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 sets the amount from your need: total tuition, fees and living costs, minus what you and your family can pay each year. It runs under several award names, including the Karen McKellin International Leader of Tomorrow Award, the Donald A. Wehrung International Student Award and the International Impact Award. UBC says it has supported more than 680 Scholars from more than 111 countries since 2001.
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
Two scholarship listings that summarise UBC’s International Scholars page (After School Africa and Scholars4Dev) agree on how this award is applied for. Check the official page before you start, but expect these parts:
- Nomination: your secondary school, usually through a guidance counsellor, or a registered non-profit organisation must nominate you. Ask early, because your nominator has to complete their part before 15 November.
- Academic referee: you invite a teacher to submit a reference through the application 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 details of income and assets so UBC can calculate your need.
- Academic standard: the listings describe the expected level as all As or the equivalent.
Scholars4Dev puts the number of International Scholars awards at about 50 a year, across four award types. You do not choose which one; UBC considers you for all you qualify for.
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, you also need to show financial need and meet UBC’s English Language Admission Standard. 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 International Scholars, listings say you must have graduated no earlier than June two years before the year you start. Older graduates 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. The International Scholars award names and the need calculation are taken from a Scholars4Dev summary of UBC’s International Scholars page, which I could not open directly, so check that page before you apply. The personal profile questions, character limits, assessment criteria and referee rules come from UBC’s personal profile page. The International Scholars nomination, referee, essay and financial requirements, the graduation-date rule and the figure of about 50 awards come from After School Africa and Scholars4Dev summaries. 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.
