The UBC International Scholars Program 2027 offers eligible international students an opportunity to pursue their first undergraduate degree at the University of British Columbia (UBC) with substantial financial support. However, the programme is not suitable for every student seeking a scholarship in Canada. Applicants must demonstrate outstanding academic achievement, leadership, meaningful community contributions and significant financial need.
For students planning to begin their studies in September 2027, the main deadline is November 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST). Both the UBC undergraduate admission application and the separate International Scholars award application must be submitted by this date.
This guide explains the eligibility requirements, available awards, nomination process, application steps and key dates for the 2027 intake.
UBC International Scholars Program 2027: Key Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Host institution | University of British Columbia |
| Country | Canada |
| Study level | Undergraduate |
| Intended intake | September 2027 |
| Eligible applicants | International students who meet the programme criteria |
| Award categories | Four |
| Main application deadline | November 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST |
| Admission documents and English-language deadline | January 31, 2027 |
| Expected award announcement | April 2027 |
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must meet the programme’s educational, academic, leadership and financial requirements. Strong grades alone are not sufficient.
Educational background
You must:
- Be an international student who will study in Canada on a Canadian study permit.
- Enter UBC directly from an accredited secondary school.
- Apply for your first undergraduate degree.
- Have graduated from high school no earlier than June 2026 for the September 2027 intake.
The direct-entry requirement is important. Students who have already started a university degree should not assume they qualify, even if they have excellent grades. Applicants who graduated from secondary school before the permitted date may also be ineligible.
Academic achievement
UBC expects superior academic achievement, typically described as all As or an equivalent standard. Applicants must also meet the general admission requirements and the specific requirements for their intended degree.
Grading systems differ between countries, so check how UBC assesses your qualification rather than relying on an informal percentage-to-GPA conversion. Meeting the scholarship’s academic standard does not automatically guarantee admission to your chosen programme.
Leadership and community involvement
Applicants must demonstrate leadership, meaningful contributions to their communities and a commitment to positive change.
Leadership does not necessarily require being a school prefect, club president or organisation founder. It can include organising a community initiative, mentoring younger students, coordinating volunteers or taking responsibility for solving a problem.
What matters is showing what you personally contributed, whom your actions helped and what changed as a result.
Significant financial need
Applicants must demonstrate that they would be unable to pursue a UBC degree without meaningful financial assistance.
UBC assesses financial circumstances, including family income, expenses, assets and the resources available to support the student’s education. You should therefore be prepared to provide accurate financial information and any supporting documents requested.
Financial need alone does not guarantee selection. Applicants must satisfy the other eligibility requirements as well.
Which degree programmes are excluded?
UBC lists several degrees as ineligible for International Scholars Program awards:
- Bachelor of Nursing at the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses.
- Bachelor of Dental Science in Dental Hygiene.
- Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science.
- Bachelor and Master of Management degrees.
- Dual degrees.
- Joint degrees between UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan.
- Joint degrees with other post-secondary institutions.
Check the current programme rules before choosing your degree. An ineligible programme could prevent you from receiving an award even if you meet the other criteria.
What Does the Programme Cover?
UBC offers four awards through the International Scholars Program. Applicants do not simply select their preferred award; the university considers them for the awards for which they qualify.
Karen McKellin International Leader of Tomorrow Award
This award recognises exceptional international undergraduate applicants with outstanding academic achievement and exemplary leadership. UBC particularly values leadership that supports and empowers others through collaboration, empathy and active listening.
Donald A. Wehrung International Student Award
This award is intended for outstanding international students from impoverished or war-torn areas who have achieved academic excellence despite challenging circumstances. Applicants must demonstrate leadership potential and a commitment to contributing positively to their communities.
International Impact Award
This award recognises exceptional students who demonstrate leadership and a commitment to addressing important social or environmental challenges. Relevant areas include sustainability, climate change, conservation, social justice, equity and inclusion, and societal health and wellness. UBC gives priority to first-generation learners and applicants from diverse lived backgrounds.
Vantage One Excellence Award
Offered through UBC Vantage College, this award supports academically outstanding international students who do not yet meet UBC’s English Language Admission Standard for direct admission.
The award can cover up to the full cost of the academic programme and living expenses. Applicants must also demonstrate leadership, meaningful involvement in student affairs or community service, and achievement in academic or extracurricular activities.
Is the UBC International Scholars Program fully funded?
The Vantage One Excellence Award can cover the full cost of the academic programme and living expenses. However, applicants should not assume that all four awards provide identical coverage or that every successful applicant will automatically receive a full-cost package.
UBC assesses financial need and determines award eligibility individually. Review your actual funding offer carefully to establish whether you would have any remaining expenses.
Can Nigerian and Other African Students Apply?
Yes. Nigerian students and applicants from other African countries can apply if they meet the programme’s eligibility requirements. The programme is not restricted to applicants from a particular African country, and nationality alone neither establishes nor disqualifies eligibility.
Applicants from Nigeria should pay particular attention to two areas: academic qualification and financial documentation.
First, confirm that your secondary-school qualification meets the admission requirements for your intended UBC degree. Second, organise accurate information about your family’s financial circumstances. Depending on UBC’s instructions, this may include income, household expenses, assets, dependants, school fees and available financial support.
Being from a lower-income country does not automatically establish financial need. Your application must accurately demonstrate your individual circumstances using the information requested by UBC.
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How to Apply for the UBC International Scholars Program 2027
The application requires coordination between your admission application, scholarship application, referees and financial information. Starting early gives you time to resolve problems before the deadline.
Choose your degree and campus
Decide whether your first-choice degree is at UBC Vancouver or UBC Okanagan. Confirm that the programme is eligible for the award and review its admission requirements. You should also select a second-choice programme as part of your admission planning.
Arrange your nomination and teacher reference
You need a nominator and a separate teacher referee. These must be two different people.
Your nominator may be a guidance counsellor, principal, school administrator or another eligible person under UBC’s rules. Your teacher referee should know your work well enough to comment meaningfully on your academic interests and abilities.
UBC limits nominations to two students for UBC Vancouver, including Vantage College, and one for UBC Okanagan per eligible high school or nominating organisation. Speak to your school early to confirm whether it can nominate you.
Submit both applications
Complete the UBC undergraduate admission application first. You must complete it before starting the International Scholars award application.
The award application requires you to invite your nominator and teacher referee to submit their forms. You cannot complete your award application until both forms have been submitted, so follow up with your referees well before the deadline.
Both applications must be submitted by November 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST. Leave enough time to complete your personal profile, choose your programme, pay any applicable application fee and address technical problems.
Prepare your financial information
The financial assessment is a substantial part of the application. UBC may request information about family income, expenses, assets, dependants, school fees and sources of financial support.
Organise the relevant records before completing the application. Depending on your circumstances, this may involve income information, household expenses, family assets, educational expenses for dependants and explanations of unusual financial circumstances.
This is a preparation guide, not a claim that every item is mandatory for every applicant. Follow the exact document requests in UBC’s application.
Keep your figures and explanations accurate and consistent. Do not exaggerate hardship or omit relevant information.
Write the essays
The application includes four essay questions, with responses of approximately 150–250 words each.
Answer each question directly and use specific examples rather than general statements about being hardworking or passionate. When describing a community project, explain the problem you identified, the action you took, your personal contribution and the result.
If you worked with a team, distinguish your own responsibilities from the group’s achievements. A credible account of a modest but meaningful contribution is more useful than an unsupported claim of extraordinary success.
Complete the admission requirements
The deadline for required admission documents and meeting UBC’s English Language Admission Standard is January 31, 2027.
UBC instructs International Scholars applicants to follow this deadline even if a different date appears in their general admission email. If you need an English-language test, arrange it early enough for UBC to receive the official results on time. If you believe you qualify for an exemption, confirm this directly with the university.
Prepare for an interview and monitor your application
Some applicants may be invited to complete a video interview between January and March 2027. UBC states that invited applicants will have one week to record their responses through the online application platform.
Review your application and be prepared to discuss your education, leadership, community involvement and future goals. Monitor your email and application account for updates. Admission to UBC and receiving an International Scholars award are separate outcomes.
How to Strengthen Your Application
The strongest preparation focuses on evidence that directly addresses the programme’s criteria.
Document your leadership. List your significant academic, extracurricular and community experiences. For each one, record the problem you addressed, your role, the action you took and the outcome. This will help you choose concrete examples for your essays.
Explain financial need clearly. Organise your financial information before drafting your explanations. Distinguish income from assets, account for available family resources and explain unusual expenses factually. Provide supporting information when requested.
Choose referees who know your work. A referee who can describe your abilities and contributions with specific examples may be more useful than someone with an impressive title who knows little about you. Give both referees enough time to prepare their submissions.
Use the essays to add context. Your academic records already show your grades. Use your written responses to explain your decisions, motivations, contributions and commitment to positive change rather than repeating your CV.
Important Dates
| Milestone | Date or period |
|---|---|
| Applications opened | October 5, 2026 |
| Admission and award applications due | November 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST |
| Admission documents and English-language standard | January 31, 2027 |
| Possible video interviews | January–March 2027 |
| Expected award announcement | April 2027 |
These dates reflect the published schedule for the September 2027 intake. Check UBC’s official instructions for any updates before submitting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can master’s and PhD students apply?
No. The International Scholars Program is intended for eligible international students entering their first undergraduate degree at UBC.
Can I apply without IELTS?
IELTS is not the only possible way to satisfy UBC’s English-language requirements. Applicants must meet the applicable English Language Admission Standard through an accepted route or qualifying exemption. Vantage One is intended for academically strong international students who do not yet meet the English-language standard for direct admission. Check UBC’s current rules for your circumstances.
Can I apply for other UBC entrance scholarships at the same time?
UBC states that applicants to the International Scholars Program will not be considered for its merit-based awards. Review the available funding options before deciding which programme best suits your circumstances.
When will the results be announced?
UBC lists April 2027 as the expected announcement period for International Scholars Program awards.
Final Advice for Applicants
The UBC International Scholars Program is an opportunity for students who combine academic excellence with leadership, community involvement and significant financial need. However, meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee an award.
Before applying, assess your eligibility honestly, confirm that your intended degree qualifies, and speak to your school about the nomination process as early as possible. Give yourself enough time to organise your financial information, prepare specific and truthful essay responses, and ensure your referees submit their forms before the deadline.
Do not wait until November 15, 2026, to begin preparing. Your admission application and scholarship application must both be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on that date. You must also meet the January 31, 2027, deadline for the required admission documents and English-language standard.
For the latest eligibility rules, award details and application instructions, consult UBC’s official resources:
Prepare carefully, present your circumstances honestly and follow the university’s instructions throughout the process.
