When you receive your offer to UBC Engineering, you’re not just being invited to join one of Canada’s – and the world’s – best engineering schools. You’re being invited to be part of a community that will shape your university experience and stay with you long after you graduate. From your first day on campus to your first job as an engineer, you’ll be surrounded by people who want you to succeed.
one of Canada’s – and the world’s – best engineering schools
Designed for friendship and collaboration from day one
Engineering at UBC is, by design, a team sport. Starting in the first term of first year, many of your assignments will be group-based design projects. You’ll be working on open-ended real-world design challenges with other students – some of whom may end up as casual acquaintances while others may become study partners or lasting friends.
Throughout your degree, there will be lots of opportunities to work with and learn from others. In the Engineering Physics program, for example, second-year students spend six weeks in the summer building a robot that has to perform a defined task.
“Despite this being a ‘competition,’ the vibes in the lab were incredibly friendly and supportive,” says Engineering Physics Tumi Fabiyi. “The lab felt lively and collaborative, and I felt comfortable asking for advice or ideas when we got stuck and offering support in turn. Having so many people openly sharing their expertise made tackling challenges less intimidating and learning easier and far more rewarding.”
Through these experiences, you’ll build your engineering knowledge, while also developing essential skills in communication, teamwork and leadership that are crucial to your academic, professional and personal development.
Faculty and staff invested in your success
UBC Engineering professors are leaders in their fields, but they’re also approachable mentors who care deeply about student learning.
UBC alum Aditya Chaudhuri says that meeting and learning from his professors was a highlight of his university experience. “I’m fortunate to have attended UBC and to have learned from such capable and qualified professors – they are stars! By bringing stories into each classroom discussion, weaving in real-life examples, and transforming theory into application, they made engineering fun and relevant.”
Professors are there to help you. “I’ve always had an open door policy and I encourage my students to come and talk with me,” says Dr. Taheri, who oversees the first-year engineering design course at UBC Okanagan.
Most engineering programs also host a “beef and pizza” night each semester where students and professors get together to talk about what’s working and what’s not.
Research in Action: Meet some of our professors
Design teams that ignite passion and purpose
UBC’s engineering design teams are a great place to meet people outside of the classroom. We have more engineering design teams than any other university in Canada, so whether you are passionate about robotics or aerospace, autonomous vehicles or sustainability in action, there’s a team for you and they’d love to meet you!
As Dr. James Olson, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Science points out, design teams are far more than a place to make friends and build your community. They are an incredible opportunity to explore your interests and grow your skills.
“Students come together to work on complex, interdisciplinary projects where they gain hands-on technical skills and essential experience in collaboration, leadership, overcoming adversity and so much more,” says Dr. Olson. “This is a great way for our students – in addition to their co-op experiences and capstone projects – to really see firsthand the profound impact they can have as an engineer in our world.”
Dr. James Olson engineering design teams
Clubs that broaden your world
Both UBC campuses have many clubs you can join, where you will form connections and friendships with people outside of engineering. Current students and alumni consistently say that getting involved in these groups is one of the best ways to get and maintain a balanced life.
“A highlight of my university experience was my involvement in the community through extracurricular activities, particularly Zen at UBC,” says alum Roger Luo, who is now working for Apple. “It became an invaluable practice that helped me cope with the pressures of campus life and fostered a stronger connection with the community and the world around me.”
For student Ruddy Ndina, getting involved in UBC Civil Club, Engineering Undergraduate Society and the UBC Africa Awareness Initiative were defining opportunities that enabled him to learn more about himself, meet like-minded people and make an impact.
Co-op expands your network beyond campus
If you decide to participate in co-op, you can grow your community beyond UBC. As a co-op student, you’ll complete paid work terms ranging in length from four to 12 months at leading local, national and international companies. In addition to gaining real-world experience, you’ll also be making new connections and growing your professional network.
Being part of the UBC community pays off. “Our partners know what UBC Engineering and its students can do,” says Dr. Olson. “That’s why they are so eager to sponsor capstone projects, hire our co-op students, and put our graduates at the top of a shortlist when making hiring decisions.”
