University of British Columbia — Admissions FAQ
A top-ranked west-coast university with holistic, broad-based admissions — your personal profile is scored alongside your grades.
General Admissions
What average do I need to get into UBC?
It varies by program, but UBC uses a broad-based, holistic admission process even for programs with high grade expectations — competitive programs like Computer Science, Engineering, and Sauder Business typically look for averages in the low-to-mid 90s, but your personal profile (written responses about your activities and experiences) is scored alongside your grades, not just used as a tiebreaker.
Is a 91% enough for UBC Sauder Business?
A 91% can be competitive for Sauder depending on the specific admission cycle and how your personal profile responses compare to other applicants, since UBC's broad-based admission process weighs both academics and profile together. There isn't a single hard cutoff — check UBC's published admitted average ranges for the current cycle and don't assume grades alone determine the outcome either way.
What is the UBC personal profile and how much does it matter?
The personal profile is a set of short written responses about your activities, experiences, and goals that every UBC applicant completes as part of the application. It's a genuine, significant factor in UBC's broad-based admission model, not a formality — UBC explicitly states it considers both academic and non-academic achievement, so a strong average without a thoughtful personal profile can still result in a less competitive application.
When is the UBC application deadline?
UBC's regular application deadline for the following September intake typically falls in late January, with the personal profile due around the same time — check UBC's official admissions calendar each year, since exact dates can shift slightly and some programs may have different timelines.
What scholarships does UBC offer to incoming students?
UBC offers automatic entrance scholarships based on your admission average, typically starting around the low-90s and increasing at higher thresholds, along with a smaller, more prestigious major entrance scholarship program that requires separate nomination or application and is considerably more competitive and valuable.
How does UBC's admission process differ from a grades-first school like UofT?
UBC's broad-based admission model formally scores your personal profile alongside your grades for essentially all applicants, while UofT's process (especially at St. George) is overwhelmingly grades-based with no required essay for most programs. This means two applicants with identical averages can have meaningfully different odds at UBC depending on the strength of their personal profile.
Can I apply to UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan at the same time?
Yes — UBC has two campuses (Vancouver and Okanagan) with some overlapping and some distinct programs, and you can indicate a preference or apply to programs at both as part of your application, though admission averages and program availability can differ between the two campuses.
Science
What average do I need to get into UBC Science?
UBC Science is competitive, with admitted averages typically in the high-80s to low-90s, and because UBC uses a broad-based admission model, your personal profile responses are reviewed alongside your grades rather than grades being the sole determining factor. You apply to the Faculty of Science generally, not to a specific major, so your admitted average reflects Science as a whole rather than any one department.
How do I get into UBC Computer Science specifically?
UBC does not admit directly into Computer Science from high school — you apply to the Faculty of Science, complete first-year prerequisite courses, and then apply to specialize in Computer Science, which has become a competitive, capacity-limited process of its own given very high student demand for the major. A strong first-year average in the relevant math and CS courses is generally required to be admitted into the specialization, so a UBC offer does not by itself guarantee a spot in CS.
Do I choose my science major when I apply, or later?
You apply to the Faculty of Science broadly and declare or apply into a specific major (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Math, and others) after your first year, based on your first-year course performance. Some majors, especially Computer Science, have more applicants than available spots and use a competitive internal process, while many other Science majors have more open enrollment.
Does UBC Science have co-op?
Yes, UBC offers a co-op option across most Science majors, including Computer Science, allowing students to alternate paid work terms with academic terms. It generally functions as an optional stream you apply into rather than being built into every student's program by default.
What are career outcomes like for UBC Science graduates?
Outcomes vary widely by major — Computer Science graduates go into software and tech roles and benefit from UBC's location in Vancouver's growing tech sector, while graduates in other Science majors commonly pursue graduate school, health professions, or research and industry roles tied to their specific field. Co-op participants across majors generally graduate with additional relevant work experience.
Engineering
What average do I need to get into UBC Engineering?
UBC Engineering is competitive, with admitted averages generally in the high-80s to low-90s range depending on the specific discipline and cycle, and like other UBC programs, your personal profile is reviewed alongside your grades rather than being purely grades-determined.
Do I choose my specific engineering discipline when I apply to UBC, or later?
UBC uses a first-year common Engineering admission, after which students choose their specific discipline (Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, etc.) based on interest and, for some competitive disciplines, academic performance in first year — this differs from schools like Waterloo where you apply directly to a specific discipline from the start.
Does UBC Engineering have co-op?
Yes, UBC Engineering offers a well-established co-op option that many students use to complete multiple paid work terms alongside their degree, though participation is generally an application-based stream rather than mandatory for every student.
How does the UBC personal profile factor into Engineering admissions?
The personal profile is reviewed for Engineering applicants the same way it is university-wide, so demonstrated hands-on experience (robotics, design competitions, relevant projects) described specifically tends to strengthen an application meaningfully alongside your grades.
What are career outcomes like for UBC Engineering graduates?
UBC Engineering has a strong reputation on the west coast and nationally, with graduates going into a wide range of industries depending on discipline, and co-op participants typically graduate with substantial relevant work experience that supports their job search.
Business & Commerce
What average do I need to get into UBC Sauder Business?
Sauder is one of UBC's most competitive programs, with admitted averages typically in the low-to-mid 90s, and because it follows UBC's broad-based admission model, your personal profile is genuinely factored into the decision alongside grades, not just used as a tiebreaker.
Do I apply directly to Sauder, or is there a two-year model like at Western Ivey?
UBC Sauder generally uses a direct-entry model where you apply to the Bachelor of Commerce from high school, which is different from Western's Ivey model requiring a competitive application after first year — check Sauder's current admissions page to confirm the exact process for your applying year, since program structures can be updated.
How important is the personal profile for Sauder applicants?
Very important — Sauder is one of UBC's most selective programs, and with so many applicants clearing a high grade bar, the personal profile responses often become a significant differentiator among academically similar applicants.
Does Sauder have co-op or internship opportunities?
Yes, Sauder offers a co-op program allowing students to complete paid work terms, along with strong recruiting pipelines into finance, consulting, and corporate roles through career services and student clubs, similar to other major Canadian business programs.
What are career outcomes like for UBC Sauder graduates?
Sauder has a strong reputation, particularly for finance, consulting, and general business roles on the west coast and nationally, and its co-op program along with active student clubs and recruiting events give students substantial exposure to major employers before graduating.
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Try the CalculatorAdmissions decisions aren't fully predictable. The information on this page reflects typical patterns from past admissions cycles and publicly available data — not a guarantee of how any university will decide in a given year. Requirements, cutoffs, and priorities can change from cycle to cycle, so always confirm current details on the university's official admissions page.