UBC scholarships for international students come in two kinds. The merit awards, the International Major Entrance Scholarship (IMES) and the Outstanding International Student (OIS) Award, need no separate form: every international applicant who gets an offer and applied by the admission deadline is considered. The International Scholars Program is a separate need and merit award with its own application and an earlier deadline.
For September 2027 entry the dates that matter are 15 November 2026 for the International Scholars award application and 15 January 2027 for the UBC application itself, both at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time. IMES and OIS are each worth CAD 10,000 to CAD 25,000. UBC says plainly that these merit awards do not cover the full cost of a degree, so do not read them as fully funded.
UBC scholarships for international students: the full list
| Award | Value | Renewable? | How you are considered |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Major Entrance Scholarship (IMES) | CAD 10,000 to 25,000 a year (2026/2027 value) | Yes, up to three more years | Automatic with your admission application |
| Outstanding International Student (OIS) Award | CAD 10,000 to 25,000, one time (UBC lists the 2025/2026 value) | No | Automatic with your admission application |
| International Scholars Program awards | Based on financial need | Yes, with conditions | Separate award application by 15 Nov 2026 |
| Global Elevation Award (Okanagan) | CAD 8,000 a year as tuition credit | Yes, up to 4 years in total | Automatic once you enrol |
| International Welcome Award (Okanagan) | CAD 5,000 tuition credit, first year | No | Automatic once you accept and enrol |
| Bachelor of Commerce International Launch Award (Okanagan) | CAD 6,000 a year as tuition credit | Yes, up to 4 years in total | Automatic for new BCom students in the September 2027 intake |
The number and size of IMES and OIS awards change with the funding UBC has each year, so nobody can tell you in advance which figure you will get. UBC says it puts more than CAD 35 million a year into awards and support for international undergraduates.
International Major Entrance Scholarship
IMES goes to students coming straight from secondary school. It is the better of the two merit awards because it can be renewed for up to three more years, which means four years of support if you keep your academic standing. UBC looks at exceptional grades, intellectual promise and what you do outside class, including community involvement.
Outstanding International Student Award
OIS is a one-time entrance award. Unlike IMES, it is open to transfer students as well as school leavers, so it is the one to aim for if you are coming from another college or university. Some scholarship sites call OIS ‘the UBC International Students Scholarship’ as if UBC had only one award for international students. It has several, listed in the table above.
International Scholars Program
This is the award to look at if your family cannot afford Canadian fees. UBC works out your need individually: the support you would require to live and study at UBC once every resource you and your family have is counted. Its financial review looks at family gross income, expenses and assets, and you must back it with official documents. UBC says it has supported more than 680 Scholars from more than 111 countries since 2001.
UBC’s International Scholars page describes four need and merit awards. You do not pick one; UBC considers you for each award you are eligible for.
| Award category | Who it is for |
|---|---|
| Leadership award (named in UBC nomination packages as the Karen McKellin International Leader of Tomorrow Award) | Students with superior grades and leadership that empowers others through collaboration, empathy and active listening, plus service to school and community |
| Award for students from impoverished or war-torn areas (named in UBC packages as the Donald A. Wehrung International Student Award) | Outstanding students who have excelled despite hardship and could not attend university without significant financial help |
| Sustainability and social justice award (listed by Scholars4Dev as the International Impact Award) | Students leading real solutions in sustainability and climate change, conservation, social justice, equity and inclusion, or health and wellness. Priority goes to first-generation learners and students from diverse lived backgrounds |
| Vantage One Excellence Award (UBC Vantage College) | Academically outstanding students who do not yet meet UBC’s English Language Admission Standard. Worth up to the full cost of the programme and living expenses |
Scholars also get dedicated International Scholars advisors, workshops and retreats (UBC counts more than 200 hours of development workshops and one-to-one support over a degree), and can still take part in exchange and co-op. UBC does not publish the number of awards on its page; Scholars4Dev puts it at about 50 a year across the four categories.
You cannot hold an International Scholars nomination and also be considered for IMES or OIS. Both merit awards exclude anyone nominated for an International Scholars award.
How the International Scholars application works
The 2027 International Scholars application runs on UBC’s undergraduate scholarships portal. It opened on 5 October 2026 at 9:00 a.m. Pacific time and closes on 15 November 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time. Inside the portal you complete three tasks: the application form, a nomination form and a recommendation request.
- Nomination: you send a nomination request from the portal to your school (UBC’s portal says “your institution”), entering the nominator’s name and email. Scholars4Dev adds that a non-profit organisation can nominate; confirm that with UBC if your school cannot. Ask early, because your nominator has to complete their part before 15 November.
- Teacher referee: you click “Request a Recommendation”, enter a teacher’s name and email, and the request goes out from the portal.
- Essays: the award application includes written responses. The listings do not give the prompts or word limits.
- Financial information: you and your family provide official documents on gross income, expenses and assets so UBC can calculate your need. UBC expects that your family cannot pay a significant share of your costs and has no access to outside funding.
- Academic standard: UBC asks for superior academic achievement, which it defines as all As or the equivalent.
Questions about the programme or nominations go to international.awards@ubc.ca (include your full name). You must also submit your UBC admission application by the same 15 November date, then meet the English requirement and send admission documents by 31 January 2027.
Deadline warning
For International Scholars, the UBC admission application and the award application are both due on 15 November 2026. Some listings still give 1 December 2026 for the admission application; that date applies to Canadian citizens and permanent residents applying for domestic awards, not to international applicants.
Degrees that cannot receive International Scholars awards
- Bachelor of Nursing (Okanagan and Vancouver)
- Bachelor of Dental Science in Dental Hygiene
- Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science
- Bachelor + Master of Management
- Dual degrees, joint UBC Okanagan and UBC Vancouver degrees, and joint degrees with other institutions
For the Vantage One Excellence Award you must come straight from secondary school, meet Vantage College’s own admission and English requirements, and start in the Vantage One programme.
Eligibility for UBC international student scholarships
For IMES and OIS you need to meet all of these:
- You are new to UBC. IMES is for students entering from secondary school; OIS also accepts students entering from a college or university.
- You will study in Canada on a Canadian study permit. UBC warns that a change in citizenship status can affect eligibility.
- You have outstanding grades and strong involvement outside class.
- You were not nominated for an International Scholars award.
- You applied to UBC by the admission deadline.
For the International Scholars Program, UBC lists these requirements and says there are no exceptions: you study in Canada on a study permit, you enter directly from an accredited secondary school, you graduated from secondary school no earlier than June 2026 (for 2027 entry), you are starting your first undergraduate degree, you show significant financial need with official documents, you have all As or the equivalent, and you meet UBC’s general, degree-specific and English requirements. If you do not meet the English standard, Vantage College is the route. International Scholars applicants must meet the English requirement and send required documents by 31 January 2027.
Eligibility edge cases
- You finished secondary school a while ago: for 2027 entry, UBC says International Scholars applicants must have graduated no earlier than June 2026 and must enter directly from secondary school. Older Scholars4Dev text allows transfers after a first year of college; UBC’s current page does not, so transfer students should look at OIS instead.
- You already have a degree: International Scholars is for a first undergraduate degree only.
- You are a Canadian permanent resident or dual citizen: these awards are for students on a Canadian study permit. UBC warns that a change in citizenship status can affect eligibility, so tell UBC if your status changes after you apply.
- You want both merit and need-based support: you cannot have both. A nomination for International Scholars removes you from IMES and OIS, so decide which route fits you before 15 November.
- You are applying to a programme without a personal profile: UBC lists Architecture and Landscape programmes, Dental Hygiene and Music as exceptions. Ask UBC how merit awards are assessed for those programmes.
UBC scholarship deadlines for 2027 entry
| Date (Pacific time) | What happens |
|---|---|
| Early October 2026 | UBC application opens for September 2027 entry |
| 15 November 2026, 11:59 p.m. | Apply to UBC and submit the International Scholars award application |
| 15 January 2027, 11:59 p.m. | UBC application deadline for Winter Session 2027; this also covers IMES and OIS |
| 31 January 2027 | International Scholars applicants meet the English requirement and send documents |
| Mid February to end of April 2027 | IMES and OIS decisions; only winners are contacted |
| April 2027 | International Scholars awards announced |
| 1 May or 1 June 2027 | Accept your offer and pay the deposit (check your letter for your date) |
In Nigeria (West Africa Time) the 15 January deadline falls at 8:59 a.m. on 16 January. Elsewhere, convert from Pacific Standard Time, which is GMT minus 8 in November and January. I would submit at least a week early, because school reports and English test scores often arrive late.
How to apply for UBC scholarships as an international student
- Pick your campus and degree: the Okanagan awards only apply at UBC Okanagan, while IMES and OIS run on both campuses.
- Decide on International Scholars early: if you need help with living costs, you must apply to UBC and finish the award application by 15 November 2026.
- Apply to UBC: use the online application at myapplication.ubc.ca before 15 January 2027 at the latest.
- Write the personal profile carefully: UBC weighs your activities and community involvement for merit awards, so give real examples with dates and results.
- Send documents on time: applicants from high schools outside Canada must send required documents by 15 March 2027.
- Watch your email from February: scholarship winners hear between mid February and the end of April. If you hear nothing, you were not selected.
- Apply for your study permit: do it as soon as you accept your offer, since it can take several months.
How to write the UBC personal profile for scholarships
The personal profile is the written part of your UBC application, and UBC says it is used to decide both admission fit and entrance scholarships. High school applicants to most degrees must complete it. Each answer must be between 500 and 2,100 characters, roughly 50 to 500 words, and the system cuts off anything longer.
| Question | What to put in it |
|---|---|
| 1. Who you are and what you are most proud of | One defining trait shown through a short example, plus one achievement with a result |
| 2. What is important to you, and why | A value you act on, with evidence you act on it |
| 3. Up to five activities or accomplishments | Clubs, family duties, work, sport, arts, volunteering; your role in each |
| 4. More detail on one or two activities | What you did, what changed and what you learned |
| 5. Academic history and future plans | Context for any dip in grades and where you want the degree to take you |
Trained readers score profiles against other applicants on four things: engagement and accomplishment, leadership (including informal leadership), substance and voice. In practice that means specific examples in your own words, with no clichés. Family responsibilities count as activities, which matters if you spend afternoons caring for siblings or working in a family shop.
A short example opening for question 1: “My friends would call me the person who fixes things. Since Year 10 I have repaired phones for neighbours in our street, and last year I trained two younger boys so the service keeps running while I study.” It answers the question directly and gives a concrete, checkable activity.
You also name two referees who know you well, one of whom can speak to an activity in your long answers. High school applicants need one school official, such as a counsellor or teacher. Friends, family and paid agents are not allowed, and UBC may contact referees to confirm your activities.
What UBC scholarships will not cover
A CAD 10,000 to CAD 25,000 award helps, but UBC’s international tuition is far higher, and you still need rent, food and insurance. You must also show Canadian immigration that you can pay for your first year when you apply for the study permit. Plan your budget as if you will get the smallest award, then treat anything larger as a bonus.
Expect these costs on top of tuition, whatever award you get:
- Rent, food and transport in Vancouver or Kelowna.
- Health insurance, which international students must have.
- The study permit application and biometrics fees, plus travel to a visa application centre.
- Your flight to Canada and winter clothing.
- The acceptance deposit due on 1 May or 1 June 2027, which you pay upfront.
If you want other Canadian options to compare, read our guides to the Lester B. Pearson scholarship at the University of Toronto and McGill University scholarships.
What happens after you apply
- Admission decision: UBC reviews your grades and personal profile.
- Merit award review: IMES and OIS winners are contacted between mid February and the end of April 2027. Unsuccessful candidates are not contacted.
- International Scholars: UBC announces these awards in April 2027.
- Accept and pay the deposit: by 1 May or 1 June 2027, depending on your offer letter.
- Study permit: apply as soon as you accept, using your award letter as part of your proof of funds.
Common mistakes
- Missing 15 November 2026 because you thought the International Scholars deadline was the same as the UBC deadline.
- Writing a vague personal profile with lists of titles and no examples.
- Choosing referees who barely know you, or a relative.
- Budgeting on the top CAD 25,000 award instead of the bottom of the range.
- Leaving English test scores and school documents until the last week.
How UBC compares with similar Canadian scholarships
| Scholarship | Value | Application |
|---|---|---|
| UBC IMES and OIS | CAD 10,000 to 25,000 | Automatic with admission |
| Lester B. Pearson (Toronto) | Tuition, books, fees and residence for four years | School nomination |
| York University scholarships | CAD 2,500 to 37,500 automatic; PISE CAD 180,000 | Automatic, plus PISE application |
| University of Ottawa scholarships | Up to CAD 70,000 over a degree | Automatic, based on admission average |
Who should apply, and who should not
Apply to UBC with scholarships in mind if you have top grades, a record of activities you can describe in detail, and a family budget that can cover the gap left by a partial award. If your family cannot pay Canadian fees at all, the International Scholars route or a fully funded award like Lester B. Pearson is the realistic option.
Do not count on UBC funding if you need a fully funded place and cannot get a nomination, or if you already hold a degree. In that case, compare the automatic awards at Ottawa and York, which are tied to your admission average.
FAQ on UBC scholarships for international students
Is there a separate application for the UBC International Major Entrance Scholarship?
No. If you get an offer and applied by the 15 January 2027 deadline, UBC considers you automatically for IMES and OIS.
Is the UBC scholarship fully funded for international students?
IMES and OIS are not. UBC says they do not cover the full cost of education. International Scholars awards are set by your financial need and can cover much more.
When is the UBC International Scholars deadline for 2027?
You must apply to UBC and submit the award application by 15 November 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time.
Can transfer students get UBC scholarships?
Yes. The Outstanding International Student Award accepts students coming from a college or university. IMES is for students entering from secondary school.
Sources and updates
Award values, eligibility and the decision timeline come from UBC’s scholarships and awards for international students page. All dates come from UBC’s undergraduate dates and deadlines page for 2027 entry. International Scholars eligibility, award categories, excluded degrees and the need assessment come from UBC’s International Scholars page, and the portal dates, nomination and referee steps from UBC’s 2027 International Scholars Program application page, both checked on 25 October 2026. UBC’s page describes the awards by category; the Karen McKellin and Donald A. Wehrung names come from UBC nomination packages from earlier years, and the International Impact Award name and the figure of about 50 awards come from Scholars4Dev. That UBC page had not yet been refreshed for September 2027 when checked, so look at it again before you apply. Other information checked on 24 October 2026. I will update the OIS value when UBC publishes the figure for 2027/2028.
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
