International Students

Find everything you need to know about life as an international student at UBC’s Vancouver campus.

Study Permits

Apply for your Study Permit as early as possible. Every year we have students who don’t don’t get their visas in time and cannot attend the program. Please follow the steps below to begin your study permit application.

1. Review our study permit tutorials to guide your through the application.

2. Reach out to our International Student Advisor if you require additional assistance. The RHL Graduate School has a dedicated Registered Canadian Immigration Consultant to help with details of your case and application. Please see his contact information below:

David Sage, Registered Canadian Immigration Consultant
Email: intlubc@students.ubc.ca

David works with the International Student Advising Team at International House but is dedicated to helping RHL students so please reach out to him directly for the quickest response.You can set up a call with David after making initial contact through email. In your initial ask, please make sure to include: 

  • Your student number in the subject line
  • Your name
  • Your citizenship(s)
  • All permit and visa expiration dates (if applicable)
  • Currently in Canada (YES or NO)
  • If you request specific assistance, please provide detailed information including applicable documents, such as a rejection letter

3. Other notes about your application:

  • Only apply once. If you have already applied manually, it is critical that you do not reapply online as this will only slow the process down
  • The RHL Office does not have the expertise to advise on your study permit application. If you have questions, please follow the steps above to contact David at International Student Advising.
  • The processing times only show the time it took to approve or refuse 80 percent of applications during some time in the past. Processing times in the future may be differ and it is only meant to give a general idea of how long a process takes.
  • You must have a valid study permit in order to attend classes at UBC.  It is not possible to attend classes on a visitor’s visa.

Before arrival, check your immigration documents to make sure that they are accurate and valid. Please note when they need to be renewed. More information on these topics can be found at:

Healthcare for International Students

  • All international students must apply for the BC Medical Systems Plan (MSP) as soon as they arrive in Vancouver as there is a 3 month waiting period for BC MSP to take effect.
  • The MSP premiums are not included in your tuition and fees.
  • Until they are covered by MSP, international students are automatically enrolled in UBC's iMED plan.
  • All students (both international and domestic) are automatically enrolled in and pay for the AMS/GSS extended medical plan.

Resources

International Student Guide

Find everything you need to know about life as an international student at UBC's Vancouver campus in the International Student Guide. 

English Language Resources

While at UBC, there is English language support to help you with both spoken and written English. Even if you feel confident in your English skills, you may want to take advantage of the presentation coaching sessions or business writing textbooks that will support you in mastering your coursework.

Other Resources

Adjusting to Life in Canada

Canada represents a mosaic of people linked to various social, ethnic, and linguistic groups from across the country and, increasingly, the world. Despite their differences, many people in Canada are united through some shared values and experiences. If you came to UBC from another country, the link below will provide you with some resources to help you settle into your new life in Canada.