Application
How to apply
Eligible students are strongly encouraged to submit the completed VIRS application at least 3 months before the planned start date for their research. It may take up to one month for VIRS applications to be reviewed and for you to receive your Letter of Acceptance, a letter you will need in order to apply for relevant immigration documents (Canadian visa and/or study permit). Take into account that the study permit and/or entry visa application processing times may vary and your VIRS application should be received well in advance for you to receive your required documentation.
Any changes to the start or end dates of your research must be reported to Go Global in order to ensure your Letter of Acceptance is accurate and that you have proper insurance coverage.
Before you apply
- Make sure VIRS is the appropriate program for you.
- Ensure you meet the eligibility requirements.
- Check that your research start date is realistic, especially if you need to obtain immigration documents for travel.
*Students who are planning a research study period of 6 months or more are advised to check the notice on the availability of Provincial Attestation Letter (PALs) — a document required to apply for a study permit — on this page before submitting a VIRS application.
Check processing times for immigration documents based on your country of citizenship, then factor processing times into your start date. * For example, if you are applying in July for a October start and the listed processing time is 15 weeks, your research start date is not realistic.
*Please note that there is currently a delay in processing times across the world and it is likely you need to give yourself even more time than what is posted.
4. Download and save the VIRS Approval Form (pdf) onto your computer. Complete the form and obtain all the required signatures. Scanned copies are acceptable. Save the Approval Form in PDF or JPEG format.
Ready to apply?
Since it could take up to two months for application review, submit as soon as possible! The VIRS application processing time will depend on the overall number of applications Go Global receives. We are not able to rush or expedite letters of acceptance based on your individual situation. Thank you for your patience in this process.
- Create an account through the VIRS Student Application Portal. Use an email address you check regularly and plan to use throughout the application process. We will send email you important updates about your VIRS application through this email address. Make sure @ubc.ca emails are on your safe list.
- After you create an account, check your email for instructions on how to begin the application.
- Fill out the application and upload the necessary documents. Please use the same email address in application that you used to create your account.
- the VIRS Approval Form
- Identity Document
- Proof of enrolment from your home institution
- Please upload a letter written in English showing your enrollment as a student for the full duration of your VIRS program study dates outlined in your VIRS Approval Form
- Please ensure that the letter is issued on official letterhead and dated within the last six months
- Note: Copies of academic transcripts or a student card are not acceptable
And Submit your completed application!
After you’ve submitted your VIRS application
- Check your e-mail for your new UBC Student Number.
- Pay your VIRS Program Fee online.
- Select “VIRS Program Fee” > select “Add to cart” > provide your name, email (the same one you used to submit your VIRS application), and your UBC student number > select “Check out” > enter your email address again > provide your payment details.
- You should receive your UBC Letter of Acceptance within 2 – 3 weeks after paying your VIRS Program Fee. The time will depend on the overall number of applications Go Global is receiving and we are not able to rush or expedite letters of acceptance based on your individual situation.
After receiving your letter of acceptance (LOA)
- Verify your personal information (for example, legal name, date of birth, permanent address, etc.) is correct on your student application in the Go Global Student Application Portal and on the VIRS Letter of Acceptance (LoA). If the information needs to be updated, you MUST notify Go Global within five business days of the email notification about your admission and prior to accepting your offer of admission.
- Accept your UBC admission offer in the Applicant Service Centre (ASC) online. Your acceptance to UBC is only confirmed when you accept your admission offer. You will have three weeks to accept your offer from the issuance date of your Letter of Acceptance.
- Create your Campus Wide Login (CWL) account using the student number you will receive after submitting the online application.
- Apply for the appropriate immigration document using your Letter of Acceptance.
- Six (6) months or less = students can complete their research under visitor status with a Temporary Resident Visa or Electronic Travel Authorization, depending on citizenship.
- Longer than six (6) months = students will require a study permit in which you will need to upload your LoA and a PAL, the latter you will have to request from UBC.
- See how to apply for an initial study permit, and see processing times for various immigration document applications on the Government of Canada website.
- Pay your iMED fees in Workday. Log into your account using your CWL (see step 3 above). For more information about iMED, see below.
Students admitted through VIRS will be registered as full-time students at UBC for the duration of their research period. Admitted students will have permission to engage in research, but may not register in academic courses.
Make change on your research time
If you need to change the start or end dates of your research, complete this Delayed Arrival Online Form to ensure your acceptance letter is accurate and that you have appropriate insurance coverage. If you are not sure when your new research start and end dates will be, please select: “I am not sure when my new arrival date will be” in the form above.
