Eligibility

Eligibility for undergraduate students

Please note that the below information pertains to our Winter Exchange, Summer Abroad, and Research programs. For Global Seminar program eligibility, please refer to the Global Seminar page.

Grades and academic standing

**Please note that eligibility requirements have been updated effective September 2025**

• You must achieve a 70% average in the current Winter Session (see below)
• You must have a 70% cumulative average
• Be a UBC student in Good Academic Standing
• You must maintain full-time studies in the Winter session prior to your exchange
• You must complete your First Year English requirement prior to your exchange, if applicable to your degree
• You must complete 30 credits at UBC prior to your exchange (e.g. students who transfer to UBC must spend two full terms at UBC prior to the start of their exchange)
• All undergraduate students, except for B.A. students, must have completed Year Two prior to the Go Global experience
  • B.A. students may apply to go abroad in their second year, but it is recommended to wait until third year
  • Students from any faculty may take part in summer experiences through Go Global at any time after completing 30 credits of study at UBC
• Students may participate in one full-year or two single-term (winter session) exchange experiences during their degree
  • Students may participate in multiple summer experiences during their degree

Note: These criteria are set to ensure that you are prepared to thrive academically while on exchange. However, we understand that there are cases when your average may drop below this standard but you are still able to demonstrate academic preparedness to participate. To discuss possible appeals or exceptions to the UBC requirements outlined above, please connect with a Go Global advisor.

• Students applying in December (round 1): Go Global will review your cumulative and Winter term 1 average. Final grades will be reviewed in the Spring. If your exchange begins in July we will only review term 1 grades
• Students applying in May (round 2): Go Global will review your cumulative and Winter session (term 1 and term 2) grades.

Additional Considerations

• Some of our financial awards and partner institutions consider your cumulative average in addition to your term average, and may require a higher average than 70% to be considered eligible.
  • There may also be minimum registration requirements to be eligible for some financial awards.
• In addition to the above, please review our faculty-specific considerations for Winter exchange students
• Students taking part in more than one of the same experience will receive lower priority compared to first-time applicants
  • Ex/ A student that went abroad in Winter Term 2 of third year that is re-applying to go abroad in Winter Term 1 of fourth year would receive lower priority in their second application
  • Ex/ A student that took part in a Summer Abroad program between second- and third-year that re-applies for the summer between third- and fourth-year would receive lower priority in their second application

Requirements for taking your final term abroad before graduating

Students cannot graduate before all transfer credit is processed and degree requirements are complete. Students should return to UBC for at least one term after their Go Global program before graduation in order to allow for the transfer credit process to be complete.

Going on exchange or study abroad for your final term requires approval from Go Global and, upon referral, an Academic Advisor.

1. Meet with a Go Global advisor. In this meeting, you will discuss the program, transfer credit timelines, and possible risks or consequences with your plan.
2. If your Go Global Advisor is unable to discuss your degree requirements and eligibility for graduation with you, you will be referred to an Academic Advisor. It is also recommended that you meet with your program or departmental advisor.

As transfer credit equivalencies are not always determined before your exchange or study program ends, there is also a risk that your transfer credits may not meet your remaining degree requirements, and you may need to return to UBC for additional courses.​​​​​​

In addition, due to normal transfer credit processing times, it is not possible to graduate in May/June if you finish your degree requirements while abroad in Term 2 of a Winter Session.

Academic accommodation

Speak to your exchange advisor six weeks prior to applying to Go Global if you require academic or other accommodations abroad.

Applying to transfer to UBC Vancouver and Go Global at the same time

If you will be submitting your application while studying at UBC’s Okanagan campus, but intend to apply to transfer to the Vancouver campus, inform your Go Global Advisor.