UBC welcomes 7,400 new first-year students

The University of British Columbia is preparing to welcome 7,400 new first-year undergraduate students to its campuses in Vancouver and Kelowna.

In 2009, UBC will sustain its commitment to B.C. students, maintain levels of students from the rest of Canada, and see an increase in international students.

“We have a terrific story to tell for our province this year,” says UBC registrar James Ridge. “Not only are we providing B.C. students with a top-quality university education, we continue to attract the best and brightest from across Canada and around the world, thanks to our standing as one of the 35 most highly ranked universities in the world.”

At UBC’s Vancouver campus, incoming first-year students number 5,931. The campus will also welcome 1,569 upper-year transfer students, and the total undergraduate student enrolment is currently 36,771. The total graduate student enrolment is currently 9,350, a growth of four per cent.

At UBC’s Kelowna campus, the incoming first-year students number 1,502, 14 per cent more than same time last year. The campus will welcome 408 upper-year transfer students, and the total undergraduate student enrolment is 5,609, a growth of 11 per cent. The total graduate student enrolment is currently 406, a growth of 39 per cent.

“We are particularly encouraged to see strong growth in enrolment at both the undergraduate and graduate levels at UBC Okanagan,” said Ridge. “More students from B.C., Canada and around the world are responding to the chance to earn a UBC degree in this dynamic learning community.”

International students have increased at both campuses. The number of first-year international students on the Vancouver campus has grown by 22 per cent to more than 975. Similar increases have been experienced in Kelowna with more than 115 students for the winter session. These students come from 140 countries, with the top countries of origin being the U.S. and China.

Enrolment Contacts:

James Ridge, Associate Vice-President and Registrar, 604 822-3265
Andrew Arida, Associate Director, Enrolment, 604.822.2890

International Enrolment

Karen McKellin, Director, International Student Initiative, 604.822.1418

Housing

Andrew Parr, Managing Director, Student Housing and Hospitality Services, 604 822-6274

BACKGROUNDER

As of August 26, 2009, total enrolment for both campuses is 52,136.

2009 Vancouver Campus Facts
(As of August 26, 2009)

Undergraduate: 36,771 (35,373 as of Aug 26, 2008)
Graduate: 9,350 (8,982 as of Aug 26, 2008)
Total: 46,121 (44,355 as of Aug 26, 2008)
(includes 6,747 international students)

Vancouver 2009 first-year class by secondary school location

  2009 2008
From Lower Mainland 3,548 3,261
From Rest of BC 481 583
From Rest of Canada 687 676
From Rest of the world 1,215 965
% male 48% 46%
% female 52% 54%
Mean entrance average from secondary school 89% 87%

Vancouver 2009 admissions requirements

  Sept 2009 Sept 2008
Arts 84% 82%
Sauder School of Business 84% + personal profile
Engineering 83% 81%
Forestry 75%-78% 75%-78%
Human Kinetics 88% 87%
Land and Food Systems 83% 78%-80%
Science 88% or 84% + personal profile 87% or 84% + personal profile
     

2009 Okanagan Campus Facts

Undergraduate: 5,609 (5,032 as of Aug 26, 2008)
Graduate: 406 (293 as of Aug 26, 2008)
Total: 6,015 (5,325 as of Aug 26, 2008)
(includes 337 international students)

Okanagan 2009 first-year class by secondary school location

  2009 2008
From Okanagan 532 465
From Lower Mainland 286 246
From Rest of BC 214 212
From Rest of Canada 314 212
From Rest of the world 156 123
% male 45% 44%
% female 55% 56%
Mean entrance average from secondary school 82% 80%

Okanagan 2009 admissions requirement

  Sept 2009 Sept 2008
Arts Guaranteed admission at 75%
Engineering Guaranteed admission at 75%
Fine Arts 67% and portifolio
Human Kinetics Guaranteed admission at 75%
Management Guaranteed admission at 75%
Nursing 81% 79%
Science Guaranteed admission at 75%

Tuition

  • First-year Arts students will pay a base tuition of $4,430 at both UBC Vancouver and Okanagan campuses
  • Tuition for international undergraduate students covers the full cost of their education; an international first-year Arts student will pay a base tuition of $20,300 at both campuses
  • The base level tuition for research master’s and doctoral programs is $4,098

Awards and Financial Aid

UBC will provide approximately $62 million dollars in Vancouver and $4.3 million dollars at UBC Okanagan in student financial support in the form of awards, bursaries, scholarships and fellowships.

Housing

  • 7,519 student housing spaces and 516 student family housing spaces at UBC’s Vancouver campus.
  • 1,374 student housing spaces at UBC Okanagan campus.
  • First-year students at UBC Vancouver pay full semester residence fees of $3,429 for a shared room or $3,976 for a single room in a traditional-style residence, and can choose meal plans from $3,200 to $4,101.
  • First-year students at UBC Okanagan pay full semester residence fees of $3,614 for a single room in a traditional-style residence, or $4,215 for a single room in a modified-traditional style residence, and $2,490 for the minimum convenient meal plan.

Contact

Randy Schmidt
UBC Public Affairs
Tel: 604.822.1266
Cell:604.828.0787
E-mail: randy.schmidt@ubc.ca

Bonnie Bates Gibbs
UBC Okanagan Public Affairs
Tel: 250.807.9166
Cell: 250.317.4498
E-mail: bonnie.bates-gibbs@ubc.ca