Applying to the University of British Columbia as an international student can be daunting. With our graduate (Dec. 1) international undergraduate scholarship (December 1) and undergraduate (Jan. 15) application deadlines fast approaching, here are some answers to frequently asked questions about the process.
Am I an international applicant?
You are an international applicant if your immigration status in Canada is such that you will need a study visa to study at UBC. If you are a Canadian citizen or a Permanent Resident of Canada, you are considered a domestic applicant and the rest of this blog does not apply to you. This is true even if you are a Canadian citizen who has never lived in Canada or if you have just gained permanent residency and are not yet eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship.
How much is international tuition at UBC?
You may wonder why tuition can be hard to find on many university web sites. Why isn’t the total cost just printed in bold on the first page of the web site? Well, sometimes I wonder too, but I understand better now that I can see how the fee-by-credit structure, variety of programs on campus, different residence options, and optional student fees can influence individual tuition amounts.
This cost is calculated by the number of credits you take, so it will vary a bit by individual student. You can find this at International Tuition By Program under “Music”. There is also a handy cost calculator here: what will my first year cost?
I need help navigating how I can pay for UBC. Whom should I speak with?
You should speak with an Enrolment Services Advisor to start.
How can I apply for or receive an international scholarship to UBC?
There are two major scholarships that require additional application materials: The Karen McKellin International Leader of Tomorrow (ILOT) Award and the Donald A. Wahrung Award. Please read more about these here (scroll down). The music-specific ILOT award is a biennial award and WILL be offered in 2022W.
Additional international scholarships are awarded at the time of acceptance, primarily on the basis of GPA and academic performance. These are generally awarded as part of the International Major Entrance Scholarship (IMES) or the Outstanding International Student Award (OIS). In order to be eligible for these scholarships, international students should complete their UBC general application (not Music supplemental or audition) by January 15. If you are an international applicant and have not completed the UBC general application by then, the Bachelor of Music program will be accepting most late applications. If you submit a late application it is likely that you can still be eligible for some scholarships as part of your Bachelor of Music application only. Please read more about these here.
The School of Music offers some scholarships for incoming students according to audition level. These amounts are generally modest but can still help! They are guaranteed only for one year, with continuing scholarship amounts based on performance and availability.
I have questions about my study visa…
Applicants and incoming students often have lots of questions that International Student Advising is happy to help with. Contact them with general questions about settling at UBC.
Given the COVID situation, are auditions going to be in-person or via video for 2022W?
This year, we expect that we will offer in-person auditions as usual. Video auditions are also accepted at any time.
In-Person Auditions
In-person auditions are scheduled for
January 15-16 (graduate auditions)
March 5/6 and 12/13 (undergraduate auditions)
Video Auditions
Video auditions are accepted by UBC Music every year for all instruments/voice/composition applicants.
Here are the general guidelines for submitting a video audition:
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Applicants may submit high-quality video recordings of your audition selections, preferably recorded by a professional technician. The recording of each individual selection (piece, multi-movement work, or song) must be an unedited performance that has been recorded within the past 6 months. Each recorded selection must not be edited or manipulated in any way, and you must submit a statement certifying the integrity of each recording. Instructions about how to upload your video will be provided by email to video audition applicants after the application deadlines for their program have passed. Uploading your audition video on a private YouTube channel first is the fastest way to upload it into UBC’s software.
Is there an additional interview process for applicants who submit their auditions via video?
After all the application and audition materials are received, you may be contacted individually for an online live interview. It is possible, although unlikely, that you may be asked to sing or play some part of your audition repertoire during this online interview. You will be notified beforehand if the faculty panel requests this.
Any questions? COVID-19 has created a lot of changes for everyone and the situation may still be updated closer to the audition/application deadlines. Please contact admissions staff: Leanne (graduate) and Katherine (undergraduate) at any time with questions. 🙂
Updated Nov. 25, 2021
