Frequently Asked Questions

UBC Vantage College offers two programs – Applied Science (Engineering), and Science. Each program comprises the first year of study of a UBC Bachelor in their respective faculties (e.g. Bachelor of Applied Science and Bachelor of Science).

The Vantage One program is intended for students entering directly from high school, so the program is not ideal for students already with a degree. However, you can apply to UBC as a transfer student.

Your eligibility depends on the amount of time you have studied full time in English curriculum. If you meet UBC’s minimum English Language Admission Standard, you are eligible to apply to one of UBC's numerous direct entry programs.

Every study permit has an expiration date, and you must renew it before it expires if you’re planning to study in Canada past your study permit’s expiration date. Study permits can only be renewed from inside Canada. Please view UBC’s study permit information here.

You may apply directly to UBC programs. Vantage One is reserved for students requiring additional language development alongside their degree courses. However, if you are not eligible for Vantage One but would like to develop your English language skills, UBC Extended Learning offers classes in English for Academic Purposes.

Our 11-month program begins in mid-August and students are unable to join in January.

A Personal Profile is a section of UBC’s application. The Personal Profile gives you the opportunity to tell UBC about the things that are important to you, your significant achievements, what you’ve learned from your experiences, and the challenges that you’ve overcome.

If you apply to the Vantage Program for BOTH your first and second choices, then you DO NOT need to complete a Personal Profile.
If you select a direct entry program for EITHER of your two choices, you will be automatically required to submit the Personal Profile.

Yes! UBC Vantage College offers a Vantage One Entrance Award, an International Major Entrance Scholarship (IMES) for Vantage One, and a Vantage One Excellence Award each year. To view eligibility requirements and for instructions on how to apply, please visit our Scholarships and Awards page. Here you will also find the deadlines to apply for each of the scholarships.

Within a few weeks of receiving your application, we’ll send you an email to tell you which supporting documents to submit, such as test scores or academic transcripts. Please submit your supporting documents by March 15th, 2024.

Supporting documents should be sent to:
The University of British Columbia
Vantage College Admissions
2016 – 1874 East Mall
Vancouver, BC
Canada V6T 1Z1

In addition to looking out for our emails, also log into UBC's Student Service Centre to keep up to date on your application status. May 1, 2024 is the deadline to accept your offer.

For more information on the next steps, visit our next steps page. 

Progression into second year is dependent on each student’s academic performance in their first year:

• UBC Vantage College students who pass all courses in the Engineering stream with an average of at least 60% will be eligible for year two of the B.A.Sc. degree program.
• UBC Vantage College students who pass all courses in any Science stream with an average of at least 60% will be eligible for year two of the B.Sc. degree program.

Students who do not meet these requirements for transition into the second year will be assessed on a case basis, where there is evidence of academic promise for continued study in their chosen degree program, and may be eligible to progress.

Due to limited spaces, we cannot accommodate program changes after you have accepted your Vantage offer. If you wish to switch streams, you must apply as soon as possible, before you have accepted. 

The Applied Science (Engineering) stream includes foundational engineering, chemistry, math, and physics.

Engineering specializations majors at UBCO include:

• Electrical
• Mechanical
• Civil 
• Manufacturing

Engineering specializations majors at UBCV include:

• Chemical
• Chemical and Biological
• Civil
• Computer
• Electrical
• Environmental (partnership with UNBC)
• Environmental (UBC-V)
• Engineering Physics
• Geological
• Integrated
• Materials
• Manufacturing
• Mechanical
• Mining 
• Biomedical

Students will complete a total of 44 credits in the Vantage APSC program — 34 of those credits are transferable to the Faculty of Applied Science.

The Vantage One Bachelor of Applied Science is not equivalent to the direct entry BASc first year program. Therefore, while successful completion of the Vantage engineering program will result in eligibility for second year standing, there are program requirements normally completed in first year that will not have been met and that must be completed prior to graduation.

The first year courses you will need to complete before graduation will depend on which UBC campus (Vancouver or Okanagan) you complete your degree at after the Vantage One program.

Courses you must complete before completing your Bachelor of Applied Science at UBC Vancouver: 

1. Humanities (3 credits) 

This can be taken at any time during your program. You will need a total of six credits of Humanities as part of your BASc program (but only three credits from the BASc first-year curriculum).

Courses you must complete before completing your Bachelor of Applied Science at UBC Okanagan: 

1. APSC 181 (Dynamics)

Near the end of first year (usually in May), students are asked to fill in a second year placement form. The Faculty of Applied Science uses your first year average and your personal statement to determine which program you will be placed in.

The process is competitive, as there is limited space in many specializations. However, all students achieving 60% and passing all courses will be guaranteed a placement in second year.

If you are placed in a UBC Okanagan program, your program will take place in the city of Kelowna, BC. If you are placed in the Environmental program, your program will take place in the city of Prince George, BC.

Yes, all the courses you take in the Vantage One APSC program will be counted towards your GPA.

We don’t grant advance credit in the Vantage One Engineering program for any International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement, or A-level secondary school courses. However, advance credit may be recognized in your second year depending on your Faculty or Specialization. For detailed information about advance credit for courses taken in the International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement, or A-level programs, consult https://you.ubc.ca/applying-ubc/applied/first-year-credit/ 

Upon successful completion of APSC 176, you will have met the first year English requirement and the pre-requisites requirement to take APSC 201 or equivalent in your second year. Once you complete APSC 201 in your academic studies, you will have met the communication requirements for UBC's Engineering program.

Yes, Vantage students will have the opportunity to study and experience an intimate learning community at UBC's Okanagan campus. The Okanagan campus has earned a reputation as an important, respected center of learning and research, enhancing knowledge and innovation in our region, as well as internationally.

The Faculty has reserved space for all Vantage One Bachelor of Applied Science students to be able to transition to a second year program. Half of the students progressing to year 2 will be placed at the Okanagan campus, and the other half will be placed at the Vancouver campus.

UBC Vantage College students who pass all courses in the Engineering stream with an average of at least 60% will be eligible for year two of the B.A.Sc. degree program.

As part of the Science stream, students have a choice of taking a computational science or physical science elective. Depending on your electives chosen, you will be eligible for different science majors at the end of your first year.

Direct entry Science majors include:

• Astronomy
• Atmospheric Science
• Chemistry
• Cognitive Systems
• Combined Majors in Science
• Computer Science
• Earth and Ocean Sciences
• Geology
• Geophysics
• Integrated Sciences
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Statistics

Biology is not part of the Vantage One Science program, but students can take prerequisite Biology courses in second year, then transfer to Biology in third year at UBC. This may postpone your graduation date by up to a year, although it might be possible to complete in four-and-a-half years. This means you would need to select a major that doesn’t require Biology as a prerequisite for your second year specialization, before transferring at the end of the academic year (i.e. not in January). Please note that due to demand, Biologically-oriented programs generally require a higher average for admission.

You don't have to choose your science major until the end of your first year at UBC, at the end of the Vantage One program. If you're having trouble deciding, make an appointment to see your academic advisor.

There will be an information session in October to help you figure out your electives for Term 2 and Term 3. The elective options are CPSC 110, CPSC 121, CPSC 103, CHEM 123, PHYS 118 and 119, EOSC 110.

We don’t grant advance credit toward any courses in Winter term 1, but you may be able to replace one Faculty of Science course in Winter term 2 and one course in the Summer term. Please contact the Vantage Science Academic Advisor if you have been offered admission and would like to request advance credit. For detailed information about advance credit for courses taken in the International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement, or A-level programs, consult https://you.ubc.ca/applying-ubc/applied/first-year-credit 

Yes, before you graduate from UBC you will need to take either a Biology or a Biologically-related course.

There are certain ways to be exempted, which you can discuss with your advisor at some point during your first year. Be aware that the TOEFL/IELTS tests do not exempt you from taking the LPI. However you don’t have to take it before you start, nor in your first two terms.

UBC Vantage College students who pass all courses in any Science stream with an average of at least 60% will be eligible for year two of the B.Sc. degree program.