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Global partnerships and study abroad

University of British Columbia


Overview

At a glance

The University of British Columbia is a public research university with campuses in Vancouver and Kelowna, British Columbia. It is British Columbia's oldest university, and is one of the Canadian universities ranked in the top 50. UBC ranks 13th out of more than 1,400 institutions globally in delivering on the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals, and has a key focus on research, participating in 1,436 research projects with industry partners and 1,350 research contracts and agreements with government and non-profits.

Established: 1908

Student Population: 70,757

Rankings: #34 QS World University Rankings


Overview of Facilities and campus : UBC has two major campuses: Vancouver and Okanagan. The Vancouver campus is surrounded by forest on three sides and ocean on the fourth, and is just a 30 minute bus ride to Vancouver's downtown core. The campus has been located on this site for most of its 100-year history; a location that is the traditional territory of the Musqueam people. The Okanagain campus is located in Kelowna and opened in 2005. It was founded in partnership with the Syilx Okanagan Nation; UBC Okanagan and the Okanagan Nation work in partnership to enhance education and support Okanagan Indigenous culture, history, language, philosophy and knowledge.

Other UBC sites include UBC Robson Square, the Centre for Digital Media, UBC Faculty for Medicine across BC, and the Asia Pacific Regional Office.

Website and links

Website : UBC homepage

Study abroad guide : UBC International Student Guide

Academic information

Who can go

Students on degree programmes in the following subject areas may apply to study abroad during their Junior Honours year at University of British Columbia:
  • Biology
Semesters Available
  • First Semester
  • Second Semester
  • Full Year
Note: Joint Honours students may only apply for a full year abroad if BOTH subjects are listed above. Joint Honours students applying for one semester must seek permission from both Schools.

Study abroad coordinator

Each School has a designated Study Abroad Coordinator.

Semester dates

Semester dates are as follows

2022/3
Semester 1 Sep 2022 to Dec 2022
Semester 2 Jan 2023 to Apr 2023

Your studies abroad

St Andrews academic requirements
  • Minimum Credit in Academic year : 4
  • Minimum Credit in Semester : -
  • Maximum Credit in Academic year : 5
  • Maximum Credit in Semester: -
  • Module Weighting : 0.5

Partner Course Catalogue : Course catalogue

See our Credits and Modules Abroad webpage for information on the number of credits we expect students to take at our partner institutions. St Andrews expects students to attend all classes as part of their programme abroad. Assessment methods may vary across partners and could include class participation, continuous assessment in the form of homework and final exams. All courses must be agreed with your Study Abroad Coordinator. See our academic information webpage for further details, as well as information about credit and grade conversion.

Application and selection

Application and selection

This is a School Abroad programme.

Places available

Places available : 4 semester places per academic year. This is confirmed for 2023-2024.

Places available may vary from year to year depending on the exchange balance. Numbers for the following academic year will be confirmed at the information meeting.

Living there

Getting there and getting around

There are two main sources of transport between the airport and UBC: taxi and public transit. If you want to take a taxi from the airport to UBC, there is 24-hour taxi service from the airport.

You can also use public transport through the Canada Line, a rapid-transit system that runs frequently from the airport to downtown Vancouver. The Canada Line does not go to UBC but it runs directly to downtown from the airport. To go to UBC, get off at Broadway City Hall and take the 99 bus to UBC campus.

Once on UBC’s campus there are many flexible and sustainable options for travelling to, from and around UBC’s Vancouver campus. Getting to and from campus is easy with public transit, cycling, car-sharing and various parking options available.

Accommodation

Find out more about the housing options on UBC's webpage.

Please note that St Andrews is unable to guarantee housing at any of our partner institutions. Guidance on finding accommodation abroad is available on the Global Office webpage.

Student services and orientation

UBC has a page dedicated to student support.

It also offers range of orientation programmes.

Please be aware that student support services will be different across all of our partner universities.

The Health and Wellness offers a range of services for students.

Finance and insurance

Insurance

When you register as an international student who is new to UBC, you are automatically registered for iMed, a temporary basic health insurance plan. All new international students who are assessed student society fees are automatically enrolled in iMED when they register for their first course.

St Andrews students authorised to study or work abroad as part of their degree programme will be covered by the University’s insurance policy. Please reference to our travel insurance pages for further information.

Passports and visas

Please refer to our passports and visa page for further information.

Student experience

UBC has a webpage dedicated to Campus Life , with upcoming events as well as information on Arts and Culture and sports to get involved in. Vancouver Campus also has its own Campus Life page, as does Okanagan.

See profiles and photos of St Andrews students who have studied abroad.