Source: The Times of India
The University of British Columbia on its Vancouver campus has launched a college for first-year international students from countries with school systems that are significantly different from Canada’s . James Ridge, principal, and Susanne Schmiesing, director, business development & operations, UBC Vantage College, talk to Tirna Ray
Why was the need felt to establish the UBC Vantage College?
In response to a rapidly changing demographic and economic global landscape, and the unprecedented world-wide demand for higher education, the University of British Columbia (UBC) established UBC Vantage College on its Vancouver campus to offer programmes that broaden the capacity of the university to attract international students . While UBC currently welcomes international students to study at the university , the International Programme is fundamentally different in that it reaches out to students who need additional time and instruction to qualify for direct admission to UBC. As such, our college is developing pedagogical , administrative and technological initiatives, which will also provide us with opportunities to examine our curriculum and pedagogy to better understand how students, international and domestic alike, learn.
Who is it for?
The International Programme provides international students graduating from a senior secondary school who would not be directly admissible to a UBC direct-entry undergraduate degree programme , with the opportunity to enter a first-year equivalent programme that will prepare them for study at Year 2 of a UBC degree. The programme has been designed for international secondary school students who demonstrate a strong potential to succeed in university, but who may benefit from smaller class sizes and additional academic and social supports. Students will form a cohort within the programme ranging in length from 12 to 16 months (depending upon the applicant’s proficiency in the English language and level of academic preparation) that includes academic language preparation, additional academic support and the completion of first-year coursework . Upon successful completion , students will have a minimum of 24 credits of first-year coursework applicable to a degree programme and may progress into the second year of study towards a UBC Bachelor degree (specifically, a Bachelor of Arts and/or Bachelor of Science degree in 2015-16 with further degree options being offered in subsequent years).
How is Vantage College different?
Students enrolled will complete a 12-month programme that includes English-language and academic study, and if successful, will advance to the second year of a UBC degree course. Students will live on campus in student residences along with students from other UG programmes.
What are the eligibility criteria?
Students may apply to UBC Vantage College if they are an international student (not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident); are graduating from an academic or university preparatory programme at a recognised senior secondary school. English language requirements include a minimum score of 70 on the TOEFL iBT with no section less than 16 or a minimum overall score of 5.5 on the IELTS with a minimum band score of 5.0 in speaking and listening, and 5.5 in reading and writing.
What is the cost factor?
The tuition fee for our 12-month programme is $30,000 Canadian plus housing and food. For exceptional applicants with financial need, the college will also offer substantial scholarships including some scholarships that will cover the full cost of tuition, housing and food. www.vantagecollege.ubc.ca