Preparing to apply

If you have a disability or pre-existing health condition—mental or physical—which could impact your participation in Go Global or if you need academic accommodations, call an Accessibility Advisor before the start of the program: 

• The Centre for Accessibility (Vancouver) 604 822 5844 
• Disability Resource Centre (Okanagan) 250 807 8053 

To withdraw from your program, you must contact Go Global by email to request a withdrawal. 

• If you are not selected for a program, or if you choose not to accept your spot in the program when it's offered: No program fees will be charged.
• If you withdraw after you accept your spot in the program: you are responsible for the full program fee, regardless of whether the fee has been charged yet on the SSC. In cases where expenses can be recovered from our program partners, we may be able to reduce or refund a portion of the fees but this will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Go Global Fee ($423.25) policy:

• If you withdraw by April 7: your Go Global fee will be adjusted from $423.25 to $328.00 (refund of $95.25). 
• If you withdraw after April 7: you are responsible for the full Go Global fee (i.e. no refund of GG fee).

In the case of withdrawal, Go Global Award funding must be returned in full. 

Questions? Connect with your Go Global advisor or email: go.global@ubc.ca. 

Program Safety

All travel and program activities involve risk of harm to participants. Go Global and Seminar program leads take reasonable precautions to reduce risks. However, not all harms can be anticipated or prevented. 

While travelling on UBC programs, students have a responsibility for their own safety and the safety of the group.

Some common issues for travellers include:

• Illness and injuries (e.g. respiratory illnesses, flu, food poisoning, sprained ankles, etc.)
• Fatigue and heat exhaustion
• Violence like robbery, or gender- and race-based harassment or attacks, especially in urban areas
• Traffic accidents
• Lost documents (passports, credit cards, etc.)

Before Applying:

• Get to know the places you will be travelling by using available resources like Global Affairs Canada travel reports.
• Consider your own mental and physical health alongside what you know about the conditions during the program (e.g. how physical is the program? What are the living conditions? What can I do to prepare myself?)

Before departure:  

• Participate in all pre-departure activities offered by Go Global and your program teaching team to learn about the program and ways to prevent and respond to incidents.
• Ensure you have adequate travel medical insurance that will cover you in the location and for the duration of your trip.
• Be aware of how to use your travel medical insurance, if you need it, and where to access medical care or other emergency assistance in the locations where you will be travelling. 

During the program: 

• If you don’t feel safe, say something! Let your program leads know how you feel, or about incidents that occur. Don’t hesitate to contact Go Global during your program. 
• Know your own needs: be aware of your own mental and physical health and your limits. Communicate with your program lead and group about making adjustments, as needed. 

Public health: COVID-19 and other diseases

Students and faculty are required to comply with the entry requirements of the host country, regulations of transportation carriers, and any local public health orders. These rules might require vaccinations (e.g. for COVID-19, yellow fever, etc.) to enter the country or to participate in certain program activities. Some places may require masking, testing or isolation in various circumstances. It is your responsibility to research and comply with any requirements.

COVID-19 and other infections can spread easily in a group setting. Most programs involve shared accommodations. Unless required by local public health authorities, isolation for those infected during the program may not be possible. 
 
Review local requirements before applying and before departure. Check the Global Affairs Canada Advisory under Entry Requirements for your Global Seminar destination to learn more. Keep in mind that program conditions can vary and rules can change before or during your trip. 

Students who have been selected to participate in a Global Seminar and confirm acceptance will be charged a $423.25 Go Global Fee (an administrative fee charged to all UBC students participating in a Go Global program). You are charged the Go Global fee only after accepting your space in the Global Seminar.* If you participate in multiple Global Seminars, you are charged a separate Go Global fee for each seminar program.

Withdrawal policy:

• If you withdraw by April 7: your Go Global fee will be adjusted from $423.25 to $328.00 (refund of $95.25). 
• If you withdraw after April 7: you are responsible for the full Go Global fee (i.e. no refund of GG fee).

Applications open early November.  

Term 2/Reading Week programs: Applications due October 4, 2024  

Summer 2025: Applications due December 5, 2024 (except those with extended deadlines. See program pages.)

• mid-December to mid-January: Interviews and application review
• late January - mid-February: Most programs will finalize selection and Go Global will notify students of the decisions. After being notified, students will have one week to accept or decline their spot in the program.
• March - April: Pre-departure meetings