenty universities in the world. Since its inception, the University of British Columbia has been the home to one of the sharpest minds, including eight noble laureates, Canada’s three prime ministers, the fellows of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, and the fellows of the Royal Society of Canada. The university facilitates a dynamic research environment with over $600 million in federal fundings to splurge and has students from over 148 countries driving to shape a better world. Needless to say, getting into a university like that ain’t easy. The acceptance rate for undergraduate courses at the University of British Columbia is close to 50%, but don’t get deceived by that number; you must stay on top of your class to have any chances of admission.

English Proficiency Test Requirements:

Since English is the primary language of instruction at the University of British Columbia (UBC), you must satisfy UBC’s minimum English Language Admission Standard (ELAS) to get admitted into an undergraduate program. However, there are several conditions where you don’t need to take an English language test. For instance, if you are in the 12th standard and you have scored 75% on your senior English subject (final exams) or pre boards, you are not obliged to submit an English language test. For more exemptions, check out the university website:

• 90 and above on the TOEFL iBT.
• 6.5 and above on the IELTS Academic.
• 65 and above on the PTE Academic.

ACT/SAT Requirements:

The University of British Columbia (UBC) doesn’t have any adamantine criteria for standardized SAT/ACT scores. For the most part, Indian students are not obliged to submit SAT/ACT scores. But instances where your English proficiency doesn’t comply with the minimum English Language Admission Standard (ELAS), they might consider your application if you manage to demonstrate a higher level of English proficiency in your SAT/ACT. Otherwise, it’s not recommended unless you have an unusually high score. However, if you are from the USA, you must submit SAT 1 or ACT + Writing.

Tuition Fee and Cost of Living:

Paying tuition as an international student at the University of British Columbia (UBC) can be hefty. Also, Vancouver is the most expensive city to live in Canada, so your living cost might vary depending upon the lifestyle you maintain. Tuition fees are subject to change, so don’t forget to verify the exact figures from the university’s website.

The conversion from CAD to INR have been made with 1 CAD = ₹ 59.11. The cost may vary with the varying exchange rate.

Application Portal:

Unlike the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) in the UK and Common Application in the USA, there are no such provisions in Canada. You must apply directly through to the University of British Columbia’s Undergraduate Future Student Portal.

Portal Link: https://ssc.adm.ubc.ca/sscportal/apply.xhtml

Personal Profile:

Your personal profile is a pivotal aspect of your application based on which the admissions committee access whether you are the right fit for the program and if you will receive an entrance scholarship or not. So, you need to pay special attention while crafting your personal profile. Unlike most universities in the USA, the University of British Columbia doesn’t need you to write long pompous essays. In lieu, you must answer a set of personality-based questions like:

Personal Profile Questions:

1. Explain how you responded to a problem and/or an unfamiliar situation. What did you do, what was the outcome, and what did you learn from the experience?
2. Give us an example of how the pandemic has changed your involvement in the community or group most important to you. What have you learned from this experience?
3. Tell us about who you are. How would your family, friends, and/or members of your community describe you? If possible, please include something about yourself that you are most proud of and why?
4. What is important to you? And why?
5. Describe up to five activities that you have pursued or accomplishments achieved in one or more of the following areas. Please outline the nature of your responsibilities within these activities: Club, family/community responsibilities, creative or performing arts, work/employment, athletics, volunteer, service to others, other(s).
6. Please submit the names of two referees who know you well and can comment on your preparedness for study at UBC. Examples of referees include an employer, a community member, a coach, a teacher/instructor, or anyone who knows you well. One of the referees you select must be able to speak to one of the activities/experiences described in one of your long-answer responses above. For applicants who are currently attending a high school, one of your referees must be a school official (e.g., Grade 12 or senior year counsellor, teacher, or IB coordinator). Neither referee should be a friend, family member, or paid agent.

University of British Columbia’s Undergraduate Future Student Portal’s Deadlines:

The following are the deadlines for freshmen applying to the University of British Columbia:

Deadline to apply for Winter Session (i.e., September 2021 to April 2022). Deadline to apply for Summer Session (i.e., May to August 2021).

Conclusion:

The highlight of the University of British Columbia (UBC) is its research and innovation. They possess the right resources and the right expertise to transform your personal initiative into innovation.

It’s one of the elite universities in the world and consistently ranks within the top 20 global universities. However, unlike other elite universities, it’s not atrociously competitive, with an acceptance rate close to 50%. But, you must take that with a grain of salt as you would still need to compete with the best of the best and possess the right profile to impress the admissions committee.

The University of British Columbia houses Canada’s national TRIUMF subatomic physics laboratory (home to the world’s largest cyclotron), the Institute for Healthy Living & Chronic Disease Prevention, the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems, etc. Fascinating right? Every year thousands of students apply to the University of British Columbia, but only a few ever get a chance to get in! Want to be one of them? Maybe a student studying there could guide you better! So, you won’t be doing any blunders in your application. 

For that, check out UniRely! Our expert student mentors, currently studying at the University of British Columbia, being faced with the admission process themselves, can guide you through the nooks and crannies of the admission process better than anyone. Also, being a student at the same university, they could provide you with lifesaving insights that would mushroom your chances of getting an entrance scholarship!

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