Senior citizens

In the intimacy of a classroom setting, UBC’s Okanagan Campus combines some of the finest instruction available to deliver a world of study in and beyond the classroom. If you are a senior citizen and would like to take classes for your own interest outside of a degree program, then Access Studies is for you.

Is this the right option for me?

BC residents 65 years of age or over who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents are welcome to apply to Access Studies to take courses for general interest.

If you are a senior citizen who wishes to pursue studies in a degree program, visit youbc, our admissions website.

Please email us at nondegree.ok@ubc.ca if you have any questions.

Cost

Normally, senior citizens do not pay tuition or student fees. However, students can expect to pay fees of about $100–$150 per course for course materials. Course materials are available through the UBC Bookstore.

Application

If you wish to take courses for general interest, apply to the Access Studies program by following the steps outlined below.

Step one:

Visit the course schedule and view the courses offered. Choose the courses that you are interested in taking. Feel free to contact the Access Studies office if you have any questions.

Step two:

Submit a Non-Degree Studies Application Form. Include the specific course(s) from the course schedule that you wish to take under the “Education experience” section.

Step three:

Once your application is submitted, we will email you with confirmation of your application and request a copy of your date of birth to confirm your Senior Citizen status.

Step four:

A copy of your date of birth (such as a photocopy of a passport or driver’s licence) can be emailed to nondegree.ok@ubc.ca, faxed to 250 807 8007 (Attention: Access Studies), or brought in person to UNC 322 of the University Centre building on UBC’s Okanagan campus.

Step five:

Login to your Student Service Centre (SSC) to register for classes or contact Enrolment Services (nondegree.ok@ubc.ca) for assistance.

What else do I need to know?

  • Enrolment for Access Studies Students is on a part-time basis in a limited selection of courses and programs.
  • Being admitted to UBC as an Access Studies student does not guarantee entrance to your requested courses or subsequent admission to a degree program at UBC.
  • To register you’ll need to meet course prerequisites through previous study, relevant experience, or instructor permission.
  • If you wish to register in a course as an audit student, you will need to follow that faculty’s procedure for requesting and gaining approval to audit the course. Please note that in general, if you’re auditing a course, you’ll be expected to complete all course requirements except the final exam, and your transcript will show a statement of audit for the course. Read more about auditing courses in the Academic Calendar.