The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching. An outstanding public University nestled into the scenic panorama of Canada’s west coast, UBC’s 58,284 students enjoy a top quality education at UBC with a robust international community.
Founded in 1908, UBC is the result of a long fight to establish a provincial university in British Columbia. Near the turn of the century travel to other universities in the east was still very difficult for some Canadians.
Due to limited technology, Canada’s enormous size as the 2nd largest country in the world, the harsh weather in central Canada and the unyielding terrain, many potential scholars couldn’t afford to make the trip.
As a result, the establishment of the University of British Columbia created opportunities for western Canadians to pursue higher education in a way that had not been possible in the past.
With 300,000 alumni in 120 countries and 10,181 international students from 149 countries, UBC has an international reputation for excellence. Faculty, researchers and alumni from out of UBC have won over 60 Rhodes Scholarships, 7 Nobel Prizes, and 64 Olympic medals. The institution has also educated 2 of Canada’s Prime Ministers.
In 2013/2014, 19% of students at UBC’s Vancouver Campus were International Students, an increase of 2% from the 2012/2013 school year. At the Okanagan campus, 9.6% of students are international students, up 16% from 2012/2013.
The UBC has two primary campuses. The first is the main campus in Vancouver, British Columbia., where the majority of undergraduate and graduate level programs take place.
Alternatively, students can attend the Okanagan campus in the smaller inland city of Kelowna, BC. While the Okanagan campus features a more intimate atmosphere, there are fewer academic programs available, as the campus is much smaller.