UBC International Major Entrance Scholarship 2026

Overview

The University of British Columbia (UBC) International Major Entrance Scholarship (IMES) is one of Canada's top merit-based undergraduate awards for international students. Offered at both the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses, the IMES recognises strong academic achievement, intellectual promise, and meaningful extracurricular involvement. For the 2026-27 academic year, awards range from $10,000 to $25,000 per year and are renewable for up to three additional years, bringing the total potential value to $100,000 over four years.

The IMES stands out for its automatic consideration process. All international students who submit their UBC admission application by the January 15 deadline are evaluated for the scholarship with no separate application needed. Your admission application, academic record, and personal profile serve as your scholarship application. UBC evaluates candidates on the full picture: grades, curriculum difficulty, extracurricular engagement, and leadership.

UBC also offers two other major international awards: the Outstanding International Student (OIS) Award ($10,000-$25,000, one-time) and the International Scholars Program (a need-and-merit-based programme covering the full cost of attendance). Applicants are automatically considered for the OIS alongside the IMES, though the International Scholars Program requires a separate nomination. Together, these programmes make UBC one of the most generous Canadian universities for international undergraduate financial support.

Key Facts at a Glance

Detail	Information
Funding Body	University of British Columbia (UBC)
Host Country	Canada
Degree Levels	Bachelor's
Value	$10,000-$25,000 CAD per year, renewable for up to 3 additional years (total potential value up to $100,000 CAD over 4 years)
Deadline	January 2026
Duration	Up to 4 years (initial year plus renewable for 3 additional years)
Eligible Nationalities	International students from all countries who will study at UBC on a Canadian study permit
Official Website	https://you.ubc.ca/financial-planning/scholarships-awards-international-students/

Eligibility Criteria

Academic Requirements

Applicants must show strong academic achievement and intellectual promise. UBC does not publish a minimum GPA threshold for the IMES, but successful recipients have top-tier grades and have taken a demanding secondary school curriculum. Strong predicted or final results in A-Levels, IB, AP, or equivalent national qualifications are expected.

Nationality Requirements

Open to international students from all countries who will be studying at UBC on a Canadian study permit (student visa). Canadian citizens and permanent residents are not eligible for this award but may qualify for other UBC entrance scholarships.

Language Requirements

Applicants must meet UBC's English Language Admission Standard, which requires IELTS 6.5 (minimum 6.0 per band), TOEFL iBT 90, or equivalent. English proficiency proof must be submitted by 15 February 2026. Students who do not meet the direct-entry English standard may be considered for Vantage College programmes instead.

Work Experience

No work experience is required. The IMES is for students entering undergraduate study, and evaluation focuses on academic merit and extracurricular involvement.

Other Requirements

Applicants must be new to UBC, entering directly from secondary school or post-secondary education. Students nominated for UBC's need-and-merit-based International Scholars Program are not eligible for the IMES. Transfer students from another post-secondary institution may also be considered.

Scholarship Benefits

• Annual scholarship of $10,000 to $25,000 CAD, with the exact amount based on the strength of the applicant's profile
• Renewable for up to three additional years (total potential value up to $100,000 CAD), subject to satisfactory academic performance
• Applicable to any undergraduate programme at UBC Vancouver or UBC Okanagan
• Automatic consideration with no extra application, essays, or interviews beyond the standard admission application
• Simultaneous consideration for the Outstanding International Student (OIS) Award ($10,000-$25,000, one-time)
• Access to UBC's research facilities, co-op programmes, and international exchange opportunities
• Eligibility for additional UBC awards and bursaries to supplement the IMES
• Part of a diverse international student community at one of Canada's top two universities, with students from over 160 countries

How to Apply

1. Apply for admission to UBC by 15 January 2026: Create an account on the UBC admissions portal and complete your undergraduate application. You can apply to programmes at UBC Vancouver, UBC Okanagan, or both. Submit before 15 January 2026 to be automatically considered for the IMES and the Outstanding International Student Award.
2. Complete your personal profile: As part of the UBC application, you fill out a personal profile covering your extracurricular activities, community involvement, leadership roles, and other achievements. This profile is a major part of the scholarship evaluation, so give detailed, specific descriptions of your contributions and their impact.
3. Submit academic documents and transcripts: Upload your official secondary school transcripts, predicted grades (if applicable), and any standardised test scores (IB, A-Levels, AP, SAT, ACT, or equivalent). Make sure all documents are complete and submitted by the application deadline.
4. Provide proof of English language proficiency: Submit your English language test results (IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent) by 15 February 2026. If you studied in an English-medium school for at least three years, you may be exempt. Check UBC's English Language Admission Standard page for details.
5. Await scholarship decision: UBC reviews all eligible applicants for the IMES after admission offers go out (from December onwards). Scholarship decisions are communicated between mid-February and the end of April 2026. You will hear by email and through your UBC application portal. No interview is required.

Required Documents

• Completed UBC undergraduate admission application submitted through the UBC online portal
• Official secondary school academic transcripts (translated to English if necessary)
• Predicted or final examination results (IB, A-Levels, AP, SAT/ACT, or equivalent national qualifications)
• UBC personal profile detailing extracurricular activities, leadership, and community involvement
• Proof of English language proficiency (IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo English Test, or equivalent) submitted by 15 February 2026
• Copy of valid passport or government-issued identification
• Supplementary application materials if required by specific programmes (e.g., portfolio for architecture or fine arts)

Important Dates & Deadlines

Milestone	Date
Applications Open	October 2025 (for September 2026 entry)
Application Deadline	15 January 2026 (UBC admission application deadline; no separate scholarship deadline)
Results Announced	Mid-February to end of April 2026 (scholarship decisions communicated alongside or after admission offers)
Course Start	September 2026

Tips for a Strong Application

Personal Statement Tips

• Use the personal profile to tell stories about your extracurricular involvement rather than listing activities. Describe your specific role, contributions, and the impact you made.
• Highlight sustained commitment to a few activities over several years rather than surface-level involvement in many. UBC values depth of engagement.
• Show leadership and initiative, whether through formal positions or informal contributions to your community, school, or a cause you care about
• Connect your interests and experiences to what you want to achieve at UBC. Mention specific programmes, research opportunities, or campus initiatives that interest you.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Missing the 15 January deadline and losing automatic scholarship consideration. Late applications are not evaluated for the IMES.
• Submitting a vague or generic personal profile that does not set you apart from other strong international applicants
• Forgetting to submit English language proficiency results by the 15 February deadline, which can knock your application out of scholarship review
• Assuming the IMES needs a separate application. It does not, but you must complete the personal profile section thoroughly to be competitive.
• Not realising you are ineligible for the IMES if nominated for the International Scholars Program. These two awards are mutually exclusive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to submit a separate application for the UBC International Major Entrance Scholarship?

All international students who apply to UBC by the 15 January deadline are automatically considered for the IMES and the Outstanding International Student (OIS) Award. Your admission application, academic record, and personal profile serve as your scholarship application.

How much is the IMES worth?

The IMES is valued at $10,000 to $25,000 CAD per year for the 2026-27 academic year. The exact amount depends on your academic profile and extracurricular achievements. It renews for up to three additional years, so the total potential value is up to $100,000 CAD over four years.

Is the scholarship renewable? What are the renewal conditions?

The IMES is renewable for up to three additional years of undergraduate study. You must maintain satisfactory academic performance as defined by UBC. Specific renewal criteria are spelled out in your scholarship offer.

Can I receive the IMES and the Outstanding International Student Award together?

The IMES and OIS are separate awards, and you are considered for both automatically. You will receive only one, not both. UBC decides which award fits your profile best.

What is the difference between the IMES and the International Scholars Program?

The IMES is a merit-based award ($10,000-$25,000/year) with automatic consideration. The International Scholars Program is need-and-merit-based and can cover the full cost of attendance (tuition, housing, living expenses), but it requires demonstrated financial need and a separate application. You cannot be considered for both at the same time.

Does UBC require an interview for the IMES?

The IMES does not require an interview. It is assessed entirely on your admission application, academic record, and personal profile. Some UBC programmes may require interviews for admission, but those are separate from the scholarship evaluation.

Can transfer students receive the IMES?

Students entering UBC from another post-secondary institution may be considered, provided they are classified as international students and apply by the deadline. Priority goes to students entering directly from secondary school.

What are UBC's international undergraduate tuition fees?

UBC international undergraduate tuition varies by programme but averages $45,000 to $55,000 CAD per year for most faculties. The IMES covers a significant share of this cost, and recipients can combine it with other UBC bursaries and external scholarships to further reduce expenses.

When will I find out if I received the IMES?

Scholarship decisions are communicated between mid-February and the end of April 2026, after admission offers begin going out in December. You will be notified through your UBC application portal and by email.

Can I apply to both UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan and receive the IMES?

You can apply to programmes at both campuses and will be considered for the IMES at each campus where you receive an admission offer. The scholarship amount and availability may differ between campuses.

What makes a competitive IMES applicant?

Strong IMES recipients combine excellent grades (top of their cohort) with meaningful extracurricular engagement and leadership. UBC uses a review that looks at the full picture, so the quality of your personal profile (community involvement, initiative, impact) carries as much weight as your grades.

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