University of British Columbia – Okanagan

The University of British Columbia (UBC)  is the largest university in the province of BC with a student population of over 45,000. UBC’s Vancouver campus is also one of the largest and most scenic campuses in Canada. Areas of study include programs like: Architecture, Agricultural Sciences, Arts, Business Administration and Commerce, Dentistry, Education, Family and Nutritional Sciences, Fine Arts, Engineering, Forestry, Journalism, Law, Music, Nursing, Physical Education, Social Work and Science.

UBC has additional opportunities available in the Okanagan region of BC. UBC Okanagan’s campus offers interdisciplinary and integrated programs in Applied Science, Arts, Business, Education, Nursing, Social Work, and Science. Like its Vancouver campus, UBC Okanagan offers a wide range of student services and also includes on-campus housing and recreational facilities.

Facility/Service Highlights: The Vancouver campus offers both single and family student housing and child care services. There is a 1400-seat concert hall on campus, 28 different varsity sports teams, and 250 student-run clubs.

  • Transfer Policy

    The application deadline for most programs is January 31. For information on UBC’s document deadlines see here.

    A student who has completed courses in a university transfer program may be considered for admission to UBC with advance credit for up to 60 semester hours (60 UBC credits) under the following conditions:

    General Admission Requirement

    The minimum standing required for admission to the University is a “C” average (60% where 50% is a passing grade), or grade point average of 2.0 (calculated on a 4-point scale: A+=4.33, A=4.0, A-=3.67, B+=3.33, B=3, B-=2.67, C+=2.33, C=2, C-=1.67, D+=1.33, D=1, D-=0.67, F=0). Applicants presenting less than 24 credits are evaluated on the basis of both final secondary school grades and the partial post-secondary studies completed. Unless otherwise prescribed by the program to which admission is sought, academic standing is based on the average of the most recent 30 transferable credits attempted, including failures and repeated courses.  Depending on the amount of transferable course credit taken, the admission GPA is calculated as follows:

    0 to 6 credits taken Admission based on high school average only
    7 to 23 credits taken Admission based on high school average and post-secondary GPA calculated using all transferable credits taken
    24 to 30 credits taken Admission based on post-secondary GPA calculated using all transferable credits taken
    More than 30 credits taken Admission based on post-secondary GPA calculated using most recent 30 transferable credits taken.  When calculating a GPA based on the most recent 30 transferable credits takes us to the middle of a previous semester, the overall GPA of transferable credit from that semester will be used for the remaining required credits to reach a total of 30.

    Because of enrolment limitations, most programs require a higher average for admission than the University minimum, and may require a minimum standing in specified courses. Applicants should consult the relevant part in the UBC Calendar for a statement of admission requirements for the program to which they seek admission. To be eligible for second year, applicants must normally have successfully completed 30 credits, and satisfied all promotion requirements for advancement to that year. Applicants to third year must have successfully completed 54 to 60 credits, and satisfied all promotion requirements for advancement to that year.

  • Transfer Credit

    Successfully completed courses are granted transfer credit in accordance with agreed-upon equivalencies published in the BC Transfer Guide.  Courses successfully completed at recognized institutions outside of the BCCAT sending framework will be assessed for transfer credit on a course-by-course basis.  Where appropriate, such credit will be used to satisfy degree requirements of the program in which the applicant enrols.  Students applying for transfer credit may be required to supply a copy of the calendar of the college or university at which they have previously studied in order that an assessment can be made.

    Upper-level courses may be eligible for credit at UBC if the content is sufficiently similar to a UBC course.  These courses will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis at the time of transfer to UBC.

    Maximum Allowable Transfer Credit

    In general, transfer credit is limited to the first two years of an undergraduate degree program, but credit at a more senior level is possible with the approval of the faculty concerned. No more than 60 credits of transfer credit, or 50 per cent of required program credits, are allowed in any program, and in some programs the maximum may be less.

    Unassigned Credit

    Unassigned credit may be granted where a course-to-course equivalence cannot be established. This credit may be used as elective credit. Elective credit may be either in a particular discipline, e.g. “Economics (3) credits”, or in a faculty, e.g. “Arts (6) credits”. Students should be cautioned that there may be specific faculty requirements, as well as specific program requirements, that unassigned credit may not satisfy.

    Preclusion of Credit

    Where a student is granted unassigned credit on transfer, the student will not also receive degree credit if a similar UBC course is taken subsequently. This applies in cases where the student has taken one half of a six-credit UBC course and where the college course is similar to a third- or fourth-year UBC course. In the tables this is normally clarified with the statement: precludes credit for . . . The name of the course refers to the UBC course unless otherwise stated.

    Letter of Permission for UBC Students

    After the start of the first UBC academic session to which a student has been admitted, transfer credit from another institution will only be granted if prior permission has been obtained from the faculty in which the student is registered.

    An Equation of College and UBC Courses

    The BC Transfer Guide compares courses at the various colleges and universities with courses offered at UBC.

    The courses listed are taken from the academic offerings of the colleges. These courses are intended to serve as a basis for further studies at a post-college level. Courses offered by the colleges in vocationally oriented programs are not intended to prepare students for transfer to universities and are, therefore, not listed in the BC Transfer Guide.

    Where two college courses are equated to a six credit course at UBC, unless otherwise stated, each component will be granted three credits under the same subject title.

    In some disciplines, such as art, music, theatre, it is impossible to provide an exact matching of college and university courses. In these situations the college courses are accepted on transfer in the category of elective credit in the particular discipline. A student, continuing study in the discipline concerned, should plan their University program with a faculty advisor to make the best use of previous studies.

    College students who anticipate transferring to an honours program at the University must submit a letter of recommendation from the college along with the honours application to the head of the department concerned. Permission of the head of the department is required before a student can enroll in an honours program.

  • Faculty / School

    Specific UBC Program Requirements

    See here for specific requirements for each faculty are outlined in the appropriate sections of the UBC Calendar.

    Where individual college courses transfer into the same UBC course, certain faculties may require a specific combination. Students should check with the faculty adviser of the faculty concerned.

    Language Proficiency Index (LPI) Requirement for Frist- Year English

    All programs require at least three credits of first-year English; most require six credits. Before enrolling in any first-year English course, Arts One, or Science One, students must complete the Language Proficiency Index (LPI) and achieve a minimum score of level 5 (30/40) on the essay section of the examination.

    Some students are exempt from the LPI requirement; all other students must complete the LPI. For detailed information, visit here or contact the LPI office. For further information about eligibility for first-year English courses, contact the English Department; telephone (604) 822-4247 or (604) 822-5651.

  • Additional Resources

    Contact
    Undergraduate Admissions, Enrollment Services
    The University of British Columbia
    Brock Hall, 1874 East Mall
    Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1

    Tel: 604.822.3014
    Fax: 604.822.3599

     

    Website
    ubc.ca
    UBC Okanagan Transfer Credits
    UBC Okanagan Academic Calendar

Transfer Information
  • BC Transfer Student

    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.

    For details on university and college transfer to UBC, please refer to this page.

  • Out-of-Province Transfer Student

    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.

    For details on transfer for college/university students outside of BC, please refer to this page.

  • Mature Student & PLAR

    As a mature applicant, you must be out of full-time formal education for at least four years and satisfy the English language requirement and degree-specific requirements.

    For details on Mature Student admission at UBC, please check here.

  • International Student

    For details on International Student admission at UBC, please check here.

  • How to Apply & EducationPlannerBC

    Learn more about admissions at University of British Columbia and apply online.

     

    University of British Columbia Okanagan is a BC public institution authorized under provincial legislation to deliver post-secondary education and training in B.C. Use EducationPlannerBC.ca to explore and apply for admission to BC public post-secondary institutions.

Main Campus | Kelowna
3333 University Way
Kelowna, BC
V1V 1V7