Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Study Permit

Q: My study permit is going to expire before the end of the Master of Management – do I need to renew it?

    • A: Yes, you will need to have a valid study permit for the entire length of the program. We encourage you to check your current permit now to ensure that its expiration isn’t before the end of the Master of Management.

Q: Where do I get a letter to submit with my study permit extension?

Q: I have more questions about extending my study permit, should I contact the RHL office?

Tuition & Other Sauder Fees

Q: What are my tuition payments and when are they due?

    • A: The remaining 70% of your tuition fees will be split into 2 equal installments due in Winter session Term 1 and Winter session Term 2
    • You will be able to see the fees once registration is completed for you by the RHL Graduate School closer to May 2021.
    • Additional information can be found on the “Finances” page.

Q: What is the Sauder Building Fee and why am I paying it if my classes are online?

    • A: In 2006, the Sauder School of Business launched the Opening Worlds Campaign to support the revitalization of its facilities on UBC’s Point Grey campus. In total, $52 million was raised with generous support from the community, as well as Sauder’s undergraduate and graduate students, who pledged financial support through special building fees.
    • Revenue from the fee will only be used to make payments on a mortgage and ensure building and facilities continue to be updated into the future. The fee will support a mortgage of approximately $20 million. Inflationary increases in the fee will be set aside in a discrete fund that will only be used with student consultation for the purpose of updating and renewing the facility. The fee will remain in effect for all Sauder students (BCom, Graduate, PhD) for the duration of the mortgage of approximately 35 years.

Q: Why am I paying a MM Student Society fee?

    • A: Each cohort and all programs at the RHL Graduate School have their own student society who will be the representatives and voice of your class while you are in the program. The fees each student pays create the MM student society’s budget.
        • The society will present the budget to the cohort, who will vote to approve it
        • Once approved, the budget will be used to plan student events, guest speakers, gifts, etc.

Q: Can I opt out of the Building and/or Student Society fees?

    • A: There is no opportunity to opt out of the Sauder Building fee and/or MM Student Society fee.

Program Schedule & Working

Q: When will the schedule for 2021 Summer session be available?

    • A: The 2021S session schedule will be available in by early February, 2021

Q: When will be schedule for 2021 Winter session be available?

    • A: We anticipate that 2021W session schedule will be available in early May, 2021

Q: Can you confirm whether the program will be offered entirely online?

    • A: Because of changing circumstances, we cannot confirm whether the program will be entirely online or not. UBC sent out a communication on January 13, 2021, that summer session courses will be online but delivery method beyond that will not be determined until closer to September.
    • We continue to assess the situation and will update you with any news/changes related to program delivery
    • Information sessions will be held to discuss program delivery

Q: Do I have to be in Vancouver if the course-work is online?

    • A: In short, no, you don’t have to be in Vancouver if courses are online but, if we transition to in-person classes, we would expect students to be at UBC for the duration of those. What we do want to emphasize is that, regardless where you are located, you would be expected to attend the classes at the hours they are scheduled.
    • The program will be on a Vancouver, PST time schedule. For students studying in different time zones, no accommodations will be made. We strongly encourage students to be in Vancouver for the duration of the program.

Q: When will registration open?

    • A: Registration for 2021 Summer session will open for MM students sometime in March 2021
    • However, the RHL registers all MM students in their courses – you will not need to worry about courses or registration

Q: I want to be ready for registration, where do I find the list of courses I’m going to be taking so I can be prepared?

    • A: No need to worry about registering for or getting into your courses! The RHL Graduate school will be registering all MM students into their set curriculum for 2021S later in the spring so you can relax and take that off your list of things to do.

Q: I want to work during the program, is that advisable?

    • A: Because of the fast pace of the program, we do not advise students to work more than 8 hours per week until they go through the first set of courses. What surprises most students is how rapidly the courses are conducted and the volume of information that is delivered. Our recommendation is for each student to experience this and then determine whether or not they can take on additional work hours.

Q: I need to take classes that are scheduled around my work hours and/or other obligations – what choices do I have for registration?

    • A: The MM program is a set, standard curriculum. Students will be divided into two cohorts and registration will be done by the RHL Graduate School for each student. Each cohort will be attending classes at exactly the same time each day (one will be taking one course, the other the 2nd course, then they will switch) so, it does not matter which you are registered in, you will be in classes concurrently.

Course Attendance

Q: Can I watch recorded lectures instead of attending class?

    • A: Students are expected to attend 100% of their scheduled class hours. Because our courses rely not only on delivery of information but also on interaction between instructors and fellow classmates, attending the course when it is scheduled is mandatory. Each course has some percentage of the final grade which is based on participation.

Q: How much of a course can I miss?

    • A: You can miss up to 20% of the total scheduled class hours for a course. Since the MM courses are condensed, this means only 4 hours of instruction can be missed before a student may be required to withdraw. If you do not have academic concession, the instructor is not obliged to provide any information on material missed. Check out the UBC "Professionalism, Attendance & Behaviour" policy for additional information.

Q: What is an "academic concession" vs. just an "absence"?

    • A: An academic concession is something you must apply for in the event that you experience unanticipated events or circumstances that interfere with your  ability to accomplish academic work. Examples of possible academic concessions are religious observances, medical circumstances, death in the family or a traumatic occurrence.
    • If academic concession is granted, students may receive help from the RHL Graduate Programs office and instructors to help them navigate their circumstances.
    • In cases of absence without academic concession being granted, due dates for assignments remain unchanged and instructors may deduct participation points for missed classes.

Q: How do I apply for an "academic concession"?

    • A:  If you think your situation falls within the regulations, you can make a request for academic concession by submitting the Academic Concession Request & Declaration Form available here.

Q: Can I miss class to attend a job interview?

    • A: Attending a job interview does not fall under academic concession and would be an unexcused absence. We suggest first trying to re-schedule the job interview. Many employers understand conflicts between school and interviews and will accommodate a change. If you try and are not successful in moving the interview, contact askmm@sauder.ubc.ca.

Community Business Project (CBP) & Capstone

Q: What exactly is the Community Business Project (CBP)?

    • A: The Community Business Project is a 1.5 credit course in which students work in teams on projects for not-for-profit organizations and social enterprises in the Vancouver area. Student teams will be paired with a company and faculty advisor who will help guide them through the ins-and-outs of working on a real-life project for someone in the business community.

Q: Can we choose our own team for CBP?

    • A: Teams will be created by the RHL Graduate programs office which will ensure a balanced mix of backgrounds are represented on each.

Q: Can we choose our own project for CBP?

    • A: Three teams will be assigned to each project by the RHL Graduate programs office.

Q: I heard about Capstone but I’m not really sure what it is or why we do it.

    • A: Capstone is the culmination of your studies for the MM. It is an online business simulation in which teams compete against each other. You will be putting the information you have learned in your classes to practice as your team runs a company by making cross-functional and strategic decisions.

Q: Can we miss part of Capstone due to travel or for other obligations?

    • A: As Capstone is only two days long, 100% of attendance at both of these days is mandatory. Students are not to make any travel plans and/or schedule any appointments during Capstone as missing time may result in not passing the course and a delay in your graduation.

Q: Can we choose our own team for Capstone?

    • A: The same as CBP, teams will be created by the RHL Graduate programs office which will ensure a balanced mix of backgrounds are represented on each.

Program Deferral or Withdrawal

Q: Can I defer my program start date to the June 2022 intake?

    • A: Yes, students can request a deferral of their program for one year.

Q: What is the process for initiating a deferral request?

    • A: Please send your request to askmm@sauder.ubc.ca and include the following information:
        • Your full name, student number and email address;
        • An explanation of the reason(s) for the requested leave;
        • Documents to support the outlined reasons for the leave;
        • The date of your intended return to regular registration status;
        • A plan outlining the expected completion of all academic program requirements.

In your request you will need to provide a rationale for seeking the deferral and how the additional time before your program start will allow you to successfully prepare for your program start.

Q: When is the deadline for initiating a deferral request?

    • A: The deadline to apply is April 1. Decisions will be communicated by May 1. After the deadline, deferral requests are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until the second week of Summer Period 1 (add/drop deadline).

Q: If I withdraw from the program before the start of the MM, will I get the tuition fees I paid during my undergraduate degree reimbursed?

    • A: There is no reimbursement of the tuition fees that were paid during your undergraduate degree. These fees were for previous Sessions at UBC and cannot be reimbursed.

Graduation

Q: When will my Master of Management degree be officially conferred?

    • A: If the MM is completed within the normal time frame, you will finish courses in December and officially confer your degree in May of the following year.

Q: I need to confirm that I have completed the program requirements prior to the official degree conferral date, what can be provided?

    • A: Once your grades and standings have been entered on the SSC for all courses in the MM, the RHL graduate school can issue you a letter of completion. Requests for completion letters can be sent to askmm@sauder.ubc.ca.

Q: Do I get a combined degree certificate for my undergraduate and Master of Management degrees?

    • A: No, you will receive two separate degree certificates – one at the end of your undergraduate degree for that program and then another one for the Master of Management.

Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP)

Q: If my MM program is entirely online, how will that effect my Post Graduate Work Permit application?

    • A: If you have done more than 50% of your undergraduate degree and MM combined in-person at UBC or online from Canada, your application for a Post Graduate Work Permit should not be affected. We encourage all students who are interested in obtaining a PGWP to contact UBC International Student Development directly (link to page) so they can go over your specific circumstances with you.

Q: Am I guaranteed a 3-year work permit even if the MM is only 6 months long?

    • A: There are no guarantees as to what length of work permit Canada Immigration will grant anyone who applies. Each applicant is reviewed on a case-by-case basis and many factors are taken into consideration when making their decision. However, doing a 6-month MM should not impact the length of your PGWP. When the program is complete, the letter of completion we issue encompasses both your undergraduate and graduate degrees which is over 3 years of education.

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