UBC International Scholars Program 2027

As a UBC International Scholar, you will:

• Earn a globally recognized degree at a top university

• Study with the brightest students in the world

• Get access to unique learning opportunities

• Get dedicated advising and support

Beyond the classroom, Scholars participate in skill-building workshops and retreats, with the option to participate in exchange and co-op programs — while dedicated International Scholars Program advisors support your academic, personal, and career development throughout your degree.

• Funding commensurate with your demonstrated financial need — the award value is determined by your financial assessment (family income, expenses, and assets), covering the gap between your resources and the full cost of attending UBC

• Tuition support plus costs related to living and studying at UBC, proportionate to your need estimation

• Four years of dedicated advising and support — academic, personal, and career development

• Skill-building workshops and retreats exclusive to Scholars

• Exchange and co-op options for international learning and work experience

Related: Browse more fully funded scholarships on OHUB.

From you:

• Completed UBC admissions application (submitted first — required before the award application)

• Award application with:

  • Detailed financial information — annual income and expenses, family wealth and assets, dependents and annual school fees, sources of financial support, and a calculated family contribution/financial need (using the cost estimator)

  • Extra-curricular information and awards

  • Four essay questions — approximately 150–250 words each

• Official documents demonstrating financial need — outlining family gross income, expenses, assets, etc.

• Transcripts / high school academic certificates — via the UBC document submission process (due January 31)

• English Language Admission Standard met by January 31 — official test results must reach UBC by that date

From others:

• Nominator (guidance counsellor, principal, administrator, etc.) — a high school or registered non-profit may nominate up to two students for UBC Vancouver (including Vantage College) and one student for UBC Okanagan; the nominator speaks to your educational goals and character

• Teacher referee — familiar with you and your work in your chosen area of study; must be a different person from the nominator

• (Both must complete their forms a few days before November 15)

• Video interview (if invited) — recorded responses on the online platform, one week to complete

You must meet ALL requirements — there are no exceptions. The evaluation includes a financial assessment, reviewing documents outlining your family's gross income, expenses, family assets, and more.

Educational background

• You are an international student who will be studying in Canada on a Canadian study permit

• You are entering UBC directly from an accredited secondary school

• Applicants for the 2027 Winter session must have graduated from high school no earlier than June 2026

• You are applying for your first undergraduate degree

Significant financial need

• You can prove a significant level of financial need — it would be impossible for you to pursue a UBC degree without meaningful financial help; you will be required to submit official documents demonstrating that need

• Your family cannot afford a significant level of your educational costs and does not have access to external funding

• Financial need may differ per applicant — the financial need estimation is the amount of support you'd require to live and study at UBC after all your resources have been accounted for

Admission requirements

• You meet UBC's admission requirements — including general and degree-specific requirements

• You demonstrate superior academic achievement — all As or equivalent standard

• You meet UBC's English Language Admission Standard (if you don't qualify for direct entry, you may be eligible for Vantage College and the Vantage One Excellence Award)

Degrees NOT eligible for International Scholars Program awards:

• Bachelor of Nursing (Okanagan and Vancouver)

• Bachelor of Dental Science in Dental Hygiene

• Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science

• Bachelor + Master of Management degree

• Dual degrees

• Joint degrees between UBC Okanagan and UBC Vancouver

• Joint degrees with other post-secondary institutions

Critical choice: If you apply to the International Scholars Program, you will NOT be considered for merit-based awards. Applicants may only be considered for either the merit-based or the financial need-based award program — review UBC's merit and entrance-based award options first to determine which is right for you.

Step 1 — Mid-September: Decide on your academic program/campus. For the awards, you are considered for your first choice program — still select a second choice.

Step 2 — Late September: Discuss the nomination with your school. Secure one nominator and one teacher referee (different people). Confirm your school can nominate you and that you're eligible before proceeding.

Step 3 — Early October: Apply to UBC. Submit the admissions application — you must complete it before starting the award application; the award form requests confirmation of submission.

Step 4 — Early October: Discuss your nomination and create an account. Notify your nominator/referee: they'll receive an email invitation, need to know your first-choice campus and program, and the campus nomination limits apply. Then start the award application — you cannot complete it until both forms are submitted.

Step 5 — Mid-October: Gather information and complete your sections. Compile annual income/expenses, family wealth/assets, dependents and school fees, financial support sources, cost-estimator results, extracurriculars, awards — and write the four essays (~150–250 words each). This is very in-depth — give yourself time.

Step 6 — By November 15: Submit your completed application. Submit well in advance in case of technical difficulties.

Step 7 — By January 31: Submit required documents. Follow the "Your UBC Application – Next Steps" email — but note: as an ISP applicant your document deadline is January 31, not the date in that email. Transcripts not available by then? Submit as soon as available. English results must also reach UBC by January 31 — the ISP application cannot proceed if admission documents are missing.

Step 8 — January–March: Video interview. If invited, you have one week to record responses — a chance to share who you are beyond the written application.

Step 9 — Check your email for updates. Check spam filters and mark UBC addresses as safe; updates arrive from multiple platforms. If you plan to apply for UBC Housing, wait until award decisions are released before applying — housing deadline is May 1.