Welcome to the more than 11,000 graduate students at the UBC Vancouver campus! As we approach the start of the 2025/26 start of term, we are happy to welcome incoming graduate students orientation activities and festivities for everyone. Check with your program or department for faculty-specific orientations.
UBC Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies office has partnered with the Graduate Student Society (GSS) and International Student Development to offer a series of events for students including:
May-August: pre-arrival webinars. Visit the orientation website to get caught up!
Aug. 26: GradStart Prep Series Get a head start on your studies with these focused online workshops. Resources and materials available on community.grad.ubc.ca if you miss the session.
Aug. 28: GradStart Welcome Day
- 1 pm International Student Welcome (Frederic Wood Theatre)
- 2:30 pm G+PS Welcome for all students (Frederic Wood Theatre)
- Note the events in Frederic Wood Theatre require pre-registration. Livestreaming is available. Register online.
- 4:30 pm The Social Outdoor Fair (Main Mall)
- 6 pm Afterparty
Aug. 29: Pancake Brunch and Campus Tours
Sep. 2: Campus Life Expo on Imagine Day
Sep 9: Removing barriers and discussing opportunities for graduate students with disabilities and ongoing medical conditions
Sep 18: Bowling night with the GSS
Sep 25: GradStart Bootcamp
Sep 27: GSS Family Fun Day for students with children (any family can attend, not just residents of Acadia Park)
Typically a special Community Partners Resource Fair is offered at the First Nations Longhouse for Indigenous students. Check back closer to September for dates/times.
Attend an event to meet other grad students, get free food and/or swag items, and have fun. You can also reach out to other graduate students on MyCommunity.
Visit the orientation.grad.ubc.ca website for more info or to register for an upcoming event.