University of British Columbia

Public research university in British Columbia, Canada

Coat of Arms of the University of British Columbia

The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a public research university with campuses in Vancouver and Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. Established in 1908, UBC is British Columbia's oldest university. The university ranks among the top three universities in Canada.

History

Fairview Campus (c. 1917)

The University of British Columbia was established in 1908 as the McGill University College of British Columbia. It became the University of British Columbia in 1915. The university's first campus was located at the Fairview site in Vancouver.

In 1920, the university moved to its current location at Point Grey, Vancouver. The move was part of a larger plan to expand the university's facilities and accommodate a growing student population.

Proposed Plan for Point Grey Campus

The Point Grey campus was designed by the architectural firm Sharp and Thompson, which won a competition to design the new campus. The plan included a series of neoclassical buildings arranged around a central mall.

Campuses

UBC has two main campuses: the Vancouver campus and the Okanagan campus in Kelowna.

Vancouver Campus

The Vancouver campus is located at Point Grey, a peninsula on the western edge of Vancouver. It is the larger of the two campuses and houses most of the university's faculties and research facilities.

Aerial View of UBC

The campus is known for its beautiful setting, with views of the North Shore Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. It is home to several notable landmarks, including the Museum of Anthropology at UBC, which houses the famous sculpture "Raven and the First Men" by Bill Reid.

Raven and the First Men by Bill Reid

Okanagan Campus

The Okanagan campus, located in Kelowna, was established in 2005. It offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs and is known for its focus on research and innovation.

Academics

UBC offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs. The university is organized into several faculties, including the Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Medicine, and Sauder School of Business.

The university is known for its research excellence and is home to several research institutes and centers. UBC is a member of the U15 Group of Canadian Research Universities.

Notable Alumni and Faculty

UBC has produced many notable alumni, including Prime Ministers of Canada, Nobel laureates, and leaders in various fields. The university's faculty includes distinguished scholars and researchers who have made significant contributions to their fields.

Governance

UBC is governed by a Board of Governors and a Senate. The Board of Governors is responsible for the management of the university's property and finances, while the Senate is responsible for academic matters.

Carleton President Tory

The university's first president was Frank Wesbrook, who served from 1913 to 1918. The current president is Santa J. Ono.

Libraries and Museums

UBC's library system is one of the largest in Canada, with over 7 million volumes. The Irving K. Barber Learning Centre is a major library and learning facility on the Vancouver campus.

Irving K. Barber Library

The university is also home to several museums, including the Museum of Anthropology, the Beaty Biodiversity Museum, and the Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery.

Related Pages

• List of universities in Canada
• Higher education in British Columbia
• U15 Group of Canadian Research Universities