UBC International Scholars Program 2027, Funded

About this opportunity

This is a need based award, which sets it apart from UBC entrance scholarships that are decided on marks alone. The International Scholars Program is for students who can show exceptional academic performance, leadership and contribution to their community, and who cannot study at UBC without meaningful financial help. Awards range in value up to the full cost of a student academic program and living expenses, and scholars join a cohort from many countries, with skill building workshops, retreats, dedicated International Scholars Program advising, and the option to take part in exchange and co-op while working on the degree.

There are no exceptions to the stated criteria, so check yourself against them before you start. You must be an international student who will study in Canada on a Canadian study permit, entering UBC directly from an accredited secondary school, applying for your first undergraduate degree, and for the 2027 Winter session you must have graduated from high school no earlier than June 2026. You need to meet UBC admission requirements, including the English Language Admission Standard, and show superior academic achievement at the level of all As or the equivalent. If you do not meet direct English entry you may be eligible for Vantage College and the Vantage One Excellence Award instead. A short list of degrees is not eligible for these awards, including the Bachelor of Nursing at both campuses, Dental Science in Dental Hygiene, Medical Laboratory Science, the Bachelor plus Master of Management degree, and dual or joint degrees.

The process has a step most people miss, and it is the one that takes longest, so start now. You need a nominator, such as a guidance counsellor, principal or administrator, and a separate teacher referee. A high school or a registered non profit may nominate up to two students for UBC Vancouver, including Vantage College, and one student for UBC Okanagan, so a school with several strong candidates can run out of nominations. A non profit may nominate a student where it acts as an educational institution in place of a school, or where it runs an educational, leadership development and mentorship programme for high school graduates from less fortunate backgrounds, which is typically reserved for applicants from areas where no other route to education exists. You must also complete your UBC Admissions application first, because the award application asks for confirmation that it has been submitted.

The award application itself is in depth. You will report annual family income and expenses, family wealth and assets, dependents and annual school fees, sources of financial support, extracurricular activities and awards, and answer four essay questions of roughly 150 to 250 words each. You cannot finish it until both your nominator and your referee have submitted their forms, so build in days of slack. The closing time is 11:59 PM Pacific Time on 15 November 2026, and UBC warns that applications started shortly before the closing date are less likely to succeed. One more thing to plan around: applying to this programme means you are not considered for merit based awards, since an applicant may only be considered for either the merit based or the financial need based route.

What you receive

An award that can range in value up to the full cost of your academic program and living expenses
Dedicated International Scholars Program advising through the degree, covering academic, personal and career development
Skill building workshops and retreats with a cohort of scholars from many countries
The option to take part in student exchange and co-op placements while you study
A globally recognized degree at a top university, alongside a network of international scholars
Consideration for the Vantage One Excellence Award through Vantage College if you do not meet direct English entry

Who can apply

An international student who will study in Canada on a Canadian study permit
Entering UBC directly from an accredited secondary school
Graduated from high school no earlier than June 2026, for the 2027 Winter session
Applying for your first undergraduate degree
Able to prove a significant level of financial need, meaning it would be impossible to pursue a UBC degree without meaningful financial help
A family that cannot afford a significant level of your educational costs and has no access to external funding
Meeting UBC general and degree specific admission requirements, including the English Language Admission Standard
Superior academic achievement, at the standard of all As or the equivalent
Nominated by your high school or by a registered non profit acting in its place, with a separate teacher referee

Who should not apply

Canadian and permanent resident students, this programme is for international students only
Applicants already at university seeking a second degree
The Bachelor of Nursing at Okanagan and Vancouver, Bachelor of Dental Science in Dental Hygiene, Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science, the Bachelor plus Master of Management degree, joint UBC Okanagan and Vancouver degrees and joint degrees with other institutions
Applicants seeking consideration for merit based awards at the same time, you may be considered for either the merit based or the financial need based route, not both
Anyone who cannot be nominated within their school limit of two students for UBC Vancouver, including Vantage College, or one student for UBC Okanagan

Documents to prepare

A completed UBC Admissions application, submitted before you start the award application
A nominator form from a guidance counsellor, principal or administrator
A referee form from a teacher familiar with your work in your chosen area of study
Family financial information: annual income and expenses, family wealth and assets, dependents and annual school fees, and sources of financial support
A record of extracurricular activities and previous awards
Four essay responses of approximately 150 to 250 words each
Official documents evidencing financial need, as requested during the assessment

How to apply

Decide the academic program and campus you want, since you are assessed on your first choice but should still list a second
Confirm your school can nominate you within its limit before you go further, and ask a teacher who knows your subject to act as referee
Submit your UBC Admissions application, which is required before the award application will let you proceed
Create an account on the UBC awards application portal and invite your nominator and referee by email
Gather your family income, expenses, assets, dependents, school fees and funding sources, then run the cost estimator to work out your financial need
Write the four essays and complete your sections of the award application
Set your application time zone to Pacific Time before you start, as UBC instructs
Follow up with your nominator and referee so both forms are in a few days before 15 November 2026, then submit
Open the award application page linked below to begin

Selection process

UBC reviews the admission application, the nomination, the referee report and the financial assessment together
The financial assessment looks at documents outlining family gross income, expenses and assets to estimate how much support you need to live and study at UBC after all your resources are counted
Academic achievement is checked against the standard of all As or the equivalent, alongside leadership and community contribution
Applicants may be invited to complete a video interview
The nomination and referee forms must both be submitted before your application can be completed, so incomplete nominations are not assessed

Sources and verification

Official source

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Questions applicants ask

Is this merit based or need based?

Need based, with a strong academic bar. You must show significant financial need and superior academic achievement. Because it is the need based route, applying here means you will not also be considered for UBC merit based awards.

Who can nominate me?

A guidance counsellor, principal or administrator at your school. A registered non profit may nominate you where it acts as an educational institution in place of a high school, or where it runs an educational, leadership development and mentorship programme for graduates from less fortunate backgrounds. That route is typically for applicants from war torn, politically unstable or economically disadvantaged areas where no other option for education exists.

How many students can one school nominate?

Up to two for UBC Vancouver, including Vantage College, and one for UBC Okanagan. The nominator and the teacher referee must be different people.

Do I need a separate UBC application?

Yes. You must complete the UBC Admissions application first, because the award application asks for confirmation that it has been submitted.

What if my English results do not meet direct entry?

You may be eligible for Vantage College and the Vantage One Excellence Award, which is an alternative route to a UBC degree.

When does the round close?

At 11:59 PM Pacific Time on 15 November 2026. UBC advises submitting well in advance in case of technical difficulties, and notes that applications started shortly before the closing date are less likely to be successful.

Can I apply for other UBC awards as well?

You may be considered for either the merit based or the financial need based award programme, not both. Review the merit and entrance based options first to decide which route fits you.

Important disclaimer

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