Our incoming graduate student orientation will be held on Wednesday, August 27, 2025.
Registration is now closed. Please contact gradadmin.ubco@ubc.ca to be added to the waitlist.
Weeks of Welcome sessions will be added throughout the summer, so keep checking back.
Living On-Campus?
If you move in during the last week of August, please go directly to the front desk of Nechako to pick up your keys (do not wait in line with Jumpstart students).
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.
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
8 a.m. – 8:50 a.m. | Commons Field
Kick off your day with a refreshing yoga class. This session will be held in partnership with the Jump Start Orientation, so there will be undergraduate students at this session. Following the yoga session, please make your way to the Arts & Sciences Centre where the graduate student programming will continue.
Please bring your own yoga mat or towel.
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
As a graduate student, academic honesty and scholarly integrity are an important part of joining and contributing to academic conversations in your discipline. Join the Centre for Scholarly Communication (CSC) for an introduction to academic and scholarly integrity. We discuss questions like: What does academic integrity mean in graduate school? What is the difference between academic integrity and scholarly integrity? What is self-plagiarism and how does it connect to copyright? Where can I get help to design a Research Data Management plan that is effective and ethical? After attending this session, you will know where to find support for upholding academic integrity while paraphrasing, searching literature in your discipline, learning about the implications of generative AI use, and more. Please bring your questions about academic and scholarly integrity to this interactive session.
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.
3 p.m. – 5 p.m. | ASC 460
Visit the Graduate Collegium space, play board games, and mix and mingle with your fellow graduate students. Hosted by your Graduate Community Facilitators.
Happening After Orientation
August 28 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. | Global Engagement Office (UNC 227)
Service Canada is providing a one day in-person Social Insurance Number (SIN) registration service for all UBCO graduate students who want to get their SINs on the spot.
This is a drop-in session and you are required to bring your identification and your original study permit.
August 28 | 10 a.m. – 11:40 a.m. | EME 2181
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.
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.
September 2, 3, 8, 9, 10 | Courtyard & West of UNC
Whether you’re finding your way to class, looking for a bite to eat, or wanting to learn more about the services available to support you, our team is here and happy to help you get where you need to go.
Stop by our Campus Compass tent for:
- Campus maps and directions to key campus locations
- Food and dining information
- Connections to student services and supports
- Friendly faces ready to answer your questions
September 3 | 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. | UNC Picnic
Join the Harm Reduction Team (HaRT) for an evening of mocktails and great discussion! The UBCO HaRT team has been working hard this summer, and we are excited to share about the programs and services we will be offering this year! Drop in to share your thoughts, meet the team, get involved and help us shape what substance use services should look like on campus.
HaRT programs launching in September 2025:
- Naloxone Training
- Drug Checking (FTIR)
- UBCO Reduction and Recovery
September 4 | 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. | FIP 124
This 3 hour interactive workshop is offered by the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office at UBCO. We will discuss strategies for navigating and encouraging safe and healthy relationships during your time at UBCO. We will cover a wide range of relationships from sexual and romantic relationships to coworking and supervisory relationships. Participants will explore the skills necessary to practice ongoing and affirmative consent in sexual and romantic relationships, as well as the tools to identify unhealthy relationship dynamics and options to seek support on or off campus. Participants will also be able to identify workplace or classroom sexual harassment and unhealthy workplace environments, as well as the bystander intervention skills necessary to intervene in these dynamics. Finally, participants will gain an understanding of boundaries and how to have discussions about boundaries in a variety of contexts.
September 8 | 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. | NCH 221
Join the International Student Advising Team for an information session AND workshop to help you get registered for the Medical Services Plan.
This session is for all international students at all levels of study.
Make sure to bring your study permit (digital or physical copy) and a laptop (charged, as outlets are sparse).
September 8 – 14 | All Day | Gym
Free access to group fitness classes, the Hangar, and open gym.
September 11 | 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. | makerspace UBCO (EME 1256)
Join us at the makerspace UBCO for a tour of the Constellation, an alignment of media and technology-rich teaching and learning spaces and resources at UBC Okanagan. Accessible to UBC Okanagan faculty, postdoctoral scholars, and students in all disciplines, the Constellation network can facilitate learning, innovation, and creation both inside and outside of the classroom.
This walking tour will take you on a journey of discovery through Constellation spaces like makerspace UBCO, Studio123, Sawchuk Family Theatre, Visualization and Emerging Media Studio, and Lightboard Studio. Learn how they interact with one another and how you can engage with these unique spaces.
September 11 | 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. | Courtyard & COM 121
The Black Student Success Program (BSSP) is hosting its third annual Kickback event happening on the Admin courtyard and in the Black Student Space on September 11 from 3–6 pm. We are so excited to welcome folks back to campus with a BBQ. Stop by and mingle, grab a bite to eat and enjoy music, play lawn games and more. This event is open to all Black-identifying undergrad and graduate students, faculty, staff and allies.
The BSSP Kickback is a low-stakes event where participants can engage with campus partners and the community. We encourage folks who are attending, especially those with accessibility concerns or dietary restrictions, to register. This ensures that everyone is able to fully participate.
September 13 | 1 p.m. – 8 p.m. | Studio sísp̓l̓k̓
On September 13, 2025, Abaantu Vol V will feature a night of music and stories, in celebration and ceremony of Black and Indigenous futurisms. We celebrate through “Land-based performance art with contemporary and traditional practices,” at Studio sisp̓l̓k̓, which invites the community onto the Rez to immerse in and highlight the need for spaces where artistic expressions can be shared.
Abaantu (A Bantu word meaning People) is a community art-based event celebrating contemporary African cultural experiences. This event has been organized by Kinfolk Nation in collaboration with Studio sisp̓l̓k̓, Vines Art Society, Africa Ubuntu Association and with support from the UBCO Black Student Success Program (BSSP) and the Beyond Tomorrow Scholars Program (BTSP).
Our main objective focuses on Black and Indigenous collaboration, exploring the spaces that are culturally conducive for creative expressions. We aim to connect Black and Indigenous peoples with each other and the Land using art as a tool to bring us together. This would benefit Black students, as they would have access to Land-Based knowledge, not only through the arts but also by witnessing the revitalization of traditional food as they reconstruct the forest on OKIB.
This is a full-day event, and the BSSP team will transport participants to and from the festival.
September 17 | 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. | ASC Courtyard
Pride Picnic is an annual celebration of gender and sexual diversity, hosted in partnership with the Equity and Inclusion office, Pride Programming, and campus community members. We invite members of the UBCO Queer community and allies to join us for food, friends and fun!
Pride Picnic is a casual drop-in event where participants are able to come and go as they please, interact with crafts and lawn games, connect with resources at various tables, or enjoy refreshments.
September 25 | 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. | LIB 111
The Research Computing team is available to discuss any aspects of computing related to your research. Research Computing provides direct support to UBC Okanagan researchers, including ongoing research IT support, hardware & software setup, quotes, consultations, installation, access to storage and GPUs, troubleshooting and configuration.
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.
October 16 | 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. | Online | Register
November 4 | 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Online | Register
Are you preparing your CGRS-M application (NSERC, CIHR, SSHRC)? This online Q&A session, facilitated by the College of Graduate Studies and the Centre for Scholarly Communication, provides an opportunity to ask questions about writing and submitting the application. There will be no presentation, so please come prepared with questions. This Q&A will be supplemented with asynchronous Canvas modules, where you can find detailed information about applying for the CGRS-M, including example proposals, FAQs, application walkthroughs, as well as frequent mistakes and how to prevent them.
October 16 | 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. | COM 121
Join the Black Student Success Program (BSSP) for a workshop designed to equip Black students with the tools for financial success. Financial broker and community partner Leon McIntosh will lead a session focused on essential skills like budgeting, saving, and building credit. Learn how to navigate the financial world and apply these tools to your daily life.
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.