The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a public research university founded in 1908 by an Act of the provincial legislature of British Columbia. It began operations in 1915 at temporary facilities in Fairview before relocating to its iconic Point Grey campus in 1925, and has since grown into one of Canada's most prestigious institutions of higher learning.

UBC operates two main campuses — a flagship campus near Vancouver and a second campus in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley. With an annual research budget exceeding CAD 893 million funding nearly 10,000 projects, UBC is home to world-leading research facilities including TRIUMF, Canada's national particle and nuclear physics laboratory.

The university enrolls over 72,000 undergraduate and graduate students, with international students comprising approximately 25% of the total population. UBC is a member of Universitas 21 and the Association of Pacific Rim Universities, and its primary language of instruction is English.

UBC's academic activity is organized into faculties and schools. The Vancouver campus houses twelve faculties and the Okanagan campus has seven, offering a vast range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs across the sciences, humanities, health professions, and applied disciplines.

UBC's tuition fees are reviewed annually by the Board of Governors. Domestic tuition remains among the lowest of peer institutions in Canada, while international tuition reflects UBC's global ranking and the quality of education provided. All amounts below are approximate annual figures in Canadian dollars for the 2026/27 academic year.

UBC's Vancouver campus spans approximately 400 hectares on the western tip of the Point Grey peninsula, surrounded by forest, ocean, and mountain views. The campus blends heritage architecture with state-of-the-art research and teaching facilities, creating an inspiring environment for learning and discovery.

Martha Piper Plaza

A vibrant central gathering space at the heart of campus, surrounded by key academic buildings and student services.

Museum of Anthropology

An iconic Arthur Erickson-designed building housing one of the world's finest collections of Northwest Coast Indigenous art.

Natural Surroundings

UBC's unique coastal setting offers students access to beaches, forests, and outdoor recreation just steps from classrooms.

UBC offers a rich and diverse student life experience, with hundreds of clubs, cultural events, recreational activities, and volunteer opportunities. The Alma Mater Society (AMS), one of Canada's oldest student unions, operates the AMS Student Nest and supports a vibrant campus community.

The University of British Columbia consistently ranks among the top 50 universities globally and within the top 3 in Canada. UBC is ranked in 52 subjects by QS — the most of any university worldwide — demonstrating its breadth and depth of academic excellence across disciplines.