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 during the session in which they are registered 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

Course start dates Application deadline
May (Summer Session Term 1 or 2) March 15
September (Winter Session Term 1) July 15
January (Winter Session Term 2) November 15

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.

Step two:

Apply through Education Planner BC:

  • Create an Education Planner BC account online
  • Fill in your personal information, contact information, and academic history
  • Click “Start Applying” and select the University of British Columbia
  • In the UBC application, select the appropriate Admission Category based on your academic history
  • Select “UBC Okanagan” and “Access Studies” under First Program Choice
  • When prompted, make sure to include the course(s) you’re interested in taking or the specific program under which you would like to take courses

Step three:

UBC Admissions will email you with a confirmation of your application and request verification of your date of birth to confirm your Senior Citizen status.

Step four:

Verification of your date of birth (such as a photocopy of a passport or driver’s licence) can be emailed to nondegree.ok@ubc.ca.

Step five:

Once admitted, 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 audit a course, you will need to get approval from the faculty offering 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.