in Civil Engineering

• Regular Visiting Student


• Exchange students visiting under the Western Deans' Agreement

 

Regular Visiting Students

A visiting graduate student is one who is attending UBC or another university to complete coursework and/or research toward the requirements of a graduate degree at the home university. To be eligible for admission as a visiting student to UBC, the student must be currently registered in a graduate program with good standing at another recognized university. Students may hold visiting status at UBC for a maximum of twelve months.

Applicants for regular visiting status (who are not applying under the Western Deans' Agreement or the Graduate Exchange Agreement) must submit the following documentation:

• Graduate Studies Application form


• Application Fee


• Two sets of official transcripts (in sealed and endorsed envelopes issued by the Registrar of the home institution) of the graduate program for which the applicant is currently registered


• Evidence of English Proficiency (where applicable) in the form of an official acceptable TOEFL, IELTS or MELAB score


• Letter of permission from the home university’s Registrar or department head confirming that the coursework and/or research undertaken at UBC while a visiting student is for the purpose of completing the graduate degree requirements at the home university

Upon receipt of a Graduate Program recommendation to admit an applicant as a visiting student, accompanied by one set of official current transcripts, letter of permission and English proficiency test score (if applicable), the Dean of Graduate Studies will issue a formal offer of admission to the visiting student. Visiting students must be registered in coursework, or non-credit activity (if doing research only) by the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Visiting graduate students who wish to take credit courses must register for those courses and will be assessed tuition fees at the prevailing graduate per credit rate, (see Fee Section of Calendar) plus authorized student fees. Other visiting graduate students may register for the non-credit activity 'Visiting Graduate Student' (VGRD500). The fee for each registration in this activity, which covers either Winter Session Term 1 or Term 2, or Summer Session, is equal to the tuition fee for one credit of coursework plus authorized student fees.

Western Deans' Agreement

This agreement was established in 1974 as an expression of co-operation and mutual support among universities offering graduate programs in western Canada. Its primary purpose is the reciprocal enrichment of graduate programs throughout western Canada. Under the terms of this agreement, graduate students of the member institutions may take courses at another member institution without having to pay the host university's tuition fees.

The Western Deans' Agreement provides an automatic tuition fee waiver for exchange students under this Agreement. Graduate students paying normal required tuition fees to their home institution will not pay tuition fees to the host institution.

Students may be required to pay student, activity, application, or other ancillary fees to the host institution, according to general policies in effect at the host institution. Wherever possible, these fees will also be waived.

Students will qualify for the fee waiver if they:

• present the Authorization Form: Western Deans' Agreement signed by the Dean or designate and department head or graduate advisor of a participating institution specifying the courses to be taken for credit toward a graduate degree program at their home institution;


• are in good standing in a graduate program at the home institution;


• have paid all current and back fees at the home institution.

Please note that MEng Students (no longer under the FoGS umbrella) are not eligible for the WDA.

Students must meet all requirements as prescribed by the host university’s regulations, Graduate Program deadlines, class capacities, and course prerequisites. Registration in courses under the Western Deans' Agreement is possible in credit courses at both the graduate and senior-level undergraduate levels except credit courses offered through Continuing Studies. To be eligible, courses must be an integral part of the student's graduate degree program. Students are not permitted to audit courses or take non-credit courses under this Agreement.

Students must have the Western Deans' Agreement Authorization form approved by the relevant Graduate Program Advisor and the Faculty of Graduate Studies at the host institution at least two weeks prior to the commencement of the course(s) requested. The fee waiver is not available retroactively.

Students are subject to regulations of the home institution governing credit for the courses to be undertaken. As a condition of registration at the host institution, students will arrange for official transcripts from the host institution to be sent to the home institution confirming successful completion of courses selected. Students must send confirmation of registration and notice of any change to the Graduate Records Office of the home institution at the time registration or course change is completed.

Each institution has its own regulations regarding the maximum number of transfer credits permitted in a given degree program. Students should ensure that their requests are within these limits.

Courses taken by PhD students under the Western Deans' Agreement will not be credited to their degree programs.

Participating Universities in the Western Deans' Agreement

• Athabasca University
• University of Alberta
• Brandon University
• University of British Columbia
• University of Calgary
• University of Lethbridge
• University of Manitoba
• University of Northern British Columbia
• University of Regina
• University of Saskatchewan
• Simon Fraser University
• University of Victoria

Authorization forms are available here.