Canada UBC International Scholars Program 2027
UBC lets you be considered for its merit-based awards or for the International Scholars Program, but not both. That choice comes before everything else, because the Scholars Program is built around proof of financial need, not only grades. For September 2027 entry, applications opened on October 5, 2026, and the award application closes on November 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM Pacific time.
The Canada UBC International Scholars Program 2027 is open to international students who will study in Canada on a study permit, apply straight from secondary school, and are starting a first undergraduate degree. UBC names no countries, so Pakistani students are eligible on the same terms, and the page describes no Pakistan-specific route. One catch is easy to miss: your school must nominate you, and schools can only nominate a limited number of students. As of October 10, 2026, the application is open.
Canada UBC International Scholars at a Glance
| University | University of British Columbia, Vancouver and Okanagan campuses |
| Level | First undergraduate degree, entering directly from secondary school |
| Entry | September 2027 (2027 Winter session) |
| Awards | Four categories, one application |
| Value | UBC’s page gives no amounts. Only the Vantage One Excellence Award is described: up to the full cost of a student’s academic program and living expenses |
| Application opened | October 5, 2026, 9:00 AM PDT |
| Award application due | November 15, 2026, 11:59 PM Pacific time |
| Documents and English test results | January 31, 2027 |
| Video interview | January to March 2027, if invited. You get one week to complete it |
| Results | Rolling from February to April 2027. You hear by early to mid-April |
| Track record | More than 680 Scholars since 2001, from more than 111 countries |
| Support | Dedicated advisors, workshops and retreats (200+ hours over the degree), and the option to join exchange and co-op |
| Contact | international.awards@ubc.ca |
The Four Awards Inside the Program
| Award | Who UBC says it recognizes |
|---|---|
| Karen McKellin International Leader of Tomorrow Award | Superior academic achievement and leadership shown through collaboration, empathy, and school or community service projects |
| Donald A. Wehrung International Student Award | Students from impoverished or war-torn areas who excelled academically in hard conditions and could not attend university without significant financial help |
| International Impact Award | Leadership and solutions in sustainability, climate change, natural resources, social justice, equity and inclusion, or health and wellness. Priority goes to first-generation learners and students from diverse lived backgrounds |
| Vantage One Excellence Award | Academically outstanding students who do not yet meet UBC’s English Language Admission Standard and enter through Vantage College. Value up to the full cost of the program and living expenses |
You do not choose an award. UBC says its team considers you automatically for each award you qualify for.
Who Is Eligible
UBC says you must meet every requirement, with no exceptions.
- Education: you are an international student who will study in Canada on a Canadian study permit, you enter UBC directly from an accredited secondary school, you finished high school no earlier than June 2026, and you are applying for your first undergraduate degree.
- Financial need: you can prove a significant level of need, with official documents. UBC reviews your family’s gross income, expenses and assets. Your family cannot afford a significant part of your costs and has no access to outside funding.
- Admission: you meet UBC’s general and degree-specific admission requirements and show superior academic achievement, which UBC defines as all As or the equivalent.
- English: you meet UBC’s English Language Admission Standard. If you do not, the Vantage College route and the Vantage One award may apply.
These degrees are not eligible: Bachelor of Nursing (both campuses), Bachelor of Dental Science in Dental Hygiene, Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science, the Bachelor + Master of Management, dual degrees, joint degrees between the two UBC campuses, and joint degrees with other institutions.
Applicants can be considered for either UBC’s merit-based awards or the need-based International Scholars awards. If you apply to the Scholars Program, you are not considered for merit awards. UBC suggests reading its merit and entrance award options first to decide which fits.
The school nomination is the part most likely to decide whether you can apply at all. UBC says a high school or registered non-profit may nominate up to two students for UBC Vancouver, including Vantage College, and one student for UBC Okanagan. If your school has already picked someone, you cannot be nominated through it. UBC also says you cannot finish your award application until both your nominator and your teacher referee have submitted their forms. Talk to your school before you spend weeks on essays.
Timeline and Steps
UBC advises starting early, because applications begun shortly before the deadline are less likely to succeed. As of October 10, 2026, the mid-September and late-September steps below are already behind you. If you have not spoken to your school yet, do that first.
| When | Step |
|---|---|
| Mid-September | Choose your program and campus. UBC considers you for your first-choice program, but you must still list a second choice |
| Late September | Ask your school to nominate you. You need one nominator (such as a counsellor or principal) and a different teacher referee |
| Early October | Submit your UBC admission application. It is required before you can start the award application |
| Early October | Create your award account and invite your nominator and referee to send their forms |
| Mid-October | Gather your family finance details and complete your sections of the award application |
| By November 15 | Submit the award application. Nominator and referee forms should be in a few days earlier |
| By January 31 | Send your admission documents and meet the English standard |
| January to March | Possible video interview |
| February to April | Results released on a rolling basis. You hear by early to mid-April |
UBC lists the deadline in Pacific Standard Time. As our own calculation, 11:59 PM Pacific Standard Time (UTC-8) on November 15 is about 12:59 PM on November 16 in Pakistan (UTC+5). Plan to submit well before it, and set the time zone in your application settings to Pacific Time, as UBC instructs.
UBC International Scholars application portal
What to Prepare for the Application
- Your family’s annual income and expenses, family wealth and assets, dependents and school fees, and sources of financial support.
- Details of your extracurricular activities and awards.
- Answers to four essay questions, about 150 to 250 words each.
- UBC’s cost estimator can help you work out your family contribution and financial need.
- The admission documents named in the “Your UBC Application – Next Steps” email, sent several weeks after you apply, and your English test result if one is needed.
Your document deadline is January 31, not the date shown in the “Next Steps” email. If your transcripts are not ready by then, send them as soon as they exist. English test results must reach UBC by January 31, so book the test early. UBC cannot continue your scholarship application if documents needed for admission are missing. For housing, the deadline is May 1, and UBC asks Scholars to wait for award decisions before applying for residence.
Notes for Pakistani Applicants
UBC’s page names no countries and lists no Pakistan-specific forms or documents, so the general rules apply. The financial assessment rests on official documents about your family’s income, expenses and assets. The page does not say which documents count, so ask international.awards@ubc.ca early, with your full name, instead of guessing. Check the nomination limit with your school as well, and keep the time difference in mind when you plan your submission.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. UBC says applicants may be considered for either the merit-based awards or the need-based International Scholars awards, not both.
No. UBC says you do not choose, and its team considers you automatically for the awards you qualify for.
UBC releases results on a rolling basis from February to April, and says you will know by early to mid-April.
Official Sources
- UBC: International Scholars (Undergraduate Programs and Admissions) (eligibility, steps, awards, dates)
- UBC Scholarships: 2027 International Scholars Program Application (opening date, deadline, time zone, contact)
Information in this guide was checked against the official pages above on October 10, 2026.
Scholarship requirements, deadlines, and funding details can change. Always verify current information directly with the official provider before applying.
ScholarshipOrbit is an independent guidance resource and is not affiliated with the University of British Columbia, SurveyMonkey Apply, or any organization mentioned above.
