Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

We accept approximately 1,000 first-year students into the Bachelor of Applied Science (Engineering) each year. It’s a competitive program and, unfortunately, we cannot offer spots to all students who apply. If you want to improve your chances of being accepted, we recommend completing the required courses, maintaining a high academic average and having a strong personal profile.

Required courses Personal profile

Another pathway to UBC Engineering is to apply to an Engineering Transfer Program, at one of our nine partner institutions in BC. You will study the same first-year engineering curriculum at another institution and then transfer directly into Year 2 of UBC Engineering if you meet the minimum GPA requirements.

Engineering Transfer Program

Students who have completed AP or IB Certificate courses can be assessed in conjunction with another high school curriculum. 

Students who have completed the IB Diploma Programme with at least three higher-level courses can be admitted to UBC based on their IB results. You can review the requirements online. 

Once your final AP or IB results are available, we will use them to confirm your admission decision and any first-year credit you may be eligible for.

Generally, you will only be considered for the second-choice option you listed on your application if you are ineligible for your first choice program. However, if you do change your mind, you can ask to be evaluated for your second choice, but this will be based on the spaces available when you contact us.  

If you like solving problems and making the world a better place, engineering could be a great fit. Take a look at Stephanie’s video about why she choose engineering!

The admission process is gender blind, which means we do not give preference to girls.

However, along with engineering organizations across Canada, UBC does have several outreach opportunities to help introduce more girls to STEM fields. These include UBC Geering Up Engineering Outreach’s All-Girls Events

All-Girls Events

We want more young women to consider applying for engineering as we know that diverse perspectives can contribute to better and more innovative solutions.

The deadline for first-round offers for direct-entry high school students who follow a Canadian curriculum is December 1 of the year before you will begin your studies at UBC. If you apply by December 1, you could receive a first-round admission offer in February. However, even if you are not offered a first-round offer of admission, you will still be considered in the spring based on your updated academic results. Check out the Admissions Blog for more info on First Round Offers. Please note that you must apply by December 1 to be automatically considered for many UBC scholarships.

First Round Offers

If you are applying to UBC Engineering as a post-secondary transfer applicant, you must apply by December 1 if you want to be considered on your interim transcripts.

The final deadline for all applicants is January 15. You must apply on or before this deadline.

Most offers of admission to UBC Engineering are conditional. This means that you must meet certain conditions, which could include keeping up your grades, completing all your required courses by the deadline indicated and submitting your final documents. If there are any significant changes in your academic standing, your offer may be reassessed.

This is true for both first-round offers of admission and regular offers of admission. Please check your Offer of Admission letter, available in the Student Service Centre, for more information on the conditions you are required to meet.

Yes! Most students do not have their final transcript available until after our admissions assessment. First-round admissions offers for direct-entry high school students are based on final grades submitted by December 1. These offers are mainly assessed on your final Grade 11 scores and your personal profile.

If you weren’t offered a spot based in the first round of admissions, you’ll be considered again in our regular admissions assessment, which will use grades available in February and March. Required courses for direct-entry high school students entering UBC Engineering must be completed by June 30.

Required courses

Post-secondary transfer applicants who wish to be admitted based on their interim results and have applied by December 1, must submit their transcript by January 31.

You will apply to UBC’s Bachelor of Applied Science (Engineering) on the application. The foundational first-year curriculum will provide you with the skills you need to succeed as an engineer. At the end of first year you will apply for the specific engineering program you want to pursue, and you will begin these studies in year two.

If your new course grade is available at the time of assessment, UBC will use that grade when reviewing your application.

We highly recommend starting at the campus you plan to graduate from. While it is possible to transfer between the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses, it can be complicated as the courses offered at the two locations are not identical and space is limited.

Typically, transfer students to UBC Engineering do not need to complete a personal profile. The application will automatically ask you to include it if it is required for you.

For post-secondary transfer applicants, we typically look at the most recent 30 credits you have completed, as well as all chemistry, math and physics courses you have completed in post-secondary studies. UBC Admissions sometimes requests to review your high school grades. This could be if they want a more holistic understanding of your academic history or if you have completed less than 24 credits.  

The foundational first year program includes 13 classes for a total of 37 credits. You can see the courses included in the first year program.

First Year Program

Your Bachelor of Applied Science degree at UBC will be four or more years. The foundational first year includes two engineering courses as well as courses in math, chemistry, physics and communications that form the basis of engineering. In second year, you’ll choose a specific engineering discipline. Your classes will incorporate theory, hands-on projects, labs and tutorials. You can also choose to participate in programs like studying abroad, taking a minor or participating in co-op; however, pursuing some of these opportunities may extend your degree to five years.

Studying abroad Taking a minor  Participating in co-op

Some programs have more flexibility than others, but there are also lots of ways to customize your degree by studying abroad, taking a minor, doing a dual degree, completing co-op, and more. You will take at least two humanities electives during your degree, and some engineering programs will require additional electives or technical electives.

Taking a minor Doing a dual degree Completing co-op

You can complete a minor in science, commerce, entrepreneurship, arts or honours math. You can also pursue a dual degree in arts and engineering. Students typically apply for this during their first year at UBC, and we recommend that you speak with your academic advisor if this is something you are interested in.

minor dual degree

There are two major engineering projects in the first year: the cardboard chair project and the claw project. Check out the videos below to learn more about these complex and fun projects.

First Year Engineering Project: The Cardboard Chair!

APSC 101: The Claw

The foundational first-year curriculum will introduce you to the many different types of engineering. In the APSC 100 and 101 classes, you are given presentations on each of the disciplines available to help you make your decision. Over the year, we’ll also make sure you have other information to help you decide, including historical averages for each program.

Check out Stephanie’s video about being a part of the Women in Engineering club at UBC and hear her perspective on what it is like to be a woman in engineering.

You can also chat with our Engineering Ambassadors to learn about their experiences.

Engineering Ambassadors

Yes! Women in Engineering promotes gender diversity, equity and inclusion in engineering. Students of any gender are welcome to join and support these initiatives. UBC Gears and Queers also strives to build and support a community for queer engineering students and provide a positive safe space on the UBC campus through social and professional events and a visible presence in engineering student life. 

UBC Gears and Queers

The benefit of UBC’s foundational first year is that you are exposed to all the engineering disciplines so that you can make a more informed choice for your program of study. We also encourage students to consider the field they want to work in as many engineering disciplines can lead to the same field of work.

If you are in a discipline that you have decided is not right for you, you might be eligible for an interdepartmental transfer. Please be aware that this will be based on space available in the program and you will need to meet the competitive average. This will likely also extend the length of your degree.

You can get involved in research in a variety of ways, including paid work experience through co-op or participating in the Undergraduate Student Research Awards. There are also clubs like the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Club to ensure all undergraduate students can access multidisciplinary research opportunities. For more information about getting involved in research, check out the Engineering Stories video How do I get into research in first year at UBC?

Undergraduate Research Awards Research in first year

Co-op is an optional work experience opportunity. It is a great way to get industry experience while getting paid and exploring your career opportunities. You will need to apply in September of your second or third year. Students must complete four to five work terms. Each work term is four months in length and will alternate with school terms. You can see what the work term schedule looks like for all disciplines on the website.

Co-op work term schedules

Co-op provides you with up to 20 months of paid work experience, and extends your degree from four years to five years. Your co-op work experience can also count for up to one year of work credit towards your Engineer-in-Training status.

Co-op is an optional program that you apply for in your second or third year of study. Find out about the requirements you will have to meet to be accepted into the co-op program.

co-op program requirements 

You can join a UBC club as early as your first year! Check out the full list of UBC clubs and UBC Engineering design teams.

UBC clubs UBC Engineering design teams

CIE is the Coordinated International Experience, which allows students to complete a semester of their education at an international engineering institution abroad. Most students that participate in CIE study abroad in a semester during their third year.  

Coordinated International Experience

Engineering is the foundation of the products, processes and technologies that improve our quality of life and are building a better future. Just as there’s great diversity in the type of work engineers do, there’s also diversity in engineering careers and what makes for a typical work day. You might work in an office setting, industrial facility or remote site. For more information about what you can do with your degree, have a look at any of our 14 programs or check out our Behind the Careers YouTube playlist for insight into what working as an engineer might look like for you.

what you can do with your degree our 14 engineering programs

A recent report of earning statistics for undergraduate degrees shows that regardless of gender, the top-paying careers are in engineering. However, there is still a gender wage gap in some STEM fields due to the underrepresentation of women in STEM. You can find more details about the gender wage gap in STEM from Stats Canada. UBC is working to increase the number of women in engineering through our outreach efforts. A more diverse student population will to address the gender wage gap as more women enter STEM careers. 

earning statistics Stats Canada