About the University of British Columbia
Basic information and contact details for the University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia (UBC), originally called McGill University College of British Columbia, has a long-standing reputation for interdisciplinary research, tracing back to its establishment in 1908. Recognized as a leading academic institution, this Canadian research university consistently ranks among the top universities worldwide.
The university was founded after Jon Jessop, then the provincial governor of British Columbia, proposed the idea, recognizing the need for a higher education institution to serve the local community.
UBC’s mission is to equip students with technical skills and an understanding of current research trends, preparing them to make meaningful contributions in their fields.
As one of Canada’s oldest universities, UBC experienced significant growth in the 20th century, expanding its degree offerings far beyond its original focus on medicine, theology, and law.
Today, the university provides around 500 Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in diverse areas, including business and technology management, IT and applied technology, liberal arts and sciences, as well as linguistics and translation. Over the years, UBC has collaborated on more than 1,300 research projects with businesses and supported the founding of nearly 200 new companies.
UBC has two campuses. The main campus is in Point Grey, just 30 minutes from Downtown Vancouver—a key cultural and economic center. The second campus is in Kelowna, near Okanagan Lake in southern British Columbia. With modern sports facilities and a wide range of student clubs, students can engage in everything from skiing and aviation to archaeology.
The university boasts state-of-the-art facilities, including TRIUMF (Canada’s national laboratory for particle and nuclear physics), the country’s second-largest research library with over 7 million publications, and a traditional Japanese botanical garden that houses the Ichibō-an tea house.
UBC’s alumni have achieved remarkable success, winning multiple Nobel Prizes, over 60 Rhodes Scholarships, and more than 200 have been elected as fellows of the Royal Society of Canada.
Rankings
Choose the type of ranking below to view stats:
World University Rankings (WUR)
World University Rankings 2025
41st
Arts and Humanities
Arts and Humanities 2025
53rd
Business and Economics
Business and Economics 2025
29th
Clinical and Health
Medical and Health 2025
28th
Computer Science
Computer Science 2025
51st
Education
Education Studies 2025
25th
Engineering
Engineering 2025
49th
Law
Law 2025
41st
Life Sciences
Life Sciences 2025
33rd
Physical Sciences
Physical Sciences 2025
56th
Psychology
Psychology 2025
17th
Social Sciences
Social Sciences 2025
28th
→ World University Rankings 2025
- Overall: 77.8
- Teaching: 62.3
- Research Environment: 76.7
- Research Quality: 89.7
- Industry: 79.8
- International Outlook: 94.3
75 → 76 → 77 → 78
2016 → 2017 → 2018 → 2019 → 2020 → 2021 → 2022 → 2023 → 2024 → 2025
Breakdown by year: Overall
Impact Rankings
Select the ranking type below to see stats:
SDG Overall
Impact Rankings 2023
=26th
SDG 1: No Poverty
No Poverty 2023
35th
SDG 2: Zero Hunger
Zero Hunger 2023
=88th
SDG 3: Good Health and Wellbeing
Good Health and Wellbeing 2023
101–200th
SDG 4: Quality Education
Quality Education 2023
401–600th
SDG 5: Gender Equality
Gender Equality 2023
101–200th
SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
Clean Water and Sanitation 2023
=65th
SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
Affordable and Clean Energy 2023
=79th
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
Decent Work and Economic Growth 2023
201–300th
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure 2023
101–200th
SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
Reduced Inequalities 2023
12th
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
Sustainable Cities and Communities 2023
26th
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Responsible Consumption and Production 2023
47th
SDG 13: Climate Action
Climate Action 2023
4th
SDG 14: Life Below Water
Life Below Water 2023
23rd
SDG 15: Life on Land
Life on Land 2023
101–200th
SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions 2023
201–300th
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Partnership for the Goals 2023
101–200th
→ Impact Rankings 2023
93 → 93.5 → 94 → 94.5 → 95 → 95.5 → 96
2020 → 2021 → 2022 → 2023
Breakdown by year: Overall
Impact Ranking positions (2020–2023)
- 2023: =26th
- 2022: =13th
- 2021: 13th
- 2020: 7th
Note: Precise ranks and overall scores are shown for institutions at the top of a ranking. For institutions with banded ranks, check the relevant ranking tables for score indications.
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→ Key Student Statistics
A look at student data at the University of British Columbia:
- Gender Ratio: 56% Female : 44% Male (1)
- International Students: 34% (1)
- Students per Staff: 19.3 (1)
- Total Students: 59,931 (1)
Based on World University Rankings 2025 data
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→ Subjects Taught at the University of British Columbia
Here’s a selection of subjects offered:
- Computer Science (51st)
- Medicine & Dentistry (28th)
- Business & Economics (29th)
- Arts & Humanities (53rd)
- Psychology (17th)
- Life Sciences (33rd)
- Physical Sciences (56th)
- Law (41st)
- Engineering (49th)
- Social Sciences (28th)
- Education (25th)