Last updated on September 16, 2020
Town Hall Recording (May 20, 2020)
If you were unable to attend the live session or are simply looking to revisit the content discussed, we have uploaded the recordings for both the morning and evening sessions. You can access either of the recordings via the links below:
Webinar Recording – UBC International Student Development Update (August 6, 2020)
If you were unable to attend the live session or are simply looking to revisit the content discussed, we have uploaded the recording for the session. You can access the recording via the link below:
Town Hall Recording (September 10, 2020)
If you were unable to attend the live session or are simply looking to revisit the content discussed, we have uploaded the recordings for both the morning and evening sessions. You can access either of the recordings via the links below:
Program Schedule
Can you confirm that the Period from October to December will be offered entirely online?
Yes, we can confirm that the Period from October to December will be offered entirely online.
Is it advised that I stay in my home country between October to December?
Students with a valid study permit (regardless of issue date) or a study permit approval issued by March 18 can travel to Canada if they can also show that their travel is essential, such as in-person courses. International students are not recommended to travel to Canada at this time as classes will be conducted online.
When is the 50% point of my program? If I can’t get to Canada by the 50% mark, can I complete my degree online?
For MM, it is February 22, 2021. For those who can get here, we strongly suggest you arrive during the December break to give yourself time to get situated in Vancouver and self-quarantine before the program resumes.
Yes, you may complete more than 50% of your degree online however we strongly recommend talking to your Program Manager if you are in this scenario as it may have other implications for you (eg. inability to get a PGWP to work in Canada after the program).
If the program is online for the whole year, are we still sticking to a daytime PST schedule?
For MM, the courses are currently scheduled for 6-10pm PST Monday to Thursday during Periods 1 and 2 (Oct 28 -Dec). The 6-10pm PST time accommodates the majority of our domestic and international students. We are then planning to move to a daytime schedule for Period 3 (MM: Feb 22) onwards once the in-person learning components are anticipated to begin.
Deferral Requests
Can I defer my program start date to the August 2021 intake?
Yes, students can request a deferral of their program for one year, one time only.
If a student has already deferred once, can they defer again?
No. As mentioned above, students can request a deferral of their program one time only.
What is the process for initiating a deferral request?
Please send your request to Jenny Chan, Manager, Recruitment & Admissions Operations at jenny.chan@sauder.ubc.ca and CC mm@sauder.ubc.ca.
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.
When is the deadline for initiating a deferral request?
The last day to submit a request for deferral is October 1, 2020.
If I defer my program start, will I get my program deposit be refunded?
No. If your deferral request is approved, you will be asked to pay an additional deferral deposit of $2,500 CAD by Dec. 1, 2020 in order to confirm your seat for August 2021. The cumulative $7,500 amount will be applied to your first tuition instalment.
Required Documents
I am having trouble accessing some of the required documents listed in my offer of admission e.g. transcripts and diplomas. Can I have an extension on the published deadline?
Yes. We recognize the disruption that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused around the world and would like to support you in meeting the requirements of your offer. Our MM document deadline has been revised to August 25, 2020.
Will my offer letter be updated to reflect the new program start dates?
Yes. Our admissions office is currently working on issuing updated offer letters. These will be sent out to all admitted students shortly. The offer letter that students receive has dates on it.
Students can reach out to David Sage to see if they require that for Study Permit. Students can then reach out to the designated Program Team for more specifics regarding letters.
If I have outstanding conditions on my offer letter, will I be issued a new one?
After original transcripts are received, a new letter will be issued to the student. The Recruitment and Admissions Team will be able to support students with this at mm@sauder.ubc.ca.
Study Permit & PGWP
Should I continue to apply for my study permit?
Yes. Many visa processing centres around the world are operating at reduced capacity amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important to start the application process for your study permit as soon as possible to give you the best chance at receiving your application approval in time for the program start date.
First step: Contact David Sage, our International Student Advisor and Registered Canadian Immigration Consultant at intlubc@students.ubc.ca for support with your application.
What would happen if conditions do not become suitable for in-person learning after we’ve completed 50% online? Would I be allowed to pause the program and continue it later so that I can meet the conditions required for a Post-Graduation Work Permit?
As this would be an unprecedented scenario, the RHL Graduate School program office would make a decision on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the UBC International Student Advising office. We know that the Post-Graduation Work Permit is an important consideration for many international students, and we are committed to supporting you as best we can for you to receive your Post-Graduation Work Permit after you complete your UBC Sauder degree.
If I don’t receive my study permit by the program start, can I apply for a deferral then?
Yes, if you don’t receive your study permit by the program start, you can defer your acceptance to the next cohort. However, please note that according to the IRCC guidelines, you do not need a study permit in hand to begin a graduate program, just a submitted application. Once approved, it will be backdated to the program start date and will count towards PGWP.
Is the recommendation to travel to Canada given by Immigration?
Immigration Canada has recently updated the policy to make special allowances for international students to enter into the country under 2 conditions: if classes are offered online at a time that is not reasonable due to time zone differences, or limitations to internet bandwidth/speed. This is for any student who has a Student Number.
The letter can be downloaded from the International Student Development website along with the program schedule. You can find details on this letter here: https://students.ubc.ca/new-to-ubc/travelling-to-canada/before-you-travel.
International students are eligible to download a letter of support from UBC along with the program schedule. For MBAN and MM students, you may be able to enter Canada this fall due to classes that conflict with your time zone and/or internet connectivity challenges.
You must have your study permit in hand to enter Canada.
David Sage, Registered Canadian Immigration Consultant, from the International Student Development office is able to advise on more specific scenarios on a case by case basis and he can be reached at intlubc@students.ubc.ca.
Tuition, Student Fees, and Financial Support
Will tuition installment due dates change?
The new tuition installment due dates are: November 6, 2020, Jan 7, 2021, July 7, 2021.
Will I get a reduction in the amount charged for UPass?
The U-Pass BC program provides students with universal, accessible and affordable access to public transit across the Metro Vancouver Region.
Post-secondary institutions, student associations, and TransLink have worked to temporarily suspend the U-Pass program from May 1 – August 31, 2020.
As post-secondary institutions in the Metro Vancouver Region continue to firm up their decisions around the Fall study term (September – December), a decision will made regarding the UPass and this will be communicated with you accordingly.
Will I be able to access the school facilities while the learning is online?
At this time, the UBC Sauder building is closed and cannot be accessed for student study space this fall. However, if you would like to work on campus, you may book study space at Irving K. Barber Library up to two times per week. More details can be found here: https://ikblc.ubc.ca/.
Do students need to buy textbooks in advance before program starts?
The Program Team will give students access to course outlines and sites 4 weeks before the course start date. There may be online cases, textbooks, etc. that will be outlined in the syllabi for the students.
Professors have tried to replace physical textbooks with online versions as much as possible due to COVID-19.
Online Learning Environment
Will lectures be recorded?
Students are expected to attend lectures live to maximize their learning.
Where students are unable to attend in real time (due to illness and family emergency), students may receive an accommodation or academic concession and then they be able to watch the recorded lectures instead of attending class.
If professors are working with stringent copyright issues for case studies or sensitive topics in some students’ home countries, then those parts will not be recorded.
How will groups be coordinated in different time zones?
Often, professors will assign groups to make sure there is a breadth of background, talent, and expertise in each group. There will be times when professors allow students to choose their own groups, likely later in the term when students have communicated and gotten to know each other better.
One of the key skills that students will develop is buiding relationships and group work dynamics among different time zones, especially when workplaces transition to online learning and working remotely.
What is the Hybrid model?
Some course delivery is in-person and the remainder is online delivery. An example would be one class a week in-person, with the remainder being accessed online, synchronously or asynchronously.
What is the Hyflex model?
We know that some students will have individual barriers and may not be able to attend classes in-person due to study permit/visa issues and/or health reasons.
To accommodate all of our students, our intention is to offer a HyFlex learning environment whereby students can choose to attend the session in-person or online.
We are currently working with our Learning Services team to ensure that our classrooms are equipped with the right technology to support the HyFlex model.
What are class sizes like for MBAN?
In typical years, we have around 50 students for MBAN. It is great to keep in mind a ballpark of 40-50 students in each program.
Students will find out class sizes at Opening Week, which is typically when the class sizes are shared with the cohort. The school is still waiting on documentation (transcripts, etc.) where students have been conditionally accepted and are waiting for those final steps to confirm admissions.
What will the networking opportunities and events look like?
Students will and start to have access to networking opportunities and events on COOL. Companies are still looking to hire and want to engage virtually.
Housing
What is the timeline for MBAN and MM students to move in as both programs have delayed start dates?
Student Housing is happy to accept MBA and MM student before their program start date.
For the winter session housing contracts, students are assigned to rooms from the wait list. If they are assigned to rooms during the summer, the start date of the contract will be September 5th ending on April 28th. Students can therefore move in on the start date. If a student wants to move in later, they would still have to pay the rent from the start date to hold the room. The student would have to let Student Housing know that they are moving in at a later date so that Student Housing does not cancel the room assignment for not checking in.
For students who are not assigned before September, they stay on the wait list and Student Housing continues to send out room offers to the students on the wait list whenever vacancies come up, so for these offers the start date will be for immediate occupation, give or take a couple of days.
How is residence supporting physical distancing, hygiene and health protocols?
- Residence staff trained to refer residents with cold or flu-like symptoms to HealthLink BC at 8-1-1, Student Health Services or their own health care professional.
- Limited number of self-isolation units set aside for residents who are not local and have been directed by their health professional to self-isolate.
- Additional signage in community and public washrooms and throughout residence buildings reminding residents, staff and visitors to wash their hands. View all our SHCS Covid-19 signs, posters and decals to date.
- Elevator protocols have been adjusted and guidelines have been posted.
- Hand sanitizer dispensers in each Commons block and the residence dining rooms.
- Enhanced cleaning and sanitizing.
- Fitness, music, study, meeting rooms as well as common spaces are either closed or have had seating removed.
- Outdoor recreational areas are closed. Some outdoor courtyard spaces remain open, but with the reminder to maintain physical distancing.
What Residence amenities have been adjusted in response to COVID-19?
We will continue to provide the services and amenities that align with guidance from health authorities, and help create a healthy, safer and supportive community environment. Key adjustments may include:
- Communal/common spaces may be temporarily closed or have seating removed. This includes fitness, music, study and meeting rooms, along with outdoor recreation spaces.
- Larger community building events and activities will not take place, including intramural sports, musicals and more.
- There may be a reduced number of residents overall, and limited opportunities and support for building communities.
- The Residence Meal Plan will be modified: less selection of food, likely takeout meals only, and physical distancing protocols mandated.
Keep in mind that we may have to adjust our services and amenities on an ongoing basis, often on short notice, to align with public health authorities. Please also be aware that Student Housing is recommending but not enforcing physical distancing. As Vancouver Coastal Health reminds us, they “are recommending physical distancing as one of the ways to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. At this time, there are no public health orders enforcing physical distancing.”
Where can I find additional information on UBC Student Housing?
Along with UBC, Student Housing has implemented plans to provide the best possible accommodation for our residents given COVID-19 challenges and the fact that most classes will be held online during fall 2020. This website contains useful FAQs and resources, and is being updated regularly following advice from provincial and federal health agencies.