International Graduate Study Preparation program (IGSPP)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Is UBC a good university?

A. UBC is a very good university with an academic reputation of excellence. In August 2006, Newsweek International ranked UBC in the Top 100 Global Universities. In their survey UBC was ranked 27th in the world. Other rankings put UBC in the Top-40 of the world's approximately 17,000 universities.

2. What kind of students will benefit most from this program?

A. There are two kinds of students that will benefit most from IGSPP. The first is any student who is thinking about going to graduate school at a North American university who is not very confident about how or where to apply and wants to learn how to develop skills that will be helpful when researching and applying to UBC or other North American graduate schools. The second is any student who has applied to graduate school on his or her own and had the application rejected, even though they are generally well qualified candidates.

3. What are the selection criteria for applicants to IGSPP?

A. For admission to IGSPP we will only consider candidates with a strong potential to be admitted to graduate school. You must prepare an application (to tell us about your general background) and send us your university transcripts (to review your academic preparation). Applicants should also have strong English language skills and, if available, provide any relevant test scores, eg. (IELTS/TOEFL/TOEIC). Please see the Entry Requirement for more details. In short, we're looking for good students from good schools with strong English language fluency.

4. What kind of success has this program had?

A. On average about 73% of students who have completed IGSPP reached the next step in their academic plans: approximately 40% have moved on to graduate level studies; others are completing qualifying studies (undergraduate, technical, professional, etc.) in order to satisfy admission requirements for the graduate study they plan to pursue later.

5. What kind of students take the program? 

A. Students in IGSPP are focused on entering graduate study outside their home country and are not sure how admission works. Some IGSPP students have already applied to graduate schools on their own in the past and not been admitted even though they are good students with strong academic performance in their home countries. In some ways, IGSPP students are like academic athletes, they understand the value of training now in order to achieve a future goal.

6. What do I study in this program?

A. Please look at the Program Handbook for more information about the curriculum of IGSPP or the overview on our Curriculum page.

7. What kind of instructors will this program use?

A. The UBC Continuing Studies instructors for IGSPP are professionals with degrees and extensive experience in adult education for international students. They generally have experience living, studying and working outside of their home culture and well understand the challenges IGSPP students will experience while preparing for graduate school admission in North America. Each of them has also experienced learning a second or third language, and while pursuing their own advanced degrees, they have gained insight into what is required to succeed in graduate school. For more detail, please link to our Instructors page.

8. What if my English language skills are not very strong?

A. Every international student heading for graduate school requires advanced English language skills. IGSPP students must show proof of these skills (e.g. 6.5 IELTS or equivalent) before they can be admitted.

For students who need to upgrade their English skills first, the English Language Institute at UBC has offered excellent ESL training for more than 40 years and worked with many IGSPP students already. Please visit their website for more information.

9. How much does it cost to attend the IGSPP?

A: Program tuition for 2012 starts at $10,500 CAD* and rises depending on citizenship and number of terms taken.

Air travel, accommodation, medical insurance, food and personal expenses are not included. For more details on costs and refund policies, please read the Program Fees and Registration Policies section.

*Prices are subject to change.

10. Will I need to buy textbooks?

A. Yes, required texts are not provided for you. You should budget approximately $150 CAD for other student supplies.

11: Can I get to UBC graduate school through IGSPP?

A: Completion of IGSPP does not guarantee admission to a graduate program at UBC or any other institution. Admission to these programs is controlled by individual institutions' admission standards and policies. IGSPP is designed to develop the following skills that will be helpful when researching and applying to UBC or other North American graduate schools:

• understanding the range of programs available
• matching skills, interests and academic background to appropriate programs
• handling the complex process of applying.

12. Do I need a language test score to get into IGSPP?

A: We do require that all students have advanced English language fluency (e.g. IELTS 6.5 or equivalent) to be admitted to the program. For other ways to fulfill the language requirement, please refer to the Entry Requirements. For students without these test scores, also see FAQ # 8 (above) for more details.

13. Tell me more about accommodation options in Vancouver.

A: We highly recommend that IGSPP students live with a local family (homestay) during their time in the program. Homestay has the advantage of providing both a chance to practise your language skills and to develop your understanding of Canadian culture. The companionship of living with a local family is another reward and it can also be the most economical option as homestay families provide three meals per day at a typical cost of $800 to $1,100 CAD per month. Homestay is usually arranged by homestay agents, who will charge an additional "settlement fee" of $200 to $350 CAD per client. For more information, please check out the homestay options offered by the ELI.

Other options are to rent a room or apartment. Rental fees usually range from $1,000 to $1,500 CAD for a one-bedroom apartment, depending on the location and facilities provided. Sharing an apartment will typically cost less.

14. Do I need medical insurance?

A: Yes. Medical insurance is required during your time in Canada from an UBC approved insurance provider. This insurance is mandatory and the cost (approximately $200 for 4 months) for this insurance is not included in your program fees. UBC Continuing Studies will arrange these details with you prior to beginning IGSPP.

15. What other living expenses are typical?

A. Personal expenses such as clothing, household goods, personal toiletries and supplies, recreation and entertainment, etc. are approximately $600 per month. If you do not live in a Homestay situation, food costs approximately $300 per month. These are only estimates and your personal experience may vary. You may also find our Pre-Departure Handbook helpful.

16. Can I work while in Canada?

A. This may be possible but it depends on several factors (citizenship, length of program, degree or non-degree study). We'll be happy to discuss this with you if you write to us at the contact link at the bottom of this page.

17. Do you provide airport pickup?

A: Yes we can arrange to meet you at the airport if you provide us with your flight number and arrival time. This service costs $150. Alternatively, you may hire a taxi, take a bus, or ask if your agent can arrange a pickup for you. The distance between the airport and the central business district of Vancouver is about 20 km and a taxi ride will be approximately $32 with a tip for service.

18. What is the weather like in Vancouver?

A: Vancouver experiences four seasons that are generally much milder than other North American cities. In winter we do experience some snow, but usually very little. Rain and cold temperatures (around -5 to 10 °C) are typical from December to March. In April it begins to be warmer and drier and flowers even start appearing in February. Summers are warm without getting too hot or humid (around 23 - 30 °C). Fall is generally wet, but mild.

19. Will I receive a diploma after the program?

A: IGSPP-Regular Stream is UBC Certificate program and all participants who successfully complete the program will receive a graduation certificate. Transcripts and letters of reference from UBC Continuing Studies are also provided for IGSPP graduates applying to graduate study programs.

20. Will I get in to a really good university?

A: For admission to graduate study at the top universities (like UBC) you will need to have very strong undergraduate grades from a respected university. If your undergraduate grades are less strong and your home university is not one of the top in your country, graduate study is still possible, but probably not at UBC or another top university. However, don't be discouraged, the quality of education at all universities in Canada is consistently high and therefore you can pursue admission with confidence to graduate programs at many other universities in Canada and elsewhere in North America.

21. Will I need qualifying study?

A: Qualifying study is sometimes required after IGSPP when you need to show the university of your choice that you can perform well academically in North America. This is especially common when the focus of your studies in graduate school is different from your undergraduate major. For some students this might mean taking 1 - 2 courses and for other students this might mean completing a second undergraduate degree over two years. For many students it is just one more step in reaching their academic goals.

22. Will my performance in IGSPP compensate for only average undergraduate achievement?

A: Academic eligibility often takes into account a number of factors.

Although undergraduate grades are often the most important consideration, there are other influential elements that help determine successful admission for graduate school applicants. Typically, graduate institutions look at ALL post-secondary performance and evaluate each application based on a range of factors including experience, publications, extra-curricular activities, awards, etc.

Therefore, graduate schools will be very interested in your experience and studies as an IGSPP student as a recent example of how you can perform in a Canadian academic institution. Successful graduates of IGSPP will be able to demonstrate this when applying to graduate programs through the transcripts and reference letters they earn in the program.

As admission to graduate programs is controlled by each individual institutions' admission standards and policies, it is their decision whether your work in IGSPP will compensate for average undergraduate results.

22. What can I study after IGSPP, if I have time before I start a graduate program?

A. There are some excellent programs offered by UBC Continuing Studies that you might want to consider. For example you could do a business and work internship such as GAIP. Or perhaps New Media is something you'd like to check out, such as the program in Multimedia and Web Development. Or maybe you're pasionate about environmental sustainability and these programs will suit you best.

23. Will I need GRE, GMAT or LSAT tests for IGSPP?

A. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE), the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) and the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) are not required for admission to IGSPP. However, the GRE is often required for admission to many graduate study programs in North America, the GMAT is often required for business related graduate study programs, and the LSAT is required for legal studies. The need for these tests will also vary by program and university.

You can prepare for any of these three test through UBC Continuing Studies. You can find out more, including a 10% discount for IGSPP students here.

24. As a citizen or landed immigrant of Canada, can I get student loans or lower tuition for IGSPP?

A. As IGSPP is a non-credit program, Canadian students are not eligible for government sponsored student loans and must be self-financed. For the same reason, IGSPP is not subsidized by the Ministry of Education and therefore tuition is the same for both domestic and international students.

For more practical information about living and studying in Vancouver, please review our Pre-Departure Handbook.

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