UBC International Scholars Program

Need-and-merit undergraduate awards. The amount is based on your assessed financial need, meaning the support you need to study and live at UBC after all family resources are counted. UBC does not publish a fixed figure; the Vantage One Excellence Award can cover up to the full cost of the programme and living expenses. Check current terms on you.ubc.ca.

Fields: Any field

Open to most nationalities

• International student who will study in Canada on a study permit, entering UBC directly from secondary school for a first undergraduate degree (for 2027 entry, graduated no earlier than June 2026).
• Superior academic results (all As or equivalent) and meeting UBC admission and degree-specific requirements.
• Significant financial need shown with official documents: your family cannot pay a significant part of the cost and you have no access to external funding.
• Meet the UBC English Language Admission Standard, or be eligible for UBC Vantage College if you do not.
• Nominated by your secondary school (or a qualifying non-profit); a school can nominate up to two students for UBC Vancouver and one for UBC Okanagan.
• Some degrees are excluded, including Nursing, Dental Hygiene, Medical Laboratory Science, Bachelor plus Master of Management, and dual or joint degrees.

For September 2027 entry the application opened on 5 October 2026 and closes on 15 November 2026 at 11:59 pm Pacific time. Nominator and referee forms are due a few days before. Admission documents and English results are due 31 January 2027, video interviews run January to March, and results are released February to April.

Deadlines move a little every year and some close early. Confirm the date on the official page before you plan around it.

• UBC undergraduate admission application
• Nominator form from a counsellor, principal or administrator
• Teacher referee form from a different person who knows your work
• International Scholars Program application with family income, expenses, assets and four short essays of about 150 to 250 words each
• Official documents proving financial need
• Transcripts, school certificates and English test results sent to UBC Admissions by 31 January

1. 1

   Step 1: Confirm school nomination

   In September, ask your counsellor or principal whether your school will nominate you, and choose a nominator and a separate teacher referee.
2. 2

   Step 2: Apply to UBC

   Submit your UBC undergraduate admission application first, choosing your first-choice programme and campus.
3. 3

   Step 3: Open your award account

   From early October create your award account and invite your nominator and referee so they can submit their forms before 15 November.
4. 4

   Step 4: Complete the award application

   Enter your family finances, upload proof of need, and write the four short essays before 15 November.
5. 5

   Step 5: Send admission documents and interview

   Get transcripts and English results to UBC by 31 January, and complete the video interview within one week if invited.

• Applying to the International Scholars Program means you will not be considered for UBC merit awards such as the International Major Entrance Scholarship or the Outstanding International Student Award.
• You are considered automatically for the specific awards you qualify for; you do not choose one.
• Awards are for full-time undergraduate study at UBC; check renewal conditions in your award letter, as the official page does not list them.

• The Donald A. Wehrung award is aimed at students from impoverished or conflict-affected areas who have excelled despite hardship, so explain your circumstances clearly and honestly.
• Gather family income, expense and asset documents early; the financial assessment is detailed and missing proof weakens your case.
• Do not start late: UBC warns that applications begun close to 15 November are less likely to succeed because referee forms must arrive first.
• Your nominator and referee must be two different people, so line them up before applications open in October.

Winning the award does not include the visa. Plan your application with our guide for the host country.

• Canada student visa

Checked against these official pages on 16 Oct 2026.

• UBC: International Scholars Program (opens in a new tab)
• UBC: Scholarships and awards for international students (opens in a new tab)
• UBC: 2027 International Scholars Program application (opens in a new tab)