Orientation
Meet the Faculty
ARTS Block Party
We are excited to welcome all of our new students to campus!
To celebrate, we are hosting an ARTS Block Party social event for first-year arts students, staff and faculty this fall.
Date: Thursday, Sept. 5
Time: 2:30-4:00 p.m.
Location: outside of ASC building
There will be food and drinks and a chance to mix and mingle with fellow students, with staff and with faculty – a chance to build a sense of community.
This event is hosted by the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies, and is open to all first-year students in the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Media Studies and Bachelor of Fine Arts.
Frequently Asked Questions
We are here to support our students and have a number of resources and people to assist you throughout your degree. It is also important that you understand what you are responsible for as a UBC student.
We want you to succeed! Attend your live class sessions regularly, read your course outlines carefully, and communicate with your professors and teaching assistants. You will need a computer and internet access and want to get familiar with Canvas, our learning management system. Most importantly, ask questions and be curious!
The FAQ below will answer some of the questions you may have as a student.
From time to time you will receive emails through the Student Information System with important information related to academic issues that may include the following:
- Reminders: the rules, important dates
- Policy changes in the Faculty
- Missing course activity
- Resources to help if you appear to be missing
- Academic misconduct
We know that things happen in everyone’s life that may be unexpected. Students sometimes find themselves not able to complete coursework on time or need to withdraw from a course after they are able to do so themselves, or unable to attend the final exam during the scheduled time due to unforeseen circumstances.
A Request for a Late Withdrawal can be used to be removed from a class only after the date has passed when a student can withdraw themselves and must be accompanied with acceptable supporting documentation.
A Request for Standing Deferred can be used if you need more time to complete the coursework for a particular class due to some unforeseen circumstance, such as a medical reason that prevented you from doing so on time. Requests for standing deferred will be considered if the student has completed the required minimum % of the coursework successfully, has attended classes regularly, and has provided acceptable supporting documentation.
An Out-of-Time Exam can be requested if you are unable to attend the scheduled exam due to an unforeseen circumstance such as a medical issue or an exam hardship. This request must be accompanied with acceptable supporting documentation. Please note that a request for an Out-of-time Exam will not be approved for travel reasons – be sure to wait to book any travel plans until after you have received your exam schedule.
Learn more by visiting the Academic Calendar.
For courses in ANTH, ECON, GEOG, GWST, HIST, INDG, PHIL, POLI, PSYO, SOCI visit fass.ok.ubc.ca/student-resources/undergrad/student-forms.
For courses in ARTH, CCS, CHIN, CORH, CRWR, CULT, DIHU, ENGL, FILM, FREN, GERM, JPST, KORN, MDST, SPAN, THTR, VISA, WRLD visit fccs.ok.ubc.ca/student-resources/forms.
There are a number of reasons why you may find yourself struggling in a class, and it is important to be aware of the options available to withdraw from a class and of the services that can support you.
- Students can withdraw themselves from a class through SIS before the Add/Drop date without penalty; for fall 2021, this is September 19, 2022. Learn more about dates and deadlines.
- Students can withdraw themselves from a class with a W standing between September 19, 2022 and November 18, 2022. This means you will have to pay a portion of the tuition for the class and will have a W on your transcript for this class.
- If those dates have passed and you find yourself needing to withdraw for any medical reasons, you can request a Late Withdrawal with approval from your instructor and the Associate Dean.
If you are having difficulty but want to stay in a class, there is help available! In addition to attending your professor or TA’s office hours, you can get help through the Learning Hub. The Learning Hub provides a range of free academic supports from peers and professionals that include tutoring in math, sciences, languages, and writing, as well as help with study skills and learning strategies.
You may already have an idea of what you want to major in. But with over 36 programs and a number of other course areas you can take as electives, we suggest that you take a variety of courses in your first couple of years to find what fits you best.
We also recommend that you talk to an Academic Advisor at least once a semester to ensure that you are taking the correct requirements for your program and degree requirements.
For most programs in the BA at UBCO, students can declare their major going into year two, and for some programs going into year three. We recommend that you connect with an Academic Advisor or the Program Coordinator for your major of choice.
FCCS programs: fccs.ok.ubc.ca/student-resources/undergraduate-academic-planning
FASS programs: fass.ok.ubc.ca/programs/undergraduate
For students in the BMS and BFA degrees, you do not need to declare a major, but if you choose to declare a minor, please connect with an advisor or your program coordinator.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts offers courses at all four undergraduate levels. This program has a standard timetable in year one, and significant flexibility in the upper years, allowing students to concentrate on a particular medium.
The Bachelor of Media Studies offers courses at all four undergraduate levels. This program blends practice, theory, and research methodology in the participating disciplines. Students take designated “core” courses from Cultural Studies, Creative Writing, Digital Humanities, Media Studies, and Visual Arts.
Visit our Studios, Labs and Gallery page to find out how to sign up for a Gearspace account to book space and equipment needed for your Visual Arts and Media Studies courses.
Student Declaration
Upon registering, a student has initiated a contract with the University and is bound by the following declaration: “I hereby accept and submit myself to the statutes, rules and regulations, and ordinances (including bylaws, codes, and policies) of The University of British Columbia, and of the faculty or faculties in which I am registered, and to any amendments thereto which may be made while I am a student of the University, and I promise to observe the same.”
New to UBC Orientation
Your first day at UBC is coming up fast! Once you’ve accepted your offer, you’re ready to start thinking about the orientation options available for you this summer. Together, they’re designed to help you meet your first friends, get familiar with your new campus, and feel confident
UBC 101
UBC 101 is an online orientation platform designed to provide a general introduction for new students to all things UBCO