Welcome to all our new and returning students.
You might want to visit the Returning to Campus website, provided by Student Services. There is also useful information specific to UBC Okanagan. If you are a graduate student or postdoctoral fellow, you can find additional resources here: UBC Vancouver | UBC Okanagan.
This page contains a range of useful FAQs, links and resources to support you during your time at UBC. There is a whole host of information on various university websites and you are encouraged to visit your own Faculty website for specific details about your program.
For guidance on COVID-19 vaccines, health and safety planning, you should visit the Health guidance and vaccines section.
Below are some additional FAQs specifically for students. While we cannot answer every question you may have, we have done our best to cover the main areas you might be interested in. These FAQs are updated regularly. Don’t forget to also check out the archive of our main announcements.
On this page:
Teaching and Learning
- Is UBC holding in-person classes?
- Where can I get support with learning remotely?
- What is UBC doing to address academic assessment and course concessions?
- I’m worried that my academic accommodations aren’t being met with remote teaching and evaluation methods. What should I do?
Research
Financial Support and Resources
- What financial support and resources are available to students?
- How does academic concessions offered due to COVID-19 impact my award, bursary, or student loan?
Getting to and from campus
- How do I find out about public transit options – in both Vancouver and the Okanagan?
- What other options are available for getting to campus?
Health and Wellbeing
- Where can I find support for my mental health and wellbeing during this time?
- Where can I find support for my physical wellbeing during this time?
Buildings
- UBC Vancouver: Where can I find information about my building during COVID-19 (including ventilation, water systems, and cleaning standards)?
- UBC Okanagan: Where can I find information about cleaning standards in campus buildings during COVID-19?
UBC Facilities and Services
- Where can I find more information about parking locations and fees?
- What libraries are open on campus?
- Are student study spaces available?
- What is the status of UBC Food Services?
- What is the status of student residences?
- What is the status of Student Services on campus?
- Are the UBC Bookstores open?
- What is the status of UBC sports facilities and programming?
Events and Graduation Ceremonies
Travel
- What information is there to support 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?
- What is the status of student international travel for university purposes?
- If I am arriving from outside of Canada, does UBC have accommodation where I can self-isolate?
Teaching and Learning
- Is UBC holding in-person classes?
Is UBC holding in-person classes?
Yes. UBC is conducting in-person classes. The health, safety and wellbeing of our students, faculty and staff remain our first priority. Here’s what you need to do to help ensure a safe environment for yourself and those around you:
- Know the symptoms of COVID-19 and complete a daily health assessment. If you are sick, stay at home. Learn about the self-assessment tool at https://bc.thrive.health.
- Wash your hands regularly.
- We strongly recommend that all UBC community members get vaccinated and if eligible, receive their booster dose. You can learn more at https://immunizebc.ca.
- As a reminder, in BC, free vaccines are available to students arriving from international destinations and other provinces.
- Where can I get support with learning remotely?
Where can I get support with learning remotely?
The Keep Learning website offers resources and tips to help you learn effectively, get to know online teaching technologies used at UBC and also take care of yourself while learning online.
- What is UBC doing to address academic assessment and course concessions?
What is UBC doing to address academic assessment and course concessions?
Decisions around academic regulations and variances to them (concessions) are generally made within the Faculties. Students are advised to contact their Home Faculty Academic Advising Office at UBC Vancouver or the Academic Advising office at UBC Okanagan to explore what options may be available to them.
Graduate students at UBC Vancouver should review the Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies Assessment FAQs. Graduate students at UBC Okanagan should review the COVID-19 section on the College of Graduate Studies website.
- I’m worried that my academic accommodations aren’t being met with remote teaching and evaluation methods. What should I do?
I’m worried that my academic accommodations aren’t being met with remote teaching and evaluation methods. What should I do?
Inform your instructor of your concerns and request the changes you require. Include your accessibility advisor in the request and work with the Centre for Accessibility at UBC Vancouver, or the Disabilities Resource Centre at UBC Okanagan, who can support the process of improving accessibility.
Research
- Where can I find more information about conducting research activities at UBC?
Where can I find more information about conducting research activities at UBC?
All UBC activities are covered by a Communicable Disease Prevention Framework in alignment with the BC Centre for Disease Control and WorkSafeBC. For more information, visit: https://srs.ubc.ca/covid-19/covid-19-safety-plans.
The Field Safety program applies to university-related activities that occur off of UBC campus locations, including off-campus Field Research Activities. You can find out more here: https://srs.ubc.ca/health-safety/safety-programs/field-work-safety/.
Additional guidance applies for research involving human participants. Please consult the websites of the applicable research ethics board (BREB, Clinical REB, C&W REB, PHC REB and the BC Cancer REB).
Researchers are encouraged to visit https://covid19.research.ubc.ca for information on UBC’s COVID-19 research activities, including research projects, potential collaborators, initiatives, networks and support.
Financial Support and Resources
- What financial support and resources are available to students?
What financial support and resources are available to students?
Please refer to the following pages for further details on student specific supports and resources available.
UBC Vancouver student-specific supports and graduates and postdoctoral fellows
UBC Okanagan student resources and services - How does academic concessions offered due to COVID-19 impact my award, bursary, or student loan?
How does academic concessions offered due to COVID-19 impact my award, bursary, or student loan?
Visit this page for information regarding award, bursary, or student loans impacts during COVID-19.
Getting to and from campus
- How do I find out about public transit options – in both Vancouver and the Okanagan?
How do I find out about public transit options – in both Vancouver and the Okanagan?
Useful updates and resources related to public transit can be found at: UBC Vancouver | UBC Okanagan
- What other options are available for getting to campus?
What other options are available for getting to campus?
A series of resources have been compiled with useful information related to biking to campus, parking options, car pooling and ride hailing.
Learn more: UBC Vancouver | UBC Okanagan
Health and Wellbeing
- Where can I find support for my mental health and wellbeing during this time?
Where can I find support for my mental health and wellbeing during this time?
Student Services has compiled some university and community resources, which are available to support you. The following blog post on How to get and give support during the COVID-19 outbreak also provides some helpful guidance.
- Where can I find support for my physical wellbeing during this time?
Where can I find support for my physical wellbeing during this time?
UBC Recreation has created these resources to help you stay active while studying at home, which include live movement sessions, at-home workouts and ‘deskercises’.
Buildings
- UBC Vancouver: Where can I find information about my building during COVID-19 (including ventilation, water systems, and cleaning standards)?
UBC Vancouver: Where can I find information about my building during COVID-19 (including ventilation, water systems, and cleaning standards)?
The UBC Facilities website provides information and resources about Facilities’ operations and service levels for your building. UBC Facilities are working to ensure buildings are cleaned and ventilated, operating, and maintained to provide a safe environment for students, faculty, and staff.
- UBC Okanagan: Where can I find information about cleaning standards in campus buildings during COVID-19?
UBC Okanagan: Where can I find information about cleaning standards in campus buildings during COVID-19?
Facilities Management will continue to operate and maintain all campus buildings. Information on cleaning protocols is available on the HSE COVID-19 Health and Safety webpage. Questions or concerns can be submitted to ready.ok@ubc.ca.
UBC Facilities and Services
- Where can I find more information about parking locations and fees?
Where can I find more information about parking locations and fees?
UBC Vancouver: There are a range of parking locations, including reserved carpool parking, as well as rates and permits for parking on campus, including a new 10-day multipack pass for staff and faculty.
Please note that parking on campus is limited. To ensure that all permit holders have available parking on campus, a waitlist is currently in effect for all student permit requests.
A parking permit does not guarantee you a parking spot. You are encouraged to review parking availability before driving to campus. For more information, visit: https://parking.ubc.ca/.
UBC Okanagan: Monthly parking permits continue to be available across parking locations on campus. In addition, a Flex Permit Waitlist has been developed for students, faculty and staff attending campus no more than 10 days a month. A Semester Permit Waitlist and Resident Student Permit Waitlist are also in effect. Also find out about sustainable transportation options.
Regular parking fees for monthly, daily and hourly parking resumed on September 1, 2021. For more information, visit https://parking.ok.ubc.ca/.
- What libraries are open on campus?
What libraries are open on campus?
Most UBC Library branches across both campuses are now open.
For the most up-to-date information, please visit:
- Are student study spaces available?
Are student study spaces available?
Yes, study spaces, including informal study spaces, some library spaces, and other locations where students can find suitable space for silent and personal or quiet group studying, are available.
- What is the status of UBC Food Services?
What is the status of UBC Food Services?
Please visit the relevant website below for the latest information regarding UBC Food Services:
- What is the status of student residences?
What is the status of student residences?
Please visit the relevant website below for the latest information regarding student residences:
UBC Vancouver Student Housing
UBC Okanagan Student Housing - What is the status of Student Services on campus?
What is the status of Student Services on campus?
Please refer to the following pages for the status of Student Services on your campus:
- Are the UBC Bookstores open?
Are the UBC Bookstores open?
For information about which UBC Bookstores are open, please visit the UBC Bookstore website.
- What is the status of UBC sports facilities and programming?
What is the status of UBC sports facilities and programming?
For the latest information, visit the relevant website below:
UBC Vancouver Athletics and Recreation
UBC Okanagan Athletics and Recreation
Events and Graduation Ceremonies
- What is the status of events?
What is the status of events?
Events at UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan are permitted in line with public health restrictions as well as in accordance with UBC policies. Proof of vaccination is not required at UBC events.
Event planners are encouraged to review the guidance on UBC ceremonies, events and gatherings during COVID-19 available on the UBC Ceremonies and Events website. Information about UBC’s graduation ceremonies can be found at graduation.ubc.ca.
Travel
- What information is there to support international students?
What information is there to support international students?
International students are encouraged to visit the following websites for useful resources and updates:
- 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?
Students planning trips outside of Canada for university activity must follow the requirements outlined in UBC’s Student Safety Abroad Policy. For more information on how to prepare for a safe international trip please visit the Student Safety Abroad Website.
- If I am arriving from outside of Canada, does UBC have accommodation where I can self-isolate?
If I am arriving from outside of Canada, does UBC have accommodation where I can self-isolate?
UBC Student Housing and Community Services is offering a variety of self-isolation accommodation packages, on a first come, first served basis, to any members of the UBC community— students living on- or off-campus, faculty, and staff—who need to self-isolate after arriving in Canada. For more information, please visit: