Course load requirements
At UBC, a full-time course load varies depending on the faculty and degree program. The average UBC undergraduate degree student registers in 15 credits per term (five courses), but some science and engineering students register in 18 credits (six courses) per term.
We recommend that you register in nine to fifteen credits per term while you are here. We are not able to advise exchange students about the minimum course load required by their home university.
Course numbers and levels
| Undergraduate |
| 100 to 199 |
First-year courses |
| 200 to 299 |
Second-year courses |
| 300 to 399 |
Third-year courses |
| 400 to 499 |
Fourth-year courses |
| Graduate |
| 500+ |
Postgraduate-level (supervision required) |
At UBC, most undergraduate courses include three hours of class time per week. There are four main course formats:
Lectures
Most courses are offered as lectures. Lectures usually range from 50 to 80 minutes in length and may involve anywhere from 30 to 200 students.
Tutorials
Lecture courses also commonly have tutorials. They provide an opportunity for discussion in smaller groups. You will usually be expected to participate in these group discussions.
Labs
Many Science, Math, and Engineering courses at UBC have laboratory (lab) work, which includes practical activities in addition to lectures or tutorials. Labs require small-group work under the direction of a Teaching Assistant (TA). In some courses, you must pass the lab in order to pass the course. Labs and tutorials are usually mandatory and, in some cases, grades are given for attendance.
Seminars
Many graduate (and some upper-level undergraduate) courses follow a seminar format. These smaller classes are generally less formal, encourage discussion, and sometimes include presentations. Students are often given grades for their presentations and for verbal participation in class.
Instructors
If you’re an undergraduate student, you may find that Teaching Assistants (TA), in addition to professors, lead parts of your classes. The role of the TA varies in each class. Your TA may lead discussions, conduct labs, assist with lectures, grade assignments, hold office hours, or grade exams. TAs are usually graduate students at UBC.
Be sure to speak to your instructor (professor or TA) if you:
- Can’t submit your assignment on time.
- Don’t understand a concept that was covered in class.
- Are feeling challenged by your course load due to circumstances outside of the course (such as difficulties with English).
- Need more information about an essay, project, or other assignment.
Most instructors hold office hours (regular times they will be in their offices, during which you can drop by). Office hours give you a chance to meet with your instructor to discuss course materials, assignments, your questions, and any concerns. If you can’t drop by during office hours, schedule an appointment with your instructor for another time.
In Canada, student-faculty relationships tend to be informal and students call some instructors by their first names. Professors, however, don’t generally socialize with students, and it is not appropriate for instructors to date students. Instructors also don’t expect gifts from students and they may feel uncomfortable if presented with one.
Canadian students often challenge and question their instructors. This behaviour can seem rude to students from other countries, but in Canada, it is quite acceptable, even desirable at times, to respectfully disagree with your professor’s opinions.
