UBC International Scholars Program Canada 2027: Need-Based Awards
The UBC International Scholars Program 2027 offers need-and-merit-based awards to international students starting a first undergraduate degree at the University of British Columbia in Canada. It is for students who show leadership, strong grades and significant financial need. The application deadline is 15 November 2026, only about two weeks from the date we checked. You need a school nominator and a teacher referee, and you must apply to UBC first. The program page does not state how many awards are given each year.
Scholarship Summary
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| University | University of British Columbia (Vancouver and Okanagan campuses) |
| Country | Canada |
| Degree level | First undergraduate degree (Bachelor’s) |
| Funding | Need-based and partially or fully funded depending on your situation. Value depends on financial need. UBC’s Vantage College page says awards in that category can reach the full cost of the program and living expenses. Health cover and permit costs are not listed. |
| Eligible nationalities | International students who will study in Canada on a study permit. No country list is given. |
| Deadlines (September 2027 intake) | 15 November 2026: International Scholars Program application. 31 January 2027: required documents and English evidence. Results: February to April 2027. |
| Language requirement | UBC’s English Language Admission Standard (for example, IELTS Academic 6.5 with no part below 6.0), or the Vantage College standard for the Vantage One award |
| Official link | https://you.ubc.ca/financial-planning/scholarships-awards-international-students/international-scholars/ |
Benefits and Funding
The UBC International Scholars Program offers four award categories. UBC automatically considers you for the ones you qualify for, so you do not choose one when you apply.
- Karen McKellin International Leader of Tomorrow Award: for students with strong academic results and leadership.
- Donald A. Wehrung International Student Award: for strong students from difficult circumstances, such as war-torn or impoverished areas.
- International Impact Award: for students who show leadership and commitment to areas such as sustainability, social justice or health.
- Vantage One Excellence Award: for outstanding students who do not yet meet UBC’s English standard and enter the Vantage One program.
The category descriptions above come from the program’s award list. Re-check them on the live page.
What is covered
- Financial support based on your need. The amount differs for each student.
- For the Vantage One Excellence Award, UBC says awards range up to the full cost of the academic program and living costs, and can be renewed for up to three additional years or until you finish your degree, whichever is sooner.
- Support services. Scholars get dedicated advisors, skill-building workshops and retreats, and the option to join exchange and co-op.
What is not covered or not stated
- The value for each category. The pages we checked give no figure except the Vantage description.
- Renewal conditions for the other three categories. Not confirmed: check the official page.
- Permit fees, flights and health insurance. They are not listed as covered.
For context, UBC lists 2026/27 international tuition of $1,717.68 per credit for Arts and $1,769.40 per credit for Science, with a first-year load of 30 credits. That is $51,530.40 for Arts and $53,082.00 for Science, in Canadian dollars. The 2027/28 figures are not published yet.
Eligibility Criteria
UBC says you must meet all requirements, with no exceptions.
Study status. You must be an international student who will study in Canada on a study permit.
Education. You must enter UBC directly from an accredited secondary school. For the 2027 Winter Session, you must have graduated from high school no earlier than June 2026. The page does not list transfer students, so we do not include them.
First degree. You must be applying for your first undergraduate degree.
Academic. You must meet UBC’s general and degree-specific admission requirements and show superior academic achievement, which UBC defines as all As or an equivalent standard.
Financial need. You must prove a significant level of financial need and submit official documents. UBC says your family should be unable to afford a significant part of your costs and should have no access to external funding.
Language. You must meet UBC’s English Language Admission Standard, unless you apply for the Vantage One Excellence Award.
Excluded degrees. Nursing (Okanagan and Vancouver), Dental Hygiene, Medical Laboratory Science, Bachelor + Master of Management, dual degrees, joint degrees between the two UBC campuses, and joint degrees with other institutions are not eligible.
One award stream only. If you apply to the program, you will not be considered for merit-based awards. Applicants can be considered for either the merit-based or the need-based stream.
Age and work experience. No age limit or work-experience rule is stated on the pages we checked.
Who should not apply. This program is not suitable if you are not an international student, are not entering from secondary school, already hold an undergraduate degree, or cannot show significant financial need.
Required Documents
- [ ] UBC undergraduate admission application, submitted before you start the award application
- [ ] Nominator form (from a counsellor, principal or administrator)
- [ ] Teacher referee form (from a different person)
- [ ] Official documents showing family income, expenses, assets and dependants
- [ ] Information on extracurricular activities and awards
- [ ] Four short essays (about 150 to 250 words each)
- [ ] Transcripts and high school certificates, by 31 January 2027, or as soon as they are available
- [ ] English language evidence, by 31 January 2027 if a test is needed
- [ ] Video interview, only if UBC invites you
UBC emails you a message titled “Your UBC Application – Next Steps” with the exact documents for your case. For program applicants, the document deadline is 31 January, not the date in that email.
How to Apply
- Choose your program and campus. UBC considers you for the awards through your first-choice program. Still pick a second choice.
- Talk to your school. You need one nominator and one teacher referee, and they must be different people. A school can nominate up to two students for UBC Vancouver (including Vantage College) and one for UBC Okanagan.
- Apply to UBC. Applications for the September 2027 intake opened on 5 October 2026. You must submit your UBC application before you can start the award application.
- Create your award account and invite your recommenders. Their forms must be done a few days before 15 November.
- Fill in your sections. You enter financial details and answer the four essay questions. UBC offers a cost estimator to help calculate family contribution and need.
- Submit by 15 November 2026. UBC suggests submitting well before the date in case of technical problems.
- Send documents by 31 January 2027. Meet the English standard by the same date.
- Complete the video interview if invited. It happens between January and March, and you get one week to record it.
- Watch your email. Results come on a rolling basis from February to April, and UBC says you will hear by early to mid April.
Tips to Strengthen Your Application
- Start with the nomination. For the UBC International Scholars Program, your school must be able to nominate you, and each school has a limit per campus. Ask your counsellor this week.
- Choose a teacher who knows your work. The referee should know you in your chosen area of study.
- Prepare financial papers first. The application asks for income, expenses, assets, dependants and school fees. Gathering official documents takes time.
- Use the cost estimator. It helps you see your family contribution and estimated need before you fill in the form.
- Write specific essays. Four short answers leave little room. Give concrete examples of leadership and community work.
- Plan for the video interview. UBC uses it to learn more about your educational and leadership experiences beyond the written form.
- Check your spam folder. UBC may email from several systems, so mark UBC addresses as safe.
- Wait for award news before applying for housing. UBC says to wait for decisions. The housing deadline is 1 May.
Language Requirement
UBC’s English Language Admission Standard can be met in several ways, including tests. Examples from UBC’s undergraduate tables:
- IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall with no part below 6.0. IELTS General, IELTS Indicator and IELTS One Skill Retake are not accepted.
- TOEFL iBT (1 to 120 scale): 90 overall, with 22 in Reading and Listening and 21 in Writing and Speaking.
- Cambridge B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency: 180.
Tests taken more than two years before the application are not considered, and scores must come from a single sitting. For the Vantage One Excellence Award, the Vantage College standard applies, for example IELTS 5.5 overall with set minimums. If you do not meet the standard for direct entry, you may be eligible for Vantage College. Check the English language competency page for all nine ways to meet the standard.
Visa, Health Cover and Work Rights
You need a Canadian study permit. UBC advises applying as soon as you accept your offer, because it can take several months. Not confirmed: whether you need a provincial attestation letter. Check Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada.html.
Work. IRCC says eligible full-time students can work up to 24 hours per week off campus while classes run, and unlimited hours during scheduled breaks. You must meet the conditions on your permit.
Health cover. UBC says international students pay a temporary iMED insurance fee that covers them until BC Medical Services Plan coverage starts, likely in November. The 2026 fee was $237. The 2027 fee is not confirmed, and the scholarship pages do not say whether it is covered.
Career and Post-Study Options
The program page mentions exchange and co-op options during your degree. After graduating, some students may be eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit of up to three years, according to IRCC. Rules and eligibility can change, and the scholarship does not promise a work permit or job.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Starting after your school has used its nomination spots.
- Submitting the award application before the nominator and referee forms are done.
- Using the same person as nominator and referee.
- Forgetting that you must apply to UBC first.
- Assuming the 1 December date applies. The program page gives 15 November.
- Sending documents by the general UBC date instead of 31 January.
- Applying for housing before award decisions.
- Applying if you are a transfer student or already hold a degree.
- Paying anyone who promises to “guarantee” an award.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the deadline?
The International Scholars Program application is due on 15 November 2026. Documents and English evidence are due on 31 January 2027.
Can I choose which award I apply for?
No. UBC automatically considers you for the awards you qualify for.
Is the scholarship fully funded?
Not always. The value depends on your financial need. For the Vantage One Excellence Award, UBC says it can be up to the full cost of the program and living expenses.
Can transfer students apply?
The current page says you must enter directly from secondary school. Transfer students are not listed.
Can I also be considered for merit awards?
No. UBC says applicants are considered for either the merit-based or the need-based stream.
Will there be an interview?
Some applicants are invited to record a video interview between January and March. You get one week to complete it.
When will I hear back?
Results are released on a rolling basis from February to April. UBC says it will tell you by early to mid April.
Do I need IELTS?
You must meet UBC’s English standard. Tests are one of several ways, and the deadline for evidence is 31 January 2027.
Scam Warning
Scholarships do not charge application or “processing” fees. The program page lists no fee for the International Scholars Program application. UBC’s undergraduate admission application has its own fee. Not confirmed: check the amount in the UBC application. Use only ubc.ca pages, and be careful with emails that ask for payment or passwords.
Final Words
The UBC International Scholars Program 2027 can give meaningful support to students with strong grades, leadership and real financial need. The timeline is tight, so confirm your school’s nomination first, then complete the UBC application, the financial sections and the essays.
Apply only through the official UBC website.
Disclaimer
We are not the scholarship provider. Please confirm all details on the official website.
Sources
All pages were checked on 31 October 2026.
- International Scholars (official page): https://you.ubc.ca/financial-planning/scholarships-awards-international-students/international-scholars/
- Scholarships and awards for international students: https://you.ubc.ca/financial-planning/scholarships-awards-international-students/
- Dates and deadlines: https://you.ubc.ca/applying-ubc/dates-deadlines/
- Vantage College scholarships and awards: https://vantagecollege.ubc.ca/scholarships-awards
- English language competency: https://you.ubc.ca/applying-ubc/requirements/english-language-competency/
- English Language Proficiency Tests (Vancouver calendar): https://vancouver.calendar.ubc.ca/admissions/english-language-admission-standard/english-language-proficiency-tests
- Undergraduate tuition fees 2026/27: https://students.ubc.ca/finances/tuition-fees/undergraduate-tuition-fees/
- UBC financial schedule: https://you.ubc.ca/financial-planning/financial-schedule/
- Work off campus as an international student, IRCC: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/work/work-off-campus.html
- IRCC International Student Program (2026 briefing): https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/transparency/transition-binders/deputy-minister-2026/international-student-program.html
- Study in Canada, IRCC: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada.htm
