Immigration Documents, Study Permit (Visa)
Persons who are not Canadian citizens or Landed Immigrants require a Study Permit (Student Authorization, Visa) in order to enter Canada to study. This is obtained from a Canadian Consular or Immigration Office. Once you have received the official UBC letter of acceptance from the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, apply to the nearest Canadian Immigration Processing Centre or Embassy/High Commission/Consulate as soon as possible as it may take eight to twelve weeks for processing a Study Permit request; for students from the People’s Republic of China it may take three to six months.
To apply for your Student Permit you will require:
- UBC letter of acceptance
- A valid passport
- Evidence of adequate funds to support yourself and any dependents that may accompany you to Canada
- A completed Application for a Student Authorization form
- Other documentation as outlined in the Application for a Student Authorization form. You may obtain this form from a Canadian Visa Office
If your application for a Study Permit is approved, your UBC letter of acceptance will be returned to you. You should retain it for presentation to the Immigration Officer at the Canadian point of entry. For additional information on Student Authorization application forms, procedures, fees, etc. please refer to the Canada Immigration home page or contact your nearest Canadian Immigration Processing Centre or Embassy-High Commission-Consulate.
On-Campus Employment and a Social Insurance Number
In order to work while completing your graduate degree or to receive payments of awards and scholarships, you must have a Canadian Social Insurance Number (SIN). International students are permitted by Canada Immigration to accept part-time employment on campus. After you arrive, you must apply as soon as possible to the nearest Canadian Employment Centre for a Canadian Social Insurance Number.
Please see the Guidance page for more information about this.
Spouses of students holding a Study Permit may apply for Employment Authorizations in order to accept employment in Canada for the duration of the Study Permit provided they can show legal proof of marriage to the holder of a valid Study Permit.
Please see the UBC International House page for more info.
International Partial Tuition Scholarships
UBC offers International Partial Tuition Scholarships which are applied to assist with their tuition fees if they are registered full-time in masters programs (except for MEng program) or in fifth or later years of doctoral programs that assess tuition fees of $7,344 per year.
Students from Commonwealth countries may be eligible for Commonwealth Scholarships from the Canadian government.
Note: the Department strongly recommend all International students to bring extra transcripts (endorsed & sealed) both in original Language and English translation for a purpose to apply the applicable Awards.
