University of Northern British Columbia

The University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC)

This research-intensive university, just as its name implies, is located in British Columbia, with the main campus in the city of Prince George. The university has other campuses in the cities of Fort St. John, Prince Rupert, and Terrace, located farther north in the province. It was established in 1990, and in that year, around 1,500 students were enrolled in the university. Today, the annual enrolment of students is more than 3,500, with over four hundred of them being international. Though it’s one of the newest universities in the country, students from over forty countries come to the University of Northern British Columbia to study one of the fifty-five undergraduate programs; fifteen master's and two PhD programs; and participate in various extracurricular activities offered at the university. According to some rankings, it’s the top small university in Canada. 

Programs in University of Northern British Columbia

If an international student wants to obtain a Bachelor of Education degree, they may go for the program in Education in Elementary Schools or Education in Secondary Schools. The program, which aims at learning about the peculiarities of secondary school level education, can be taken only at the Prince George campus of the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) in a full-time mode. Overall, a student needs to earn sixty credits. Upon graduation, students can work not only as teachers in the schools of British Columbia but as guidance counselors, librarians or delve into the research of the field of education. 

The program costs around $22,500 per year for international students, and an additional $1,600 should be allocated to study materials and books. 

A Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) can be obtained in the following programs: Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Forest Ecology and Management, Geography, Psychology, Wildlife and Fisheries, Mathematics and Statistics, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and others. All of the programs can be taken at the Prince George campus only. 

The program of Psychology, that leads to the Bachelor of Science degree lasts for four years, and to finish the program, a student needs to achieve 122 credits. The program can be taken in part-time mode and the opportunity to achieve an Honours Bachelor's degree is also available. Furthermore, students can take a co-op term and study abroad at one of the educational institutions with which the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) collaborates. Students can also conduct their own research during studies with the faculty members of the university. The university has access to the research data center of Canada, so students can use it while doing their own research in the field of psychology and subjects pertinent to it. 

During the first two years of the program, students study social psychology, biopsychology, and statistics, and the last two years of study focus on the intrinsics of personality and cognition. Upon graduation, international students can work as clinicians, counselors, and university and hospital researchers. 

For the program of Psychology, the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) charges $22,500 per academic year. By the way, international students also have a chance to obtain one of the scholarships to ease their financial burden.  

A Bachelor of Arts can be obtained in the following programs of the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC): Global and International Studies, Environmental and Sustainability Studies, English, Political Science, Women’s Studies, Public Administration and Community Development, Nature-Based Tourism Management, First Nations Studies, and others. 

The program of English can be taken at all campuses of the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC). It lasts for four years and can be taken in part-time mode. During the program, students learn critical writing and analysis of both Canadian and international literature; they develop their story-telling and presentation skills in different genres; and study film and television production. After graduation, students can work in teaching, journalism, and publishing or continue their studies at the next level, either at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) or other educational establishments in Canada. This program also costs around $22,500. 

A Bachelor of Commerce can be obtained by studying the following programs: Accounting, Marketing, Human Resources Management, General Business, International Business, and Finance. These programs can be taken only at the Prince George campus as well. 

The program of International Business, for example, aims to explore finance, human resources, and marketing through the prism of international relations and the global economy. Students learn about trade theory, financial management, and social and environmental influence on economics all around the world. After their graduation, students can work as international account managers, project managers, international trade analysts, or find themselves doing other jobs in the field of international relations and economics. 

To be eligible to study at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), international students whose native language is not English need to have an IELTS band score of 6.5 overall, a TOEFL score of 90 or higher, or results of other official examinations equivalent to them. 

Masters Degrees in Business Administration, Counselling, Disability Management, Education, First Nations Studies, Gender Studies, Mathematical, Computer, Physical and Molecular Sciences, Social Work, and a variety of other fields are available to international students.

One of the popular Master’s programs at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) is Gender Studies. Students learn about the connection between gender and colonialism, literature, culture, health, and globalisation. This master’s program can lead to the writing of a thesis, but the option without a thesis is also available. During the program, students can take the following courses: Gender and Literary Theory, History of Feminism, Advanced Feminist Social Science, Contemporary Women’s Literature, and others. After obtaining a Master of Arts degree in Gender Studies, students can continue their research in the field of gender and equality, or start their career path as educators, writers, journalists, or find an occupation in social work and health care. 

Besides degrees, the university offers students the opportunity to take a certificate program. Some of them are: Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Indigenous Health and Healing, First Nations Studies, First Nations Public Administration, Local Government Administration, Nursing, and a number of others. 

Accommodation 

The city of Prince George is the largest in the north of the province, with a population of over seventy-four thousand people. It’s located at the confluence of two rivers and is often called the "northern capital." There are forty anglophone elementary and eight secondary schools in the city, but there is a number of francophone schools as well. It means, that the population speaks two languages, and an international student should be ready for it. International students can rent an apartment in this city. The average rent price in Prince George is $1,000 for a one-bedroom per month, but the amount may vary according to the location and proximity of a flat to the city centre. 

If an international student doesn’t want to live alone in a rented apartment, they may opt for a student accommodation offered by the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC). Today, over five hundred students live in two residences. Fully furnished apartments within several minutes of walking to the main buildings are offered to the international and local students of the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC). Each suite features a private bedroom. A full kitchen, living room and a bathroom are shared among the four residents of the suite. At the same time, students can use the common rooms and study halls located on each floor. 

All students at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) need to buy a meal plan that allows them to have a meal in one of the dining halls located on campus. The cost of a seven-day meal plan is around $2,800 per term. This amount is added to the main housing fees. 

As for the housing fees, international students need to pay $2,500 for a private bedroom in a four-bedroom suite during the May and summer break periods. The fee is three hundred dollars higher during the academic year. Students should be ready to pay a $250 residence room deposit and $25 for an application in addition to the main payment. 

Future Prospects 

After finishing the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), international students can apply for a post-graduation work permit and work in Canada for up to three years. It’s important to do so as the study permit becomes invalid ninety days after graduation, so a student has to decide whether they want to leave the country, continue their studies, or start their working path. Afterwards, foreign citizens can get Express Entry. By doing so, they achieve the status of a permanent resident of Canada. Later on, international graduates of the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) can obtain Canadian citizenship. 

Anyway, after completing studies at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), international students can go anywhere in the world as the academic credentials obtained in Canadian post-secondary institutions are highly recognized in a huge number of countries.

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