Student FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

The following FAQs have been compiled to help UBC students during the current COVID-19 outbreak. 

This is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all questions and answers for students. 

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Teaching and Learning

Financial Support and Resources

Health and Wellbeing

UBC Facilities and Services

Events and Graduation Ceremonies

Travel

Teaching and Learning

Financial Support and Resources

Health and Wellbeing

UBC Facilities and Services

Events and Graduation Ceremonies

  • Will there be an in-person graduation ceremony for the Class of 2021?

    Will there be an in-person graduation ceremony for the Class of 2021?

    UBC Vancouver and Okanagan Spring 2021 Graduation: UBC will host virtual graduation ceremonies for the spring Class of 2021 on Wednesday, June 2, 2021. Please visit www.graduation.ubc.ca and www.graduation.ok.ubc.ca for updates.

    UBC is committed to holding an in-person graduation ceremony for the Class of 2021 when it is safe to do so. The health and wellbeing of our UBC community remain our first priority, and we are embarking on planning for on-campus activities, in collaboration with public health. We will share details about our plans to hold an in-person graduation ceremony for the Class of 2021 when we have more information.

    UBC’s Class of 2020: Virtual graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2020 were held on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 for UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan, and on Wednesday, November 25, 2020 for UBC Vancouver. UBC is committed to holding an in-person graduation ceremony for the Class of 2020, when it is safe to do so. As we embark on planning for on-campus activities, in collaboration with public health, we will advise members of the Class of 2020 on plans to hold an in-person graduation ceremony when we have more information. Further details will be available at www.graduation.ubc.ca and www.graduation.ok.ubc.ca.

  • What is the status of events?

    What is the status of events?

    Indoor events: By order of the Provincial Health Officer (PHO), indoor events of any size are not permitted with anyone other than your household or core bubble. Restrictions for indoor gatherings remain in place in accordance with the order that came into effect November 19, 2020 at midnight and will be kept in place until further notice based on direction from the PHO. The order is province-wide, and applies to UBC’s Vancouver, Okanagan, Robson Square campuses, all UBC sites, and applies to any indoor in-person events and gatherings planned to be held on or off campus in British Columbia.

    Please reconsider whether a UBC event needs to go ahead and if so, indoor events will be required to be held virtually with only essential staff on site in-person to support the virtual event delivery and broadcast.

    Outdoor events: Effective March 11, 2021, the PHO has advised that up to 10 people may now gather outdoors. Do not gather with several groups of new people. Continue to use COVID-19 layers of protection and maintain physical distancing.

    If you had an event (indoor or outdoor) planned with in-person components during this period, and are unsure of whether the event should go ahead, or whether your COVID-19 Safety Plan requires further review, please contact ready.ubc@ubc.ca for UBCV or ready.ok@ubc.ca for UBCO.

    To read the full order, click here: Province-wide Restrictions

Travel

  • Travel restrictions have been introduced for non-essential travel in B.C. until May 25, 2021. Does this impact students?

    Travel restrictions have been introduced for non-essential travel in B.C. until May 25, 2021. Does this impact students?

    Essential travel includes travel for post-secondary education and training. Travel to attend classes or receive training through a post-secondary institution, including participating in practical learning activities such as fieldwork, practicums and clinical placements, is exempt from the travel restrictions. Returning to your principal residence is also exempt (this would include returning home after examinations). Please visit the BC Government website for further details, including information related to fines for non-essential travel.

  • As an international student, what impact does COVID-19 have on my immigration status?

    As an international student, what impact does COVID-19 have on my immigration status?

    Visit International Student Advising’s page on the impact of COVID-19 on immigration and health insurance for international students.

  • Will there be any academic concessions for students who are supposed to travel to COVID-19 affected areas as part of their studies and whose programs abroad are cancelled?

    Will there be any academic concessions for students who are supposed to travel to COVID-19 affected areas as part of their studies and whose programs abroad are cancelled?

    UBC will work with students on a case-by-case basis to determine how best to support them.

  • What is the status of student international travel for university purposes?

    What is the status of student international travel for university purposes?

    After careful consideration, UBC has extended this cancellation until 31 December, 2021. This cancellation includes international programs outside of Canada like exchange and study abroad, co-op, student research visits (both undergraduate and graduate), practicums and conference attendance.

    This decision is in line with the current advice of BC CDC and Global Affairs Canada. It follows guidelines outlined in UBC’s Student Safety Abroad Policy. 

    The UBC Student Safety Abroad Manager will continue to work with students who need to engage in travel that is deemed essential to their academic program, through the ‘High-Risk Authorization’ protocol. This may include graduate research outside of Canada that cannot be delayed. If there are questions about this process please refer to safety.abroad@ubc.ca. UBC will continue to monitor the situation and government directives as they evolve, sharing any updates on student international travel as they become available.

  • If I am arriving from outside of Canada, does UBC have accommodation where I can self-isolate/quarantine for 14 days?

    If I am arriving from outside of Canada, does UBC have accommodation where I can self-isolate/quarantine for 14 days?

    If you are a student arriving from outside Canada and you are not able to self-isolate in your own accommodation, UBC Student Housing is now offering complementary on-campus self-isolation packages (14 days accommodation and meals), subject to availability. If you are a UBC Vancouver student with a current UBC self-isolation accommodation reservation, you will either not be charged, or automatically refunded within the next 30 days. 

    UBC Conferences and Accommodation (C&A) is also offering a variety of fee-based self-isolation accommodation packages to those who need to self-isolate upon arrival in Canada. These packages include a number of on-campus accommodation options operated by C&A, plus off-campus accommodation in partnership with local hotels.

    For more information about self-isolation accommodation packages, including how to apply, please visit:

    UBC Vancouver self-isolation accommodation packages

    UBC Okanagan self-isolation accommodation packages

Last updated on April 28, 2021 @4:27 pm PDT