What if your undergraduate degree in Canada came with $100,000 CAD in funding over four years? This major scholarship could provide significant financial support to eligible students, and there’s no separate scholarship application required—but who qualifies, and how does the automatic consideration process work? Discover the key details before you miss this opportunity.
Why UBC International Major Entrance Scholarship
- Award: $100,000 CAD over four years
- Academic Level: Undergraduate
- Application Status: Automatic consideration
- Location: Canada
The University of British Columbia doesn’t just talk about supporting international students — it invests the time and money in the students. UBC devotes more than $35 million every year to awards, scholarships, and financial support for international undergraduate students, with recipients representing more than 108 countries.
The International Major Entrance Scholarship (IMES) is the flagship of that commitment. And here’s what makes it genuinely different from almost every other major scholarship in Canada:
You don’t apply for it. You’re considered for it.
- There is no separate essay. No nomination form. No scholarship portal to navigate. If you submit your UBC admission application by January 15, 2027, you are automatically evaluated for the IMES — alongside the Outstanding International Student (OIS) Award. Your admission application, academic record, and personal profile are your scholarship application.
- It rewards the complete student — not just grades. UBC evaluates IMES candidates on exceptional academic achievement and intellectual promise, as well as impressive extracurricular and community involvement. That means your leadership, volunteering, and personal profile carry real weight alongside your transcript.
It’s open to students from every country. There is no citizenship restriction beyond being an international student on a Canadian study permit. Whether you’re applying from Nigeria, India, Brazil, or anywhere else, you are eligible.
If you’re also exploring automatic entrance awards at other Canadian universities, the University of Waterloo President’s Scholarship operates on a similar “no separate application” model — though the value and renewal structure are different. The University of Alberta international entrance scholarships also offer automatic consideration for several of their admission-based awards, making them a useful comparison point for students building a multi-university application strategy.
What UBC Entrance Scholarship offers
- Up to $25,000 CAD per year toward tuition and fees
- Renewable for up to three additional years — total potential value of up to $100,000
- Available at both UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan campuses
- Prestige recognition as a UBC International Major Entrance Scholar at one of the world’s top 40 universities
This means in practice that the International Major Entrance Scholarship is a partial funding award — it does not cover the full cost of attendance. International tuition at UBC is significant, and the IMES is designed to offset a portion of that cost. However, the renewable structure means the support continues throughout your degree, and the $25,000 upper tier represents a substantial contribution toward your education.
If you’re also exploring fully funded graduate opportunities for a future degree, the University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowships offer up to $100,000 for doctoral students through departmental nomination — a different level of study, but a useful comparison for long-term planning.
Who Can Apply for the Scholarship?
To be considered for the UBC International Major Entrance Scholarship for the 2027 cycle, you must meet all of the following:
- Be new to UBC, entering directly from secondary school. Transfer students from other post-secondary institutions are not eligible for this specific award.
- Be an international student who will be studying at UBC on a Canadian study permit. Changes to your citizenship status will affect your IMES eligibility.
- Demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and intellectual promise, along with impressive extracurricular and community involvement.
- Not be nominated for the International Scholars Program — UBC’s need-and-merit-based award that covers the full cost of attendance. Students nominated for that program are not eligible for the IMES.
- Apply to UBC by the admissions deadline of January 15, 2027.
The IMES is not a need-based award. It is strictly merit-based, evaluated on academic achievement, intellectual promise, and extracurricular involvement. There is no separate application form — your admission application is automatically assessed.
How to Apply for UBC Entrance Scholarship
The 2027 IMES cycle is open. Applications for UBC’s Winter Session 2027 open in early October 2026 and close on January 15, 2027. There is no separate scholarship application — you are automatically considered when you apply for admission.
- Official IMES Page: https://you.ubc.ca/financial-planning/scholarships-awards
- UBC Application Portal: https://myapplication.ubc.ca/apply
- UBC Dates and Deadlines: https://you.ubc.ca/applying-ubc/dates-deadlines
Step-by-Step Process
- Apply for admission to UBC for the Winter Session 2027 through the UBC application portal. Applications open in early October 2026.
- Submit your application by January 15, 2027. This is the deadline to apply for Winter Session and the deadline for automatic IMES consideration.
- Complete your Personal Profile. UBC’s application includes a Personal Profile component that allows you to showcase your extracurricular involvement, leadership, and community engagement. This is where your non-academic strengths come through.
- Ensure you meet UBC’s English Language Admission Standard (ELAS). Proof of English proficiency must be submitted by February 15, 2027.
- Wait for your admission decision. Admissions decisions for high school applicants are made on a continuous basis from November 2026 through June 2027.
- Receive your scholarship notification. Scholarship announcements are typically made March through April 2027.
- Accept your offer of admission by the deadline specified in your offer.
Because the IMES is automatically assessed from your admission application, your Personal Profile is your scholarship essay. UBC evaluates IMES candidates on academic achievement and extracurricular involvement.
If you’re also considering other large renewable entrance awards, the York University President’s International Scholarship of Excellence requires a separate nomination and application — a different model, but a useful comparison if you’re weighing the effort-to-value ratio of different awards.
Attractive Qualities that Make your Application Stand Out
The University of British Columbia is transparent about what it looks for in IMES candidates. Your admission application should demonstrate:
- Exceptional academic achievement: Strong grades in a demanding curriculum. UBC does not publish a minimum GPA, but successful recipients have top-tier results.
- Intellectual promise: A demonstrated curiosity and engagement with learning beyond the classroom.
- Extracurricular involvement: Leadership roles, community service, athletics, arts, entrepreneurship, or any sustained commitment outside academics.
- Community impact: Evidence that you have made a positive difference in your school or community.
- A well-crafted Personal Profile: This is your opportunity to connect your past experiences to your future goals at UBC.
Because the IMES is competitive and the number of awards varies annually depending on funding, your application needs to stand out on both academic and personal dimensions. The students who win are the ones whose Personal Profiles tell a coherent story of achievement, leadership, and purpose.
If you’re also exploring graduate-level funding for the future, the University of Laval Excellence Scholarship Program offers $20,000–$30,000 for master’s and doctoral students — and for research programs, no separate scholarship application is required. Planning your funding pathway early can save significant stress later.
Other Top Canadian Scholarships to Consider
UBC’s IMES is one of Canada’s premier renewable entrance awards, but it’s not the only one worth pursuing:
- For a larger renewable entrance award: The University of Calgary International Entrance Scholarship offers $20,000 per year renewable for up to four years ($80,000 total). Unlike UBC’s automatic consideration, Calgary requires a Prestige Awards application — but the renewable value is comparable.
- For a full-ride undergraduate experience: The Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship at the University of Toronto covers tuition, books, incidental fees, and full residence support for four years. Like UBC’s IMES, it requires school nomination and is highly competitive — but the Pearson is a full-ride award, whereas the IMES is partial funding.
- For graduate-level funding: The McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill University offer full tuition, a monthly living stipend, and a leadership development program for master’s and professional degree students.
If you’re also exploring provincial graduate funding, the Ontario Graduate Scholarship for International Students offers $10,000–$15,000 for graduate study in Ontario — a different provincial model worth understanding alongside these university-specific awards.
Reviewing these programs can help you map out a long-term scholarship strategy — whether you’re entering undergraduate studies now or planning ahead.
FAQs About UBC International Major Entrance Scholarship
Do I need to submit a separate application for the IMES?
No. You are automatically considered for the IMES when you apply to UBC by the admissions deadline. There is no separate scholarship application form.
What is the deadline for IMES consideration?
The deadline is January 15, 2027 — the same as UBC’s admission application deadline for Winter Session 2027. If you miss this deadline, you will not be considered for the IMES.
Are international students eligible for the IMES?
Yes. The IMES is specifically designed for international students entering UBC on a Canadian study permit (student visa). Canadian citizens and permanent residents are not eligible.
Can I apply if I’m transferring from another university?
No. The IMES is for students entering UBC directly from secondary school. Transfer students are not eligible for this specific award.
What GPA do I need for the IMES?
UBC does not publish a minimum GPA threshold for the IMES, but successful recipients have top-tier grades and have taken a demanding secondary school curriculum.
Can I receive the IMES and the OIS Award at the same time?
The IMES and the Outstanding International Student (OIS) Award are both assessed automatically from your admission application. UBC will determine which award you are eligible for — you do not need to apply separately for either.
What happens if I’m nominated for the International Scholars Program?
Students nominated for the need-and-merit-based International Scholars Program are not eligible for the IMES. The International Scholars Program covers the full cost of attendance and requires a separate nomination and application process.
Why You Should Act Now
The UBC International Major Entrance Scholarship is one of the most accessible high-value awards in Canada — not because it’s easy to win, but because the application process removes every unnecessary barrier. There is no separate form. No nomination. No essay beyond the Personal Profile you’re already writing.
What remains is the part that matters most: your academic record, your extracurricular impact, and your Personal Profile. Those are the materials UBC will use to decide whether you receive $10,000, $25,000, or nothing at all.
The 2027 cycle opens in early October 2026 and closes on January 15, 2027. Scholarship notifications go out in March through April 2027. The students who win are the ones who apply early, craft a compelling Personal Profile, and present a complete picture of who they are — not just their grades.
Your next steps:
- Apply to UBC for Winter Session 2027 through the UBC application portal starting in early October 2026.
- Craft a strong Personal Profile that showcases your leadership, extracurricular involvement, and intellectual curiosity.
- Ensure you meet UBC’s English Language Admission Standard by February 15, 2027.
- Submit your application by January 15, 2027 (11:59 p.m. PST) — this is your IMES deadline.
- Watch for scholarship notifications in March through April 2027.
- Accept your offer of admission by the stated deadline.