Information for parents and students

UBC Future Global Leaders is not a direct pathway to UBC or any other university. However, attending pre-university programs can help you gain the skills needed to be successful in post-secondary applications and education. It offers a firsthand experience of university and residence life, and helps you develop your academic and social skills as you pursue your interests, meet other students from around the world, and build independence. 

Days at UBC Future Global Leaders include classes, social and recreational activities, and opportunities to experience university life. View the schedule for a day-by-day look at the program.

In the afternoons, take part in a variety of informative, interactive lectures designed to prepare you for university success. Every lecture is led by UBC instructors and professionals experienced in advising high school students on post-secondary admissions tips, academic excellence, and health and well-being. Lecture topics include:

• Creating Outstanding Applications
• Great Grades Without the Grind – Habit Formation
• What Professors Expect from First-Year Students
• How Successful Students Use AI
• Launching Your Career Journey in University
• What Should I Study?
• Stay Well in Your First Year
• UBC Admissions Information Session

Lectures vary by session and are subject to change. 

If you are enrolled in a mini school, you will attend afternoon classes instead of university preparation lectures. If you are planning on attending two UBC Future Global Leaders sessions, many students register for a course in one session and a mini school in the other session to experience both options.

To receive a Letter of Completion at the end of the program, students must remain in good standing with all program and conduct expectations and not miss more than one class without approval.

UBC Future Global Leaders is committed to ensuring our program is accessible to students with disabilities and ongoing medical conditions. All of our program learning spaces are accessible, and our residence buildings have elevators and accessible bathrooms on first floors. 

For academic accommodations, you must first register with the Centre for Accessibility. We encourage you to start this as soon as possible after registration as it is a multi-step process that can take some time. Please reach out to the Centre directly if you have any questions. 

Lunch on weekdays is included for commuter students. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included for residence students on weekdays and weekends. Meals are served cafeteria-style in the residence dining hall.

Menu options change daily and from week 1 to week 2 of the program, and include vegan, vegetarian and Kosher options. Please see our sample menu for more information.

If you have food allergies or other dietary requirements, please indicate this in your information package for registration. On the first day of the program, reach out to a student life wellness assistant in the student life office if you need assistance, and they can help you share your specific concerns and needs with the food service team. 

A hospital, health clinic and pharmacy are located on the UBC campus, making it easy for students to get medical care if they need it. 

The program also has a wellness office open 8 am-10 pm for minor health concerns. Student life staff members are available 24/7 and can accompany students to the UBC hospital, clinic or pharmacy. They will also accompany students to other local hospitals if there is anything that the UBC hospital cannot treat or is outside their hours. 

Local medical insurance (iMED) is provided for all international students staying in residence. Coverage begins on Sunday upon the student’s arrival in Vancouver and ends on Saturday when they leave Vancouver.

iMED cards are held by UBC pre-university programs student life wellness assistants so that they have immediate access should the need arise. 

All students who are Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents should carry their provincial health card. Residence students who are Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents, but who do not have provincial medical coverage, and international commuter students, should obtain their own private medical insurance for the duration of the program.

Student life assistants are available to mentor and support students 24/7. Most are undergraduate students or recent university graduates, and many are past or present UBC students. They live in residence with students, organize fun activities and team-building events, and are available help if you have any concerns or needs during the program. We have a 10-to-1 ratio of residence students to staff. 

All student life assistants are trained in standard first aid, are CPR-C and AED certified, and have successfully completed a criminal records check with enhanced police information check. 

Student life wellness assistants help create a safe, healthy and welcoming experience. They live in residence, support daily activities and are available for wellness needs—responding to minor concerns, assisting with medical care when needed and ensuring students feel supported throughout the program. They are part of the evening and overnight staffing rotation, so trained support is always on hand.

All student life wellness assistants hold current standard first aid, CPR-C and AED certification, complete specialized training before the program and have successfully passed a criminal records check with enhanced police information check.

Airport pickup 

We provide complimentary airport pick-up service for residence students from the baggage claim area at the Vancouver International Airport (YVR) between 10 am-5 pm PT on Sunday arrival days. This means your plane needs to land before 4 pm for domestic flights and before 3:30 pm for international flights.

If you arrive outside of that timeframe, you must arrange your own transportation to campus. If there are unforeseeable delays that result in arriving outside the designated timeframe, please communicate with us via our residence number or email as soon as possible (contact details will be provided closer to the program start date). We will help you find the best option to reach campus. 

Airport drop-off 

We provide complimentary airport drop-off service for residence students to Vancouver International Airport (YVR) between 7-11 am on Saturday departure days. This means your flight departs 9:30 am onwards for domestic flights and 10:30 am onwards for international flights. 

If you plan to depart Vancouver outside of these times, you must arrange your own transportation or accommodation. If you are not going to the airport via our shuttle, you must check out by 10 am on Saturday. 

Getting to and from the airport on your own

Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is about a 30-minute drive from the UBC campus and is easily accessible by taxi, rideshare services and public transportation. 

If you are a student in residence getting to campus on your own, aim to check in between 3-6 pm on Sunday arrival day. 

If you are a student in residence departing campus on your own, you must check out by 10 am on Saturday departure day. 

Room details

Students stay in a single room in a UBC student residence. You will not have a roommate. You will stay on a mixed-gender floor with other program participants and student life assistants. 

Each floor has a shared bathroom with single stalls. If you have accessibility needs regarding bathroom access, please note it in the information package you submit for registration, and we will work with you to support your accommodations. 

Room assignment 

You will not know which room you will be placed in until check-in. All rooms are the same and we will only be able to accommodate changes after check-in if there is a maintenance issue. 

If you want to be in a room near a friend, you can indicate this in your information package but there is no guarantee we can fulfill your request. We place students based on the courses they are registered in and the duration of their stay. 

Rooms include a twin XL bed, desk, chair, lamp, a pillow, blanket and bedsheet. Students need to bring their own towel and may want to bring a small portable fan as there is no air conditioning or fan provided. 

Our packing list can help you plan for your stay in residence. If you forget something, you can purchase items at the campus UBC bookstore, Shoppers Drug Mart or Staples. 

Laundry is located on the first floor of the residence. Each student has two loads of laundry covered during a two-week session, including detergent. If you require more than two loads of laundry, you may buy a laundry card from the residence front desk. Laundry must be done during set timeframes outside of class time and bedtime. If necessary, student life assistants can show you how to operate laundry machines. 

UBC is well served by public transit, with buses regularly arriving and departing from the central UBC Bus Loop. Translink has a helpful tool to plan your route. 

There are several pay parking lots on campus. Search this interactive map for locations and rates. 

All students must set up a UBC Campus-wide login (CWL) to access free Wi-Fi in residence and on campus. Set-up details will be provided upon registration. 

The virtual student Discord server gives Future Global Leaders a chance to meet and chat with each other before the program begins and stay connected while they’re participating. Join the discussion and share your experiences.