Guest post by Xueting Zhao, master’s student at the Institute for Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice, and WorkLearn for UBC Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (G+PS).
Congratulations! You are in your final year and about to graduate from UBC. This has been a rewarding and diligent experience for you, and you deserve all the praise for your hard work. Before graduating, here are some essential tasks you may want to consider putting on your calendar to help you better plan and power through the last stage of graduate school.
1. Thesis and Dissertation Submission — SUBMIT ON TIME
Submitting your thesis or dissertation is a critical step in your academic career, so make sure you fulfill this requirement correctly. Bookmark the graduate studies website, as it offers all of the essential information you need to know on the Final Dissertation & Thesis Submission page. Graduate Pathways to Success runs workshops on this topic throughout the year, with tips and a Q&A session, which you can sign up for on the Event page.
2. Applying to Graduate — YES, YOU NEED TO APPLY IN ORDER TO ACTUALLY GRADUATE
Depending on whether you finish your program in spring, summer or fall, there are two graduation ceremonies at UBC throughout the year. The first one is in late May, and the second one is in November. Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (G+PS) recommends that you submit your application for graduation in advance of submitting your final thesis to make sure you don’t miss any deadlines.
Go through the graduation checklist to see if you are missing any important steps for graduation. Remember to apply to graduate before the deadline for each graduation ceremony. Find out about the deadlines, and when and how to apply to graduate under the “Applying to graduate” subsection. Find information about the graduation ceremony, such as how or where to rent graduation regalia, as well as questions about graduation ceremony tickets under the "Graduate ceremonies" section.
3. Letting your advisor or supervisor know — DON'T FORGET TO TELL THEM PLS
One key element that ensures a smooth grad school experience is to keep your communications channel open with your supervisor(s), advisor and program staff. They should be the first to be notified about your graduation status. Your professional relationship with your supervisor should be built upon cooperation and informing them of your plans. Remember to establish an open and honest relationship with your supervisor, as they can help you immensely when it comes to graduation and your post-graduation career. It is also highly recommended to double check with G+PS in regards to particular questions or requirements regarding graduation, especially deadlines.
4. Checking out Grad Pathways — I WISH I’D TAKEN MORE WORKSHOPS
Graduate Pathways to Success (GPS) is an award-winning program that offers non-academic workshops and professional development programs, to help you in your academic and professional journey. You can find topics such as submitting thesis, copyright for your thesis, breaking patterns of procrastination, navigating your job search and more. Whether you are looking for support to maximize your academic experience or in the search for expanding your professional networks, Graduate Pathways is a great place to learn about services and resources. Find upcoming GPS events and enjoy the workshops!
5. Enjoying UBC activities—USE YOUR STUDENT BENEFITS WHILE YOU CAN!
Before heading out to the “real world,” check out the scenic views on campus one more time, or explore the buildings and study spaces you haven’t stepped into before. Many of UBC’s paths and roads are in fact bikeable, so definitely try biking around campus to check this off your list! Speaking of fitness, take advantage of the newly opened Recreation Centre North and enjoy many student-priced classes and events offered by the Graduate Student Society (GSS). For swimmers out there, take a dip in UBC’s Olympic-sized pool at the Aquatic Centre before waving goodbye to the campus. Check out our blog post for tips on staying active and healthy.
Aside from keeping yourself physically active, the last few months in grad school can be quite stressful mentally. UBC student counselling services is open to all students who might need support.
6. Enjoying quality time with friends and loved ones, in the city or out in the wilderness
Wrapping up a thesis and defending dissertations while planning for next steps after school can be stressful and hectic. Nonetheless, try to reserve some time for yourself and your loved ones, whether that’s visiting a restaurant you’ve long wanted to go to, biking around the city to see flowers blooming and leaves falling or getting on the ferry for a long weekend retreat to the islands. Vancouver truly is one of the prettiest places to live, and make sure you collect many beautiful memories while you’re here.
When in doubt, the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies is here for you. For further questions, please submit your enquiry using the G+PS contact form and select the topic that’s related to your question. Reach out as early as you can and allow for a couple of business days for the staff to get back to you before reaching out again with the same inquiry, as this may create backlogs and delay responses.
