For health and COVID-19 vaccine-related guidance, visit the Health guidance and vaccines section.
Frequently Asked Questions
The following FAQs have been compiled to help UBC students during the COVID-19 outbreak.
This is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all questions and answers for students.
You can also visit:
- Returning to Campus website, provided by Student Services.
- UBC Okanagan COVID-19 site for campus-specific information.
- UBC Vancouver Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies site for graduate students and the Postdoctoral Fellows Office site for postdoctoral fellows.
- UBC Okanagan College of Graduate Studies website for students and postdoctoral fellows at UBC Okanagan.
- Where applicable, your respective Faculty website.
Teaching and Learning
- Is UBC planning a return to in-person classes for the 2021/22 Winter Session?
- 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?
- What is the status of overseas programs?
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?
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 Facilities and Services
- Are there any changes to UBC parking fees?
- What libraries and study spaces are open on campus?
- 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
- Travel restrictions have been introduced for non-essential travel in B.C. until May 25, 2021. Does this impact students?
- As an international student, what impact does COVID-19 have on my immigration status?
- 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 planning a return to in-person classes for the 2021/22 Winter Session?
Is UBC planning a return to in-person classes for the 2021/22 Winter Session?
Yes. Based on current guidance from provincial and regional public health authorities, UBC is planning for a return to on-campus activity for Winter Session, Term 1, in September. Courses are primarily in-person, with the expectation that students will attend on campus.
Learn more about course delivery options:
UBC Vancouver student information
UBC Okanagan student informationYou can also visit the Campus Return Plan section of this site for more information.
- 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.
- What is the status of overseas programs?
What is the status of overseas programs?
UBC has cancelled all upcoming international programs for students to December 31, 2021.
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.
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
- What is UBC doing to ensure its buildings are safe, as we return to campus?
What is UBC doing to ensure its buildings are safe, as we return to campus?
Visit the Campus Return section to learn about the measures UBC is taking to ensure buildings are cleaned and ventilated, operating, and maintained to provide a safe environment for students, faculty, and staff.
UBC Facilities and Services
- Are there any changes to UBC parking fees?
Are there any changes to UBC parking fees?
On the Vancouver campus, effective September 1, 2020, all permit holder parking fees, including those for students, faculty and staff were reinstated. Hourly parking was previously reinstated from May 4, 2020. For further details, including different options for permit holders and those learning and working remotely, please visit https://parking.ubc.ca. For information about the status of parking permit fees at UBC Okanagan, visit https://parking.ok.ubc.ca.
- What libraries and study spaces are open on campus?
What libraries and study spaces are open on campus?
For the most up-to-date information, please visit:
- 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
- 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 Fall 2021 Graduation: As the public health orders and guidelines in British Columbia change in BC’s Restart Plan, and as UBC continues to resume on-campus operations, more information about Fall Graduation will be made available at www.graduation.ubc.ca this summer. Please check back for details.
UBC Vancouver and Okanagan Spring 2021 Graduation: Virtual graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2021 were held on Wednesday, June 2, 2021 for UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan.
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 and the spring Class of 2021, 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 and 2021 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?
As public health restrictions related to gatherings and events are lifted through BC’s Restart Plan, planners are encouraged to review the Public Health Order on Gatherings and Events to understand the specific details.
Indoor events: Effective July 1, 2021, indoor organized gatherings 50 people or 50% capacity, whichever is greater.
For example, if the venue can hold 60 people, then you can have 50. If your venue holds 500, then you can have 250.Outdoor events: Effective July 1, 2021, outdoor organized gatherings 5,000 people or 50% capacity, whichever is greater.
For example, if the venue can hold 6,000, then you can have 5,000. If the venue holds 12,000, you can have 6,000.These types of events are permitted province-wide, and apply to UBC’s Vancouver and Okanagan campuses, UBC Robson Square and all UBC sites. They also apply to any in-person events and gatherings planned to be held on or off campus in British Columbia using the safety plan templates and approval processes outlined for UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan. UBC events held in-person in other jurisdictions should follow local public health guidelines.
If you have an event (indoor or outdoor) planned with in-person components, and have any questions or are unsure of associated processes, please contact ready.ubc@ubc.ca for UBCV or ready.ok@ubc.ca for UBCO.
Virtual event delivery continues to be an option you may consider in your planning. Venues and bookable spaces on campus may be at varying states of opening/readiness to host larger events.
For more information about BC’s Restart plan, click here.
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?
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: