The University of British Columbia (UBC) is one of the best schools in Canada for international students. It gives out more than $30 million CAD each year to help with costs. For the 2026/2027 intake, the awards are split into two groups: Merit-Based (Automatic) and Need-and-Merit-Based (Application Required).
1. The International Major Entrance Scholarship (IMES)
The IMES is the main award for high-achieving international students who are starting their first year at UBC.
- Value: Up to $100,000 CAD over four years, or $25,000 a year.
- Rule for Applications: Automatic Consideration. There is no separate application. Your UBC admission application is what they use to judge you.
- Selection Criteria: Outstanding academic performance, intellectual potential, and significant extracurricular/community engagement.
- Deadline: You must have sent in your application to UBC by January 15, 2026. Between mid-February and late April 2026, people usually get their award decisions.
2. Award for Outstanding International Student
This is a one-time scholarship for students who are strong in and out of the classroom.
- Value: One-time payment of $10,000 to $25,000 CAD.
- Rule for Applications: Automatic Consideration. Your personal profile and the grades you got in school are used to choose who gets in.
- 2026 Status: Winners are told right away after getting their acceptance offer.
3. The Full Ride International Scholars Programme
This programme is for students who are very talented but need a lot of money. There are four specific awards, one of which is the Karen McKellin International Leader of Tomorrow Award.
- Value: Full funding (tuition and living expenses) that fits your specific financial needs.
- Rule for applications: You need to fill out a separate application. Your high school or a non-profit group must put your name forward.
- 2026 Deadline: The last day to apply for the September 2026 intake was November 15, 2025.
- The 2027 Strategy says that the portal for the September 2027 intake will open in the summer of 2026. This is a “First-Choice” award, which means that if you apply for it, you usually won’t be considered for the automatic IMES/OIS awards.
4. Award for Excellence from Vantage One
This is a special “Full-Ride” scholarship for students who are very good at school but don’t yet meet the English Language Admission Standard.
- Value: Up to the full cost of living and going to school.
- You must be applying to the UBC Vantage One Programme, which is a year of transition for people who want to learn English.
- The application for the excellence award closed in November 2025, just like the International Scholars Programme. However, automatic entrance awards for Vantage One (up to $25,000) are still taken into account when deciding who to let in.
5. The International Welcome Award from UBC Okanagan
You can get an exclusive entrance grant if you choose the Okanagan campus as your first choice.
- Value: $5,000 CAD (this will be used as a tuition credit in your first year).
- Rule for Applications: Automatic. You have to choose a UBC Okanagan degree as your first choice on your application and be accepted into that programme.
- Condition: In your first year, you must take at least 24 credits.
6. The “Okanagan Extension” Plan (Update for 2026)
For the 2026 intake, UBC pushed back the deadline for many Okanagan programmes to March 31, 2026. This does not include Nursing. If you missed the January deadline for the Vancouver campus, you can still apply to the Okanagan campus and be considered for campus-specific merit awards and the International Welcome Award.
Checklist for People Applying in 2026
- You must send in your IELTS, TOEFL, or Duolingo scores by February 15, 2026, to still be eligible for any scholarships.
- The “Admissions First” Rule says that you can only get merit-based scholarships after you get an offer of admission.
- Study Permit: As soon as you get a scholarship offer, apply for your Canadian Study Permit. It can take more than four months to process.
