University of British Columbia facts for kids
Coat of arms
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| Motto |
Tuum Est (Latin)
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Motto in English
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"It is up to you" "It is yours" |
| Established | 1908 |
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Academic affiliations
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ACU, APRU, ASAIHL, Universities Canada, U15 |
| Endowment | CA$2.8 billion (2023) |
| Budget | CA$3.4 billion (2023) |
| Chancellor | Steven Point |
| President | Benoit-Antoine Bacon |
| Provost | Gage Averill (Vancouver) and Rehan Sadiq (Okanagan) |
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Academic staff
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5,696 (Vancouver) 600 (Okanagan) |
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Administrative staff
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10,647 (Vancouver) 835 (Okanagan) |
| Students | 66,266 |
| Undergraduates | 44,882 (Vancouver) 8,990 (Okanagan) |
| Postgraduates | 9,981 (Vancouver) 945 (Okanagan) |
| Location |
,
Canada
Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
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| Campus | Vancouver: 4.020 km2 (993 acres) Okanagan: 2.086 km2 (515 acres) |
| Language | English |
| Newspaper | The Ubyssey (Vancouver) The Phoenix News (Okanagan) |
| Colours | Blue and gold |
| Nickname | Thunderbirds (Vancouver) Heat (Okanagan) |
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Sporting affiliations
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NAIA, U Sports, CWUAA |
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The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a large public research university in British Columbia, Canada. It has two main campuses: one near Vancouver and another in Okanagan. UBC was started in 1908, making it the oldest university in British Columbia. It spends over $773 million on research each year, funding more than 10,000 projects.
The Vancouver campus is about 10 kilometers (6 miles) west of downtown Vancouver. It is home to TRIUMF, Canada's national lab for particle and nuclear physics. This lab has the world's largest cyclotron, a machine used to speed up tiny particles. UBC also works with the Max Planck Society to study quantum materials. The UBC Library system is one of the biggest in Canada, with over 10 million books and items across 21 branches. The Okanagan campus opened in 2005 in Kelowna, British Columbia.
Many famous people have been part of UBC. This includes eight Nobel Prize winners, 74 Rhodes scholars, and 65 Olympians. Three Canadian prime ministers also studied at UBC: John Turner, Kim Campbell (Canada's first female prime minister), and the current prime minister, Justin Trudeau.
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Discovering UBC's Past
How UBC Began
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The idea for a university in British Columbia started in 1877. John Jessop, the Superintendent of Education, suggested it. In 1890, a law was passed to create the University of British Columbia. However, people argued about where to build it.
The British Columbia University Act of 1908 officially created the university. It set up two main groups to run it: the Senate, which handled school rules, and the Board of Governors, which managed money. The university president connected these two groups.
Before UBC officially opened, some colleges offered university-level courses. McGill University was very important in higher education in the early 1900s. From 1906 to 1915, McGill University College of British Columbia offered the first few years of a university degree.
In 1910, the Point Grey area was chosen for the main campus. Dr. Frank Wesbrook became the first president in 1913. Because of a bad economy and World War I, building at Point Grey was delayed. So, UBC first opened at the old McGill University College site in Fairview in 1915. UBC gave out its first degrees in 1916.
Moving to Point Grey Campus
World War I greatly affected campus life. Many male students joined the army. By the end of the war, 697 male students had enlisted.
By 1920, UBC had three main areas of study: Arts, Applied Science, and Agriculture. Students could earn Bachelor of Arts, Applied Science, or Agriculture degrees. There were 576 male students and 386 female students. Only 64 teachers worked at the university.
In 1922, students launched a "Build the University" campaign. They marched through Vancouver to get support and convince the government. Their efforts worked! On September 22, 1925, classes began at the new Point Grey campus. Most buildings were temporary at first. Students even built two sports fields.
Then, the Great Depression hit. The government cut funding to the university. Salaries for teachers were cut by up to 23%. Many courses were stopped. In 1935, heavy rains caused a huge gully to form on campus, closing the university for days.
When World War II started in 1939, military training became popular and then required. The war also marked the first time the Canadian government gave money to UBC for research. This helped set up future research funding.
After the Wars
After World War II, many veterans returned to school. UBC's buildings were not big enough for all the new students. The number of students jumped from 2,974 in 1944 to 9,374 in 1947. The university used old army and air force camps for classrooms and housing.
Between 1947 and 1951, UBC built 20 new permanent buildings. This included the War Memorial Gym, which students helped pay for. By 1961, UBC had over 12,600 students. In 1963, the University of Victoria became its own university, changing the single-university rule in British Columbia.
Recent UBC History
In 1971, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau announced the creation of the Museum of Anthropology at UBC. The museum, designed by Arthur Erickson, opened in 1976.
UBC has also run successful fundraising campaigns. The "World of Opportunity" campaign in 1993 raised $262 million. The "Start an Evolution" campaign, which ended in 2015, raised over $1.6 billion.
Professor Santa J. Ono became UBC's 15th president in 2016. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, UBC held virtual graduation ceremonies. The university also received money to help promote COVID-19 vaccines. In 2023, Benoit-Antoine Bacon became UBC's new president.
Exploring UBC Campuses
Vancouver Campus
The main campus is at Point Grey, about 10 kilometers (6 miles) from downtown Vancouver. It is on the traditional lands of the Musqueam people. The campus has beautiful views of the North Shore mountains and is close to beaches. The Pacific Spirit Regional Park acts as a green space around the campus.
Even though it's close, the campus is not inside Vancouver city limits. The RCMP police the campus, but the Vancouver Fire Department provides fire services.
UBC Vancouver also has smaller locations in the city. These include a medical campus at Vancouver General Hospital and a downtown campus at Robson Square for part-time courses.
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The campus has many beautiful gardens. The UBC Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research has over 8,000 different kinds of plants. The Nitobe Memorial Garden honors a Japanese scholar and is designed with hidden meanings.
The campus also has the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts. This center hosts concerts and shows. It has also been used as a filming location for TV shows like The 4400 and Battlestar Galactica.
Okanagan Campus
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The Okanagan Campus opened in 2005. It is in Kelowna, next to the Kelowna International Airport. This campus was created with the help of the Syilx Okanagan Nation.
In 2019, the Okanagan campus had over 10,700 students. It offers 62 undergraduate and 19 graduate programs. These include Arts, Science, Engineering, Nursing, and Management. UBC's Faculty of Medicine also trains doctors here.
From 2005 to 2012, the Okanagan campus grew a lot. Many new buildings were built for housing, teaching, and research. The Commons building opened in 2019, and two new student housing buildings opened in 2020 and 2021.
UBC Okanagan is also building a new campus in downtown Kelowna. This 43-story building will have academic spaces for health programs, art galleries, cafes, and housing. It is expected to be finished by 2027.
Libraries and Art Galleries
The UBC Library is Canada's second-largest academic library. It has 7.8 million books, 2.1 million e-books, and over 370,000 online journals. It also has more than 700,000 digital items.
The library has 15 branches across both the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses. The old Main Library was renovated and renamed the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre. It opened in 2008 and has a special system to store and retrieve books.
UBC has many unique collections. These include a 10,000-book library donated by Major General Victor Odlum. UBC also got about 28,000 movie DVDs and 4,000 VHS tapes from a video store that closed. In 2014, a collection of over 18,000 rare photos of British Columbia was donated. In 2016, the library got a very rare book called the Kelmscott Chaucer from 1896.
The Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery at UBC shows, collects, and studies modern art. It has over 5,000 art objects and a large archive. The gallery also holds talks, tours, and concerts.
UBC's Focus on Sustainability
UBC is known for its efforts in sustainability. This means making sure the university's actions are good for both the environment and people. UBC has been ranked high for how well it teaches about sustainability.
The Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability (CIRS) building is a great example. It is called North America's most sustainable building. It was designed to improve the environment around it. For example, it uses heat from a nearby building to warm itself.
The CIRS building is "net positive" in four ways. This means it creates more good for the environment than it takes. For instance, the wood used in the building stores a lot of carbon. This is more carbon than was created during its construction.
Other green features of the CIRS building include:
- Using only rainwater for its water supply.
- Having its own sewage treatment system.
- Using wood from trees killed by pine beetles, so fewer new trees were cut.
- Relying mostly on solar energy for electricity.
- Using natural light during the day.
UBC's new Student Union Building, which opened in 2015, also meets high sustainability standards. It has features like solar-powered cooling, green roofs, and a composting facility.
Saving Water at UBC
UBC has worked for over 20 years to save water. Two big projects, ECOTrek and UBC Renew, have helped a lot.
- ECOTrek: This project changed almost 300 buildings to save water and energy. It involved updating toilets, sinks, and water-cooled equipment. Meters were also installed to track water use in each building.
- UBC Renew: This project renovates old buildings instead of tearing them down. Tearing down buildings can harm the environment. Renovating saves water and energy.
Students at UBC are also working to make the campus bottled-water free. This helps reduce plastic waste and encourages eco-friendly habits.
How UBC is Run and What You Can Study
How UBC is Governed
UBC is run by several groups. The Board of Governors manages money and property. The Senate handles academic matters like courses and degrees. Both groups include teachers and students who are elected.
The Convocation, made up of alumni and staff, gives out degrees. The university also has a president. The president is the chief executive officer and helps manage the university's academic side.
Past Presidents of UBC
- Frank F. Wesbrook (1st President, 1913–1918)
- Leonard S. Klinck (2nd President, 1919–1944)
- Norman A.M. MacKenzie (3rd President, 1944–1962)
- John B. Macdonald (4th President, 1962–1967)
- F. Kenneth Hare (5th President, 1968–1969)
- Walter H. Gage (6th President, 1969–1975)
- Douglas T. Kenny (7th President, 1975–1983)
- K. George Pedersen (8th President, 1983–1985)
- Robert H. T. Smith (9th President, 1985)
- David W. Strangway (10th President, 1985–1997)
- Martha C. Piper (11th President, 1997–2006)
- Stephen J. Toope (12th President, 2006–2014)
- Arvind Gupta (13th President, 2014–2015)
- Martha Piper (Interim President, 2015–2016)
- Santa J. Ono (15th President, 2016–2022)
- Deborah Buszard (Interim President, 2022–2023)
- Benoit-Antoine Bacon (17th President, 2023–present)
Faculties and Schools at UBC
UBC has many different "faculties" and "schools" where students can study. The Vancouver campus has 12 faculties, and the Okanagan campus has seven.
The Faculty of Arts in Vancouver is the largest, with 20 departments. The Faculty of Science is the second largest. The Sauder School of Business is UBC's business school. There is also a School of Architecture and the UBC Vancouver School of Economics. In 2017, the School of Biomedical Engineering was created, combining Applied Science and Medicine.
UBC also has Vantage College for international students who need to improve their English before starting their main studies.
Dual Degree with Sciences Po
UBC offers a special program where students can earn two Bachelor of Arts degrees in four years. One degree is from UBC and the other is from Sciences Po in France. Students spend two years studying in France before coming to UBC.
UBC's Reputation and Rankings
UBC is highly ranked among universities around the world.
- In 2023, it was ranked 44th globally and 2nd in Canada by the Academic Ranking of World Universities.
- The 2024 QS World University Rankings placed UBC 34th in the world and 3rd in Canada.
- The 2024 Times Higher Education World University Rankings ranked UBC 41st globally and 2nd in Canada.
- U.S. News & World Report Best Global University Ranking ranked UBC 35th in the world and 2nd in Canada in 2022–23.
UBC is also ranked for how well its graduates find jobs. In 2022, Times Higher Education ranked UBC 36th globally for graduate employability.
Student Enrollment at UBC
In the 2023–24 school year, the average admission grade for Canadian first-year students was 89–91 percent. About 50% of Canadian applicants were accepted in 2013.
UBC has a total of 72,585 students across both campuses. About 28% of students are international, coming from other countries. Also, 3.2% of students are Indigenous.
Research at UBC
UBC is a member of Universitas 21, a group of leading research universities worldwide. It is also the only Canadian member of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities. In 2017, UBC had the second-largest research funding in Canada, totaling $577 million.
UBC runs several important research centers:
- The Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre on Vancouver Island studies marine life.
- The Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies supports research in many fields.
- The UBC Farm is a 24-hectare (59-acre) farm used for learning and research. It sells organic produce to the community.
- TRIUMF, a lab for particle and nuclear physics, is also at UBC. It is run by a group of 11 Canadian universities.
- The Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions studies how democracy works.
- The Stewart Blusson Quantum Matter Institute researches quantum materials.
In 2017, UBC partnered with Huawei for research on big data and fuel cell technology.
Indigenous Programs at UBC
UBC's Longhouse is the main center for Indigenous activities. The university has an Associate Dean of Indigenous Education. It offers degrees in First Nations and Indigenous Studies.
UBC also has programs to help Indigenous students. These include the Chinook Diploma Program in the business school and the Chinook Summer Biz Camp for high school students. It also runs a Bridge Through Sport Program and a Summer Science Program.
Managing UBC's Money
In 2012–13, UBC's budget was over $2 billion. The university gets about 45% of its money from government grants. Fundraising also brings in a lot of money, reaching $213 million in recent years.
Tuition Fees at UBC
Tuition fees are different for Canadian citizens and international students. They also vary depending on the program. Students also need money for housing, food, and health care. In 2012–2013, these extra costs were about $13,000 CAD per year.
Undergraduate Tuition
In 2012, tuition for a basic program for a Canadian student was about $4,700. However, some programs cost more, up to $9,640. For international students, tuition was much higher, ranging from $16,245 to $25,721 CAD in 2012.
In 2001–02, UBC had low tuition fees because the government froze them. But in 2002–03, tuition went up by about 30%. This led to better facilities but also student protests. Tuition continued to increase in later years. In 2014, tuition for new international students went up by 10%. In 2015, it increased by over 46% for international students over three years.
Graduate Tuition
For graduate programs, tuition fees also vary a lot. International graduate students without other funding can get up to $3,200 per year in support.
Life as a UBC Student
Student Representation
The Alma Mater Society of the University of British Columbia, or AMS, represents undergraduate students at the Vancouver campus. The AMS works to improve student life, offers services like health plans, and supports student clubs. It also manages the Student Union Building.
Graduate students are represented by the Graduate Student Society (GSS). Students also have elected representatives on the Board of Governors and the academic Senate.
At the Okanagan Campus, the Students' Union Okanagan (UBCSUO) represents students. They advocate for students and organize social events.
Student Demographics
In the 2020–21 school year, female students made up 57% of UBC Vancouver's student body and 53% of UBC Okanagan's student body.
Student Facilities
The main hub for student activities at UBC Vancouver is the Student Union Building (SUB). It has offices for student clubs, restaurants, a pub, a nightclub, a theater, and shops.
On June 1, 2015, the new Student Union Building, called the AMS Student Nest (or "the Nest"), opened. It is much larger and has many features, including a performance center, an art space, a ballroom, a climbing wall, and a rooftop garden. Many restaurants and the pub moved to the Nest.
Other student facilities include the Ladha Science Student Centre and the Meekison Arts Student Space. The UBC Bookstore sells books and other items, and its profits are reinvested into the university.
Greek Organizations
UBC has a large Greek system, with 19 Greek organizations. These include fraternities and sororities. The fraternities have weekly meetings at their houses. The sororities have chapter rooms in the Panhellenic House.
There are 11 international fraternities on campus. The first was Zeta Psi in 1926. There are also eight sororities, including Alpha Delta Pi and Kappa Kappa Gamma.
Phrateres has also been linked to the Greek system since 1935. Both campuses also have chapters of Sigma Phi Delta and Alpha Omega Epsilon, which are professional engineering fraternities and sororities. Alpha Kappa Psi is a professional business fraternity. Alpha Phi Omega is a community service fraternity.
Student Housing Options
The UBC Point Grey campus has about 10,041 students living in residences. These areas are managed by the Province of British Columbia and UBC.
UBC plans to add 6,400 new student beds between 2008 and 2028. From 2009 to 2014, 1,471 new beds were added. In 2015, the cost of on-campus housing was planned to increase by 20%.
As of 2017–2018, there are three main dormitory-style residences for first and second-year students: Totem Park, Place Vanier, and Orchard Commons.
- Totem Park houses about 2,129 students in nine buildings. Most houses are co-ed, with separate floors for men and women.
- Place Vanier houses 1,370 students in 12 buildings. It has single and double rooms.
- Orchard Commons has two apartment-style buildings and houses 1,047 students.
Older students have suite-style options. The Gage Towers are for second, third, and fourth-year students. They have "quads" with six bedrooms, a bathroom, and a kitchen.
Acadia Park** and **University Apartments** are for student families and couples. **Fairview Crescent** and **Fraser Hall are for undergraduate and graduate students, with townhouses and rooms.
Thunderbird residences** are mainly for graduate and fourth-year students. **Ritsumeikan-UBC House** is a residence with a Japanese cultural setting. **Marine Drive Residence has towers and buildings with various services.
Ponderosa Commons** and **Orchard Commons** were finished in 2016. They are multi-purpose buildings with student housing, study areas, and food places. **Brock Commons Tallwood House, opened in 2017, is one of the tallest mass timber buildings in the world.
UBC also has two colleges for graduate students and visiting scholars: St. John's College and Green College.
Sports and Athletics at UBC
UBC's sports teams are called the Thunderbirds. They compete in U Sports and the Canada West Universities Athletic Association. Some teams also compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. The Thunderbirds have won many championships, especially in women's swimming.
UBC has many sports facilities for both varsity teams and students. The Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre** is home to ice hockey teams and was used for the 2010 Winter Olympics. Other facilities include **Thunderbird Stadium** for football and soccer, the **UBC Aquatic Centre** for swimming, and the **War Memorial Gymnasium for basketball and volleyball.
Many UBC students have gone on to compete in the Olympics. Since 1928, 231 individuals from UBC have represented their countries. They have won 61 medals, including 19 gold. Most of these medals were in rowing.
UBC's Marching Band
The Thunderbird Marching Band started in 2012 and is run entirely by students. The band performs at various Thunderbirds sports games and other campus events. It is the only university marching band in Western Canada.
Fun Campus Events
UBC has many fun events each year. Some are organized by the university or student groups. There are also unofficial traditions, like jumping off the 10-meter diving board at the Aquatic Centre late at night. Another tradition is repainting the Engineering cairn to promote different clubs.
Several athletic events take place annually. "Storm the Wall" is a relay race where teams climb a 12-foot wall. "Day of the Longboat" is a canoe race in September or October.
Student groups also hold events. The Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS) and Science Undergraduate Society (SUS) have "faculty weeks" with speeches, sales, and dances. The "AMS Block Party" celebrates the end of classes.
During exam season, the Ski & Board Club organizes the "Undie Run." This charity event encourages students to donate clothes to Big Brothers & Sisters. Students run around campus in their underwear before donating their clothes.
To welcome new students, UBC Orientations organizes events like "Imagine UBC" and "GALA." Imagine UBC is an orientation day and pep rally for first-year students.
Model United Nations
In March 2012, UBC hosted the Harvard World Model United Nations Conference (WorldMUN 2012 Vancouver). This was the largest student-organized Model UN conference in the world. Over 2,200 student delegates from 270 universities attended.
Engineering Student Pranks
UBC engineering students are known for their pranks. These pranks sometimes get national and international attention. One famous prank involved hanging the shell of a VW Bug from the underside of the Golden Gate Bridge. No one was ever caught for this prank, and it's still a mystery how it was done.
Famous People from UBC
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Justin Trudeau PC MP, BEd. 1998, Canada's 23rd and current prime minister
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Kim Campbell PC CC OBC KC, BA 1969, LLB 1986, Canada's 19th Prime Minister, and the first woman to serve in the office
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John Turner PC CC QC, BA 1949, Canada's 17th Prime Minister
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Kiril Petkov, BCom 2001, 17th Prime Minister of Bulgaria
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Robert Mundell CC, BA 1953, Nobel Laureate in Economics. Involved in the creation of the Euro
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Bertram Brockhouse CC FRSC FRS, BA 1947, Nobel Laureate in Physics
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William Gibson, BA 1977, author of Neuromancer, important figure in the Cyberpunk literary movement
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David Suzuki CC OBC, professor emeritus of genetics. Influential academic, broadcaster, and environmentalist.
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Beverley McLachlin PC CC, 17th Chief Justice of Canada.
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Many faculty, alumni, and former students from UBC have become famous in various fields. They have won many awards, including eight Nobel Prizes and 74 Rhodes Scholarships.
Two UBC alumni have won Nobel Prizes: Robert Mundell (Economics) and Bertram Brockhouse (Physics). Five former UBC teachers have also received Nobel Prizes.
Many former students have become important government leaders. Four Canadian prime ministers attended UBC: Joe Clark, John Turner, Kim Campbell, and Justin Trudeau. George Stanley, who created the Canadian flag, also taught at UBC. Alumni Mike Harcourt, Glen Clark, and Ujjal Dosanjh became premiers of British Columbia. People from UBC Law have served on the Supreme Court of Canada.
Other notable people include:
- David Suzuki, a famous Canadian scientist and environmentalist, was a professor at UBC.
- Joel Bakan, author of The Corporation, is a law professor at UBC.
- Psychologist Albert Bandura is a UBC alumnus.
- Actress Evangeline Lilly studied international relations at UBC.
- Singer/songwriter Dan Mangan earned a BA in English Literature at UBC.
- Author and historian Pierre Berton studied history at UBC.
- Rick Hansen, famous for his "Man in Motion" tour, was the first student with a physical disability to graduate in physical education from UBC.
- Andrej Karpathy, Director of Artificial Intelligence at Tesla, graduated from UBC.
- Opera singers Judith Forst, Ben Heppner, and Lance Ryan studied music at UBC.
- David Cheriton, a Google founding investor, graduated from UBC.
- Science fiction writer William Gibson, who created the term "cyberspace", earned his English degree at UBC.
- Actor Manny Jacinto graduated with a degree in civil engineering.
- Kiril Petkov became the 17th Prime Minister of Bulgaria, the first UBC alumnus to lead a government outside Canada.
UBC alumni have also held important positions in other universities. These include presidents of the University of Alberta and the University of Western Ontario.
Arms
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See also
In Spanish: Universidad de Columbia Británica para niños
- CITR-FM
- UBC Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research
- UBC Library
- UBC Okanagan
- List of Canadian universities by endowment
