Transition to UBC

In November of Year 2, you will receive an email from the Dual Degree Program Manager at UBC with more information about the upcoming summer and arrival, and housing at UBC.

You do not need to apply for housing until March, but will be asked to indicate when you will need housing so we can begin planning. You will be asked to indicate:

• If you require housing on campus for the Summer session (July-August prior to Year 3)
• If you require housing on campus for Year 3 (September to April)

The Program Manager will also provide information on the date when you will be able to move into residence, and a general schedule for your ASTU 160 an 260 seminars.

Prior to March 1, you will receive an email from the Dual Degree Program Manager reminding you to apply for housing at UBC. Housing for all Dual Degree students is guaranteed for the July to August before Year 3, and for all of Year 3 from September to April.

All students apply directly to Student Housing online. You will be able to rank preferences for which type of housing you would like to live in, and also indicate if you have any roommate preferences. Please apply for housing for the following sessions:

• Summer session of your current year (ie: 2019 Summer for July-August 2019)
• Winter session of the upcoming academic year (ie: 2019 Winter for 2019/2020 year).
• Dual Degree students are not eligible for year-round housing and should not select the YRH option.

Read more about housing to determine what type of housing best suits your needs.

In March, your UBC dual degree academic advisor will visit your Sciences Po campus. During the campus visit, you are required to attend:

• A presentation about UBC, with specific information about the BA, resources, and opportunities on campus. This provides a general overview of what your transition to UBC will be like, and what you can expect from your time at UBC.
• An individual advising appointment to help create your study plan. This is extremely important as it will help prepare you for registration at UBC, which takes place in June.

Before your individual advising appointment, you should think about what areas you would like to specialize in, your academic and professional goals, and other areas that you might be interested in exploring. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the BA at UBC so you can get the most out of your appointment:

• Dual Degree program requirements
• UBC Faculty of Arts list of specializations
• Types of specializations in the UBC BA
• Adding a minor

If you are a non-Canadian citizen, this meeting is extremely important as the advisor will also bring you a physical copy of the UBC Letter of Enrolment that you will need in order to apply for a Canadian study permit.

If you are a non-Canadian citizen, you should apply for your study permit as soon as you have received your UBC Letter of Enrolment. This process can take several months depending on your citizenship, so it's important to start as early as possible.

If you are a Canadian citizen, you do not need to obtain any documentation to study in Canada.

After your individual appointment with the academic advisor, you will converse via email to put together a study plan for Year 3 at UBC.

• Program Requirements (Majors)
• BA Degree Requirements (click the "Bachelor of Arts (BA)" tab)
• UBC Course Schedule
• Academic Advising information and FAQ

At UBC, students are responsible for registering for courses. Consult the course registration resources on the Academic Advising page to learn more about registration, how to prepare, and things to consider when putting together your schedule.

At UBC, registration takes place based on your designated year level. Detailed information on registration is found at the Academic Advising page.

You will receive an email 2 weeks before your registration opens to let you know your date and time are available on the Student Service Centre (SSC). Registration is determined based on your year level. See here for detailed registration dates - look for information on when third-year students can register for dates that apply to you.

In June, you will receive an email from UBC Housing with your housing offers for the sessions that you have applied for. You have only 7 days to accept your offer, and must accept your offer during this time. If you miss the offer acceptance period, your spot in housing will be offered to another student and the program cannot get your spot back for you.

As you start packing for your move, be sure to bring mostly personal items and things that are important to you! For extra convenience, Campus Linens of Canada offers online sales of high quality bed and bath linens, and you can order linens and towels to be delivered to your Summer or Winter residence before you arrive. Your items will be waiting for you when you arrive if you order before the designated deadlines.

You will arrive at UBC on your designated move-in date to move into your residence. Before that, be sure to read through UBC's International Student Guide ,a useful resource for students coming to study in Canada, and includes important and helpful information on health insurance, immigration documents, working in Canada, paying Canadian taxes, and other topics. The guide is useful for Canadian students, especially if you've been away for a few years.

Once you are settled, you will want to get your UBC Student Card at the Bookstore, and your Compass card so you can get around on local transit.

Once you arrive in Canada, you will need to apply for BC's Medical Services Plan. See the Health Insurance page to determine what you need to do to ensure you have adequate coverage, based on  your specific circumstances.

Throughout July and August, you will be enrolled in the ASTU 160 and ASTU 260 seminars. While you will be registered in two classes, you will have plenty of time to get used to the UBC Vancouver campus, get to know Vancouver, experience the outdoors and local mountains, and will have time to study, play, and find a job on campus.

On the first day of classes, campus is transformed and the entire UBC community comes together to welcome you to your new academic community and celebrate the start of the school year. Classes are officially cancelled that day, and all students participate in Imagine UBC. As a new student to campus, it will be an opportunity to learn about your new academic environment, clubs and activities on campus, and meet other students in your specialization.