The UBC International Scholars Program is a need-based undergraduate award from the University of British Columbia. It is meant for international students with strong academic records who could not afford a UBC degree without help. If you are a Pakistani student finishing A-levels or FSc, have excellent grades, and your family genuinely cannot cover Canadian tuition and living costs, this is one of the awards you should look at seriously. You can read the full scholarship details on our scholarship page as well.
The key word here is need. This is not a pure merit prize handed to whoever has the highest marks. UBC looks at your academics and your financial circumstances together, and it also wants to see leadership and commitment to your community. A student with top grades from a family that can comfortably pay is not the target applicant.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | University of British Columbia |
| Country | Canada |
| Level | Undergraduate (all UBC undergraduate programs) |
| Funding | Full or partial, based on demonstrated need |
| Campuses | Vancouver and Okanagan |
| Deadline | Varies, confirm on the official site |
| Official site | UBC scholarships and awards for international students |
Why the award amount depends on your family's finances
The program does not publish a fixed amount. Funding is set according to each recipient's financial need, and it may cover part or all of tuition and living expenses. In practice that means two winners can receive very different packages. One might get partial tuition support, another might get close to full coverage of study and living costs.
According to the program description, the support can include:
- partial to full tuition coverage
- help with living expenses
- financial assistance tied to your assessed need
- access to academic and community resources at UBC
- support with the transition into life as an international student
Be realistic about this. If the award turns out to be partial, you will still need to show you can cover the rest, both to UBC and later to the visa officer. Do not plan your budget around a full ride you have not been offered. Our guide on bank statements and proof of funds explains how Pakistani families usually prepare this evidence.
The profile UBC is looking for
The program is for international students who are entering the first year of an undergraduate degree. That covers students coming straight from secondary school, and the program description also mentions students transferring from another post-secondary institution. If you have already started university somewhere else, check carefully on the official site whether your situation qualifies, because the eligibility list itself focuses on first-year entry.
Based on the source requirements, you should:
- be an international student who will study in Canada on a study permit
- be entering the first year of an undergraduate program at UBC
- have a high level of academic achievement
- be able to demonstrate significant financial need
- meet UBC's English language admission requirements
- submit a separate application for the International Scholars Program
Pakistani applicants apply as international students, and the program is described as open to talented students from around the world. Still, criteria can change from cycle to cycle, so read the current rules for your nationality on the official UBC page before you start.
All undergraduate programs offered at UBC are eligible, so you are not limited to a particular field. Whether you are aiming for engineering, sciences, arts or business, the scholarship is not the thing restricting your choice. Admission to the program is.
The paperwork behind a need-based assessment
The document list is short, but each item carries weight:
- Academic transcripts
- Personal profile
- Financial documentation
- English language proficiency test scores
The financial documentation is where most of the assessment happens. UBC is judging whether your family can pay, so vague or incomplete records hurt you. Collect income evidence, bank records and anything that explains your family's situation clearly. Be honest. Overstating hardship or hiding assets is a bad idea for a need-based award, and inconsistent numbers can also come back to bite you at the visa stage.
The personal profile is where you show leadership and community involvement. A list of school clubs is weak. Specific responsibilities, what you actually did, and what changed because of it are much stronger. If you tutored younger students in your area, organised something at school, or carried real family responsibilities, explain it plainly.
For transcripts and certificates, Pakistani students often need attested copies for various applications. Our documents checklist for international scholarships covers how to get these ready early.
Two applications, not one
The single biggest mistake with this program is assuming that applying to UBC is enough. It is not. You need to apply for admission and also submit a separate International Scholars Program application. The order looks like this:
- Apply for admission to an undergraduate program at UBC.
- Submit the separate International Scholars Program application.
- Provide the financial documentation needed for the need-based assessment.
- Complete the personal profile as part of your admission application.
- Wait for notification of your award status, which follows the admission decision.
Selection is competitive. Applicants are evaluated on their personal profiles, academic records and financial documentation, so a weak element in any of the three can cost you.
Timing when no fixed deadline is published
UBC sets the specific deadlines each year, and the dates vary. The admission application has to be completed before or alongside the scholarship application. Because there is no fixed date to quote here, the safe approach is to check the official UBC scholarships page early in your final school year and work backwards from whatever date is listed for your cycle.
English test scores deserve their own reminder. They need to arrive on time, and test dates and result delivery take longer than students expect. Book your test well ahead so late scores do not hold up your file.
Who should apply, and who should probably skip it
Apply if your grades are genuinely strong, your family cannot fund a Canadian degree on its own, and you have real examples of leadership or service to talk about. That is the exact profile the program describes.
Think twice if your family can comfortably pay for UBC. The award is built around significant financial need, so a strong academic record alone is unlikely to carry you. You may be better off looking at merit awards elsewhere. Our guide to all Canada scholarships is a good place to compare options.
A few common mistakes to avoid:
- Submitting the admission application and forgetting the separate scholarship form.
- Leaving financial documents until the last week, when gathering them from banks and employers takes time.
- Writing a generic personal profile with no concrete examples.
- Relying on old deadlines from a previous year instead of checking the current cycle.
- Assuming the award will be full when it may only be partial.
Frequently asked questions
Can Pakistani students apply for the UBC International Scholars Program?
The program is for international students entering their first year of undergraduate study, and Pakistani applicants fall in that group. Confirm current eligibility for your nationality on the official UBC site before applying.
Does the scholarship cover the full cost of studying at UBC?
Sometimes. The amount depends on your demonstrated financial need and may cover part or all of tuition and living expenses. There is no single fixed award value.
Is it enough to apply for admission to UBC?
No. You must apply for admission and also submit a separate International Scholars Program application through the official university portal.
Can I apply for a master's degree with this award?
No. It is an undergraduate program for students entering the first year of a degree at UBC.
When will I find out if I won?
Award decisions are communicated after the admission decision. Check the official site for the timeline that applies to your year.
Which campus can I study at?
The funding is available for undergraduate study at either the Vancouver or Okanagan campus.
Before you start, read the current rules and dates on the official UBC scholarships page, and keep the full UBC International Scholars Program details handy as you prepare.