University of British Columbia#Notes

{{rquote|right|"The University shall... provide for Such instruction in all branches of liberal education as may enable students to become proficient in... science, commerce, arts, literature, law, medicine, and all other branches of knowledge"|An Act to Establish and Incorporate a University for the Province of British Columbia, Acts of 1908, Chapter 53{{cite web |url=http://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/pdfs/misc/universityact1908.pdf |title=University Act of 1908 |access-date=January 20, 2013 |archive-date=August 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110806112047/http://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/pdfs/misc/universityact1908.pdf |url-status=live }}}}

File:UBC Fairview campus (c. 1917).gif

File:Sharp and Thompson proposed plan for the UBC Point Grey campus.jpg

In 1877, six years after British Columbia joined Canada, the Superintendent of Education, John Jessop, submitted a proposal to form a provincial university. The provincial legislature passed An Act Respecting the University of British Columbia in 1890, but disagreements arose over whether to build the university on Vancouver Island or the mainland.

The British Columbia University Act of 1908 formally called a provincial university into being, although its location was not specified.{{cite web |title=University of British Columbia |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/university-of-british-columbia |access-date=August 22, 2019 |website=The Canadian Encyclopedia |archive-date=December 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230021945/https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/university-of-british-columbia |url-status=live }} The governance was modelled on the Provincial University of Toronto Act of 1906, which created a bicameral system of university government consisting of a senate (faculty) responsible for academic policy and a board of governors (citizens) exercising exclusive control over financial policy and having formal authority in all other matters. The president, appointed by the board, was to provide a link between the two bodies and to perform institutional leadership. The Act constituted a 21-member senate with Francis Carter-Cotton of Vancouver as chancellor.{{cite journal |last=Boyles |first=C.H. |date=April 1913 |title=New University Buildings, Province of British Columbia. |journal=Construction |location=Toronto |volume=6 |issue=4 |pages=105–9 }}

Before the University Act, there were several attempts at creating a degree-granting university with help from the universities of Toronto and McGill. Columbia College in New Westminster, through its affiliation with Victoria College of the University of Toronto, began to offer university-level credit at the turn of the century, but McGill came to dominate higher education in the early 1900s.{{Cite web |title=University of British Columbia – Concordia International School |url=https://iconcordia.ca/university-of-british-columbia/ |access-date=July 10, 2024 |language=en-US |archive-date=July 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710203827/https://iconcordia.ca/university-of-british-columbia/ |url-status=live }}

Building on a successful affiliation between Vancouver and Victoria high schools with McGill University, Henry Marshall Tory"Henry Marshall Tory, A Biography", originally published 1954, current edition January 1992, E.A. Corbett, Toronto: Ryerson Press, {{ISBN|0-88864-250-4 }} helped establish the McGill University College of British Columbia. From 1906 to 1915, McGill BC (as it was called) operated as a private institution, providing the first few years toward a degree at McGill University or elsewhere. The Henry Marshall Tory Medal was established in 1941.[https://prizes.research.ubc.ca/awards/henry-marshall-tory-medal Henry Marshall Tory Medal] File:Carleton pres Tory.jpg]]

In the meantime, appeals were made to the government to revive the earlier legislation for a provincial institution, leading to the University Endowment Act in 1907{{Cite web |date=April 25, 1907 |title=An Act to aid the University of British Columbia by a Reservation of Provincial Lands |url=https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/hstats/hstats/2065663002 |access-date=July 6, 2024 |website=Bylaws of the Government of Canada |archive-date=July 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706235008/https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/hstats/hstats/2065663002 |url-status=live }} and the University Act in 1908. In 1910, the Point Grey site was chosen, and the government appointed Dr. Frank Fairchild Wesbrook as President in 1913 and Leonard Klinck as Dean of Agriculture in 1914. A declining economy and the outbreak of war in August 1914 compelled the university to postpone plans for building at Point Grey, and instead the former McGill University College site at Fairview became home to the university until 1925. On the first day of lectures, September 30, 1915, the new independent university absorbed McGill University College. The University of British Columbia awarded its first degrees in 1916, and Klinck became the second president in 1919, serving until 1944.

In 1917, Evlyn Fenwick Farris became the first woman in Canada to be appointed to the board of governors of a university— a founding governor of UBC.{{cite web |title=History |url=https://www.cfuwvictoria.ca/about-us/history/ |access-date=July 26, 2021 |publisher=Canadian Federation of University Women |archive-date=June 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613042311/https://www.cfuwvictoria.ca/about-us/history/ |url-status=live }} She was also the first woman to be appointed to the UBC Senate.{{cite web |title=About Us |url=https://cfuwpq.ca/about-us/ |access-date=July 26, 2021 |publisher=Canadian Federation of University Women |archive-date=July 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730130409/https://cfuwpq.ca/about-us/ |url-status=live }} Active in its formation, the University Women's Club of Vancouver considered UBC its "godchild".

World War I dominated campus life and the student body was "decimated" by enlistments for active service, with three hundred male UBC students in Company "D" alone. By the war's end, 697 male members of the university had enlisted. 109 students graduated in the three war-time congregations, all but one in the Faculty of Arts and Science.

By 1920, the university had only three faculties: Arts, Applied Science, and Agriculture (with the Departments of Agronomy, Animal Husbandry, Dairying, Horticulture, and Poultry). It only awarded the degrees of Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc) and Bachelor of Science in agriculture (BSA).{{cite web |url=https://www.landfood.ubc.ca/about/#history |publisher=UBC Faculty of Land and Food Systems |title=Our History |access-date=April 19, 2019 |archive-date=August 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818224833/http://www.landfood.ubc.ca/about/#history |url-status=live }} There were 576 male students and 386 female students in the 1920–21 winter session, but only 64 academic staff, including 6 women.{{cite web |url=http://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/enrolmnt.html |title=University of British Columbia Library – University Archives |access-date=July 3, 2015 |archive-date=March 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321004812/https://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/enrolmnt.html |url-status=live }}

In the early part of the 20th century, professional education expanded beyond the traditional fields of theology, law, and medicine. Although UBC did not offer degrees in these fields, it began to offer degrees in new professional areas such as engineering, agriculture, nursing, and school teaching. It also introduced graduate training based on the German-inspired American model of specialized course work and the completion of a research thesis, with students completing M.A. degrees in natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities.

By 1922, the student body numbered over 1200 and embarked on a "Build the University" campaign. Students marched through the streets of Vancouver to draw attention to their plight, enlist popular support, and embarrass the government. Fifty-six thousand signatures were presented at the legislature in support of the campaign, which was ultimately successful. On September 22, 1925, lectures began at the new Point Grey campus. Except for the library, science, and Power House buildings, all the campus buildings were temporary buildings. Students built two playing fields, but the university had no dormitories and no social center. However, the university continued to grow.

Soon, however, the effects of the depression began to be felt. The provincial government, upon which the university depended heavily, cut the annual grant severely. In 1932–33, salaries were cut by up to 23%. Posts remained vacant, and a few faculty lost their jobs. Most graduate courses were dropped. In 1935, the university established the Department of Extension. Just as things began to improve, World War II began, and Canada declared war on September 10, 1939. Soon afterwards, University President Klinck wrote:

' From the day of the declaration of war, the University has been prepared to put at the disposal of the Government all possible assistance by way of laboratories, equipment and trained personnel, insofar as such action is consistent with the maintenance of reasonably efficient instructional standards. To do less would be unthinkable. '

Heavy rains and melting snowfall eroded a deep ravine across the north end of the campus, in the Grand Campus Washout of 1935. The campus did not have storm drains and surface runoff went down a ravine to the beach. When the university carved a ditch to drain flooding on University Avenue, the rush of water steepened the ravine and eroded it back as fast as {{convert|10|ft|m}} per hour. The resulting gully eventually consumed {{convert|100000|cuyd|m3|0}}, two bridges and buildings near Graham House. The university was closed for four and a half days. Afterwards, the gully was filled with debris from a nearby landslide, and only traces are visible today.{{cite journal |first=M. Y. |last=Williams |date=Winter 1966 |title=The Grand Campus Washout |journal=UBC Alumni Chronicle |volume=20 |issue=4 |pages=9–11 |url=http://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/pdfs/chronicle/AL_CHRON_1966_4.pdf |access-date=December 24, 2006 |archive-date=July 3, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070703180043/http://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/pdfs/chronicle/AL_CHRON_1966_4.pdf |url-status=live }} Includes several contemporary photos of the Washout.

Military training on the campus became popular and was later made mandatory. WWII marked the first provision of money from the federal government to the university for research purposes. This laid a foundation for future research grants from the federal government of Canada.

By the end of World War II, Point Grey's facilities could not meet the influx of veterans returning to their studies. The university needed new staff, courses, faculties and buildings for teaching and accommodation. The student population rose from 2,974 in 1944–45 to 9,374 in 1947–48. Surplus Army and Air Force camps were used for both classrooms and accommodations. The university took over fifteen complete camps during the 1945–46 session, with a sixteenth camp on Little Mountain, in Vancouver, converted into suites for married students. Most of the camps were dismantled and carried by barge or truck to the university, where the huts were scattered across the campus.

Student numbers hit 9,374 in 1948; more than 53% of the students were war veterans in 1947–67. Between 1947 and 1951, the university built twenty new permanent buildings. Those included the War Memorial Gym, which was built with money raised primarily by the students and dedicated on October 26, 1951.{{Cite web |url=http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/nic-inm/sm-rm/mdsr-rdr-eng.asp?PID=7817 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514215821/http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/nic-inm/sm-rm/mdsr-rdr-eng.asp?PID=7817 |url-status=dead |title=War Memorial gymnasium |archive-date=May 14, 2013 }}{{Cite web |title=The History of the University |url=https://archives.library.ubc.ca/general-history/the-history-of-the-university/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207171019/https://archives.library.ubc.ca/general-history/the-history-of-the-university/ |archive-date=December 7, 2022 |access-date=February 2, 2023 }}

In the 1961–62 academic year, the university had an enrollment of 12,602 students, including 798 graduate students.{{cite book |title=Fitzhenry and Whiteside Book of Canadian Facts and Dates |last=Pound |first=Richard W. |publisher=Fitzhenry & Whiteside |year=2005 }} The next year, the single-University policy in the West was changed as existing colleges of the provincial Universities gained autonomy as Universities – the University of Victoria was established in 1963.

File:Raven-and-the-first-men.jpg's Raven and the First Men at the UBC Museum of Anthropology]]

Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau announced the creation of the Museum of Anthropology at UBC on July 1, 1971. At a construction cost of $2.5{{nbsp}}million the museum building, designed by Arthur Erickson, opened in 1976. That same year, the university launched a normal school program under the direction of Sally Rogow to train educators on methods to teach students with multiple disabilities or who were visually impaired.{{cite web |last1=Tuttle |first1=Dean |last2=Tuttle |first2=Naomi |title=Sally Rogow |url=http://www.aph.org/hall/inductees/rogow/ |website=APH |publisher=American Printing House for the Blind |access-date=October 17, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821225630/http://www.aph.org/hall/inductees/rogow/ |archive-date=August 21, 2016 |location=Louisville, Kentucky |date=2011 }}

UBC was the host for the International Congress of Mathematicians in 1974.[https://mathshistory.st-andrews.ac.uk/ICM/ICM_Vancouver_1974/ ICM Vancouver – 1974] via MacTutor History of Mathematics archive The Proceedings of the Congress were edited by Ralph Duncan James in four volumes.

In 1993, UBC concluded its "World of Opportunity" capital campaign that started in 1988. In total the university raised $262 million for the campaign. An additional $72 million in "non-campaign fundraising" was also raised.{{cite journal |journal=UBC Reports |date=September 8, 1994 |volume=40 |issue=14 |pages=5{{ndash}}7 |url=https://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/pdfs/ubcreports/UBC_Reports_1994_09_08.pdf |access-date=April 8, 2023 |title=Report Of The Vice-President {{ndash}} Administration And Finance }} During the administration of President Strangway, UBC abandoned its previous design and planning process and private donors started to have more influence on building design.{{cite web |last1=Moffatt |first1=Lisa |title=Development of the Urban Community |url=https://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/u_fabric/urban.html |website=UBC Library |access-date=March 12, 2022 |archive-date=April 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220417122822/https://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/u_fabric/urban.html |url-status=live }}

In 2015, UBC concluded its "Start an Evolution" capital campaign. The campaign's quiet phase started in April 2008 and it launched publicly in September 2011. The initial goal was to raise $1.5 billion. The campaign surpassed that goal and raised $1.624 billion.{{cite web |title=UBC raises more than $1.6 billion in historic fundraising and alumni engagement campaign |url=http://100.ubc.ca/news/ubc-raises-1-6-billion-historic-fundraising-alumni-engagement-campaign/ |website=UBC Centennial |publisher=Centennial Office |access-date=March 23, 2022 |archive-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929010533/http://100.ubc.ca/news/ubc-raises-1-6-billion-historic-fundraising-alumni-engagement-campaign/ |url-status=live }}

UBC's 15th president was Professor Santa J. Ono. He assumed the presidency on August 15, 2016. He served previously as the 28th president of the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Martha Piper – who served as the 11th president of the university – served as interim president from September 1, 2015, to June 30, 2016, following the resignation of Dr. Arvind Gupta.

In early May 2020, UBC announced it would be holding a virtual graduation for the class of 2020 amid concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite news |last1=Ha |first1=Andrew |title=UBC announces virtual graduation ceremony dates |url=https://www.ubyssey.ca/news/virtual-graduations-announced/ |access-date=May 24, 2020 |work=The Ubyssey |date=May 6, 2020 |archive-date=May 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200524193544/https://www.ubyssey.ca/news/virtual-graduations-announced/ |url-status=live }} The university received $419,248 from the Government of Canada to promote uptake of COVID-19 vaccines among public health leaders, community figures, Indigenous peoples and leadership in municipal government.{{Cite web |publisher=Public Health Agency of Canada |date=June 8, 2022 |title=Immunization Partnership Fund |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/immunization-vaccine-priorities/immunization-partnership-fund.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912070019/https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/immunization-vaccine-priorities/immunization-partnership-fund.html |archive-date=September 12, 2022 |access-date=September 12, 2022 |website=Government of Canada }}

File:UBC aerial view.jpg

File:Irving K. Barber Library.jpg

{{main|University of British Columbia Vancouver}}

The main campus is located at Point Grey, approximately {{convert|10|km}} from downtown Vancouver. It lies on forcefully taken territory of the Musqueam people.{{cite web |url=https://indigenous.ubc.ca/indigenous-engagement/musqueam-and-ubc/ |title=Musqueam & UBC |publisher=University of British Columbia |date=June 8, 2020 |access-date=July 2, 2021 |archive-date=July 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709190247/https://indigenous.ubc.ca/indigenous-engagement/musqueam-and-ubc/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://news.ubc.ca/2006/12/21/archive-media-releases-2006-mr-06-132/ |title=UBC, Musqueam Sign Memorandum of Affiliation |website=UBC News |date=December 1, 2006 |access-date=July 2, 2021 }}{{cite web |url=https://salishseasentinel.ca/2019/04/musqueam-flag-raised-at-ubc/ |title=Musqueam flag raised at UBC |website=Salish Sea Sentinel |publisher=Naut'sa mawt Tribal Council |date=April 2019 |access-date=July 2, 2021 |archive-date=July 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183214/https://salishseasentinel.ca/2019/04/musqueam-flag-raised-at-ubc/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://news.ubc.ca/2019/02/25/ubc-raises-musqueam-indian-band-flag-permanently-at-vancouver-campus/ |title=UBC raises Musqueam Indian Band flag permanently at Vancouver campus |website=UBC News |date=February 25, 2019 |access-date=July 2, 2021 |archive-date=July 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709182340/https://news.ubc.ca/2019/02/25/ubc-raises-musqueam-indian-band-flag-permanently-at-vancouver-campus/ |url-status=live }} It is near several beaches and has views of the North Shore Mountains. The {{convert|7.63|km2|acre|adj=on}} Pacific Spirit Regional Park serves as a green-belt between the campus and the city. Buildings on the Vancouver campus occupy {{convert|1.09|e6m2|e6sqft|abbr=unit}} gross on {{convert|1.7|km2|acre}} of maintained land. The campus street plan is mostly in a grid of malls (some of which are pedestrian-only). Lower Mall and West Mall are in the southwestern part of the peninsula, with Main, East and Wesbrook Malls northeast of them.

The campus is not within Vancouver's city limits and therefore UBC is policed by the RCMP rather than the Vancouver Police Department. However, the Vancouver Fire Department provides service to UBC under a contract. In addition to UBC RCMP, there is also the UBC Campus Security that patrols the campus. Postage sent to any building on campus includes Vancouver in the address.

UBC Vancouver also has two satellite campuses within the City of Vancouver: at Vancouver General Hospital, for the medical sciences and at Robson Square in downtown Vancouver, for part-time credit and non-credit programs. UBC is also a partner in the consortium backing Great Northern Way Campus Ltd and is affiliated with a group of adjacent theological colleges, which include the Vancouver School of Theology, Regent College, Carey Theological College and Corpus Christi College.

File:Vancouver school of theology (UBC-2009).JPGThe campus is home to numerous gardens. The UBC Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research, the first UBC department, holds a collection of over 8000 different kinds of plants used for research, conservation and education. The UBC botanical garden's original site was at the "Old Arboretum". All that remains of it today are trees planted in 1916 by John Davidson. The old arboretum is now home to many buildings including the First Nations House of Learning. The Nitobe Memorial Garden, built to honor Japanese scholar Inazo Nitobe, has been the subject of more than fifteen years' study by a UBC professor,{{who|date=June 2012}} who believes its construction hides a number of impressive features, including references to Japanese philosophy and mythology, shadow bridges visible only at certain times of year and positioning of a lantern filled with light at the exact date and time of Nitobe's death each year. The garden is behind the university's Asian Centre, which was built using steel girders from Japan's exhibit at Osaka Expo.{{cite web |url=http://www.library.ubc.ca/home/lib-history.html |title=UBC Library History |publisher=University of British Columbia |date=July 26, 2005 |access-date=January 25, 2009 |archive-date=March 23, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080323064023/http://www.library.ubc.ca/home/lib-history.html |url-status=live }}

The campus also features the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts: a performing arts center containing the Chan Shun Concert Hall, Telus Studio Theatre and the Royal Bank Cinema. It is often the site of convocation ceremonies and the filming location for the 4400 Center on the television show The 4400,[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0389564/locations The 4440, locations] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104195348/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0389564/locations |date=January 4, 2016}}, IMDb. as well as the Madacorp entrance set on Kyle XY.[http://moviemaps.org/movies/d1 Kyle XY filming locations — Movie Maps] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918020609/http://moviemaps.org/movies/d1 |date=September 18, 2016 }}. Moviemaps.org. Retrieved on April 12, 2014. It has also been featured as the Cloud 9 Ballroom in the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica (Season 1, Episode 11: Colonial Day).[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0519765/locations Colonial Day, locations] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305234422/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0519765/locations |date=March 5, 2016}}, IMDb.

Since the mid-1980s UBC has worked with property developers to build several large residential developments throughout UBC's campus. Such developments include: Chancellor Place, Hampton Place, Hawthorn Place and Wesbrook Village.{{cite news |last1=Parry |first1=Malcolm |title=Trade Talk: UBC Properties has been a money-maker |url=https://vancouversun.com/trade+talk+properties+been+money+maker/8900806/story.html |access-date=May 21, 2018 |newspaper=The Vancouver Sun |archive-date=May 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180522041245/http://www.vancouversun.com/trade+talk+properties+been+money+maker/8900806/story.html |url-status=dead }}

File:Engineering Management and Education (UBC Okanagan).jpg]]

{{main|University of British Columbia Okanagan}}

The Okanagan Campus was established in 2005 on what was previously the North Kelowna Campus of Okanagan University College, next to Kelowna International Airport.{{cite web |url=https://archive.news.gov.bc.ca/releases/archive/2001-2005/2004MAE0007-000173.htm |title=New UBC Okanagan to help add 5,500 student spaces |publisher=BC Ministry of Advanced Education |date=March 17, 2004 |access-date=July 2, 2021 |archive-date=July 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183536/https://archive.news.gov.bc.ca/releases/archive/2001-2005/2004MAE0007-000173.htm |url-status=live }} It was founded in partnership with the Syilx Okanagan Nation and it lies on their ancestral and forcefully taken territory.{{cite web |url=https://ok.ubc.ca/about/indigenous-engagement/ |title=Indigenous engagement |website=UBC Okanagan Campus |date=January 2021 |access-date=July 2, 2021 |archive-date=June 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210622220445/https://ok.ubc.ca/about/indigenous-engagement/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://news.ok.ubc.ca/2019/09/25/the-time-to-act-is-now/ |title="The time to act is now" |website=UBC Okanagan News |date=September 25, 2019 |access-date=July 2, 2021 |archive-date=July 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709181906/https://news.ok.ubc.ca/2019/09/25/the-time-to-act-is-now/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://news.ok.ubc.ca/2018/09/28/ubc-raises-syilx-okanagan-nation-flag/ |title=UBC raises Syilx Okanagan Nation flag |website=UBC News |date=September 28, 2018 |access-date=July 2, 2021 |archive-date=July 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183116/https://news.ok.ubc.ca/2018/09/28/ubc-raises-syilx-okanagan-nation-flag/ |url-status=live }}

The campus had a 2019 enrollment of 10,708{{cite web |url=https://opair.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/39/2020/02/2019-20-Enrolment-Report.pdf |title=UBC 2019–2020 Enrolment Report |publisher=The University of British Columbia |access-date=April 22, 2020}} {{dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} undergraduate and graduate students and has its own academic Senate.{{cite web |url=https://senate.ubc.ca/okanagan |title=UBC Okanagan Academic Senate |publisher=The University of British Columbia |access-date=April 22, 2020 |archive-date=August 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809180813/https://senate.ubc.ca/okanagan |url-status=live }} UBC Okanagan offers 62 undergraduate and 19 graduate programs in a diversity of disciplines including Arts, Science, Fine Arts, Engineering, Nursing, Human Kinetics, Education, Management, Social Work and Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies. UBC's Faculty of Medicine delivers medical doctor training through the Southern Medical Program{{cite web |url=https://smp.med.ubc.ca/ |title=UBC Faculty of Medicine Southern Medical Program |publisher=The University of British Columbia |access-date=April 22, 2020 |archive-date=April 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414192851/https://smp.med.ubc.ca/ |url-status=live }} with facilities at UBC Okanagan and a clinical academic campus at Kelowna General Hospital.

From 2005 through 2012, the Okanagan campus completed a $450{{nbsp}}million expansion with construction of several residential, teaching and research buildings. The expansion included the Charles E. Fipke Centre for Innovative Research, University Centre, the Engineering Management and Education building, the Arts and Sciences Centre, Reichwald Health Sciences Centre and several new student residence buildings. The Commons building was opened in 2019 as an expansion to the Library building.{{cite news |last1=Potenteau |first1=Doyle |title=UBC Okanagan opens new high-tech building: the Commons |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4893921/ubc-okanagan-opens-new-high-tech-building-the-commons/ |access-date=August 31, 2023 |work=Global News |date=January 26, 2019 |archive-date=August 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230831185449/https://globalnews.ca/news/4893921/ubc-okanagan-opens-new-high-tech-building-the-commons/ |url-status=live }} Two additional student housing facilities, Skeena and Nechako, opened in 2020 and 2021 respectively.{{cite web |title=Students move into new on-campus housing at UBC Okanagan |url=https://archive.news.gov.bc.ca/releases/news_releases_2020-2024/2021AEST0061-001872.htm |website=archive.news.gov.bc.ca |access-date=August 31, 2023 |language=en-ca |date=October 1, 2021 |archive-date=August 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823223205/https://archive.news.gov.bc.ca/releases/news_releases_2020-2024/2021AEST0061-001872.htm |url-status=live }}

In 2010, UBC Okanagan campus grew from 105 ha. to 208.6 ha.{{cite web |url=https://ok.ubc.ca/about/milestones/ubc-okanagan-turns-5-doubles-in-size/ |title=UBC Okanagan Turns 5, Doubles in Size |date=September 2010 |publisher=The University of British Columbia |access-date=April 19, 2019 }} Like the Point Grey campus, the Okanagan campus attracts Canadian and international students.

UBC Okanagan is currently expanding its campus to downtown Kelowna. Construction on the 43 storey downtown campus building was approved in August 2023{{cite news |last1=Moore |first1=Wayne |title=Kelowna issues $262M building permit for downtown UBCO campus – Kelowna News |url=https://www.castanet.net/news/Kelowna/443243/Kelowna-issues-262M-building-permit-for-downtown-UBCO-campus |access-date=August 31, 2023 |work=www.castanet.net |publisher=Castanet |language=en |archive-date=August 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230830214506/https://www.castanet.net/news/Kelowna/443243/Kelowna-issues-262M-building-permit-for-downtown-UBCO-campus |url-status=live }} and is expected to be completed by 2027.{{cite web |last1=Einarson |first1=Rob |title=UBCO Downtown summer 2023 update |url=https://news.ok.ubc.ca/2023/07/04/ubco-downtown-summer-2023-update/ |website=UBC Okanagan News |access-date=August 31, 2023 |date=July 4, 2023 |archive-date=August 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230830214509/https://news.ok.ubc.ca/2023/07/04/ubco-downtown-summer-2023-update/ |url-status=live }} Eight storeys will be used as academic space for health programs, as the campus will be in close proximity to Interior Health offices and Kelowna General Hospital. The building will also include public engagement spaces, an art gallery, cafes, retailers and 473 rental housing units.{{cite web |title=UBCO Downtown Kelowna Project {{!}} News {{!}} UBC Properties Trust |url=https://www.ubcproperties.com/news/ubco-downtown-kelowna-project/ |website=www.ubcproperties.com |date=May 30, 2022 |access-date=August 31, 2023 |archive-date=August 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230831185449/https://www.ubcproperties.com/news/ubco-downtown-kelowna-project/ |url-status=live }}

{{Main|University of British Columbia Library}}

The UBC Library, which has 7.8{{nbsp}}million volumes, 2.1{{nbsp}}million e-books, more than 370,000 e-journals and more than 700,000 items in locally produced digital collections, is Canada's second-largest academic library.{{cite web |url=http://about.library.ubc.ca/2016/02/18/report-to-the-senate-2014-15/ |title=UBC Library 2014–2015 Report to Senate |publisher=UBC Library |access-date=September 16, 2016 |archive-date=July 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718083957/https://about.library.ubc.ca/2016/02/18/report-to-the-senate-2014-15/ |url-status=live }} From 2014 to 2015, there were more than 3.8{{nbsp}}million on-campus visits and over 9.5{{nbsp}}million visits to its website.{{cite web |url=http://issuu.com/ubclibrary/docs/rs_2015_final2/21?e=2904900/33545694 |title=2014–2015 Report of UBC Library to the Senate |year=2015 |publisher=University of British Columbia Library |access-date=September 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921161214/https://issuu.com/ubclibrary/docs/rs_2015_final2/21?e=2904900%2F33545694 |archive-date=September 21, 2016 }}

The library has fifteen branches and divisions across the UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan campuses.

The former Main Library underwent construction and was renamed the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre. Opened in April 2008, the Learning Centre incorporates the centre heritage block of the old Main Library with two new expansion wings and features an automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS), the first of its kind in Canada.{{cite press release |title=UBC Opens $79.7M Irving K. Barber Learning Centre |publisher=UBC Public Affairs |date=April 11, 2008 |url=http://news.ubc.ca/2008/04/11/archive-media-releases-2008-mr-08-043/ |access-date=January 19, 2014 |archive-date=January 20, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120075016/http://news.ubc.ca/2008/04/11/archive-media-releases-2008-mr-08-043/ |url-status=dead }}

UBC has a number of different collections that have been donated and acquired. Major General Victor Odlum CB, CMG, DSO, VD donated his library of 10,000 books, which has been housed in "the Rockwoods Centre Library" of the UBC Library since 1963. After Videomatica's 2011 closure, UBC and SFU acquired their $1.7-million collection. UBC received about 28,000 movie DVDs, 4,000 VHS titles and 900 Blu-ray discs which are housed at UBC Library's Koerner branch on the Vancouver campus.{{cite press release |title=Iconic Videomatica film collection available at UBC and SFU |publisher=UBC Public Affairs |date=January 27, 2014 |url=http://news.ubc.ca/2014/01/27/iconic-videomatica-film-collection-available-at-ubc-and-sfu/ |access-date=May 18, 2015 |archive-date=February 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205031050/http://news.ubc.ca/2014/01/27/iconic-videomatica-film-collection-available-at-ubc-and-sfu/ |url-status=dead }} In 2014, renowned art collector and antiques specialist, Uno Langmann, donated the Uno Langmann Family Collection of B.C. Photographs,{{cite web |url=http://collections.library.ubc.ca/featured-collections/langmann/ |title=Uno Langmann Collection – UBC Library Collections |website=collections.library.ubc.ca |access-date=September 16, 2016 |archive-date=December 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206170405/https://collections.library.ubc.ca/featured-collections/langmann/ |url-status=live }} which consists of more than 18,000 rare and unique early photographs from the 1850s to the 1970s. It is considered the premiere private collection of early provincial photos and an important illustrated history of early photographic methods. In 2016, the library acquired one of the world's most rare and extraordinary books, the Kelmscott Chaucer from 1896. The book was printed in a limited edition of only 438 copies, but there are only 48 copies in the world with its particular type of binding.{{Cite web |url=http://about.library.ubc.ca/2016/08/23/ubc-library-acquires-a-copy-of-the-kelmscott-chaucer/ |title=UBC Library acquires a copy of the Kelmscott Chaucer |date=August 23, 2016 |website=About UBC Library |access-date=September 16, 2016 |archive-date=June 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629074158/https://about.library.ubc.ca/2016/08/23/ubc-library-acquires-a-copy-of-the-kelmscott-chaucer/ |url-status=live }}

The Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery at UBC is mandated to research, exhibit, collect, publish, educate and develop programs in the field of contemporary art and in contemporary approaches to the practice of art history and criticism. The Belkin maintains and manages the university's art collection of over 5,000 objects, including the Outdoor Art Collection and an archive of over 30,000 items. Works from the permanent collection and archives, with an emphasis on recent acquisitions, are exhibited on an annual basis and are also used by other institutions for research and loans. The Belkin has an active publication program and participates in programming that includes lectures, tours, concerts and symposia related to art history, criticism and curating.{{Cite web |url=http://www.museevirtuel-virtualmuseum.ca/GetMuseumProfile.do?lang=en&chinCode=guacgk |title=Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery. |access-date=August 3, 2021 |archive-date=June 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130620042606/http://www.museevirtuel-virtualmuseum.ca/GetMuseumProfile.do?lang=en&chinCode=guacgk |url-status=bot: unknown }}

The University of British Columbia CIRS building is designed to be net positive in four environmental aspects.{{cite web |title=The Sustainability Goals of CIRS |url=https://sustainability.ubc.ca/research/centres/cirs |access-date=July 13, 2024 }} It uses energy obtained from the Earth and Ocean Sciences (EOSC) Building to heat itself, which wastes around 900 megawatts due to ten air changes every hour.{{cite web |title=The Building |url=http://cirs.ubc.ca/building/ |access-date=February 2, 2013 |archive-date=March 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130310041705/http://cirs.ubc.ca/building |url-status=live }} The building's wood holds nearly 600 tons of carbon, offsetting more carbon than its construction and maintenance created.Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/vbjExkoDMH4 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20120514220629/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbjExkoDMH4&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbjExkoDMH4 |title=David Suzuki at UBC Celebrating CIRS |website=YouTube |date=December 1, 2011 |access-date=February 6, 2013}}{{cbignore }} Sustainable features include a water supply sourced entirely from rainwater, an on-site sewage treatment facility converting waste into reusable water and compost, and the use of wood from pine beetle-killed trees, minimizing the need for logging.

The building relies primarily on solar energy for electricity, and all areas use natural lighting during the day. These green technologies and sustainable operating practices reduce the building's ecological footprint and enhance the well-being of its occupants.

For over 20 years, UBC has implemented water consumption policies through two initiatives, ECOTrek and UBC Renew. ECOTrek is Canada's largest sustainability project, which involved a massive water and energy-saving initiative, rebuilding almost 300 academic buildings at UBC. This project achieved a World Clean Energy nomination.{{cite web |title=Mainstreaming Conservation and Renewables |url=http://www.cleanenergyawards.com/what-are-the-world-clean-energy-awards/mainstreaming-conservation-and-renewables/ |access-date=August 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728073043/http://www.cleanenergyawards.com/what-are-the-world-clean-energy-awards/mainstreaming-conservation-and-renewables |archive-date=July 28, 2017 }} The water management aspect included updates to toilets, urinals, basins, and water-cooled equipment, along with the installation of steam and water meters to monitor and quantify water consumption across campus.

The UBC Renew project focuses on renovating aging institutional buildings instead of demolishing and constructing new ones. Demolition can have significant environmental impacts, such as soil pollution, increased air pollutants, and higher water consumption. Renovating old buildings helps save large volumes of water and reduces energy costs.{{cite web |title=UBC Renew Initiative |date=January 13, 2019 |url=https://sustain.ubc.ca/campus-initiatives/green-buildings/ubc-renew |access-date=July 13, 2024 |archive-date=October 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020121628/https://sustain.ubc.ca/campus-initiatives/green-buildings/ubc-renew |url-status=live }}

The university retrofitted its facilities with composting toilets; however, these did not function correctly.{{cite web |last1=Proctor |first1=Jason |title=Composting toilets not working as advertised |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/composting-toilets-not-working-as-advertised-1.1377434 |website=CBC News |access-date=June 11, 2024 }} As of 2019, UBC consumed about four billion liters of water a year, which could fill 1,600 Olympic-sized swimming pools.{{cite web |title=UBC Sustainability: Water |date=January 13, 2019 |url=http://www.sustain.ubc.ca/campus/water |access-date=April 20, 2019 |publisher=University of British Columbia |archive-date=April 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420115818/http://www.sustain.ubc.ca/campus/water |url-status=live }}

Beyond the UBC sustainability team, a student-driven initiative is taking place in making a bottled-water free campus in hopes of reducing bottled water on campus and to encourage students to engage in environmentally friendly behaviors. Production of bottled water puts strain on the environment and increases landfill space. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature 2001 report, about 1.5{{nbsp}}million tons of plastic is used for bottling 89{{nbsp}}billion liters of water each year.{{cite web |url=http://allaboutwater.org/bottled-water.html |title=The Truth about Bottled Water – Is it really better than tap water? |website=AllAboutWater.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401235121/http://allaboutwater.org/bottled-water.html |archive-date=April 1, 2017 }}

File:Koerner Library UBC.jpg]]

UBC's administration, as mandated by the University Act, is composed of a chancellor, convocation, board, senate and faculties of the university.{{cite web |title=University Act |url=http://www.qp.gov.bc.ca/statreg/stat/U/96468_01.htm |date=August 5, 2009 |work=Laws of British Columbia |publisher=Queen's Printer |access-date=August 18, 2009 |archive-date=December 22, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222051030/http://www.qp.gov.bc.ca/statreg/stat/U/96468_01.htm |url-status=dead }} The board of governors manages property and revenue, while the senate manages the university's academic operation. Both are composed of faculty and students who are elected to the position. Degrees and diplomas are conferred by the convocation, which is composed of alumni, administrators and faculty, with a quorum of twenty members. UBC also has a president, who is the university's chief executive officer and a member of the senate, board of governors, convocation and also serves as vice chancellor. The president of the university is responsible for managing the academic operation of the university, including recommending appointments, calling meetings of faculties and establishing committees.

{{Main article|List of presidents of the University of British Columbia}}

• Frank F. Wesbrook (1st President, 1913–1918)
• Leonard S. Klinck (2nd President, 1919–1944)
• Norman A.M. MacKenzie (3rd President, 1944–1962)
• John B. Macdonald (4th President, 1962–1967)
• F. Kenneth Hare (5th President, 1968–1969)
• Walter H. Gage (6th President, 1969–1975)
• Douglas T. Kenny (7th President, 1975–1983)
• K. George Pedersen (8th President, 1983–1985)
• Robert H. T. Smith (9th President, 1985)
• David W. Strangway (10th President, 1985–1997)
• Martha C. Piper (11th President, 1997–2006)
• Stephen J. Toope (12th President, 2006–2014)
• Arvind Gupta (13th President, 2014–2015)
• Martha Piper (Interim President, 2015–2016)
• Santa J. Ono (15th President, 2016–2022)
• Deborah Buszard (Interim President, 2022–2023)
• Benoit-Antoine Bacon (17th President, 2023–present)

{{Main|Faculties and schools of the University of British Columbia}}

File:UBC Law at Allard Hall.JPG

UBC's academic activity is organized into "faculties" and "schools".{{cite web |title=Faculties & Schools |url=https://www.ubc.ca/academic/fac_schools.html |publisher=University of British Columbia |access-date=October 20, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091002033447/http://www.ubc.ca/academic/fac_schools.html |archive-date=October 2, 2009 }} UBC has twelve faculties at its Vancouver campus and seven at its Okanagan campus.{{cite web |title=UBC Facts & Figures (2009/2010) |url=http://www.publicaffairs.ubc.ca/services-for-media/ubc-facts-figures/ |access-date=April 18, 2012 |publisher=University of British Columbia |archive-date=June 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603201351/http://www.publicaffairs.ubc.ca/services-for-media/ubc-facts-figures/ |url-status=live }} UBC Vancouver has two academic colleges: Interdisciplinary Studies and Health Disciplines, while UBC Okanagan has a College of Graduate Studies. At the Vancouver campus, the Faculty of Arts, which dates back to the 1915 Fairview Campus, is the largest faculty with twenty departments and schools. With the split of the Faculty of Arts and Science in 1964, the Faculty of Science is the second largest faculty with nine departments. The Sauder School of Business is UBC's Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration. The School of Architecture offers a program accredited by the Canadian Architectural Certification Board at the bachelor level (B.Arch.) and the master's level (M.Arch.).{{cite web |url=http://www.raic.org/architecture_architects/becoming_an_architect/education_e.htm |title=Education |date=November 21, 2014 |access-date=July 3, 2015 |archive-date=November 10, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110034354/http://www.raic.org/architecture_architects/becoming_an_architect/education_e.htm |url-status=live }} {{as of|2012|December}}, a new school was created: UBC Vancouver School of Economics in conjunction with the Sauder School of Business.{{cite web |url=http://www.vpfinance.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/ubc_ten_year_finance_plan.pdf |title=UBC 10 Year Finance Plan |work=VP Finance, University of British Columbia |date=September 2011 |access-date=February 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212192054/http://www.vpfinance.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/ubc_ten_year_finance_plan.pdf |archive-date=December 12, 2013 }}[http://ubyssey.ca/opinion/last-words432-november-14/ Last Words: November 14, 2011 edition |The Ubyssey |The Ubyssey, UBC's official student newspaper] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160330194845/http://ubyssey.ca/opinion/last-words432-november-14/ |date=March 30, 2016 }}. Ubyssey.ca (November 15, 2011). Retrieved on April 12, 2014.{{cite web |url=http://www.econ.ubc.ca/alumni/EconUpdateSummer2011.pdf |title=ECONomics update |work=Vancouver School of Economics at University of British Columbia |year=2011 |access-date=February 28, 2015 |archive-date=April 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425122243/http://www.econ.ubc.ca/alumni/EconUpdateSummer2011.pdf |url-status=dead }} The university's first inter-faculty school, the School of Biomedical Engineering, was established in 2017 as a partnership between the Faculties of Applied Science and Medicine.{{Cite web |title=About {{!}} School of Biomedical Engineering |url=https://www.bme.ubc.ca/about/ |access-date=March 12, 2021 |website=www.bme.ubc.ca |archive-date=March 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301103346/https://www.bme.ubc.ca/about/ |url-status=live }}

In 2014, UBC created a new "International Programs" designation separate from the traditional definition of a faculty. To accompany this designation, the university created Vantage College to allow international students who do not meet the English language requirements for general admission to enter the university's transition program.{{cite web |url=http://vantagecollege.ubc.ca/ |title=UBC Vantage College |publisher=University of British Columbia |access-date=April 20, 2019 }}

The dual degree program is a highly selective program in which undergraduate students earn two Bachelor of Arts degrees from both Sciences Po in France and UBC in four years. Previously, students could earn one Bachelor of Arts and one Bachelor of Commerce (Sauder School of Business); however, this program was discontinued with the last student intake occurring in September 2017. Currently, students in the dual degree program can only earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from UBC, along with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Sciences Po, which can both be in different majors pertaining to the social sciences. Students spend two years at one of three Sciences Po regional campuses in France (Le Havre, Menton, or Reims), each of which is devoted to a particular region of the world. After two years, students matriculate at UBC. Graduates are guaranteed admission to a Sciences Po graduate program within one-year of graduation.{{cite web |url=https://sciencespo.ubc.ca/ |title=UBC Sciences Po Dual Degree |publisher=University of British Columbia |access-date=April 20, 2019 |archive-date=April 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411172859/https://sciencespo.ubc.ca/ |url-status=live }}

{{Canadian university rankings

| UniName = The University of British Columbia

| USNWR_GU = 39

| THES_W = 41

| ARWU_W = 47

| QS_W = 38

| USNWR_N = 2

| ARWU_CAN = 2

| THES_N = 2

| QS_N = 3

| THES_REP = 36

| THES_GEUR = 36

| MAC_med = 3

| MAC_rep = 2

}}

The University of British Columbia has ranked in a number of post-secondary rankings. In the 2022 Academic Ranking of World Universities rankings, the university ranked 44th in the world and second in Canada. The 2024 QS World University Rankings ranked the University 34th in the world and third in Canada. The 2024 Times Higher Education World University Rankings ranked the University 41st in the world and second in Canada. In the 2022–23 U.S. News & World Report Best Global University Ranking, the university ranked 35th in the world and second in Canada. The Canadian-based Maclean's magazine ranked the University of British Columbia third in their 2023 Canadian Medical Doctoral University category and in their 2023 reputation survey. The university was ranked in spite of having opted out – along with several other universities in Canada – of participating in Maclean's graduate survey since 2006.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/11-universities-bail-out-of-maclean-s-survey-1.570771 |title=11 Universities bail out of Maclean's survey |access-date=March 12, 2019 |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |date=April 14, 2006 |work=CBC News |archive-date=October 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211030152021/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/11-universities-bail-out-of-maclean-s-survey-1.570771 |url-status=live }} In Newsweek{{'}}s 2011 global university rankings, the university was ranked eighth among institutions outside the United States and second in Canada (after the University of Toronto).{{cite web |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/features/college-rankings/2011/best-international-schools.all.html |title=College Rankings |work=Newsweek |year=2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012095628/http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/features/college-rankings/2011/best-international-schools.all.html |archive-date=October 12, 2011 }}

Along with academic and research-based rankings, the university has also been ranked by publications that evaluate the employment prospects of its graduates. In the Times Higher Education's 2022 global employability ranking, the university ranked 36th in the world and third in Canada.

UBC students can study abroad for a semester or a year at over 200 partner institutions.[https://students.ubc.ca/career/international-experiences/exchange/result?cid=All&sid=All&name=&tid=All&lid=All List of 208 partner universities] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031044456/https://students.ubc.ca/career/international-experiences/exchange/result?cid=All&sid=All&name=&tid=All&lid=All |date=October 31, 2020 }} Website of The University of British Columbia. Retrieved February 22, 2021.

The mean admission average during the 2023–24 school year for domestic first-year students was 89–91 per cent.{{cite web |last1=Averill |first1=Gage |title=University of British Columbia – Annual Enrolment Report |page=19 |url=https://scs-senate-2021.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/Item-7-2023-24-Report-on-Enrolment.pdf |access-date=May 4, 2024 |newspaper=UBC Senate |publisher=UBC Vancouver }} The acceptance rate for domestic applications in 2013 was 50.4 per cent, of which 57.1 per cent enrolled.{{cite web |last=Wong |first=Jennifer A. |date=November 25, 2013 |title=University of British Columbia Credit Analysis |url=http://treasury.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2014/03/Moodys-Debt-Rating-Report-Nov-2013.pdf |access-date=February 15, 2015 |publisher=Moody's Investment Service |archive-date=October 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008095542/http://treasury.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2014/03/Moodys-Debt-Rating-Report-Nov-2013.pdf |url-status=live }} In 2014/15, UBC employed 3,270 full-time Faculty members, 10,942 non-faculty members and 8,031 students. It reported 871 unpaid employees.

University of British Columbia has a total of 72,585 students across both campuses. International students, amounting to 20,237, make up 28% of the university's student population. There are 2,303 indigenous students, making up 3.2% of the student population.{{Cite web |title=Annual Enrolment Reports |url=https://pair.ubc.ca/student-data-analytics/enrolment/annual-enrolment-reports/ |access-date=April 15, 2023 |website=pair.ubc.ca |archive-date=April 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415060720/https://pair.ubc.ca/student-data-analytics/enrolment/annual-enrolment-reports/ |url-status=live }}

File:Chan centre performing arts concert tessler.jpg, designed by Bing Thom, B.Arch. '66]]

The University of British Columbia is a member of Universitas 21, an international association of research-led institutions and the only Canadian member of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities, a consortium of 42 leading research universities in the Pacific Rim.{{cite web |title=Universitas 21 Member List |url=http://www.universitas21.com/memberlist.html |publisher=Universitas 21 |access-date=February 2, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100210160704/http://www.universitas21.com/memberlist.html |archive-date=February 10, 2010 }}{{cite web |title=Association of Pacific Rim Universities Member List |url=http://www.apru.org/members/index.htm |publisher=Association of Pacific Rim Universities |access-date=June 10, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110408152249/http://www.apru.org/members/index.htm |archive-date=April 8, 2011 }} In 2017, the University of British Columbia had the second-largest sponsored research income (external sources of funding) out of any Canadian university, totaling C$577 million.{{cite web |url=https://researchinfosource.com/top-50-research-universities/2018/list |title=Canada's Top 50 Research Universities 2018 |publisher=Research Infosource |year=2018 |access-date=March 18, 2019 |archive-date=November 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181103092219/https://researchinfosource.com/top-50-research-universities/2018/list |url-status=live }} In the same year, the university's faculty averaged a sponsored research income of $249,900, the eighth highest in the country, while graduate students averaged a sponsored research income of $55,200.

The university has been ranked on several bibliometric university rankings, which uses citation analysis to evaluate the impact a university has on academic publications. In 2019, the Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers for World Universities ranked UBC 27th in the world and second in Canada.{{cite web |url=http://nturanking.lis.ntu.edu.tw/ranking/ByCountry/2019/CA |title=World University Rankings By 2019 |publisher=NTU Rankings |year=2019 |access-date=July 8, 2019 |archive-date=July 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708041729/http://nturanking.lis.ntu.edu.tw/ranking/ByCountry/2019/CA |url-status=dead }} The University Ranking by Academic Performance 2018–19 rankings placed the university 27th in the world and second in Canada.{{cite web |url=http://www.urapcenter.org/2018/country.php?ccode=CA |title=2018–2019 Ranking By Country |publisher=Informatics Institute of Middle East Technical University |year=2018 |access-date=November 3, 2018 |archive-date=November 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104050258/http://www.urapcenter.org/2018/country.php?ccode=CA |url-status=dead}}

The university operates and manages several research centers:

• In 1972, a consortium of the University of British Columbia and four other universities from Alberta and British Columbia established the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre. Located on Vancouver Island, the center provides year-round research facilities and technical assistance for biologists, ecologists and oceanographers.{{cite web |url=http://www.calendar.ubc.ca/vancouver/index.cfm?tree=10,245,688,0 |title=Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre |publisher=UBC Student Services |access-date=April 18, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150601104722/http://www.calendar.ubc.ca/vancouver/index.cfm?tree=10,245,688,0 |archive-date=June 1, 2015 }}
• The Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies is an interdisciplinary research institute for fundamental research in the Sciences, Social Sciences and Humanities.
• The UBC Farm is a {{Convert|24|ha|acre|abbr=|adj=on}} learning and research farm in UBC's South Campus area. It features Saturday Farm Markets from early June until early October, selling organic produce and eggs to the community.
• TRIUMF, a laboratory specializing in particle and nuclear physics, is also situated at the university. The name was formerly an acronym for Tri-University Meson Facility, but TRIUMF is now owned and operated by a consortium of eleven Canadian universities. The consortium runs TRIUMF through a contribution of funds from the National Research Council of Canada and makes TRIUMF's facilities available to Canadian scientists and to scientists from around the world.{{cite web |url=http://www.calendar.ubc.ca/vancouver/index.cfm?tree=10,245,693,0 |title=TRIUMF |publisher=UBC Student Services |access-date=April 18, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150601104718/http://www.calendar.ubc.ca/vancouver/index.cfm?tree=10,245,693,0 |archive-date=June 1, 2015 }}
• BC Centre on Substance Use (BCCSU) and UBC have established Professorships in Cannabis Science in 2018 following Canada's legalization of cannabis.{{cite web |title=Canopy Growth to fund Professorship of Cannabis Science at University of British Columbia to research the role of cannabis in addressing the opioid overdose crisis |url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/canopy-growth-to-fund-professorship-of-cannabis-science-at-university-of-british-columbia-to-research-the-role-of-cannabis-in-addressing-the-opioid-overdose-crisis-684675861.html |date=June 6, 2018 |website=NewsWire |access-date=September 26, 2019 |archive-date=September 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926020638/https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/canopy-growth-to-fund-professorship-of-cannabis-science-at-university-of-british-columbia-to-research-the-role-of-cannabis-in-addressing-the-opioid-overdose-crisis-684675861.html |url-status=live }}
• {{Anchor|CSDI}}The Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions is a research institute for the teaching and study of innovation in democratic practice and institutions. Established in 2002, the center conducts research and teaching in cooperation with scholars, public officials, NGOs and students.{{Cite web |url=https://democracy.arts.ubc.ca/governance/mission-scope/ |title=Mission & Scope |website=Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions |language=en-US |access-date=June 19, 2018 |archive-date=June 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619214150/https://democracy.arts.ubc.ca/governance/mission-scope/ |url-status=dead }} The center is formally housed in the UBC School of Public Policy and Global Affairs (SPPGA) and operates in association with faculty in the UBC Department of Political Science.{{Cite web |url=https://democracy.arts.ubc.ca/governance/ |title=Who we are |website=Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions |language=en-US |access-date=June 19, 2018 |archive-date=June 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619213912/https://democracy.arts.ubc.ca/governance/ |url-status=dead }} It was initially funded from the Merilees Chair through a donation by Gail and Stephen Jarislowsky.{{Cite web |url=https://democracy.arts.ubc.ca/governance/background/ |title=Background |website=Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions |language=en-US |access-date=June 19, 2018 |archive-date=June 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619214102/https://democracy.arts.ubc.ca/governance/background/ |url-status=dead }}
• The Stewart Blusson Quantum Matter Institute, one of three Canadian research institutes focused on quantum materials and technology research, was established in 2015 with the support of the [https://www.cfref-apogee.gc.ca/home-accueil-eng.aspx Canada First Excellence Research Fund] and a donation from Stewart Blusson.

In 2017, UBC inked a $3 million research agreement with Huawei for big data and fuel cell technology. The university refused to release the agreement without an access to information request.{{Cite news |url=https://www.richmond-news.com/special-report-canadian-taxpayers-companies-subsidizing-huawei-research-1.24051719 |title=Canadian taxpayers, companies subsidizing Huawei research |last=Hainsworth |first=Jeremy |date=January 13, 2020 |work=Richmond News |access-date=January 18, 2020 |archive-date=January 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114192527/https://www.richmond-news.com/special-report-canadian-taxpayers-companies-subsidizing-huawei-research-1.24051719 |url-status=dead }}

UBC's Longhouse is the university's centre for Indigenous activities. The university has an associate dean of Indigenous Education and has developed a governing board and senate policies as well as Aboriginal governed councils within the university structure.{{cite web |url=https://www.uwinnipeg.ca/index/cms-filesystem-action?file=pdfs/conferences/2007/aboriginal-rt-spring-report.pdf |title=. The University of Winnipeg |access-date=October 6, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080626101902/http://www.uwinnipeg.ca/index/cms-filesystem-action?file=pdfs%2Fconferences%2F2007%2Faboriginal-rt-spring-report.pdf |archive-date=June 26, 2008 }} UBC offers degrees in First Nations and Indigenous Studies through a program in the Arts Faculty,{{Cite web |url=https://fnis.arts.ubc.ca/ |title=Home | First Nations and Indigenous Studies |website=fnis.arts.ubc.ca |access-date=July 12, 2022 |archive-date=July 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705122258/https://fnis.arts.ubc.ca/ |url-status=live }} and a Chinook Diploma Program in the Sauder School of Business;{{Cite web |title=Overview -Ch'nook |url=https://www.sauder.ubc.ca/programs/chnook-aboriginal-education/overview |access-date=February 2, 2023 |archive-date=February 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202225410/https://www.sauder.ubc.ca/programs/chnook-aboriginal-education/overview |url-status=live }} it also runs the Chinook Summer Biz Camp, to foster entrepreneurship among First Nations and Métis high school students. It hosts a Bridge Through Sport Program, Summer Science Program, Native Youth Program and Cedar Day Camp and After school Program. Its First Nations Forestry Initiatives were developed in partnership with specific Aboriginal communities to meet their needs in their more remote areas.{{citation needed|date=June 2016}}

In 2012–13, UBC's budget exceeded $2{{nbsp}}billion and the university posted balanced financial results for the fourth consecutive year through strategic revenue diversification, careful management of assets and a continued focus on fundraising for projects across the university.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}} In the 2024–25 budget, government grants account for approximately 40 per cent of total revenues.{{Cite web |last=Nagarajan |first=Nethra |date=April 5, 2024 |title=Breaking down UBC's 2024/25 $3.8 billion budget |url=https://ubyssey.ca/news/ubcs-2024-2025-budget/ |access-date=December 4, 2024 |website=The Ubyssey |language=en |archive-date=September 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240919162341/https://ubyssey.ca/news/ubcs-2024-2025-budget/ |url-status=live }}

Tuition fees vary significantly between Canadian citizens (and permanent residents) and international students. In addition, for both undergraduate and graduate programs, tuition rates vary among the university's faculties. Students must also pay for various living expenses such as housing, food and health care. {{as of|2013|alt=As of the 2012–2013 school year}}, these expenses were estimated at around $13,000 CAD per academic year.{{cite web |url=https://you.ubc.ca/ubc/vancouver/cost.ezc |title=UBC: What It Costs |publisher=You.ubc.ca |access-date=February 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512111451/https://you.ubc.ca/ubc/vancouver/cost.ezc |archive-date=May 12, 2013 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.students.ubc.ca/coursesreg/tuition-fees-deposits/tuition-fees/ |title=Tuition and fees |publisher=UBC Student Services |access-date=February 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521102642/http://www.students.ubc.ca/coursesreg/tuition-fees-deposits/tuition-fees/ |archive-date=May 21, 2013 }}{{cite web |url=http://connectionsforlife.ubc.ca/tuition-costs |title=Tuition & Costs |publisher=University of British Columbia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130816043205/http://connectionsforlife.ubc.ca/tuition-costs |archive-date=August 16, 2013 }}

UBC tuition for 2012 was $4,700 before adding other mandatory administrative fees for a Canadian student in a basic 30-unit program, though various programs cost from $3,406 to $9,640. Tuition for international students is significantly higher (2.3–4.6 times higher than domestic students). In 2012, tuition for international students ranged from $16,245 CAD to $25,721 CAD.{{cite web |url=http://www.students.ubc.ca/coursesreg/tuition-fees-deposits/tuition-fees/ |title=Tuition fees – Courses & Registration |date=May 24, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100524205842/http://www.students.ubc.ca/coursesreg/tuition-fees-deposits/tuition-fees/ |archive-date=May 24, 2010 }}

In 2001–02, UBC had one of the lowest undergraduate tuition rates in Canada, at an average of $2,181 CAD per year for a full-time program due to a government-instituted tuition freeze.

In 2001, the BC Liberal party defeated the NDP in British Columbia and lifted the tuition freeze. In 2002–03 undergraduate and graduate tuition rose by an average of 30% and up to 40% in some faculties. This has led to better facilities, but also to student unrest and contributed to a teaching assistant union strike.

UBC again increased tuition by 30% in the 2003–04 year, again by approximately 15% in the 2004–05 season and 2% in the 2005–06 and 2006–07 years. Increases were lower than expected because, in the 2005 Speech from the Throne, the government announced tuition increases would be capped to inflation.{{cite web |author=Premier of British Columbia |author-link=Premier of British Columbia |title=British Columbia to limit tuition increases |date=February 8, 2005 |url=http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/nrm_news_releases/2005OTP0017-000120.htm |access-date=September 3, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061202014528/http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/nrm_news_releases/2005OTP0017-000120.htm |archive-date=December 2, 2006 }} In 2006–07, the Canadian average undergraduate tuition fee was $4,347 and the BC average was $4,960.{{cite web |author=Stats Canada |author-link=Statistics Canada |url=http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060901/d060901a.htm |title=The Daily |date=September 1, 2006 |access-date=September 3, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070823202401/http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060901/d060901a.htm |archive-date=August 23, 2007}}

In 2014, the board of governors passed a one-time 10% tuition increase for all new incoming international students.{{cite news |url=http://ubyssey.ca/news/ubc-passes-10-per-cent-increase-to-international-tuition-214/ |title=Board of Governor passes 10% increase to international tuition |newspaper=The Ubyssey |date=December 2, 2014 |access-date=May 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518112504/http://ubyssey.ca/news/ubc-passes-10-per-cent-increase-to-international-tuition-214/ |archive-date=May 18, 2015 }} In December 2015, UBC's board of governors passed a motion increasing international tuition by more than 46.8% for the academic years 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–2019. This announcement was met with indignation by many of the university's students as this was the second major increase in international tuition in less than a year, taking total international student tuition fee increases to above 60% within 4 years (minimum international tuition will be bench marked at $35,071 CAD in the year 2018–19).{{cite web |url=http://ubyssey.ca/news/tuition-increases-announced/ |title=International tuition increases of 46.8% over the next three years announced |publisher=The Ubyssey |access-date=April 20, 2019 |archive-date=March 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190318170549/https://www.ubyssey.ca/news/tuition-increases-announced/ |url-status=live }}

In the academic year 2019/2020, graduate programs assess tuition fees that vary significantly, depending on the program and the student's citizenship.{{cite web |title=Vancouver Academic Calendar 2019/20: Master's |url=http://www.calendar.ubc.ca/vancouver/index.cfm?tree=14,266,773,1450 |publisher=University of British Columbia |access-date=April 20, 2019 |archive-date=July 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730172921/http://www.calendar.ubc.ca/vancouver/index.cfm?tree=14,266,773,1450 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.calendar.ubc.ca/vancouver/index.cfm?tree=14,266,773,1451 |title=Vancouver Academic Calendar 2019/20: Doctoral |publisher=University of British Columbia |access-date=April 20, 2019 |archive-date=August 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120801164409/http://www.calendar.ubc.ca/vancouver/index.cfm?tree=14,266,773,1451 |url-status=live }} International students without external funding that meet the general eligibility criteria will be supported with guaranteed funding of up to $3,200 per year.{{cite web |url=http://www.grad.ubc.ca/awards/international-partial-tuition-scholarship |title=International Tuition Award |access-date=July 3, 2015 |archive-date=April 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120430080925/http://www.grad.ubc.ca/awards/international-partial-tuition-scholarship |url-status=live }} Tuition for professional Master's programs varies.

The Alma Mater Society of the University of British Columbia, or AMS, represents UBC undergraduate students within the Vancouver campus. The society's mandate is to improve the quality of educational, social and personal lives of UBC students. The AMS lobbies the UBC administration on behalf of the student body, provides services such as the AMS/GSS Health and Dental Plan, supports and administers student clubs and maintains the Student Union Building (aka SUB) and the services it houses. A constituency (undergraduate society) exists within each school and faculty of the university and acts as the subsidiary of the AMS within those schools and faculties.

The Graduate Student Society (GSS), which operates as an independent entity, represents graduate students. A council representing each graduate program and an executive elected by graduate students as a whole governs the GSS.{{cite web |title=Council |url=http://gss.ubc.ca/council/ |publisher=Graduate Student Society – UBC Vancouver |access-date=April 20, 2019 |archive-date=April 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420130317/http://gss.ubc.ca/council/ |url-status=live }}

The university also has elected student representatives sitting on, as voting members, the board of governors (three student representatives) and the academic senate (18 student representatives),{{cite web |title=Senate Membership 2020–2023 |url=https://senate.ubc.ca/senate-membership-2020-2023 |website=senate.ubc.ca |publisher=UBC Senate |access-date=September 16, 2020 |archive-date=March 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331042206/https://senate.ubc.ca/senate-membership-2020-2023 |url-status=dead }} as laid out in the British Columbia University Act.{{cite web |title=University Act |url=https://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/consol15/consol15/00_96468_01 |website=www.bclaws.ca |access-date=September 16, 2020 }} Although the university is the official body that elects the students, the university delegates these representative elections to the AMS.

On the Okanagan Campus, the Students' Union Okanagan, or UBCSUO, is the elected representation of the student body. Composed of a board of directors and executive team, the UBCSUO lobbies the administration and provincial government on behalf of the student body, manages the student health and dental plan, as well as hosts social programming throughout the year. The Student Union Offices are located within the University Centre Building. In the wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the SUO initiated the Emergency Bursary Program which supported UBC students with nearly $1,000,000 in emergency funding.{{cite web |title=Support UBC students during COVID-19 pandemic and beyond |url=https://support.ubc.ca/projects/students-during-covid19 |publisher=The University of British Columbia |access-date=February 22, 2021 |archive-date=March 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305205201/https://support.ubc.ca/projects/students-during-covid19/ |url-status=dead }}

In the 2020–21 academic year, females made up 57 per cent of UBC Vancouver's student body and 53 per cent of UBC Okanagan's student body.{{cite web |title=Annual Enrolment Report 2021/22 |url=https://pair.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/145/2022/02/2021-22-Enrolment-Report.pdf |publisher=UBC |access-date=November 26, 2022 |archive-date=November 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127024350/https://pair.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/145/2022/02/2021-22-Enrolment-Report.pdf |url-status=live }}

File:New Student Union Building of the University of British Columbia.jpg

File:Interior of the UBC Student Union Building 13.jpg

The heart of student activity at UBC Vancouver is the centrally located Student Union Building (commonly referred to as "The Nest"), which houses offices of many AMS student clubs, over a dozen restaurants and cafes, a pub (commonly referred to as "The Gallery"), a nightclub ("The Pit"), the 425-seat Norman Bouchard Memorial Theatre ("The Norm Theatre"), several shops and a post office. The AMS runs the majority of the SUB's outlets and shops; however, UBC Food Services' recent addition of major corporate outlets has generated controversy. The SUB Art Gallery contains mostly students' works. An underground bus loop to replace the "Grassy Knoll" beside the SUB did not receive funding by Translink.{{cite web |title=Open Letter to the UBC Vancouver Community |url=http://www.publicaffairs.ubc.ca/2009/10/28/open-letter-to-the-ubc-vancouver-community/ |publisher=Office of the Associate Vice President, University of British Columbia Campus and Community Planning |date=October 28, 2009 |access-date=January 26, 2010 |archive-date=November 26, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091126225545/http://www.publicaffairs.ubc.ca/2009/10/28/open-letter-to-the-ubc-vancouver-community/ |url-status=dead }}

As a result, the administration has cancelled the bus loop project, although the rest of the renovations of the University Boulevard Neighborhood are still under consideration.

{{Anchor|AMS Student Nest}}On June 1, 2015, the new Student Union Building—called the AMS Student Nest, or simply "the Nest"{{cite news |url=https://www.straight.com/life/518506/ubcs-new-student-union-building-will-make-you-want-go-back-school |title=UBC's new student union building will make you want to go back to school |date=August 28, 2015 |work=Georgia Straight Vancouver's News & Entertainment Weekly |access-date=January 26, 2018 |archive-date=January 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126125524/https://www.straight.com/life/518506/ubcs-new-student-union-building-will-make-you-want-go-back-school |url-status=live }}—opened to students, largely replacing and extending the old SUB in functionality. The Nest, built for $107{{nbsp}}million, is much larger than its predecessor, and has numerous amenities including a performance centre, an art exhibition space, a large ballroom, a three-storey climbing wall, radio broadcast facilities, a daycare, and a 10,740 square foot rooftop garden and public space with a water feature and outdoor seating. Many of the restaurants as well as the Pit Pub have moved to the Nest under their original name or with new names.

AMS Student Nest was designed by B+H Architects in collaboration with DIALOG.{{cite web |date=August 28, 2015 |title=UBC's new student union building will make you want to go back to school |url=https://www.straight.com/life/518506/ubcs-new-student-union-building-will-make-you-want-go-back-school |access-date=July 3, 2022 |website=The Georgia Straight |language=en |archive-date=July 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703141949/https://www.straight.com/life/518506/ubcs-new-student-union-building-will-make-you-want-go-back-school |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Soh |first=Leo |title=Inside the AMS Student Nest |url=https://ubyssey.ca/features/ams-student-nest-864/ |access-date=July 3, 2022 |website=The Ubyssey |language=en |archive-date=July 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703141950/https://ubyssey.ca/features/ams-student-nest-864/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=UBC Student Nest: 27 photos of the new AMS Student Union Building {{!}} News |url=https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/ubc-student-nest-ubc-student-union-building |access-date=July 3, 2022 |website=dailyhive.com |language=en |archive-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929234159/https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/ubc-student-nest-ubc-student-union-building |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=The AMS Student Nest at UBC Opens in January where Food is the Focus {{!}} Vancouver Foodster |url=https://vancouverfoodster.com/2014/09/29/the-ams-student-nest-at-ubc-opens-in-january-where-food-is-the-focus/ |access-date=July 3, 2022 |language=en-US |archive-date=July 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703141951/https://vancouverfoodster.com/2014/09/29/the-ams-student-nest-at-ubc-opens-in-january-where-food-is-the-focus/ |url-status=live }} The building has an area of 23 700m² with a capacity of 300 people.{{Cite web |title=AMS Student Nest (NEST) – Various Informal Learning Spaces {{!}} Learning Spaces |url=https://learningspaces.ubc.ca/classrooms/nest-various-informal-learning-spaces |access-date=April 12, 2022 |website=learningspaces.ubc.ca |archive-date=March 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220323130352/https://learningspaces.ubc.ca/classrooms/nest-various-informal-learning-spaces |url-status=live }} The structure of the building was worked on by RJC Engineers using primarily wood and steel construction.{{Cite web |title=RJC Project Details |url=https://www.rjc.ca/project-details/ubc-student-union-building.html |access-date=April 12, 2022 |website=RJC Engineers |language=en-GB }}File:UBC Bookstore 2015.jpg

Other student facilities on campus include the Ladha Science Student Centre (funded through a donation from Abdul Ladha, a levy on Science undergraduate students, the VP Students and the dean of Science) and the Meekison Arts Student Space in the Faculty of Art's Buchanan D building. The UBC Bookstore's locations on the Vancouver campus: the main store at 6200 University Boulevard and a store at Sauder School of Business join the stores at the Okanagan and Robson Square Campuses in offering a variety of products and services. The bookstores return a dividend to UBC each year, which is re-invested in the campus or in student and community organizations.{{cite web |title=UBC Bookstore: 2012/13 Budget |url=https://senate.ubc.ca/sites/senate.ubc.ca/files/downloads/co_budgetcomm_bookstore.pdf |publisher=University of British Columbia |access-date=April 20, 2019 |archive-date=October 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028055220/https://senate.ubc.ca/sites/senate.ubc.ca/files/downloads/co_budgetcomm_bookstore.pdf |url-status=dead }}

UBC's 19 Greek organizations make up Canada's largest and most active Greek system. The Alma Mater Society recognizes an Inter Fraternal Council (IFC) as a club and weekly meetings of the fraternities under IFC take place at their respective fraternity houses. There are eleven fraternities on campus, the first of which was Zeta Psi, in January 1926.

UBC was ranked eighth among Canada's top party schools by the website Ask Men.{{cite web |title=Top 10: Party Universities In Canada |url=http://ca.askmen.com/top_10/travel_top_ten_100/145b_travel_top_ten.html |website=AskMen |access-date=April 20, 2019 |archive-date=February 13, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213161953/http://ca.askmen.com/top_10/travel_top_ten_100/145b_travel_top_ten.html |url-status=live }}

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File:Dene Totem Park.JPG

File:Marine Drive Residence.JPG

The UBC Point Grey campus has a resident population of about 10,041 students{{cite web |title=UBC 2013–14 Financial Summary |url=http://annualreport.ubc.ca/financial-results-summary/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130919051102/http://annualreport.ubc.ca/financial-results-summary/ |archive-date=September 19, 2013 |website=UBC 2013–14 Annual Report |publisher=University of British Columbia |access-date=November 7, 2014 }} who live in an unincorporated area, outside the City of Vancouver known as Electoral Area A within and partly administered by Metro Vancouver.{{cite web |title=Electoral Area A – Metro Vancouver |url=http://www.metrovancouver.org/services/electoralA/Pages/default.aspx |website=Metro Vancouver |access-date=October 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024075238/http://www.metrovancouver.org/services/electoralA/Pages/default.aspx |archive-date=October 24, 2014 }} Neighboring the University Endowment Lands, on-campus residential services are provided by the Province of BC and by UBC. Emergency Planning is administered by Metro Vancouver. Because UBC is not in a municipality, there is no mayor, council, or other democratic municipal representation for on-campus residents, although residents can vote for the director of Electoral Area A.{{cite web |title=Information for Voters |url=http://www.mariaharris.ca/Voting.shtml#Section1 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141024060024/http://www.mariaharris.ca/Voting.shtml%23Section1 |website=Maria Harris, Director of Electoral Area A |access-date=October 24, 2014 |archive-date=October 24, 2014 }} British Columbia's Residential Tenancy Act does not protect UBC residents because university accommodations for students and employees are exempt.{{cite web |title=Residential Tenancy Act, Section 4(b) |url=http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/02078_01#section4 |website=BC Laws |access-date=October 24, 2014 |archive-date=October 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024095851/http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/02078_01#section4 |url-status=live }}

{{as of|2018|alt=As of the 2017–2018 school year}}, there are three dormitory style residences on campus, primarily for first and second-year students: Totem Park, Place Vanier and Orchard Commons.[http://www.housing.ubc.ca/student-residences-van/choose-the-right-residence] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140414144236/http://www.housing.ubc.ca/student-residences-van/choose-the-right-residence|date=April 14, 2014}}

Students also have suite-style residence options on the Point Grey campus. The Gage Towers consist of three 17-floor towers.[http://www.housing.ubc.ca/walter-gage/overview] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517211757/http://www.housing.ubc.ca/walter-gage/overview|date=May 17, 2013}}File:Orchard Commons at the University of British Columbia 2016.jpg

Brock Commons Tallwood House opened in 2017, becoming the tallest mass timber building in the world.{{cite news |last1=Chan |first1=Kenneth |title=Design revealed: 18-storey UBC residence to be world's tallest wooden building |url=http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2016/02/ubc-tall-wood-building-brock-residence/ |access-date=June 12, 2016 |publisher=Van City Buzz |date=February 18, 2016 |archive-date=June 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160621224225/http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2016/02/ubc-tall-wood-building-brock-residence/ |url-status=dead }}{{Cite news |url=https://www.archdaily.com/879625/inside-vancouvers-brock-commons-the-worlds-tallest-timber-structured-building |title=Inside Vancouver's Brock Commons, the World's Tallest Mass Timber Building |date=September 18, 2017 |work=ArchDaily |access-date=January 26, 2018 |archive-date=January 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126125553/https://www.archdaily.com/879625/inside-vancouvers-brock-commons-the-worlds-tallest-timber-structured-building |url-status=live }} Brock Commons South building finished completion and became open for students in June 2024.{{Cite web |title=UBC opens 316 new beds of student housing at Vancouver campus (PHOTOS) {{!}} Urbanized |url=https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/ubc-brock-commons-north-south-student-residence-vancouver |access-date=June 25, 2024 |website=dailyhive.com |language=en |archive-date=June 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240625072807/https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/ubc-brock-commons-north-south-student-residence-vancouver |url-status=live }}

File:Olympic Hockey at UBC.jpg]]

The University of British Columbia's sports teams are called the Thunderbirds. The Thunderbirds participate in the U Sports Canada West Universities Athletic Association for most varsity sports. However, several varsity teams at UBC compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. {{as of|2008|alt=Around 2007–2008}}, UBC considered joining the NCAA Division II.{{cite news |url=http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/news/sports/story.html?id=4bcb77e5-b379-4e18-8a33-578138b9eba7 |title=UBC expects visit by NCAA |publisher=Canada.com |access-date=October 6, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012230601/http://canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/news/sports/story.html?id=4bcb77e5-b379-4e18-8a33-578138b9eba7 |archive-date=October 12, 2007 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.students.ubc.ca/ncaa/ |title=NCAA Division II Consultation |publisher=University of British Columbia |access-date=October 19, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081008090711/http://www.students.ubc.ca/ncaa/ |archive-date=October 8, 2008 }} With a long history of competing in sports, the Thunderbirds have garnered a number of championships. In particular, the women swimmers who had represented UBC had brought back 22 conference championships and 16 national championships.{{cite web |url=http://www.gothunderbirds.ca/sports/2009/10/19/hist-championships.aspx?tab=championships |title=Championships |work=UBC Thunderbirds |publisher=University of British Columbia |access-date=April 14, 2011 }}

File:Indoor climbing at the UBC Student Union Building.jpg

The University of British Columbia has a number of athletic facilities open to both their varsity teams as well as to their students. The stadium with the largest seating capacity at UBC is the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre. The Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre is home to the varsity ice hockey teams and was also used as a venue for the 2010 Winter Olympics.{{cite web |url=http://www.gothunderbirds.ca/sports/2009/10/26/facil-doug-mitchell-centre.aspx?id=38 |title=Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre |work=UBC Thunderbirds |publisher=University of British Columbia |access-date=April 14, 2011 |archive-date=July 25, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725065728/http://www.gothunderbirds.ca/sports/2009/10/26/facil-doug-mitchell-centre.aspx?id=38 |url-status=live }} Other facilities at UBC include Thunderbird Stadium, home to the university's football and soccer varsity teams, UBC Aquatic Centre, home to the university's swimming teams, the War Memorial Gymnasium, home to the university's basketball and volleyball varsity teams and Thunderbird Park, home to the university's many other outdoor varsity teams.{{cite web |url=http://www.gothunderbirds.ca/sports/2009/10/19/dept-venues.aspx?tab=varsitysportsvenues |title=Varsity Sports Venues |work=UBC Thunderbirds |publisher=University of British Columbia |access-date=April 14, 2011 |archive-date=July 25, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725070400/http://www.gothunderbirds.ca/sports/2009/10/19/dept-venues.aspx?tab=varsitysportsvenues |url-status=live }}

The university has also had a long history of sending a number of students to represent their countries at the Olympics. Since having its first athlete sent to the Olympics in 1928, a total of 231 individuals from UBC have represented their respective countries at the Olympics. The total number of individual medals athletes from UBC had won was 61, with 19 gold, 21 silver and 24 bronze. The majority of these medals won had come from the sport of rowing.{{cite web |url=http://www.gothunderbirds.ca/sports/2009/10/19/hist-olympics.aspx?tab=olympicathletes |title=Olympic Athletes |work=UBC Thunderbirds |publisher=University of British Columbia |access-date=April 14, 2011 |archive-date=May 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130528010041/http://www.gothunderbirds.ca/sports/2009/10/19/hist-olympics.aspx?tab=olympicathletes |url-status=dead }}

UBC's marching band, the Thunderbird Marching Band, was founded in September 2012 and is entirely student-run. The band performs at various Thunderbirds football, basketball, rugby and hockey games, as well as other campus events. It is the only university-level marching band in Western Canada.{{cite web |url=http://www.thunderbirdband.ca/about-us |title=About Us |publisher=Thunderbird Marching Band |access-date=February 28, 2015 |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402115955/http://www.thunderbirdband.ca/about-us |url-status=live }}

Notable among a number of songs commonly played and sung at various events such as commencement and convocation and athletic games are: "Hail, U.B.C" with words and music by Harold King, "High on Olympus" with words by D. C. Morton and music by J. C. F. Haeffner.{{cite encyclopedia |author=Rebecca Green |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/college-songs-and-songbooks-emc |title=College Songs and Songbooks |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Music in Canada |access-date=August 22, 2019 |archive-date=August 22, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070822034612/http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=U1ARTU0000759SUBReadings |url-status=live }} and "Hail, UBC!" (2009) with words and music by Steve Chatman.{{Cite news |url=https://news.ubc.ca/2009/11/05/new-ubc-pep-song-something-to-cheer-about/ |title=New UBC pep song something to cheer about |last=Sullivan |first=Sean |date=November 5, 2009 |website=UBC News |language=en-US |access-date=February 26, 2020 |archive-date=February 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226005709/https://news.ubc.ca/2009/11/05/new-ubc-pep-song-something-to-cheer-about/ |url-status=live }}

{{Refimprove|section|date=June 2024}}File:Rosegarden ubc.jpg

A small number of large-scale, campus-wide events occur annually at UBC which are organized by university institutions, the AMS and student constituencies of various faculties and departments. Additionally, a number of unofficial traditions exist at UBC: jumping from the Aquatic Centre's 10-metre diving board late at night and repainting the Engineering cairn so as to advertise other clubs.

File:University of British Columbia Engineering Cairn.jpg

Several group athletic events take place at UBC every year. Storm the Wall is an intramural relay race put on by UBC Recreation in April, culminating in the climbing of a {{convert|12|ft|m|adj=on}} wall. Day of the Longboat is an intramural event put on at the end of September/early October by UBC Recreation. It is a major voyageur canoe race with teams competing in a 2 km paddle around the waters of Jericho Sailing Centre. The program is operated by over 120 volunteer students and staff who are responsible for operating every aspect of this program. UBC Recreation's student administrators fill various roles including event planning, sport officiating, public relations and building supervision.

Faculty constituencies, such as the Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS) and Science Undergraduate Society (SUS), hold events annually. Many of the major constituencies, such as for Arts, Science and Engineering, hold their own faculty weeks to celebrate their faculties. The events may include keynote speeches, merchandise sales and dances. Arts County Fair was an annual concert and party on the last day of classes in April, put on by the AUS and occurring at Thunderbird Stadium. Past headliners have included Sam Roberts, The New Pornographers and Metric. Due to increasing financial difficulties (mostly resulting from mounting security and related costs) the AUS announced they would not continue the event in 2008. In its place, the Alma Mater Society of UBC hosted the AMS Block Party to celebrate the end of classes.

During the Spring exam season, the Ski & Board Club organizes the Undie Run, a charity event that encourages people to donate their clothes to the Big Brothers & Sisters organization in Vancouver. Students meet at the Student Union Building, remove the clothes they are going to donate and then run around campus in their underwear. Students run through places like the Irvin K. Barber Centre and Place Vanier Residence before ending at the Martha Piper Plaza fountain.

To celebrate the beginning of classes, UBC Orientations organizes several events for first-year students, such as Imagine UBC, GALA and UBC Jump Start. Imagine UBC is an orientation day and pep rally for first-year undergraduate students that replaces the first day of class after Labour Day at UBC Vancouver.{{cite web |url=http://newtoubc.students.ubc.ca/get-oriented/undergraduate-students |title=Orient yourself to campus life |publisher=UBC Student Services |access-date=February 28, 2015 |archive-date=June 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130630145118/http://newtoubc.students.ubc.ca/get-oriented/undergraduate-students |url-status=dead }}

In March 2012, UBC was the partner Host University of the Harvard World Model United Nations Conference (WorldMUN 2012 Vancouver). As the world's largest student-organized Model UN conference, this was also the largest student conference to have ever been organized by UBC and the largest student conference on Canadian soil.{{cite web |url=http://www.vancouver2012.org/ |title=Vancouver, Canada – Proud Host City of WorldMUN 2012 |publisher=Vancouver2012.org |access-date=February 28, 2015 |archive-date=January 11, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150111081226/http://www.vancouver2012.org/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.vancouver2012.org/?page=about_worldmun |title=Vancouver, Canada – Proud Host City of WorldMUN 2012 – About Worldmun |publisher=Vancouver2012.org |access-date=February 28, 2015 |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402132831/http://www.vancouver2012.org/?page=about_worldmun |url-status=dead }} There were 2,200 student delegates and nearly 200 faculty advisors from 270 universities from over 60 countries. The organizing committee amassed over 500 student volunteers from across the UBC campus and the local student community to execute the week-long event.

UBC engineering students have a history of performing pranks which attract national and international attention.{{cite web |last=Millar |first=Erin |date=November 8, 2007 |title=The Golden Gate prank by UBC engineering students may have been the best ever |url=https://macleans.ca/general/i-prank-therefore-i-am/ |access-date=August 22, 2023 |website=Macleans.ca |language=en-US |archive-date=September 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230902235523/https://macleans.ca/general/i-prank-therefore-i-am/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Prank Leaves VW Dangling from Golden Gate |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=94178&page=1 |access-date=August 22, 2023 |website=ABC News |language=en |archive-date=August 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822041952/https://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=94178&page=1 |url-status=live }} UBC does not condone student pranks, nor publicize them (unlike the California Institute of Technology or Massachusetts Institute of Technology; see hacks at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology).{{cite web |last=Curiel |first=Jonathan |date=February 5, 2001 |title=SF Gate |url=https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Beetle-Overboard-VW-hung-off-GG-Bridge-in-prank-2955618.php |access-date=August 21, 2023 |website=SF Gate |archive-date=October 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016124854/https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Beetle-Overboard-VW-hung-off-GG-Bridge-in-prank-2955618.php |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Pranks |url=http://www.admissions.caltech.edu/why-caltech/student-life/traditions-pranks/pranks |access-date=August 22, 2023 |website=Undergraduate Admissions |language=en |archive-date=August 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822042006/https://www.admissions.caltech.edu/why-caltech/student-life/traditions-pranks/pranks |url-status=live }}{{Cite book |last=Peterson |first=T. F. |title=Nightwork: a history of hacks and pranks at MIT |date=2011 |publisher=MIT Press |others=MIT Museum |isbn=978-0-262-51584-9 |location=Cambridge, Mass }} Notable incidents include the hanging of the shell of a VW Bug from the underside of the Lions Gate Bridge. Those responsible for the Lions Gate prank have never been caught, nor has it been discovered how the prank was performed.{{cite web |date=February 28, 2013 |title=Secrets to the Caltech Cannon Heist Revealed |url=https://alum.mit.edu/slice/secrets-caltech-cannon-heist-revealed |access-date=August 22, 2023 |website=alum.mit.edu |language=en |archive-date=August 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822041954/https://alum.mit.edu/slice/secrets-caltech-cannon-heist-revealed |url-status=live }}

{{Main|List of University of British Columbia people}}

{{See also|List of Chancellors of the University of British Columbia|List of Presidents of the University of British Columbia}}

File:Justin Trudeau in Lima, Peru - 2018 (41507133581) (cropped).jpg| Justin Trudeau {{post-nominals|country=CAN|PC|MP}}, BEd. 1998, Canada's 23rd prime minister

File:Kim Campbell.jpg| Kim Campbell {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|PC|CC|OBC|KC}}, BA 1969, LLB 1986, Canada's 19th Prime Minister and the first woman to serve in the office

File:John Turner 1987 crop (cropped).jpg| John Turner {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|PC|CC|QC}}, BA 1949, Canada's 17th Prime Minister

File:Kiril Petkov 2022.jpg| Kiril Petkov, BCom 2001, 17th Prime Minister of Bulgaria

File:Rmundell.jpg| Robert Mundell {{post-nominals|country=CAN|CC}}, BA 1953, Nobel Laureate in Economics. Involved in the creation of the Euro

File:Bertram Brockhouse.jpg| Bertram Brockhouse {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|CC|FRSC|FRS}}, BA 1947, Nobel Laureate in Physics

File:Scylla- a book of the dead.jpg| William Gibson, BA 1977, author of Neuromancer, important figure in the Cyberpunk literary movement

File:Jeff Wall in 2014.jpg| Jeff Wall {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|OC|FRSC}}, MA 1970, prominent Canadian artist and most prominent figure of the Vancouver School

File:Right Livelihood Award 2009-press conference-6.jpg| David Suzuki {{post-nominals|country=CAN|CC|OBC}}, professor emeritus of genetics. Influential academic, broadcaster and environmentalist.

File:Beverley McLachlin (crop).jpg| Beverley McLachlin {{post-nominals|country=CAN|PC|CC}}, 17th Chief Justice of Canada.

File:Bjarni Tryggvason.jpg| Bjarni Tryggvason B.ASc 1972, Icelandic-Canadian astronaut and academic who participated in NASA mission STS-85.

Throughout UBC's history, faculty, alumni and former students have played prominent roles in many different fields. Many UBC alumni and faculty have gone on to win awards including eight Nobel Prizes and 74 Rhodes Scholarships.{{cite web |url=http://www.publicaffairs.ubc.ca/2009/12/04/ubc%27s-two-new-rhodes-scholars-to-focus-on-global-water-crisis-health-care/ |title=UBC's two new Rhodes Scholars to focus on global water crisis, health care |publisher=The University of British Columbia |access-date=April 30, 2011 }}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Former alumni have won Nobel Prizes: Robert Mundell (Economic Sciences) who graduated from the UBC Department of Economics and Bertram Brockhouse (Physics).{{cite web |url=http://www.sipa.columbia.edu/academics/directory/ram15-fac.html |title=SIPA Faculty Member – Robert Alexander Murdell |publisher=Columbia University |year=2005 |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-date=July 21, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721042430/http://www.sipa.columbia.edu/academics/directory/ram15-fac.html |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1994/brockhouse.html |title=Bertram N. Brockhouse – Autobiography |publisher=Nobel Media AB |year=2011 |access-date=April 30, 2011 }} Five former faculty members of the UBC have also received a Nobel Prize: Michael Smith (Chemistry), Har Gobind Khorana (Physiology or Medicine), Daniel Kahneman (Economics), Hans G. Dehmelt (Physics) and Carl Wieman (Physics).{{cite web |url=http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/1993/smith-autobio.html |title=Michael Smith – Autobiography |publisher=Nobel Media AB |year=2011 |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-date=August 1, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080801111022/http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/1993/smith-autobio.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/1968/khorana-bio.html |title=H. Gobind Khorana – Autobiography |publisher=Nobel Media AB |year=2011 |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-date=June 30, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070630093127/http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/1968/khorana-bio.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1989/dehmelt-autobio.html |title=Hans G. Dehmelt – Autobiography |publisher=Nobelprize.org |access-date=June 18, 2012 |archive-date=June 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625172218/http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1989/dehmelt-autobio.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.vpacademic.ubc.ca/CarlWieman/ |title=Carl Wieman Science Education Initiative |publisher=The University of British Columbia |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100823210806/http://www.vpacademic.ubc.ca/CarlWieman/ |archive-date=August 23, 2010 }}

Many former students have gained local and national prominence in government. Four Canadian prime ministers have attended UBC: Joe Clark, John Turner, Kim Campbell and Justin Trudeau.{{cite web |url=http://www.ubcsportshalloffame.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi?person_id=78&searchall=1 |title=John Turner |work=UBC Sports Hall of Fame |publisher=University of British Columbia |access-date=February 21, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211174444/http://www.ubcsportshalloffame.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi?person_id=78&searchall=1 |archive-date=December 11, 2008 }}{{cite book |title=Time And Chance |first=Kim |last=Campbell |author-link=Kim Campbell |year=1996 |pages=17–23 }} Trudeau completed his BEd. at UBC in 1998,{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/justin-trudeau |title=Justin Trudeau |encyclopedia=The Canadian Encyclopedia |publisher=Historica Canada |access-date=August 22, 2019 |archive-date=June 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607113908/https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/justin-trudeau |url-status=live }} and Clark briefly attended UBC law.{{cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/primeministers/h4-3406-e.html |title=Biography |work=Library and Archives Canada |date=January 29, 2002 |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-date=October 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022194354/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/primeministers/h4-3406-e.html |url-status=live }} George Stanley, the Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick and creator of the Canadian flag had also served as faculty.{{cite news |first=Randy |last=Boswell |title=Maple Leaf flag creator George Stanley dies |url=http://people.stfx.ca/lstanley/stanley/obituaryOttawaCitizen.htm |work=The Ottawa Citizen |publisher=Postmedia Network Inc. |date=September 14, 2002 |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-date=August 26, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110826012300/http://people.stfx.ca/lstanley/stanley/obituaryOttawaCitizen.htm |url-status=live }} Alumni Mike Harcourt, Glen Clark and Ujjal Dosanjh have been premiers of British Columbia:,{{cite web |url=http://www.alumni.ubc.ca/awards/2008/recipients/harcourt.php |title=Alumni Achievement Awards – 2008 Recipients |work=UBC Alumni Affairs |publisher=University of British Columbia |year=2009 |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928065919/http://www.alumni.ubc.ca/awards/2008/recipients/harcourt.php |archive-date=September 28, 2011 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/36thparl/clarkg.htm |title=36th Parliament Members at dissolution on April 18, 2001 |publisher=Legislative Assembly of British Columbia |date=October 31, 2002 |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-date=March 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320063223/http://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/36thparl/clarkg.htm |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://faculty.law.ubc.ca/ilac/Profiles/agofbc.htm |title=Ujjal Dosanjh, QC |publisher=International Legal Aid Conference |date=June 11, 1999 |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721180511/http://faculty.law.ubc.ca/ilac/Profiles/agofbc.htm |archive-date=July 21, 2011 }} People of UBC Law have also served on the Supreme Court of Canada: former faculty member Beverley McLachlin and alumnus Frank Iacobucci.{{cite web |url=http://www.scc-csc.gc.ca/court-cour/ju/mclachlin/index-eng.asp |title=The Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin, P.C., Chief Justice of Canada |publisher=Supreme Court of Canada |date=January 18, 2011 |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614152207/http://www.scc-csc.gc.ca/court-cour/ju/mclachlin/index-eng.asp |archive-date=June 14, 2011 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.alumni.ubc.ca/awards/2006/recipients/frank_iacobucci.php |title=Frank Iacobucci, BCom '61, LLB '62, LLD '69 |year=2009 |access-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928065925/http://www.alumni.ubc.ca/awards/2006/recipients/frank_iacobucci.php |archive-date=September 28, 2011 }}

Other examples include:

• Canadian academic, science broadcaster and environmental activist David Suzuki was a professor in UBC's genetics department from 1963 until his retirement in 2001.
• Joel Bakan, author of The Corporation: The Pathological Pursuit of Profit and Power, is a professor at the Faculty of Law.
• Psychologist Albert Bandura is an alumnus of UBC.
• Actress Evangeline Lilly attended UBC and earned her degree in international relations.
• Singer/songwriter Dan Mangan attended UBC, earning a BA in English Literature.{{Cite news |url=http://www.chartattack.com/news/2011/11/30/listen-dan-mangans-eight-song-mixtape-for-artistmixtapescom |title=LISTEN: Dan Mangan's eight-song mixtape for ArtistMixtapes.com {{!}} Chart Attack |date=November 30, 2011 |newspaper=Chart Attack |access-date=January 7, 2017 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170108094238/http://www.chartattack.com/news/2011/11/30/listen-dan-mangans-eight-song-mixtape-for-artistmixtapescom/ |archive-date=January 8, 2017 }}
• Author and historian Pierre Berton majored in history at UBC.
• James Giles (philosopher), philosopher of mind and human relationships, received his BA (Hons) and MA at UBC.
• Man-in-Motion Rick Hansen was the first student with a physical disability to graduate in physical education from UBC.
• Director of Artificial Intelligence at Tesla Andrej Karpathy graduated from UBC in 2011 with a MSc in computer science.
• Opera singers Judith Forst, Ben Heppner and Lance Ryan studied music at UBC.
• David Cheriton, who graduated from UBC in 1973, is a Google founding investor and computer science professor at Stanford University.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/david-cheriton/ |title=David Cheriton |magazine=Forbes Magazine |date=December 18, 2014 |access-date=December 18, 2014 |archive-date=August 12, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150812153343/http://www.forbes.com/profile/david-cheriton/ |url-status=live }}
• Science fiction writer William Gibson, who coined the term "cyberspace", earned his bachelor's degree in English at UBC.{{cite web |url=http://news.ubc.ca/ubcreports/2004/04mar04/gibson.html |title=UBC Alumni: The First Cyberpunk |publisher=UBC Reports |date=March 4, 2004 |access-date=April 25, 2015 |archive-date=April 19, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150419032821/http://news.ubc.ca/ubcreports/2004/04mar04/gibson.html |url-status=dead }}
• Actor Manny Jacinto graduated with a degree in civil engineering.
• Clint Hocking, creative director of Far Cry 2 and Watch Dogs: Legion, graduated received a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing at UBC.{{Cite web |url=https://in.ign.com/clint-hocking |title=Clint Hocking |website=IGN India |date=August 28, 2015 |language=en-in |access-date=January 11, 2020 |archive-date=January 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111163206/https://in.ign.com/clint-hocking |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.soe.ucsc.edu/events/event/2529 |title=Dynamics: The State of the Art |website=Jack Baskin School of Engineering |language=en |access-date=January 11, 2020 |archive-date=January 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102133454/https://www.soe.ucsc.edu/events/event/2529 |url-status=live }}
• Gabor Maté, an expert in childhood development and trauma, earned his BA at UBC.
• Kiril Petkov, 17th Prime Minister of Bulgaria and the first alumnus to become a head of government outside of Canada
• Hong Kong-born Canadian photographer and conceptual artist Theodore Wan received his BFA at UBC in 1975.{{cite journal |last=Conley |first=Christine |date=2008 |title=Theodore Wan and the Subject of Medical Illustration |journal=RACAR: Revue d'art canadienne / Canadian Art Review |volume=33 |issue=1–2 |pages=14–27 |doi=10.7202/1069544ar |doi-access=free }}

UBC alumni have also held important positions in the academia. Notable examples are:

• Indira Samarasekera, twelfth president of the University of Alberta;{{cite web |url=http://uofa.ualberta.ca/about/leadership/president/biography |title=President Biography: Indira V. Samarasekera |access-date=December 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219060603/http://uofa.ualberta.ca/about/leadership/president/biography |archive-date=December 19, 2014 }}
• Amit Chakma, president of the University of Western Ontario;{{cite web |url=https://www.president.uwo.ca/president/bio.html |title=President's Biography |website=www.president.uwo.ca |access-date=July 12, 2022 |archive-date=July 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701014244/https://www.president.uwo.ca/president/bio.html |url-status=live }}
• Muriel Kennett Wales, believed to have been the first Irish-born woman to earn a PhD in pure mathematics.
• John H. McArthur, dean emeritus of the Harvard Business School;{{cite web |url=https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/browse.aspx |title=All Faculty – Faculty & Research – Harvard Business School |website=www.hbs.edu |access-date=July 12, 2022 |archive-date=January 1, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110101055312/http://drfd.hbs.edu/fit/public/facultyInfo.do?facInfo=ovr |url-status=live }}
• Thomas Franck (lawyer), who was the Murry and Ida Becker Professor of Law at New York University and former editor-in-chief of the American Journal of International Law;{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/30/nyregion/30franck.html |title=Thomas Franck, Who Advised Countries on Law, Dies at 77 |first=Dennis |last=Hevesi |work=The New York Times |date=May 30, 2009 |via=NYTimes.com |access-date=February 25, 2017 |archive-date=July 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701110510/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/30/nyregion/30franck.html |url-status=live }}
• David H. Turpin, sixth president of the University of Victoria and thirteenth president of the University of Alberta;{{cite web |url=http://uofa.ualberta.ca/presidential-search/president-elect |title=President-Elect Biography: David H. Turpin |access-date=December 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117114216/http://uofa.ualberta.ca/presidential-search/president-elect |archive-date=November 17, 2014 }}
• Nemkumar Banthia, a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and CEO of IC-IMPACTS.{{Cite news |url=https://news.ubc.ca/2011/11/05/ubc-faculty-elected-royal-society-of-canada-fellows/ |title=UBC faculty elected Royal Society of Canada Fellows |date=November 5, 2011 |website=UBC News |access-date=July 20, 2017 |archive-date=May 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505154228/http://news.ubc.ca/2011/11/05/ubc-faculty-elected-royal-society-of-canada-fellows/ |url-status=live }}
• Michiel Horn, member of the Royal Society of Canada and professor emeritus of history at York University;{{cite web |url=https://gl.yorku.ca/GlProfProfiles.nsf/Unique/GGAT-7NJQ7M?OpenDocument&subnavigation=faculty |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714074809/http://gl.yorku.ca/GlProfProfiles.nsf/Unique/GGAT-7NJQ7M?OpenDocument&subnavigation=faculty |archive-date=July 14, 2011 |title=Michiel Horn }}
• Monica Lam, a computer science professor at Stanford University and founder of Moka5;{{Cite web |url=https://suif.stanford.edu/~lam/ |title=Monica Lam |website=suif.stanford.edu |access-date=July 12, 2022 |archive-date=February 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216164112/https://suif.stanford.edu/~lam/ |url-status=live }}
• Frank Iacobucci, a Puisne Justice on the Supreme Court of Canada.
• Alison Mountz, Canada Research Chair in Global Migration at Wilfrid Laurier University and member of the Royal Society of Canada's College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists.{{cite web |title=Alison Mountz Professor; Canada Research Chair in Global Migration |url=https://www.wlu.ca/academics/faculties/faculty-of-science/faculty-profiles/alison-mountz/index.html |website=Laurier University |access-date=November 25, 2021 |archive-date=November 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211125220852/https://www.wlu.ca/academics/faculties/faculty-of-science/faculty-profiles/alison-mountz/index.html |url-status=live }}
• Amalendu Chandra, Indian theoretical physical chemist, professor of chemistry at Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur,{{Cite web |url=http://ssbprize.gov.in/Content/Detail.aspx?AID=110 |title=Brief Profile of the Awardee |date=2016 |publisher=Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize |access-date=November 12, 2016 |archive-date=December 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220041603/http://ssbprize.gov.in/Content/Detail.aspx?AID=110 |url-status=live }} fellow of the IAS and INSA, Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology award.

{{Infobox COA wide

|image = University of British Columbia Escutcheon.png

|notes = Granted September 23, 1915, by Garter Principal King of Arms.{{cite web |url=https://www.gg.ca/en/heraldry/public-register/project/2740ang%3De%26ProjectID%3D2740%26ShowAll%3D1 |title=University of British Columbia |date=November 12, 2020 |publisher=Canadian Heraldic Authority |access-date=August 30, 2023 |archive-date=August 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230830145733/https://www.gg.ca/en/heraldry/public-register/project/2740ang%3De%26ProjectID%3D2740%26ShowAll%3D1 |url-status=live }}

|escutcheon = Argent three bars wavy Azure issuant from the base a demi-sun in splendour Proper on a chief Azure an open book Proper edged and buckled Or inscribed in letters Proper TUUM EST, meaning "It Is Yours".{{cite web |url=https://reg.gg.ca/heraldry/pub-reg/project.asp?lang=e&ProjectID=2740&ShowAll=1 |title=University of British Columbia |date=November 12, 2020 |publisher=Canadian Heraldic Authority |access-date=August 27, 2021 |archive-date=August 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210827021256/https://reg.gg.ca/heraldry/pub-reg/project.asp?lang=e&ProjectID=2740&ShowAll=1 |url-status=live }}}}

{{Portal|Canada}}

• CITR-FM
• UBC Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research
• UBC Library
• UBC Okanagan
• List of Canadian universities by endowment
• Sexual Violence and Misconduct Policy Act (British Columbia)

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{{reflist|refs=

{{cite web |title=University of British Columbia – AMS Student Nest |url=https://bharchitects.com/en/project/university-british-columbia-ams-student-nest/ |website=B+H Architects |language=en-US |access-date=April 12, 2022 |archive-date=February 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216044237/https://bharchitects.com/en/project/university-british-columbia-ams-student-nest/ |url-status=live }}

{{cite web |title=UBC Student Nest: 27 New Photos of the new AMS Student Union Building |url=http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2015/06/ubc-student-nest-ubc-student-union-building/ |publisher=Vancity Buzz |date=June 3, 2015 |archive-date=August 11, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150811065818/http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2015/06/ubc-student-nest-ubc-student-union-building/ |url-status=dead |access-date=August 12, 2015 }}

}}

• William A. Bruneau, A Matter of Identities: A History of the UBC Faculty Association, 1920–1990. Vancouver: University of British Columbia Faculty Association, 1990.
• {{cite journal |first=William A. |last=Bruneau |title=Toward a New Collective Biography: The University of British Columbia Professoriate, 1915–1945 |journal=Canadian Journal of Education |volume=19 |issue=1 |year=1994 |pages=65–79 |jstor=1495307 |doi=10.2307/1495307 |s2cid=194722300}}
• Eric Damer and Herbert Rosengarten. UBC: The First 100 Years. Vancouver: Friesens, 2009.
• Michiel Horn."Under the Gaze of George Vancouver: The University of British Columbia and the Provincial Government, 1913–1939." BC Studies 83 (Autumn 1989).
• William C. Gibson Wesbrook & His University (Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press)
• Sheldon Goldfarb The Hundred-Year Trek: A History of Student Life at UBC. Victoria: Heritage House, 2017.
• H. T. Logan, Tuum Est: A History of the University of British Columbia. Vancouver: University of British Columbia, 1958.
• Wayne Skene. "UBC: a Portrait." Vancouver: Tribute Books, 2003.
• Lee Stewart. "It's Up to You": Women at UBC in the Early Years. Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, 1990.
• George Woodcock & Tim Fitzharris. The University of British Columbia – A Souvenir. (Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1986).

{{Commons category|University of British Columbia}}

• [https://ubc.ca/ Official website]
• {{Wikivoyage inline|Vancouver/UBC-Point Grey|UBC-Point Grey}}
• [http://digitalcollections.library.ubc.ca/cdm/landingpage/collection/arphotos UBC Photograph Collection] – A visual record of UBC's growth and development, from UBC Library Digital Collections

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{{Regent College}}

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Category:1890 establishments in British Columbia

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Category:Universities and colleges established in 1915

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British Columbia