Located in Kelowna, Canada, University of British Columbia Okanagan is a satellite campus of the University of British Columbia that offers admissions to over 60 undergraduate and around 20 graduate courses for international students at the ranging levels of the degree to certificates.
Established in 2005 after almost a century from the founding date of the main university, the institute came into being for meeting the expanding needs of modern education and is one of the coveted institutes among higher education institutes of Canada. Every year, the organization opens admissions for the three seasonal intakes of January, May, and September and welcomes some of the brilliant minds from nearly 102 countries across the globe.
The University of British Columbia Okanagan reviews more than 40,000 applications every year and observes a moderate acceptance rate by only offering enrollment to candidates with spectacular GPA and decent overall profile. The university processes entries received on the basis of several parameters like academic grades, consistency in the track record, extracurricular, personal profile, among others, and releases admission decisions for the same from December to April.
The institute believes in giving equal opportunity to all its aspirants and thus, does not observe any first-come-first-served criteria. Being a part of a university that consistently ranks among the top 40 universities in the world, the organization provides its students with all the perks of an honorable university and guarantees them some of the high-paying jobs in Canada.
Highlights
| Application Fee | 119 CAD for undergraduate admissions |
| English language proficiency accepted tests | TOEFL/ IELTS or equivalent |
| TOEFL (iBT) minimum score | 90 |
| Application Season | January, May, and September |
| Number of International Students | 1,790+ |
| GMAT/GRE | Mandatory for some courses |
| Deadline for undergraduate courses | January 15, 2024 for all intakes |
| Financial Aid for International Students | Available as Scholarships, bursaries and awards |
| Work-study | Available on campus |
| Students’ Helpline | 1-866-596-0767 |
Application Deadlines
The application deadlines for admission into various undergraduate and graduate courses for international students available at the institute varies for different programs and have been compiled as follows:
Undergraduate Courses
Last date to apply for both the winter (September 2022 to April 2023) and summer (May to August 2023) intake is January 15.
Graduate Courses
The general deadlines for January, May, and September intakes for various graduate programs are as mentioned below.
| Intake Season | Deadline |
|---|---|
| January | June 1 |
| May | October 1 |
| September | January 31 |
However, admission intakes and deadlines for many graduate courses vary. One such program-specific deadline is as tabulated below.
Computer Science
| Intake Season | Application Deadline |
|---|---|
| September | January 10 |
| January | June 1 |
International Admissions
Admission Portal: Apply online at the official website.
Application Fee: 119 CAD.
Basic Academic Requirement: Higher Secondary School Certificate.
Additional Requirements:
- Candidates must have a minimum of 75% on their English subject from any recognized education board.
- Official Higher Secondary School transcripts and Certificates.
- Some degree-specific requirements must also be met for a few popular programs which are as follows:
- Management: Math
- Science: Math, Chemistry, and Physics
- Applied Science (Engineering): Math, Chemistry, and Physics
- Personal Profile
Admission Process
Application process for international aspirants looking to study in Canada by enrolling at the institute is mentioned on a step-by-step basis as follows:
- Choose up to programs and specify them as your first and second preferences accordingly.
- Check their corresponding requirements and availability and apply online at the official website.
- Provide the essential documents like a transcript, grades, test scores, among others and ensure to submit them no later than March 15, 2023.
- International students must also fulfill certain English language requirements and must submit the results of the test scores prior to February 15, 2023.
- Personal Profile is yet another important parameter of application process through which students have the chance to talk let the university know about their achievements and experiences.
- Submit the completed applications along with a nonrefundable application fee and wait for an offer of a place.
- Keep a close track of your application status and accept the offer letter, if received.
- Deposit a required amount of tuition fee and confirm your seat with the institute at the earliest possible opportunity.
Country-Specific Requirements
The university does demand that its international aspirants fulfill certain country-specific requirements which are as tabulated below.
| Name of Country | Specification |
|---|---|
| India | Higher Secondary School Certificate awarded on completion of Standard XII |
| Bangladesh | Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC)/Intermediate Certificate (IC). |
| Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka General Certificate of Education Ordinary and Advanced Levels. |
| Singapore | Cambridge General Certificate of Education (Ordinary Level) and Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education (Advanced Level) |
| Philippines | High School Diploma. Candidates must be graduated from an academic track of the revised K-12 education system or have a 1 year post-secondary studies from a recognized university |
| Malaysia | STPM – Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (Malaysian Higher School Certificate Examination) |
| Japan | Kotogakko Sotsugyo Shomeisho (Upper Secondary School Leaving Certificate) |
English Proficiency Requirements
With English as the primary medium of instruction at the university, the institute requires that its international aspirants who do not have English as their first language should meet certain language proficiency requirements. The acceptable tests considered as valid proof of the language communication skills with their individual scores are as compiled below.
| Name of Test | Minimum score |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.5, with no part less than 6.0 |
| TOEFL | Overall: 90, with individual parts having Reading: 22; Listening: 22; Writing: 21; Speaking: 21 |
| CAEL | Overall 70 |
| Cambridge English Qualifications | 180 |
| CEL | 600 |
| PTE | Overall: 65; Reading: 60, Listening: 60, Writing: 60, Speaking: 60 |
Visa Application Process
To enrol in a Canadian university for longer than 6 months, an international candidate needs to possess a study permit and visa to study in Canada. The entire process can be time-consuming and may last up to 4 to 8 weeks. Thus, students are advised to apply for their permits at the nearest Canadian Embassy as early as possible.
Canadian Government also offers its international aspirants an alternative way of procuring their visas using the Student Direct Stream (SDS) method. If you're a legal resident of coming from countries including China, India, Morocco, Pakistan, the Philippines, Senegal, or Vietnam and meet the below-mentioned qualifications, then you are eligible to apply via SDS and can obtain your permits faster.
- Copy of acceptance letter.
- Proof of first-year paid tuition fee.
- Proof of Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) for 10,000 CAD.
- Medical exam.
- Qualifying language test score
Graduate Admissions
Admission Portal: Apply online at the official website.
Application Fee: 106 CAD for domestic students and 168 CAD for international applicants.
Basic Academic Requirement: A four-year Bachelor’s Master’s degree with a minimum of 65%.
International aspirants applying to graduate-level admissions must fulfill some program-specific requirements which are tabulated as follows:
| Requirements | Masters (MEng) in Mechanical Engineering | Masters (MS) in Computer Science | Master of Management | Masters in Nursing | Masters in Psychology |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transcripts | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
| Academic Qualification | Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field | Bachelor’s in Comp Sci or related field | Bachelor’s degree in relevant field | Bachelor's degree in Nursing or equivalent | BA or BSc in related field |
| GPA | B+ (76-79%) | A- (80%) | - | B+ (76%) in 3rd & 4th level with A- (70%) in 12 credits | B+ (76%) in 3rd & 4th level with A- (70%) in 12 credits |
| GMAT/GRE | Not Required | Required | Not Required | Not Required | Not Required |
| English language proficiency | IELTS-6.5/ TOEFL iBT- 92 or equivalent | IELTS-6.5/ TOEFL iBT- 90 or equivalent | IELTS-6.5/ TOEFL iBT- 100 or equivalent | IELTS-6.5 to 7 or equivalent | IELTS-7.0/ TOEFL iBT- 100 or equivalent |
| SOI/Essay | Required | Not Required | Not Required | Required | Required |
| LORs/References | Required (3) | Required (3) | Required (3) | Required (3) | Required (3) |
| Resume/CV | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
| Work Experience | Not Required | Not Required | 3 to 5 years | Not Required | Not Required |
| Additional Requirements | - | - | Interview | Supervisor (for research-based courses) | Criminal Record Check |
Graduate candidates must note that all the documents to be submitted during any step of the admission process must be sent directly to by being provided to Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, The University of British Columbia, 170 - 6371 Crescent Rd
Vancouver, BC CANADA V6T 1Z2.
Applicants applying to research-based programs will require to go through the list of faculty members and search for a supervisor that will be a perfect fit for them. If you find their field of work engaging and think they might be interested in assisting you, then you must approach them with your project proposal and statement of interest.
Since personal profile forms a very essential part of the admission process, international aspirants must take sufficient time and try creating a brilliant and unique piece of writing which reflects on their overall personality and can stand out amongst the heavy competition. Instead of just stating your achievements, ensure to focus on what you learned from that particular experience and what greater good can your experience bring to the table. The essay should not look scripted, superficial or fake and should be detailed with your voice and opinion on different subjects being crystal clear.