The International Major Entrance Scholarship (IMES) is the University of British Columbia’s main merit award for international students starting an undergraduate degree at its Vancouver or Okanagan campus.
There is no separate application: everyone who applies for admission by the deadline is considered automatically, alongside the Outstanding International Student Award.
Benefits & funding
- Paid on entry to first year and renewable for up to three more years (four in total).
- Vantage One route: up to $85,000 — up to $25,000 in year one, up to $20,000 a year in years 2–4 (Vantage College page).
- Amounts for other programs were not published on any UBC page reachable at writing; check UBC’s entrance-scholarship page.
Eligibility
- International applicants entering first-year undergraduate study; Canadian citizens and permanent residents pay domestic fees and are not international students.
- Applying for the International Scholars Program removes you from IMES consideration.
- Bachelor of Music applicants are not eligible.
Application process
- 1Apply to a UBC undergraduate program by 15 January 2027 (11:59 p.m. Pacific); consideration is automatic.
- 2Do not submit the International Scholars Program award application if you want to be considered for IMES.
Program timeline
Admission application deadline
15 January 2027
Scholarship announcements
March–April 2027
Studies begin
September 2027