mature students

you must be outside of full-time education for at least four years

this includes high school and most post-secondary programs. if you have a prior undergraduate degree, you can apply as an unclassified student, or as a transfer student if you wish to complete a second degree. students with a previous degree are not considered mature applicants.

full-time study is three or more courses per term/semester, or nine or more transferable credits per term/semester. for example, if you are applying to start in september 2021, your last full-time attendance in school should have been in august 2017.

you can only apply to the following degrees

if you are seeking admission to a degree not listed below, we recommend that you enrol at another institution and then transfer to your program of interest.

okanagan	vancouver
arts fine arts human kinetics management media studies nursing science (if you have not taken math or science courses in the last four years, you are strongly encouraged to take refresher courses before applying)	applied biology arts fine arts: acting, creative writing, film production, theatre design and production, visual art food, nutrition, and health forest bioeconomy sciences and technology forest resources management forest operations forest sciences kinesiology media studies music natural resources conservation urban forestry wood products processing

you must satisfy the degree’s requirements

as a mature applicant you still need meet the university’s english language requirement and certain faculty- or degree-specific requirements. these vary according to where you attended high school or post-secondary.

they include, but are not limited to, prerequisites, supplemental applications, portfolio, and audition requirements. for most degrees, if you do not have the requirements at the high school level, you can present them at the post-secondary level.

if you are missing general admissions or degree-specific requirements, you will need to complete the prerequisites for admission at another institution.

the university reserves the right to determine whether or not you are eligible for the mature applicant category. prior ubc students are subject to faculty regulations and procedures.

1. apply online

follow the standard application process. the application deadline is january 15.

2. contact admissions

email admissions.inquiry@ubc.ca – in the subject line, include “mature applicant” and the degree and campus you wish to apply to. an advisor will get back to you to discuss whether you are eligible. if you have prior degree, apply as a transfer student. it’s important to keep communication lines open with ubc. ensure your contact information is up to date in the student service centre and log in regularly, as this is how we communicate with you once you’ve applied.

3. submit your required documents

after you submit your application, if you’re eligible, you’ll receive an email to let you know what documents to submit, and instructions for when and how to send them to our office.

as a mature applicant, at a minimum, you will be required to submit:

• official transcripts of any post-secondary coursework you have completed
• official secondary school transcript

4. submit any additional documents

once we review your application and academic transcripts, you may be required to submit additional documentation. please do not submit these documents unless we ask you to:

• a statement of academic intent outlining the area(s) of study that interests you and your readiness for successful university study
• your resumé with a full record of your employment and relevant personal history
• two written references from people who will be able to assess and describe your work habits, drive, and potential for academic success. reference letters should not be from family or friends.

please send all academic documents to ubc’s undergraduate admissions office by upload or email. the sooner your application and documents are submitted, the sooner your application can be reviewed and a decision made.

since the mature applicant category is very competitive, we recommend that you also apply to a local university transfer program. you can find out more information on the bc transfer guide.