Our incoming graduate student orientation will be held on Wednesday, August 27, 2025. Registration will open mid-July.
Sessions will be added throughout the summer, so keep checking back.
Please refer to UBC 501 to find key information for incoming students.
If you have questions about orientation events, please email gradadmin.ubco@ubc.ca.
schedule of Events
Happening Before Orientation
Learn about your rights as a renter in British Columbia.
Please note that some information in this webinar may be Vancouver-specific; however, the tenant’s rights outlined are applicable across British Columbia.
Make a plan and budget for your graduate student experience.
Please note that some information in this webinar may be Vancouver-specific; however, the budgeting aspects are applicable to all graduate students.
For more information about Okanagan-specific tuition and fees, please use our Cost Calculator.
July 16 | 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. PDT | Online
Join the Student Experience Office to go through the Off-Campus Housing Guide with a focus on grad student-specific questions and experiences, and learn how to navigate renting in and around the Kelowna area. The presentation will be semi-casual and open-ended to help answer frequently-asked questions and more.
August 27th Events
9:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. | ASC 140
Meet the College of Graduate Studies’ team and understand how they can support you throughout your graduate student journey. Discover graduate student spaces and how to connect with the graduate student community. Learn about resources and policies, professional development opportunities, and key graduate student events.
10:15 a.m. – 11 a.m. | ASC 140
More details coming soon
11:15 a.m. – 12 p.m. | ASC 140
Have questions about the graduate school experience or life in the Okanagan? Hear from a panel of current graduate students as they share their tips and tricks for succeeding in graduate school and at UBC Okanagan. And don’t miss out on discovering their favourite spots around campus and the Okanagan!
12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. | ASC Courtyard
Enjoy lunch and meet the many campus services that are here to support you throughout your journey.
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. | ASC 140
Join the College of Graduate Studies’ Awards team for a presentation that will help you navigate funding your studies. This presentation will help you understand award opportunities available to you, other sources of funding, and workshops and resources to help you along the way. The presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer period, so please bring any questions you have about funding and awards to the session.
More details coming soon
Happening After Orientation
Want to stay on top of your game this school year? This interactive workshop is designed to help graduate students set meaningful academic goals, build effective routines, and develop practical strategies to manage their time and energy. Through guided goal-setting activities, and mindset-building strategies, you will develop a personalized action plan to boost focus, reduce procrastination, and start the academic year strong.
More Information Coming Soon
August 28 | 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. | Online
Join the College of Graduate Studies’ Awards team for a question-and-answer session about funding. Please bring any questions you have about funding and awards to the session.
This event is open to all graduate students.
If you will be working in a lab where chemicals and/or biologicals will be handled, you are required to take the applicable safety courses, either Chemical Safety or Biological Safety for Study Team Members. These courses are UBC specific; you cannot use a course from another institution. Both courses have 3 components, which must be completed in order:
- Online: Available through Workplace Learning (WPL) wpl.ubc.ca
a. Chemical Safety: https://wpl.ubc.ca/browse/ubcohse/courses/wpl-srs-chemb. Biosafety for Study Team Members: https://wpl.ubc.ca/browse/ubcohse/courses/biosafety-for-study-team-members-ubco-2025-2028 - Virtual Component: These occur every 6-8 weeks. The next available sessions are below. Please plan ahead:a. Chemical Safety (4 hours):
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- September 4
- October 14
- November 13
- December 18
- January 9
- February 19
- April 7
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b. Biosafety for Study Team Members (3 hours):
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- August 28
- November 10
- February 17
- April 30
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3. In Person sessions: These happen every 1-3 weeks throughout the year at various times.
Note: There are other training requirements and needs, but only these two have timing restrictions.
GRADUATE STUDENT SPACES
UBC’s Okanagan campus offers two spaces for exclusive use by graduate students. Access to both areas is granted to current graduate students who agree to abide by the terms and conditions. Learn more about graduate student spaces.
To gain access to graduate student spaces, please submit the Space Access Request form.
UBC 501
UBC 501 is a self-guided, online orientation designed to help prepare you for your arrival at UBC Okanagan. UBC 501 is made up of five modules and can be accessed anywhere, anytime with an internet connection. Each module takes approximately 20-30 minutes to complete. The modules cover topics such as graduate student expectations, working with your supervisor, familiarizing yourself with Kelowna and the Okanagan, history and traditions of UBC Okanagan and important on-campus resources to help you along the way.