VIRS Pathways

Is VIRS the right pathway?

Your program, pathways, and contacts at UBC all depend on whether you plan to come to UBC to do research and collect salary (as an employee) or whether the research is part of your educational program requirement (as a student).

Use the first two levels of the chart to determine the right path to follow, then follow the information to understand what each pathway includes.

flow chart of different ways a student can come to UBC for research

HELPFUL ACRONYMS
  • LMIA: Labour Market Impact Assessment
  • IRCC: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (formerly known as Citizenship and Immigration Canada)

Eligibility

Students must meet all of the following requirements for admission:

  • Not have Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status.
  • Actively pursuing a degree at a post-secondary institution in Canada or abroad (undergraduate, graduate, or graduate-equivalent program) OR be part of a recognized bridging program.
    • Examples of bridging programs: The Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program (ELAP) and Mitacs Globalink. Please contact us with respect to other programs
  • Will maintain enrollment at their home university for the duration of their stay at UBC
  • Have a plan to conduct research for one month or longer
    • The maximum length of proposed research period that a VIRS can be approved for is one year (12 months). At the end of the approved visit period, the student may request an extension for up to one year.
  • Have no intention to enter into an employment relationship with the university related to the research
  • Obtain approval for research activities at UBC by obtaining signatures from:
    • Supervisor from the student’s institution.
    • The student’s Home university or sponsoring program.
    • The host supervisor at UBC.
    • The UBC Department Head for the unit or laboratory with which the visiting research student will be affiliated.

English language and academic qualifications

There is no specific English-language proficiency requirement, or an academic grade point average requirement, for admission through VIRS. It is the responsibility of the UBC host professor and department to determine VIRS applicants’ qualifications to undertake the research. Go Global will review students’ applications for basic eligibility, and admit eligible students to the university.

RELATED LINKS (NON-VIRS)
  • Visiting Students (VISI)
    For bachelor (undergraduate) students who want to research and take courses at UBC as a student
  • Visiting Graduate Students
    The College of Graduate Studies at UBC’s Okanagan campus will be able to guide you through this option

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