Comprehensive reference for international students at UBC.
Academics at UBC
Academic resources
UBC’s academic culture may be different from the culture at universities in your country. Also, the academic challenges that first-year university students face are more demanding than those in secondary school.
UBC offers a variety of academic services and resources to help you succeed:
| Resource | Description |
|---|---|
| Academic advisors | The advisors in your faculty are invaluable resource; be sure to talk to them about planning your program and any other academic issues. |
| Tips for academic success | From study partners to free workshops, these quick tips will help you navigate your academic life. |
| Information technology on campus | Where to find computer facilities and help across campus. |
| English language support | Choose from information about the LPI exams, Writing 098, I. House language courses, or offerings at the English Language Institute. |
| Study skills and tutoring | Learn about the UBC Learning Commons, Student Success workshops, AMS tutoring services, Math tutorials, and Library resources. |
| Resources for grad students | Take advantage of teaching and culture workshops specifically for grad students. |
Course formats at UBC
Most undergraduate courses include three hours of class time per week.
- Lectures
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Most courses are offered as lectures. Lectures are 50 to 80 minutes in length and may involve 30 to 200 students.
Lectures, along with other classroom settings, are fairly informal. Although professors will have different standards, it is generally acceptable to, for example, have a beverage on the table; in larger lectures, you can also usually enter and leave the classroom for washroom breaks without first asking for permission.
If you are late to arrive, take a seat as quietly and quickly as possible without disrupting the professor's teaching. If you have to leave early, tell the professor before class begins. When in doubt of the accepted classroom etiquette, you can always ask your professor during office hours.
- Tutorials
- Tutorials are common for lecture courses. They provide an opportunity for smaller group discussions. All students are expected to participate in group discussions.
- Labs
- Many science, math, and engineering courses have laboratory (lab) work, which involves practical projects done in small groups under the direction of a teaching assistant (TA). You must pass the lab in order to pass the course.
- Seminars
- Seminar courses offer smaller classes that are less formal than lectures. They encourage discussions and sometimes involve presentation work. Students are graded on presentations and participation.
- Problem-Based Learning (PBL) classes
- Rather than listening to a lecture, students solve real-life problems in PBL classes. Work is done in small groups under the guidance of the professor.
Student evaluation
On the first day of class, your instructor will hand out a course outline (or syllabus) that students follow throughout the term. It provides very important details on class readings, exams, and assignments that might not be mentioned anywhere else.
There are three main methods of student evaluation at UBC:
- Class participation
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In many courses, you will be expected to discuss your opinions, ideas, and perspectives related to the coursework, readings, and assignments. You may even be graded on your participation.
Unless otherwise stated, you can signal your intention to contribute by raising your hand. The common emphasis on classroom discussion underlies a broader academic focus on critical thinking, connecting and creating ideas, and defending specific perspectives or arguments. Therefore, memorizing lecture notes and course materials is important but often not sufficient for the best results.
- Assignments
- Instructors often assign term papers, which are 10- to 30-page essays. Other assignments may include group projects and oral presentations.
- Exams
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Most courses have two major exams: mid-term and final exams. Your courses may have one mid-term halfway through the term or several exams throughout the term. Final exams occur during exam periods in December and April, including evenings and on Saturdays.
Exams will test your knowledge using varying formats, such as short/long answers, essay questions, true or false, and multiple choice. Make sure you familiarize yourself with common key terms used in essay questions, such as analyze, interpret, prove and explain.
Exams
Academic integrity and plagiarism
Plagiarism (submitting the intellectual property of another person as your own) is one of the most serious academic offences. Penalties may range from a failing grade to suspension from the University.Intellectual property includes ideas, arguments, phrases, sentences, paragraphs, or results of research. In Canada, you cannot copy all or a part of another person’s work and present it as your own. You must acknowledge the original author in a footnote or other accepted manner.
For more information, visit the Library’s Plagiarism Resource Centre for Students. The Faculty of Arts also publishes a guide to academic honesty.
You’ll have to be available for exams during the entire exam period. Exam schedules are posted in mid-October (Term 1) and mid-February (Term 2). Don’t make arrangements for end-of-term travel until you see your exam schedule.
Prepare for your exams by:
- Taking a Learning Commons workshop on exam preparation
- Getting your readings done well in advance
- Visiting the exam database to review old exams
- Checking your personal exam schedule online at the Student Service Centre
Exam clashes and hardships
When the exam schedule comes out, check to make sure you don’t have any exam clashes or hardships. Visit the Exams website to find out more about clashes, hardships, and other exam scheduling policies, and how to deal with them.
Missing an exam
There are a few legitimate reasons for missing a final exam:
- A sudden illness or injury
- An appointment for surgery that cannot be rescheduled
- The death, sudden onset of a life-threatening disease, or serious injury of your spouse/partner, parent, sibling, child, or grandparent
- The birth of your own child
- A car accident on the way to your exam
- Religious restrictions concerning observance of designated days
If you have a legitimate reason, you will need to show proof. Contact both your dean’s office and your instructor before or shortly after the exam. For more information on UBC’s exam policies, visit the Student Services exam policies web page.
Exam results
Final grades are posted on the Student Service Centre partway through the exam period.
Instructors
Undergraduate classes are taught by professors and often teaching assistants (TAs). Speak to your instructor (professor or TA) if you:
- cannot submit your assignment on time;
- don’t understand a concept that was covered in class;
- are feeling overwhelmed by your course load due to circumstances outside of the course; or
- need more information about an essay, project, or other assignment.
Most instructors hold office hours during which you can drop by to discuss course materials, assignments, questions, and concerns. You can also schedule an appointment at another time.
In Canada, student-faculty relationships may be quite different than in your country.
- Relationships are informal and you may hear students call some instructors by their first name.
- Students may respectfully challenge and question their instructors.
- Instructors don’t expect gifts from students and may feel uncomfortable if presented with one.
- It’s considered inappropriate for instructors to date their students.
Academic regulations
It is your responsibility to be aware of University regulations. You’ll find a complete listing of the academic regulations in the UBC Calendar.
