Exchange FAQs
FAQs
Do students coming to UBC for a Split Year exchange need to request courses for both Term 2 and the following Term 1 on the survey?
No. Split Year students should request courses for Term 2 only on the course survey. The following Winter Term 1 is the beginning of a different academic year at UBC (2027-28), so courses are not yet available. Go Global will reach out with another course survey in early summer for your Term 1 course requests.
When can I request graduate courses?
Students (Undergraduate and Graduate) wishing to take graduate (500+ level) courses are required to download and complete a separate PDF form. Refer to this page for instructions on how to obtain approval for request into graduate courses. Go Global cannot register students into graduate level courses until we receive the completed form with all required signatures for each graduate course. You are welcome to begin reaching out to instructors now; however, some instructors may be on leave until closer to the beginning of the Academic Term. If you don’t receive a response, please follow up again closer to the term start or once you arrive and can visit the department in person.
Do we need to check for exam time conflicts?
No, the exam schedule will not be available until the middle of the term: around mid-October for Term 1 and mid-February for Term 2. Please do NOT book your flight home before the exam schedule is released, as travel plans will not be accepted as a valid reason for academic/exam concession.
Why do we need to request 10 courses when I only need 5?
Unfortunately, course registration cannot be guaranteed. To increase your chances of securing a full course load, please submit a list of 10 undergraduate courses, including backup options. Go Global will endeavour to enroll you into your top preferences where possible.
When can we expect the results of our course survey to be released?
Go Global will email you with an update in July.
Can we make changes to our course registration after the survey?
You will have the opportunity to modify your course registration through an add/switch survey that will be sent by our team around August until the Add/Drop deadline.
You can drop courses on your own through Workday until the Add/Drop deadline. Check the UBC Academic Calendar for the precise date.
What is the difference between lectures/discussions/labs etc. with different section numbers? Which one do I need to request?
The difference between lectures/discussions/labs with different section numbers is that they are held at different times or locations. You can check the details on Workday and choose the one that best fits your schedule to avoid timetable conflicts.
Am I eligible for X course?
If you believe that you meet the prerequisites and the course is not restricted for exchange students, feel free to request it on the Course Survey. However, please be aware that Go Global cannot guarantee registration in every course you request on the survey.
Check restricted courses for exchange students here: https://global.ubc.ca/go-global/coming-ubc/coming-ubc-exchange/step-4-course-registration. Check if there are any prerequisites by clicking on a course schedule on Workday or the public Course Schedule.
Please use your best judgment about whether you meet the prerequisites based on the coursework you've previously completed at your home university. If you need further guidance, you can reach out to the instructor of the course closer to the start of the semester. The instructor may ask to see your transcript or other course materials to assess your eligibility.
Can I request a course with reserved seats?
Exchange students may be able to request reserved seats where they feel they meet the restrictions, but we cannot guarantee registration as each department has different enrolment policies.
In general, you can check the course restrictions for exchange students on our website here: https://global.ubc.ca/go-global/coming-ubc/coming-ubc-exchange/step-4-course-registration. If a reserved course is not listed as unavailable to exchange students here, please feel free to request it on your Course Survey, provided you meet the eligibility requirements for the course.
If you do request a course with reserved seats on your Course Survey, be aware that we may not be able to register you in it, or you may be placed on a waitlist. Exchange students may also be able to gain access to a restricted course by obtaining approval after arrival if needed.
Course X is “closed” in the Course Schedule, can I request it?
If a course is “closed” on the Course Schedule or Workday, it is not currently available for registration. We don’t know when or if closed courses may open, so we advise not to request closed courses on the Course Survey for now. If you’d like to enquire about whether a particular course will be offered, you can reach out to the department directly. If the course does open later, you will be able to request to switch into it later during our course add/drop/switch period after the initial registration is complete.