The University of British Columbia: University Insights
- The Headmaster Counsulting
- Jan 4, 2023
- 3 min read
About the University
The University of British Columbia is a public institution in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The university was established in 1908 and opened in 1915. It has two main campuses – the Vancouver campus and the Okanagan campus located in Kelowna. It is a global center for teaching, learning, and research, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world.
UBC embraces innovation and transforms ideas into action. Since 1915, UBC has been opening doors of opportunity for people with the curiosity, drive, and vision to shape a better world.
Overview
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Type: Public Research University
Founded: 1908
Tuition: 38,946.2 CAD
Fun Facts
Canada’s largest blue whale skeleton
The Beaty Biodiversity Museum houses Canada's most giant blue whale skeleton. It's one of the few places in the world where you can get close to the enormous creature that has ever lived on Earth.
Largest particle accelerator cyclotron in the world
UBC's Vancouver campus is home to several apple trees that are direct descendants of those that inspired Newton to compose his theory of gravity in 1661. The trees are planted near UBC's TRIUMF lab, which houses the largest particle accelerator cyclotron in the world.
Energy from groundwater
The buildings on UBC's Okanagan campus are heated and cooled using energy from the groundwater under the campus. At UBC Vancouver, the pools in the Aquatic Centre are replenished from rainwater that lands on the roof.
Superman’s Kryptonian Language
The Kryptonian language in the Superman movie Man of Steel was developed by Christine Schreyer, an associate professor of anthropology on UBC's Okanagan campus.
9th most popular filmmaking location
UBC's Vancouver campus is the ninth most popular filming location on Earth. It's served as the setting for many films and TV shows, including The Butterfly Effect, Smallville, three X-Men movies, The X-Files, Legion, Supernatural, 50 Shades of Grey, and more.
Academics
Graduation Rate: 76%
Retention Rate: 88%
Students-to-Faculty Ratio: 56:1
Admissions
Average TOEFL | 100 (iBT) |
Average IELTS | 7.0 |
College Board Code | 0965 |
Application Deadline | January |
Application Requirements
Academic Transcripts
English Language Proficiency Test Scores
Academic CV/ Resume
Statement of Purpose
Letters of Recommendation
Rankings
The University of British Columbia is one of the top public universities in Vancouver, Canada. It is ranked #47 in QS World University Rankings 2023 and #35 in Best Global Universities by US News.
Majors Available
A
Accounting
Administration of Special Education
Adult and Continuing Education Administration
Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching
Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science and Technology, General
Agricultural Economics
Agriculture, General
Agronomy and Crop Science
American Indian/Native American Languages, Literature, and Linguistics
American Literature (Canadian)
Anatomy
Ancient Studies/Civilization
Animal Physiology
Animal Sciences, General
Anthropology
Applied Mathematics
Aquaculture
Archeology
Architecture
Archives/Archival Administration
Art History, Criticism, and Conservation
Art Teacher Education
Art/Art Studies, General
Artificial Intelligence
Asian Studies/Civilization
Astronomy
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, General
Audiology/Audiologist
Audiology/Audiologist and Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist
B
Biochemistry
Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering
Biological and Physical Sciences
Biology Teacher Education
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
Biology/Biotechnology Technology/Technician
Biophysics
Biotechnology
Business Administration and Management, General
Business and Innovation/Entrepreneurship Teacher Education
Business/Commerce, General
Business/Managerial Economics
C
Canadian Government and Politics
Canadian Studies
Cell/Cellular Biology and Histology
Chemical Engineering
Chemistry Teacher Education
Chemistry, General
Chinese Language and Literature
Cinematography and Film/Video Production
Civil Engineering, General
Classical, Ancient Mediterranean, and Near Eastern Studies and Archaeology
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General
Clinical Psychology
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Assistant
Cognitive Science, General
College Student Counseling and Personnel Services
Communication Sciences and Disorders, General
Communication, General
Community Health Services/Liaison/Counseling
Community Health and Preventive Medicine
Comparative Literature
Computer Engineering, General
Computer Science
Computer Software Engineering
Computer and Information Sciences, General
Conducting
Conservation Biology
Counseling Psychology
Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
Creative Writing
D
Dental Hygiene/Hygienist
Drama and Dramatics/Theater Arts, General
E
Early Childhood Education and Teaching
East Asian Studies
Ecology
Economics, General
Education, General
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Specific Learning Disabilities
Educational Psychology
Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Elementary Education and Teaching
Elementary and Middle School Administration/Principalship
Engineering Mechanics
Engineering Physics/Applied Physics
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General
Engineering, General
English Language and Literature, General
English Literature (British and Commonwealth)
English/Language Arts Teacher Education
Environmental Biology
Environmental Design/Architecture
Environmental Science
Environmental Studies
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
Environmental/Natural Resource Economics
Epidemiology
Ethnic Studies
European Studies/Civilization
Evolutionary Biology
Exercise Science and Kinesiology
F
Family and Community Services
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General
Film/Cinema/Media Studies
Finance, General
Food Science
Food Technology and Processing
Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies, General
Foreign Language Teacher Education
Foreign Languages and Literatures, General
Forest Engineering
Forest Management/Forest Resources Management
Forest Sciences and Biology
Forest resources production and management
Forestry, General
French Language Teacher Education
French Language and Literature
G
Genetics, General
Geography
Geography Teacher Education
Geological/Geophysical Engineering
Geology/Earth Science, General
Geophysics and Seismology
German Language Teacher Education
German Language and Literature
German Studies
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General
H
Health Teacher Education
Health and Wellness, General
Health/Health Care Administration/Management
Higher Education/Higher Education Administration
Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American/Chicano Studies
History Teacher Education
History, General
Horticultural Science
Human Nutrition
Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General
Human Services, General
I
Indian/Native American Education
International Business/Trade/Commerce
International Finance
International Marketing
International Relations and Affairs
Investments and Securities
Italian Language and Literature
Italian Studies
J
Japanese Language and Literature
Journalism
Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching
K
Keyboard Instruments
Korean Language and Literature
L
Labor and Industrial Relations
Latin American Studies
Latin Language and Literature
Latin Teacher Education
Legal Studies
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
Library and Information Science
Linguistics
M
Management Information Systems, General
Management Science
Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography
Marketing/Marketing Management, General
Materials Engineering
Materials Science
Mathematics Teacher Education
Mathematics and Statistics
Mathematics, General
Mechanical Engineering
Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology
Medieval and Renaissance Studies
Metallurgical Engineering
Mining and Mineral Engineering
Molecular Biochemistry
Molecular Biology
Molecular Genetics
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General
Music History, Literature, and Theory
Music Performance, General
Music Teacher Education
Music Theory and Composition
Music, General
Musicology and Ethnomusicology
N
Natural Resources/Conservation, General
Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
Neuroscience
Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery
Nutrition Sciences
O
Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene
Oceanography, Chemical, and Physical
Operations Management and Supervision
Operations Research
Organizational Behavior Studies
P
Pathology/Experimental Pathology
Pharmacology and Toxicology
Philosophy
Philosophy and Religious Studies, General
Physical Education Teaching and Coaching
Physical Sciences, General
Physical Therapy/Therapist
Physics Teacher Education
Physics, General
Physiology, General
Planetary Astronomy and Science
Plant Sciences, General
Political Science and Government, General
Portuguese Language and Literature
Pre-Veterinary Studies
Psychology, General
R
Reading Teacher Education
Real Estate
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
Religion/Religious Studies
Reproductive Biology
Romance Languages, Literature, and Linguistics, General
Russian Studies
Russian, Central European, East European, and Eurasian Studies
S
Scandinavian Studies
Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education
Secondary Education and Teaching
Secondary School Administration/Principalship
Slavic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General
Slavic Studies
Social Sciences, General
Social Studies Teacher Education
Social Work
Sociology
Soil Science and Agronomy, General
South Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General
South Asian Studies
Southeast Asian Studies
Spanish Language Teacher Education
Spanish Language and Literature
Special Education and Teaching, General
Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist
Sport and Fitness Administration/Management
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General
Statistics, General
Stringed Instruments
T
Teacher Education, Multiple Levels
Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor
Teaching French as a Second or Foreign Language
Technical Theater/Theater Design and Technology
Technology Teacher Education/Industrial Arts Teacher Education
Theatre/Theatre Arts Management
Theoretical and Mathematical Physics
Transportation and Materials Moving
Transportation/Mobility Management
U
Urdu Language and Literature
V
Visual and Performing Arts, General
Voice and Opera
W
Western European Studies
Women's Studies
Wood Science and Wood Products/Pulp and Paper Technology/Technician
Z
Zoology/Animal Biology
The Headmaster Student Experience
“My experience at the University of British Columbia has been amazing. The campus is beautiful and student life is fun with excellent academics, hundreds of clubs, and extracurriculars to explore! The professors and the student community are extremely helpful and friendly.”
- The Headmaster Student
Famous Alumni
Amartya Sen: Indian economist awarded the 1998 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences
Henry McKinnell: CEO and chairman of the board, Pfizer
Justin Trudeau: Prime Minister of Canada
Ashleigh Banfield: CNN journalist
Lester B. Pearson: 14th Prime Minister of Canada and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize
Kevin Reynolds: Figure skater; 2013 Four Continents champion and 2014 Winter Olympics team silver medalist
Carl E. Wieman: Nobel laureate (Physics, 2001); professor of physics (2007–2013)
Margaret Atwood, novelist, poet, and literary critic
Martin Glynn: President and CEO, HSBC Canada
Dominic Barton: Global managing director of McKinsey & Co.
Sources
"The University of British Columbia." The University of British Columbia. Web. 3 Nov. 2022.
"University of British Columbia." Top Universities. Web. 3 Nov. 2022.
Crissy Campbell on August 8, 2022. "10 Things You Never Knew about UBC - UBC: Undergraduate Programs and Admissions." UBC. 23 Aug. 2022. Web. 11 Nov. 2022
If you’re looking to apply to international universities or exploring overseas higher education options, The Headmaster
Consulting can help you narrow your selection and provide you with insights about universities. For more information about universities, you can check out our University Insights. If you’re unsure of your profile, book a free consulting session with one of our consultants to help you build a standout profile.
Comments