student info handbook
TRANSCRIPT
862019 Student Info Handbook
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ldquo Into the wood s sp ring b lossom s and ma p le floa ting
through azure sky
Life strolls from Point g rey village to downto wn high rise
Roc ky Mounta ins to the serene p ac ific shorehellip
What e lse o ne c an ask for morehellip
Dea d lines p rofessors p rojec ts thesis and sub missions
Still the re is c hee r and g lee d esp ite a ll frustrations
Itrsquo s time to p ac k your ad venture g ea r
In the end the re is loads of ta lk to sha re
Mem ories wonrsquo t fad e a wa y for long
UBC wo uld just hymn suc h a lovely song
Love live a nd burst into laughter
And there will be no c omp laints therea fter
Welco me a ll of you to t he sp irit of UBCrdquo
- Cha ndra Prakash Sha rma (Chee nu)
Student infoH A N D B O O K
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Contents
The challenge of living and socializing in a new environment on a new campus is exhilarating but even themost adventurous students need some help time and again Here is a handbook that would providecomprehensive information about how to embark on a beautiful journey to UBCYoursquoll find sections that cover the major aspects of your life at UBC and provides valuable quick references contact lists and useful maps
Ab out Us Pag e 3
Ob ta ining the VISA Pag e 4
Thing s to Pac k Pag e 5
Thing s to do o n Arriva l Pag e 6
Va nc ou ve r City Pag e 7
Transpo rta tion Pag e 8
Basic Layo ut o f UBC Ca mpus Pag e 9
Foo d and Ac c om mod ation Page 10
Banking Pag e 11
Hea lth and Insuranc e Pag e 12
Mob ile Phone s Pag e 12
Fund ing a nd Sc ho larship s Pag e 13
On C ampus Job s Pag e 14
Enterta inm ent Pag e 15
Clubs and Extra-c urricu la r Pag e 16
Fa ith Pag e 17
Ca mpus Sec urity Pag e 18
Ca mpus Maps Pag e 19
Co ntac t Us Pag e 21
Ac kno wled gement Pag e 22
Ap pend ix Pag e 23
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About us
Indian Studentsrsquo Association (ISA-UTSAV) is a student-run organization which endeavours to celebrateSouth Asian culture The Association was founded in 1980 by a collection of students from the Universityof British Columbia (UBC) Vancouver They all shared the same passion to unite Indian students whowere far away from home ISA-UTSAV has since then grown to be one of the biggest student runorganizations in UBC encompassing BC students and alumni of all South Asian backgrounds
ISA-UTSAV works to build an understanding and acceptance for oneness while celebrating culturaldiversity of South Asia Our main objective is to encourage UBCs South Asian students to maintain theiridentity and be proud of what it entails while adopting and successfully integrating into a diverse world
ISA-UTSAV takes pride in its ability to provide the Universityrsquos student body with the opportunity to beexposed to the many facets and beauty of South Asian culture community and traditions The association
caters to the exceedingly diverse population of South Asian backgrounds which includes Indian PakistaniBangladeshi and Sri Lankan to name a few By unifying these groups and celebrating their distinctionsand cultural similarities ISA-UTSAV takes pride in representing UBCs South Asian community andstrives to promote oneness in multiculturalism
UTSAV means celebration and the spirit and passion to celebrate life and Indian culture is evident in ouractivities By organizing events such as Diwali Holi Cricket Movie-nights Antakshari etc ISA-UTSAVblends together everyone providing an exciting and fun-filled experience for its members ISA-UTSAValso encourages students of non-Indian descent to join the organization and learn about and experience thediversity and richness of Indian culture
UTSAV is a registered club of the Alma Mater Society of the University of British Columbia and
therefore is bound by the constitution that governs the AMS
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Obtaining the VISA
Here is comprehensive information about obtaining a student authorization in Canada
To obtain a Student Visa for your studies in Canada first and foremost visit the website httpwwwvfs-canadacoin This website provides comprehensive information about obtaining a student authorization in Canada
Make sure you visit their office once before you start the Visa Application Process as they will help you out byanswering clarifying and resolving all your Visa related queries They will also help you out by getting all the
preliminary forms and documents needed to start the process though every form they provide are already availableonline in the website mentioned above
After this visit you will surely develop a fair amount of idea regarding how this journey of obtaining a CanadianStudent Visa would basically be like Once this is done the next big task would be to undergo the MedicalExamination
Before 31 March 2010 the Medical Examination used to be carried out after you have submitted your Study permitapplication Hence the process was a bit complex previously when based on your acceptance of the Study permitapplication the passport was sent at your residence address after which you were suppose to undergo the MedicalExamination at your near-by Designated Medical Practitioners (DMP) This list can be found out athttpwwwcicgccadmp-mdmedicalaspx Once you were through this you were asked to resubmit your passportat your near-by VFS Office which was then sent back to the Governing Office in Delhi They then use to take
another month for the final approval of your application
But importantly from 31 March 2010 they have simplified the above process by taking an initiative to completeyour lsquoPre-Application Medical Examinationrsquo before you submit your application for Study Permit So thissimplified process has left students now to first meet those three sets in the second page of Checklist 2010 and thendedicate them to meet the fourth set (in Checklist) which is your Medical Examination Form IMM 1017 The lsquoPre-Application Medical Examinationrsquo though would give a thrill in your body when you would hear it for the first timebut believe us there is nothing to get tensed about it is very much like your regular body check-up which includesyour blood test urine test respiratory checks etc
They have got an important checklist which will help you out in arranging and developing a folder consisting of academic financial and government administration related documents The checklist is in the form of four setsdefining clearly their requirements
The various forms required are
Student Form Personal Information Form Student Questionnaire Form Study Permit Checklist Detailed Information on studying in Canada
For more information log on to httpwwwvfs-canadacoinindexhtml
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Things to Pack
bull There is no particular dress code in the campus People wear casual attires Bring as many set of dressesyou want Though expensive but good quality winter jacketsHoodies are available here You can bringthem from India as well Good to have woolen accessories like gloves muffler and woolen caps
bull Utensils since you have to cook your own food Preferably Flat-bottomed cooking vessels because hereelectric stoves are used Do not bring all of them but a basic starter set should do Once you are familiarwith the city and the stores around it you can buy them when you need The set should include a plate
spoons basic cooking utensils pressure cooker (if you need) glasses and any other basic cutlery Pleasenote that utensils are available here but they might be cheaper in India
bull All the traditional masala powders are available here but you may want to bring some with you for the firstfew days Recipes of your favorite dishes if you wish to test your culinary skills
bull You can bring your own medicines but donrsquot forget to get the prescription from doctor
bull Good to have some basic stationary from India as you might find things expensive here Avoid bringingfiles and punch as the filing system is different here with a three-hole punch A good carrying bag isadvisable
bull Best quality Umbrellas and raincoats are a must as you might need them most of the time They call itldquoRAINCOUVERrdquo here Rain Boots if you really need them
bull BOOKS Highly expensive here Get in touch with your supervisor and bring the recommendedTextbooks related to your field of study for sure Although we have the most advanced and sophisticatedlibrary system here
bull DOCUMENTS Bring them safely and securely along with their photocopies as you will need them morefrequently during initial days Some passport size photographs as well
bull Glasses and Contact Lens are a must Optics very expensive here Pictures of Deities basic every dayutilities (bed sheets Towels Toiletries etc)
A comprehensive list of things to pack can be referred in the appendix
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Things to do on arrival
bull Obtain a Campus-Wide Login username and password and get access to student service centre (SSC)httpssscadmubccasscportalservletsSRVSSCFramework Campus-Wide Login (CWL) is a single
username and password that allows you to access many online services at UBC including the StudentService Centre Update your information (e-mail address and current mailing address etc) on the portal
bull Meet your supervisor register for courses and pay your fees You can always add or drop a course within acertain deadline after which a course can only be dropped with a W standing till certain date After this datecourse cannot be dropped at all
bull Get in touch with Department Graduate secretary and fill out various forms in order to get access to UBCresources and fulfill other mandatory requirements
bull Attend the orientations scheduled and take a tour of University of British Columbia
bull Pick up your UBC card and U-Pass For more info refer
httpswwwubccardubcca
httpwwwupassubccaupassupassindexhtml
bull Apply for social insurance number (SIN) Get the relevant info and forms to be filled from yourdepartmentrsquos Graduate Secretary
httpwwwhrubccafaculty_relationsimmigrationsinhtml
bull Arrange for Health insurance plan and Apply for medical services plan (MSP) of BC
bull Open a bank account
bull Get connected over the mobile phones and internet UBC wireless internet is one of the largest campus
wireless networks in the world You just need to login with Campus-Wide Login (CWL)
bull Check your department welcome package for details (International student Handbook) To download thehandbook -
httpwwwstudentsubccainternationalinternational-studentsinternational-student-
handbookpage=employment
bull Come and join the magic of Indian Student Association- UTSAV and explore the culture and diversity of UBC
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Vancouver City
Vancouver is on the west coast of Canada and it is the third largest city in Canada It is 60 miles north of Seattle
which is the closest American city Vancouver has a fairly large International airport and it connects to almost all the
major cities in North America as well as to the rest of the world With the 2010 Winter Olympics being held in
Vancouver transportation has been upgraded to meet world class standards
Vancouver is a cosmopolitan city and here the size of the Indian community is around 60000 The city is in thePacific Time zone and that puts it 13 12 hours behind India during winter and 12 12 hours behind India during
summer Daylight savings occur during the second Sunday in March (1 hour forward) and the first Sunday in
November (1 hour back) Daylight savings allows us to make maximum use of the sunlight hours
In general Vancouver has a milder weather than the rest of the Canadian cities During winter the temperature rarely
dips below zero degrees Celsius and in summer the average temperature is around 23 degrees Vancouver is famous
for its rain so pack an umbrella (or five) raincoat and waterproof boots if you have them The rainy season lasts
from mid-November until mid-February
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Transportation
Vancouver has a very good public transportation system UBC students are provided with a subsidized Student
Transit Pass (U-Pass) which allows for unlimited usage of the system UBC automatically deducts the fees for thispass as part of your student fees ($2675 per month) You just have to collect your pass when you first arrive on
campus There are three modes of public transportation - buses sea buses and sky trains The U-Pass can be used for
all of these If you do not have a U-Pass an individual one zone bus ticket costs $250 Taxis can also be used as
means of transport but they are expensive Generally it costs about $30 to reach UBC campus from the airport and it
takes around 25 minutes Airport buses are available from the lower level of the airport One should board bus
number 4 and number 17 from downtown to reach UBC You can plan your trip and get more information about
transit schedules and fares at wwwtranslinkca Shuttle service is also provided by the International House Please
check the International House Web page for details
Another option to get to UBC from airport
Canada Line skytrain from the airport getting off at Cambie and Broadway station and take 99B line or at
Olympic Village station which in downtown and take Bus number 84
If you take either the 99B line or the 84 (electric bus) from the any of the two stops respectively the last stop of
both is UBC campus
You can find the full details with exact timings here translink
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Basic Layout of UBC Campus
The campus is divided into two approximate halves in the East-West directions by Main Mall and in the North-South directions by University Boulevard These two streets serve as the basic reference frame to the UBC
Vancouver Campus
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Food amp Accommodation
Vancouver has an assortment of cuisine such as Indian Chinese Thailand Mexican Japanese etc Indian spices andcondiments are freely available in the local market situated 15-20 minutes from the campus and these areas areeasily accessible by bus
It is a good idea to apply for residence beforehand There is a good sized waiting list for on-campus housing (theones that you see on the on-campus residences map) An example would be booking for a Thunderbird apartment inApril and getting it in November All the on-campus housing information is available at wwwhousingubcca
On-campus (within UBC) housing is relatively expensive compared to the housing options in the cityof Vancouver due to its added advantages If you find the below on-campus housing options expensive I haveprovided a link to the website that can assist you with housing options in city of Vancouver If you wish then youcan share the housingapartments among yourself in order to save the cost
Below are the housing options available on campus (within UBC) for Graduate Students
1) UBC Thunderbird Housing (Available through UBC Housing)
Website httpwwwhousingubccathunderbirdthundebird-overview Rental fee httpwwwhousingubccaresidence-feesthunderbird-residence
2) Marine Drive Housing (Available through UBC Housing)Websitehttpwwwhousingubccamarine-drivemarine-drive-overview Rental feehttpwwwhousingubccaresidence-feesmarine-drive
3) St Andrews Hallhttpwwwstandrewsedu
4) Green Collegehttpwwwgreencollegeubccaapply_for_residenceaccommodation_optionsindexphp
5) St Johns College
httpwwwstjohnsubccaMemberResstm
6) Greenwood Commonshttpwwwgreenwoodcommonsca
7) Vancouver School of Theologyhttpwwwvstedumainroomsstudent-housing
8) Carey Centre
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httpwwwcareycentrecomfacilityindexphpoption=com_contentampview=articleampid=2ampItemid=8
To find on-campus housing through external websites1) httpvancouverencraigslistca 2) Under housing choose aptshousing for rent3) On the right side of rent option there is an option for choosing no of bedrooms and you have your results
there
There is another website that can help you to find the on-campus housing Itrsquos called wwwamsrentslinecom Hereare the steps
1) wwwamsrentslinecom 2) In the quick search choose the number of bedroom under lsquoAccomodation Typersquo3) Leave the options of lsquoDistance to Universityrsquo and lsquoMaximum Rentrsquo just like that4) In the neighbourhood option choose UBC campus under ldquoVancouverrdquo and then search for your results
Please note that the above two websites are the most important websites for searching off-campus housing also(outside UBC)
Banking
Many banks are located in University Village area like CIBC and Bank of Montreal
Other than that the following banks are located on West 10th Avenue near Sasamat Street CIBC HSBC Scotia
bank RBC TD Canada Trust Vancity and Bank of Montreal
To open a bank account you will probably need to provide your UBCcard passport and local address Whenever
you make visit to a bank ask for any student accounts that offer low service fees
In Canada banks are generally open from Monday to Friday 1000 am to 400 pm Some bank branches are open onSaturday but closed on Monday
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Health and Insurance
Apply for BCrsquos Medical Services Plan (MSP)
Health care in Canada can be very expensive So itrsquos important to get covered by some insurance policy as soon as
you arrive in British Columbia
Usually international students are covered by iMED (private medical insurance) for a waiting period of three
months This waiting period includes the remainder of the month you arrive in BC plus two more months For
example if you arrived in BC on August 20 you would be eligible for MSP on November 1
wwwdavid-cummingscomimed
After three months of waiting period you can become eligible for MSP which is BCrsquos provincial Health insurance
plan for the rest of your stay in BC Donrsquot forget to apply for MSP as soon as you arrive in Vancouver
httpwwwhealthgovbccamspinfobenindexhtml
Alma Mater SocietyGraduate Student Society (AMSGSS) Health and Dental Plan can also be taken for extras not
covered by MSP or iMED
For more information referhttpwwwstudentsubccainternationalinternational-studentshealth-care-and-health-insurance
Mobile phones
Fido Bell WIND Mobile Rogers Koodo and TELUS are the major mobile service providers in Vancouver
You can opt for any one depending upon the utility and service plans Usually they have their stalls put
up in Student union Building (SUB) in the beginning of session wherein you can check and compare
different plans available Most of the plans have an agreement period of 2-3 years (unless you opt for
pay-as- you-go scheme) So take some time to select which plan would be most suitable and economical
for you
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FundingScholarships
UBC offers ample of scholarships for both Graduate and Undergraduate students You need to remain updated withsuch information so that you can fulfill their criteria and apply on time
Graduate Student
bull Most of the graduate students are offer International Partial tution fee which covers almost 50 of thetution fee If you are getting this scholarship then it will be mentioned on the offer letter from university
bull Research assistantship and TAship are also a major source of fundingRAship is funded by your professoror some time from the university (amount is average $17000 but it may vary depending on the departmentand professor as well)
bull You can apply for Teaching assistantship (TAship) Other than RA Itrsquos a good idea to look for it when youare applying to university If you donrsquot get it then no worries You can apply for the next term(Gradsecratery and your Professor are a great help in this matter)
bull Apart from this there are some scholarships which can be get on the basis of meritRules and amount of scholarship may vary year to year So itrsquos a good idea to keep an eye on your yearrsquos listing Following isthe link for Graduate students they can refer to it for this year
httpsyouubccaubcvancouverintlscholarshipsezc httpwwwgradubccaawardsindexasp httpwwwgradubccaprospective-studentsscholarships-awards-funding
Undergraduate students
Undergraduate students can refer to following link It covers all the details from tuition fee to available scholarshipsNormally all the undergraduate students are automatically considered for scholarships
httpsyouubccaubcvancouverfinancesezcpageID=1028
You can also find scholarship from outside sources through websites such as wwwscholarshipscanadacom andwwwstudentawardscom
Apart from this you can work while studying as well (refer next section) You can know more about it once youreach hereGood luck
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On off campus jobs
UBC career services provide excellent opportunities to work in order to support your education to gain valuable
Canadian workplace experience as well as lot of voluntary work
httpwwwstudentsubccacareersindexcfm
The following link would be of great help for searching on-campus as well as off campus work opportunities (there
is a waiting period of at least six months to get your off-campus work permit from the day you arrive)
httpwwwstudentsubccainternationalinternational-studentsworking
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Entertainment
There are many cinema complexes around the city (Silvercity Tinseltown Paramount etc) and a few of them thatexclusively screen latest Hindi movies (Raja Cinemas) Many Indian films and music are available at video rentalsand music stores IMAX and OMNIMAX theaters are also located in Vancouver Local Indian Radio stationsinclude 1600AM (Radio India) 1200AM (Rim Jhim) 1550AM (Radio Punjab) and 931FM (REDFM) Indian TVshows and movies are screened on Channel 8 (Omni BC) and Channel 119 (Shaw Multicultural Channel) on various
daystimes throughout the week Weekly South Asian newspapers include lsquoThe Linkrsquo lsquoThe Voicersquo lsquoThe Asian Starrsquoand lsquoThe South Asian PostrsquoVancouverites are an active bunch and there are many outdoor activities one can take part in during your spare timeIn the summer biking hiking and camping are quite common and in the winter you can go skating or skiingThere are also various UBC intramural sports leagues students can take part in including soccer volleyballbadminton tennis and basketball Vancouver also has 2 different cricket leagues which run during the summerFor those who are spiritually inclined there are at least 8 large Temples 2 large Mosques and countless Gurdwarasand Churches spread all throughout the Lower Mainland
The best must-visit destinations worth visit in coastal British Columbia are Tofino Sunshine Coast Victoria andGulf Islands Other places of interest around Vancouver region may be a trip to Whistler Harrison Lake GreaterVancouver Zoo Stanley Park Bowen Island Granville Island China Town Night Market in Richmond GrouseMountain Gas town Robson Street and VanDusen Garden
The UBC campus offers easy access to many of Vancouverrsquos beaches that you may like to visit Most popular onesbeing Kitsilano Beach Spanish Banks Wreck Beach Tower Beach English Bay and Jericho Beach
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Clubs and Extra-curricular
The mild climate and spectacular natural environment makes Vancouver a haven for people who love the outdoors
Snowboarding and skiing kayaking hiking trail running rock climbing ndash whatever your passion you can get
outside and enjoy it most of the year
The Varsity Outdoor Club (VOC) is open to anyone at UBC - students faculty staff spouses and members of the
greater community The club is dedicated to those who want to explore the outdoors here and anywhere else in the
world Great platform for members to actively pursue hiking rock-climbing mountaineering kayaking ski touring
ice climbing and socializingrdquo (Info courtesy VOC wiki)
httpwwwubc-voccom
UBC Dance Club
httpwwwubcdanceclubcom
Varsity Outdoor Club
httpwwwubc-voccom
UBC Aquatic Centre
httpwwwaquaticsubcca
UBC REC
httpwwwrecubcca
Attractions UBC
httpwwwattractionsubcca
UBC Tennis
httpwwwtennisubcca
Please make yourselves aware of all the safety precautions and waivers before attempting any adventure sports
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Faith
Hindu Temples Mandir Street Address Contact info
Mahalakshmi Hindu Temple 467 11th Avenue EastVancouver BC V5T2C8 Phone 604-874-0175
Vishva Hindu Parishad
Temple 3885 Albert Street
Burnaby BC V5C 2C8 Phone 604-299-5922
Shiv Mandir 1795 Napier Street
Vancouver BC V5L 2N1
Phone 604- 874-0175
ISKCON Vancouver5462 Marine Drive
Burnaby BC V5J 3G8Phone 604-433-9728
Mosques Street Address Contact info
Jamia Masjid Vancouver655 West 8th Ave
Vancouver BC V5Z 1C7Phone 604-309-6036
Richmond Jamia Mosque
(Biggest mosque in BC)
12300 Blundell Rd
Richmond BC V6W 1B3Phone 604-270-2522
Islamic Information Centre3127 Kingsway St
Vancouver BC V5R 5J9Phone 604-434-7526
Masjid Alhaq4162 Welwyn StVancouver BC
Phone 604-873-1787
Dar Al-Madinah IslamicSociety
7155 Victoria DriveVancouver BC
PhoneFax 604-873-8580
Surrey Mosque12407 72nd Ave
Surrey BC V3W 2M5Phone 604-591-7601
Al-Noor Mosque13526 98A Ave
Surrey BCPhoneFax 604-930-9742
Masjidur-Rahmah13585 62nd Ave
Surrey BC V3A 2J3 Phone 604-597-7863
Al- Salaam Mosque 5060 Canada Way Phone 604-524-4499
Sikh Temples Gurudwaras Street Address Contact info
Akali Singh Sikh Temple1890 Skeena Street
Vancouver BC - V5M 4L3Phone (604) 254-2117
Canadian Ramgharia Society 6908 Macpherson Ave (604) 438-0846
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Burnaby BC - V5J 4N3
Babbar Khalsa Dal4767 Union Street
Burnaby British ColumbiaTel (604) 376 1749
Cloverdale Sikh Society5748 175 Street
Surrey BC - V3S 4T7 (604) 574-7594
Gurdwara Sahib DasmeshDarbar
115-12885 85 AvenueSurrey BC - V3W 0K8
(604) 594-2573
Khalsa Darbar61st and Prince Edward Street
Vancouver BCPhone 604-325-2290
Gurdwara Khalsa Darbar390 61st Avenue East
Vancouver BC - V5X 2B6Phone (604) 325-2290
Campus Security
Vancouver is one of the most livable cities in the world Although its crime rate is low still security is a concern
particularly against thefts UBC campus security is provided by the UBC patrol and RCMP (Royal Canadian
Mounted Police)
Campus security is located next to the UBC Bookstore Campus Security provides 24-hour assistance seven days a
week Call 604-822-2222 if you have a safety concern or an emergency situation For more information visit
wwwsecurityubcca
If you are walking alone late night or not too sure where to go and you can also take help of safety walk Safewalk
provides male and female student teams that will accompany anyone between points on campus free of charge Theservice runs throughout the school year and during the summer months You can book a walk by calling 604-822-
5355 dropping by the office in the SUB concourse or looking for the Safewalk patrollers in bright red jackets Visit
wwwamsubccasafewalk for hours and other information
Call 911 in case of emergency or have been the victim of crime Always give the location to the operator particularly
the building address Calls to 911 are received at a call centre in Downtown Vancouver and the operators may not
be familiar with the building names on campus
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Blue Phones
Blue phones are located at various locations around the campus core Elevator phones in most building also provide
direct access to Campus Security
Campus Maps
You can download the UBC campus map from here
httpwwwstudentsubccacurrentdownloadcampusmap07pdf
You can search for locations on the UBC campus map at this site
httpwwwmapsubccaPRODindexphp
httpwwwstudentsubccacurrentcampuscfm
The on-campus residences map
httpwwwhousingubccarez_maprez_maphtm
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Contact us
Email utsav_ubcyahoocom
Facebook httpwwwfacebookcomgroupphpgid=3220440131
Webpage httpwwwindiaubccom
YahoogroupUBC_bharatyahoogroupcom
To subscribe to our mailing list send a blank email to
ubc_bharat-subscribeyahoogroupscom
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Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the inputs from the International Student Handbook 200910
published by International Student Development at UBC MITACS Globalink program Handbook and UTSAV website which were immensely helpful in compiling this information
handbook
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Appendix
Things to pack
We Indian Student Association ndash UTSAV helps undergraduate and graduate students prospective and currentstudents throughtout their stay at UBC Please check the reminders section to make sure you do not forget important
documents while travelling
You should bring with you all your original transcripts degree certificate provisional certificate migration
certificate TOEFLGRE scores certificates birth certificate work experience certificate papers and publications
for which you have mentioned in your portfolio Sometimes the school may ask you to show them to validate or may
ask you to submit you originals Hence it would be safe if you keep them with you when you arrive here
In flight
1 Specify while you book your ticket regarding your food preferences especially when you are a strict vegetarian
Few flights do provide the service of providing Jain and Hindu meals in flight
2 Keep your hand baggage as light as possible because during transit you may have to walk long distances Try to
carry hand bags with trolley that would help you in easy transfer
Important Note
1 Make sure you carry your Indian Driving license this help you here while you apply for International Driving
LicensePermit
2 Try to carry 3-4 pairs of glasses (spares) with you and have an advance eye sight check up in India because here
these things are usually very expensive You anyway would have an eye check up during your Pre-Medical
Examination
3 A dental check up at least fifteen days in advance would be quite appropriate
4 Carry money as travelers cheques they are the safest and most convenient method of carrying money
What to Get and What Not
1 It will be great if you can get yourself the books you need here though we have very good library here which
would provide you with sufficient copies of each book of your requirement But see to it that carrying them you
arenrsquot exceeding your baggage weight limitations
2 If you are looking forward to cook Indian food at your place then bring along a Pressure Cooker and any flat
bottomed vessels
3 You can carry pulses rice Indian spices pickles etc with you but it is better if you donrsquot carry them with you as
we have many Indian grocery shops at Vancouver mainly at Fraser and Main Street Also there are some good
shops within campus where you can get all the above mentioned things
4 Get yourself sufficient stock of undergarments and socks as you might be washing clothes once every 10 days or
more
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5 You should bring with yourself 1-2 umbrellas a raincoat or a wind-sheeter as it rains a lot here from October till
March
6 You would need warm clothes (a good winter jacket) as it is cold here except for 2-4 months in summer Good
sweaters preferably two woollen gloves mufflers and woollen caps thermal vest and long johns
7 Get all the stationary items like staplers punchers etc also a good alarm clock
8 Buy a good pair of walking shoe sports shoe formal shoe (all water-proof) as it rains a lot here and you might
have to walk a lot here
9 Donrsquot get along any electronic items here as the voltage is much lower than in India
10 And if you are still carrying then get yourself a Step-upStep-down voltage convertor This will prove a lot more
helpful here Make sure you are buying it for the correct Watt as for hair dryers you might have to go for 1800W
These convertors are available here as well but a bit more expensive
11 A good school bag a Visa folder (to hold cards) a walletpurses
12 Get some medicines which you think would be useful or any common health problems that you have You could
get some basic medicines for headache stomach ache indigestion fever etc
Baggage specifications
You should check this out with your concerned airlines preferably there website They would give you perfect
information on the weight and dimensional limitations It would be good if you can lock your baggage with TSA
locks
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What should I bring from INDIA All the items mention ed below can be fo und easily in the city of Vancouver However the reason we have written them
is to remind you wh at to carry or buy here in case you forget This list is a checklist of items yo u migh t need here We
recommend you to buy mo st of the items fro m India because these items are very expensive in the city of Vancouver
Item Comments
A Clothes
1 Full Sleeve Shirts
2 Half Sleeve Shirts
3 Formal Trousers
4 Blazer (Informal) Suit (Formal) Suit Recommended
5 Tie
6 T-shirts
7 Jeans
8 Shorts Cargos Bermudas9 Belts
10 Traditional Highly Recommended for Indian events
11 Sweaters Recommended
12 Pyjamas Night Suit
13 Under Garments
14 Towels
15 Handkerchiefs used less here
16 Blanket (Light Weight) depends on your baggage (can buy here)
17 Single Bed Sheet
18 Bed Cover
19 Pillow Cover
20 Woolen Gloves Leather amp wool (Highly Recommended)21 Jacket Optional (can buy here)
22 Thermal Innerwear Long johns Required in winter
23 CapsToques Optional
24 Swimwear Expensive here
B Footwear
1 Chappals Sandals Traditional Footwear
2 Slippers Flotters
3 Formal Black Leather Shoes
4 Casual Sport Shoes
5 Shoe Polish for Formal Shoes
6 Shoe Polishing Brush
7 Socks (black for formal shoes)
8 Socks (White) Cheaply Available here
C Miscellaneous Items
1 Glasses Contact Lenses Must (Optics very expensive here)
2 Contact Lenses Solution Check for yourself
3 Stitching Kit
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G Stationary
1 School Bag A Little Expensive here
2 Ball Point Pen For initial use
3 Refils
4 BondedClutch Pencils
5 Sharpener
6 Eraser Pencil
7 Clutch Pencil (05 mm)
8 Lead Box (05 mm)
9 Steel Scale 6 Optional
10 Stapler Donrsquot forget these
11 Stapler Pins Box
12 Punch Please donrsquot bring 3 holes punch required here
13 Scientific Calculator Replace the batteries without fail
14 Cello Tapes Optional
15 Glue Stick Glue Optional
16 Sketch Pen Optional
17 Note books Papers Files Folders Do not bring
H Books (apart from course-work)
1 Oxford Concise Dictionary
2 Books about India Optional
3 Religious Books Optional
I Medicines (optional)
1 Vicks (Vaporub amp Inhaler)
2 Balm (Amrutanjan etc)
3 Iodex
4 Dettol
5 Band-Aid (wash proof)6 Burnol
7 Painkiller tabs like Combiflam Brufen
8 Drugs amp Antibiotics (fever amp cold etc)
9 Vaseline Especially for people coming in winter
J Documents
1 Recent Photographs Negatives
2 General Photographs
3 Passport Photocopies
4 Admission
5 VISA photocopies
6 Credentials Transcripts
7 Recommendation SOP
8 GRE TOEFL Score Sheet
9 Medical Fitness Certificate
10 Medical Prescription of all medicines
11 College Leaving Certificate
12 Traveller cheques
13 Enough Money-Cash with some change
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Compiled by C P Sha r m a ( Cheenu ) 201 0 - 11 W eb admin and New s let t e r Ed i to r
Valuable contributions from
UTSAV execu t i ve team 2010 - 11
Sr in iv as Ram an Harshu l Sr iv as tava Rashm i Bhadaur ia
An i r uddha Cha t t e r j ee Sw iya Na th Tab i ta Ve r m a amp Sneha She th s tuden t s ove r the
yea r s and o the r ex t e r na l agenc ies
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Contents
The challenge of living and socializing in a new environment on a new campus is exhilarating but even themost adventurous students need some help time and again Here is a handbook that would providecomprehensive information about how to embark on a beautiful journey to UBCYoursquoll find sections that cover the major aspects of your life at UBC and provides valuable quick references contact lists and useful maps
Ab out Us Pag e 3
Ob ta ining the VISA Pag e 4
Thing s to Pac k Pag e 5
Thing s to do o n Arriva l Pag e 6
Va nc ou ve r City Pag e 7
Transpo rta tion Pag e 8
Basic Layo ut o f UBC Ca mpus Pag e 9
Foo d and Ac c om mod ation Page 10
Banking Pag e 11
Hea lth and Insuranc e Pag e 12
Mob ile Phone s Pag e 12
Fund ing a nd Sc ho larship s Pag e 13
On C ampus Job s Pag e 14
Enterta inm ent Pag e 15
Clubs and Extra-c urricu la r Pag e 16
Fa ith Pag e 17
Ca mpus Sec urity Pag e 18
Ca mpus Maps Pag e 19
Co ntac t Us Pag e 21
Ac kno wled gement Pag e 22
Ap pend ix Pag e 23
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About us
Indian Studentsrsquo Association (ISA-UTSAV) is a student-run organization which endeavours to celebrateSouth Asian culture The Association was founded in 1980 by a collection of students from the Universityof British Columbia (UBC) Vancouver They all shared the same passion to unite Indian students whowere far away from home ISA-UTSAV has since then grown to be one of the biggest student runorganizations in UBC encompassing BC students and alumni of all South Asian backgrounds
ISA-UTSAV works to build an understanding and acceptance for oneness while celebrating culturaldiversity of South Asia Our main objective is to encourage UBCs South Asian students to maintain theiridentity and be proud of what it entails while adopting and successfully integrating into a diverse world
ISA-UTSAV takes pride in its ability to provide the Universityrsquos student body with the opportunity to beexposed to the many facets and beauty of South Asian culture community and traditions The association
caters to the exceedingly diverse population of South Asian backgrounds which includes Indian PakistaniBangladeshi and Sri Lankan to name a few By unifying these groups and celebrating their distinctionsand cultural similarities ISA-UTSAV takes pride in representing UBCs South Asian community andstrives to promote oneness in multiculturalism
UTSAV means celebration and the spirit and passion to celebrate life and Indian culture is evident in ouractivities By organizing events such as Diwali Holi Cricket Movie-nights Antakshari etc ISA-UTSAVblends together everyone providing an exciting and fun-filled experience for its members ISA-UTSAValso encourages students of non-Indian descent to join the organization and learn about and experience thediversity and richness of Indian culture
UTSAV is a registered club of the Alma Mater Society of the University of British Columbia and
therefore is bound by the constitution that governs the AMS
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Obtaining the VISA
Here is comprehensive information about obtaining a student authorization in Canada
To obtain a Student Visa for your studies in Canada first and foremost visit the website httpwwwvfs-canadacoin This website provides comprehensive information about obtaining a student authorization in Canada
Make sure you visit their office once before you start the Visa Application Process as they will help you out byanswering clarifying and resolving all your Visa related queries They will also help you out by getting all the
preliminary forms and documents needed to start the process though every form they provide are already availableonline in the website mentioned above
After this visit you will surely develop a fair amount of idea regarding how this journey of obtaining a CanadianStudent Visa would basically be like Once this is done the next big task would be to undergo the MedicalExamination
Before 31 March 2010 the Medical Examination used to be carried out after you have submitted your Study permitapplication Hence the process was a bit complex previously when based on your acceptance of the Study permitapplication the passport was sent at your residence address after which you were suppose to undergo the MedicalExamination at your near-by Designated Medical Practitioners (DMP) This list can be found out athttpwwwcicgccadmp-mdmedicalaspx Once you were through this you were asked to resubmit your passportat your near-by VFS Office which was then sent back to the Governing Office in Delhi They then use to take
another month for the final approval of your application
But importantly from 31 March 2010 they have simplified the above process by taking an initiative to completeyour lsquoPre-Application Medical Examinationrsquo before you submit your application for Study Permit So thissimplified process has left students now to first meet those three sets in the second page of Checklist 2010 and thendedicate them to meet the fourth set (in Checklist) which is your Medical Examination Form IMM 1017 The lsquoPre-Application Medical Examinationrsquo though would give a thrill in your body when you would hear it for the first timebut believe us there is nothing to get tensed about it is very much like your regular body check-up which includesyour blood test urine test respiratory checks etc
They have got an important checklist which will help you out in arranging and developing a folder consisting of academic financial and government administration related documents The checklist is in the form of four setsdefining clearly their requirements
The various forms required are
Student Form Personal Information Form Student Questionnaire Form Study Permit Checklist Detailed Information on studying in Canada
For more information log on to httpwwwvfs-canadacoinindexhtml
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Things to Pack
bull There is no particular dress code in the campus People wear casual attires Bring as many set of dressesyou want Though expensive but good quality winter jacketsHoodies are available here You can bringthem from India as well Good to have woolen accessories like gloves muffler and woolen caps
bull Utensils since you have to cook your own food Preferably Flat-bottomed cooking vessels because hereelectric stoves are used Do not bring all of them but a basic starter set should do Once you are familiarwith the city and the stores around it you can buy them when you need The set should include a plate
spoons basic cooking utensils pressure cooker (if you need) glasses and any other basic cutlery Pleasenote that utensils are available here but they might be cheaper in India
bull All the traditional masala powders are available here but you may want to bring some with you for the firstfew days Recipes of your favorite dishes if you wish to test your culinary skills
bull You can bring your own medicines but donrsquot forget to get the prescription from doctor
bull Good to have some basic stationary from India as you might find things expensive here Avoid bringingfiles and punch as the filing system is different here with a three-hole punch A good carrying bag isadvisable
bull Best quality Umbrellas and raincoats are a must as you might need them most of the time They call itldquoRAINCOUVERrdquo here Rain Boots if you really need them
bull BOOKS Highly expensive here Get in touch with your supervisor and bring the recommendedTextbooks related to your field of study for sure Although we have the most advanced and sophisticatedlibrary system here
bull DOCUMENTS Bring them safely and securely along with their photocopies as you will need them morefrequently during initial days Some passport size photographs as well
bull Glasses and Contact Lens are a must Optics very expensive here Pictures of Deities basic every dayutilities (bed sheets Towels Toiletries etc)
A comprehensive list of things to pack can be referred in the appendix
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Things to do on arrival
bull Obtain a Campus-Wide Login username and password and get access to student service centre (SSC)httpssscadmubccasscportalservletsSRVSSCFramework Campus-Wide Login (CWL) is a single
username and password that allows you to access many online services at UBC including the StudentService Centre Update your information (e-mail address and current mailing address etc) on the portal
bull Meet your supervisor register for courses and pay your fees You can always add or drop a course within acertain deadline after which a course can only be dropped with a W standing till certain date After this datecourse cannot be dropped at all
bull Get in touch with Department Graduate secretary and fill out various forms in order to get access to UBCresources and fulfill other mandatory requirements
bull Attend the orientations scheduled and take a tour of University of British Columbia
bull Pick up your UBC card and U-Pass For more info refer
httpswwwubccardubcca
httpwwwupassubccaupassupassindexhtml
bull Apply for social insurance number (SIN) Get the relevant info and forms to be filled from yourdepartmentrsquos Graduate Secretary
httpwwwhrubccafaculty_relationsimmigrationsinhtml
bull Arrange for Health insurance plan and Apply for medical services plan (MSP) of BC
bull Open a bank account
bull Get connected over the mobile phones and internet UBC wireless internet is one of the largest campus
wireless networks in the world You just need to login with Campus-Wide Login (CWL)
bull Check your department welcome package for details (International student Handbook) To download thehandbook -
httpwwwstudentsubccainternationalinternational-studentsinternational-student-
handbookpage=employment
bull Come and join the magic of Indian Student Association- UTSAV and explore the culture and diversity of UBC
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Vancouver City
Vancouver is on the west coast of Canada and it is the third largest city in Canada It is 60 miles north of Seattle
which is the closest American city Vancouver has a fairly large International airport and it connects to almost all the
major cities in North America as well as to the rest of the world With the 2010 Winter Olympics being held in
Vancouver transportation has been upgraded to meet world class standards
Vancouver is a cosmopolitan city and here the size of the Indian community is around 60000 The city is in thePacific Time zone and that puts it 13 12 hours behind India during winter and 12 12 hours behind India during
summer Daylight savings occur during the second Sunday in March (1 hour forward) and the first Sunday in
November (1 hour back) Daylight savings allows us to make maximum use of the sunlight hours
In general Vancouver has a milder weather than the rest of the Canadian cities During winter the temperature rarely
dips below zero degrees Celsius and in summer the average temperature is around 23 degrees Vancouver is famous
for its rain so pack an umbrella (or five) raincoat and waterproof boots if you have them The rainy season lasts
from mid-November until mid-February
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Transportation
Vancouver has a very good public transportation system UBC students are provided with a subsidized Student
Transit Pass (U-Pass) which allows for unlimited usage of the system UBC automatically deducts the fees for thispass as part of your student fees ($2675 per month) You just have to collect your pass when you first arrive on
campus There are three modes of public transportation - buses sea buses and sky trains The U-Pass can be used for
all of these If you do not have a U-Pass an individual one zone bus ticket costs $250 Taxis can also be used as
means of transport but they are expensive Generally it costs about $30 to reach UBC campus from the airport and it
takes around 25 minutes Airport buses are available from the lower level of the airport One should board bus
number 4 and number 17 from downtown to reach UBC You can plan your trip and get more information about
transit schedules and fares at wwwtranslinkca Shuttle service is also provided by the International House Please
check the International House Web page for details
Another option to get to UBC from airport
Canada Line skytrain from the airport getting off at Cambie and Broadway station and take 99B line or at
Olympic Village station which in downtown and take Bus number 84
If you take either the 99B line or the 84 (electric bus) from the any of the two stops respectively the last stop of
both is UBC campus
You can find the full details with exact timings here translink
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Basic Layout of UBC Campus
The campus is divided into two approximate halves in the East-West directions by Main Mall and in the North-South directions by University Boulevard These two streets serve as the basic reference frame to the UBC
Vancouver Campus
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Food amp Accommodation
Vancouver has an assortment of cuisine such as Indian Chinese Thailand Mexican Japanese etc Indian spices andcondiments are freely available in the local market situated 15-20 minutes from the campus and these areas areeasily accessible by bus
It is a good idea to apply for residence beforehand There is a good sized waiting list for on-campus housing (theones that you see on the on-campus residences map) An example would be booking for a Thunderbird apartment inApril and getting it in November All the on-campus housing information is available at wwwhousingubcca
On-campus (within UBC) housing is relatively expensive compared to the housing options in the cityof Vancouver due to its added advantages If you find the below on-campus housing options expensive I haveprovided a link to the website that can assist you with housing options in city of Vancouver If you wish then youcan share the housingapartments among yourself in order to save the cost
Below are the housing options available on campus (within UBC) for Graduate Students
1) UBC Thunderbird Housing (Available through UBC Housing)
Website httpwwwhousingubccathunderbirdthundebird-overview Rental fee httpwwwhousingubccaresidence-feesthunderbird-residence
2) Marine Drive Housing (Available through UBC Housing)Websitehttpwwwhousingubccamarine-drivemarine-drive-overview Rental feehttpwwwhousingubccaresidence-feesmarine-drive
3) St Andrews Hallhttpwwwstandrewsedu
4) Green Collegehttpwwwgreencollegeubccaapply_for_residenceaccommodation_optionsindexphp
5) St Johns College
httpwwwstjohnsubccaMemberResstm
6) Greenwood Commonshttpwwwgreenwoodcommonsca
7) Vancouver School of Theologyhttpwwwvstedumainroomsstudent-housing
8) Carey Centre
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httpwwwcareycentrecomfacilityindexphpoption=com_contentampview=articleampid=2ampItemid=8
To find on-campus housing through external websites1) httpvancouverencraigslistca 2) Under housing choose aptshousing for rent3) On the right side of rent option there is an option for choosing no of bedrooms and you have your results
there
There is another website that can help you to find the on-campus housing Itrsquos called wwwamsrentslinecom Hereare the steps
1) wwwamsrentslinecom 2) In the quick search choose the number of bedroom under lsquoAccomodation Typersquo3) Leave the options of lsquoDistance to Universityrsquo and lsquoMaximum Rentrsquo just like that4) In the neighbourhood option choose UBC campus under ldquoVancouverrdquo and then search for your results
Please note that the above two websites are the most important websites for searching off-campus housing also(outside UBC)
Banking
Many banks are located in University Village area like CIBC and Bank of Montreal
Other than that the following banks are located on West 10th Avenue near Sasamat Street CIBC HSBC Scotia
bank RBC TD Canada Trust Vancity and Bank of Montreal
To open a bank account you will probably need to provide your UBCcard passport and local address Whenever
you make visit to a bank ask for any student accounts that offer low service fees
In Canada banks are generally open from Monday to Friday 1000 am to 400 pm Some bank branches are open onSaturday but closed on Monday
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Health and Insurance
Apply for BCrsquos Medical Services Plan (MSP)
Health care in Canada can be very expensive So itrsquos important to get covered by some insurance policy as soon as
you arrive in British Columbia
Usually international students are covered by iMED (private medical insurance) for a waiting period of three
months This waiting period includes the remainder of the month you arrive in BC plus two more months For
example if you arrived in BC on August 20 you would be eligible for MSP on November 1
wwwdavid-cummingscomimed
After three months of waiting period you can become eligible for MSP which is BCrsquos provincial Health insurance
plan for the rest of your stay in BC Donrsquot forget to apply for MSP as soon as you arrive in Vancouver
httpwwwhealthgovbccamspinfobenindexhtml
Alma Mater SocietyGraduate Student Society (AMSGSS) Health and Dental Plan can also be taken for extras not
covered by MSP or iMED
For more information referhttpwwwstudentsubccainternationalinternational-studentshealth-care-and-health-insurance
Mobile phones
Fido Bell WIND Mobile Rogers Koodo and TELUS are the major mobile service providers in Vancouver
You can opt for any one depending upon the utility and service plans Usually they have their stalls put
up in Student union Building (SUB) in the beginning of session wherein you can check and compare
different plans available Most of the plans have an agreement period of 2-3 years (unless you opt for
pay-as- you-go scheme) So take some time to select which plan would be most suitable and economical
for you
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FundingScholarships
UBC offers ample of scholarships for both Graduate and Undergraduate students You need to remain updated withsuch information so that you can fulfill their criteria and apply on time
Graduate Student
bull Most of the graduate students are offer International Partial tution fee which covers almost 50 of thetution fee If you are getting this scholarship then it will be mentioned on the offer letter from university
bull Research assistantship and TAship are also a major source of fundingRAship is funded by your professoror some time from the university (amount is average $17000 but it may vary depending on the departmentand professor as well)
bull You can apply for Teaching assistantship (TAship) Other than RA Itrsquos a good idea to look for it when youare applying to university If you donrsquot get it then no worries You can apply for the next term(Gradsecratery and your Professor are a great help in this matter)
bull Apart from this there are some scholarships which can be get on the basis of meritRules and amount of scholarship may vary year to year So itrsquos a good idea to keep an eye on your yearrsquos listing Following isthe link for Graduate students they can refer to it for this year
httpsyouubccaubcvancouverintlscholarshipsezc httpwwwgradubccaawardsindexasp httpwwwgradubccaprospective-studentsscholarships-awards-funding
Undergraduate students
Undergraduate students can refer to following link It covers all the details from tuition fee to available scholarshipsNormally all the undergraduate students are automatically considered for scholarships
httpsyouubccaubcvancouverfinancesezcpageID=1028
You can also find scholarship from outside sources through websites such as wwwscholarshipscanadacom andwwwstudentawardscom
Apart from this you can work while studying as well (refer next section) You can know more about it once youreach hereGood luck
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On off campus jobs
UBC career services provide excellent opportunities to work in order to support your education to gain valuable
Canadian workplace experience as well as lot of voluntary work
httpwwwstudentsubccacareersindexcfm
The following link would be of great help for searching on-campus as well as off campus work opportunities (there
is a waiting period of at least six months to get your off-campus work permit from the day you arrive)
httpwwwstudentsubccainternationalinternational-studentsworking
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Entertainment
There are many cinema complexes around the city (Silvercity Tinseltown Paramount etc) and a few of them thatexclusively screen latest Hindi movies (Raja Cinemas) Many Indian films and music are available at video rentalsand music stores IMAX and OMNIMAX theaters are also located in Vancouver Local Indian Radio stationsinclude 1600AM (Radio India) 1200AM (Rim Jhim) 1550AM (Radio Punjab) and 931FM (REDFM) Indian TVshows and movies are screened on Channel 8 (Omni BC) and Channel 119 (Shaw Multicultural Channel) on various
daystimes throughout the week Weekly South Asian newspapers include lsquoThe Linkrsquo lsquoThe Voicersquo lsquoThe Asian Starrsquoand lsquoThe South Asian PostrsquoVancouverites are an active bunch and there are many outdoor activities one can take part in during your spare timeIn the summer biking hiking and camping are quite common and in the winter you can go skating or skiingThere are also various UBC intramural sports leagues students can take part in including soccer volleyballbadminton tennis and basketball Vancouver also has 2 different cricket leagues which run during the summerFor those who are spiritually inclined there are at least 8 large Temples 2 large Mosques and countless Gurdwarasand Churches spread all throughout the Lower Mainland
The best must-visit destinations worth visit in coastal British Columbia are Tofino Sunshine Coast Victoria andGulf Islands Other places of interest around Vancouver region may be a trip to Whistler Harrison Lake GreaterVancouver Zoo Stanley Park Bowen Island Granville Island China Town Night Market in Richmond GrouseMountain Gas town Robson Street and VanDusen Garden
The UBC campus offers easy access to many of Vancouverrsquos beaches that you may like to visit Most popular onesbeing Kitsilano Beach Spanish Banks Wreck Beach Tower Beach English Bay and Jericho Beach
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Clubs and Extra-curricular
The mild climate and spectacular natural environment makes Vancouver a haven for people who love the outdoors
Snowboarding and skiing kayaking hiking trail running rock climbing ndash whatever your passion you can get
outside and enjoy it most of the year
The Varsity Outdoor Club (VOC) is open to anyone at UBC - students faculty staff spouses and members of the
greater community The club is dedicated to those who want to explore the outdoors here and anywhere else in the
world Great platform for members to actively pursue hiking rock-climbing mountaineering kayaking ski touring
ice climbing and socializingrdquo (Info courtesy VOC wiki)
httpwwwubc-voccom
UBC Dance Club
httpwwwubcdanceclubcom
Varsity Outdoor Club
httpwwwubc-voccom
UBC Aquatic Centre
httpwwwaquaticsubcca
UBC REC
httpwwwrecubcca
Attractions UBC
httpwwwattractionsubcca
UBC Tennis
httpwwwtennisubcca
Please make yourselves aware of all the safety precautions and waivers before attempting any adventure sports
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Faith
Hindu Temples Mandir Street Address Contact info
Mahalakshmi Hindu Temple 467 11th Avenue EastVancouver BC V5T2C8 Phone 604-874-0175
Vishva Hindu Parishad
Temple 3885 Albert Street
Burnaby BC V5C 2C8 Phone 604-299-5922
Shiv Mandir 1795 Napier Street
Vancouver BC V5L 2N1
Phone 604- 874-0175
ISKCON Vancouver5462 Marine Drive
Burnaby BC V5J 3G8Phone 604-433-9728
Mosques Street Address Contact info
Jamia Masjid Vancouver655 West 8th Ave
Vancouver BC V5Z 1C7Phone 604-309-6036
Richmond Jamia Mosque
(Biggest mosque in BC)
12300 Blundell Rd
Richmond BC V6W 1B3Phone 604-270-2522
Islamic Information Centre3127 Kingsway St
Vancouver BC V5R 5J9Phone 604-434-7526
Masjid Alhaq4162 Welwyn StVancouver BC
Phone 604-873-1787
Dar Al-Madinah IslamicSociety
7155 Victoria DriveVancouver BC
PhoneFax 604-873-8580
Surrey Mosque12407 72nd Ave
Surrey BC V3W 2M5Phone 604-591-7601
Al-Noor Mosque13526 98A Ave
Surrey BCPhoneFax 604-930-9742
Masjidur-Rahmah13585 62nd Ave
Surrey BC V3A 2J3 Phone 604-597-7863
Al- Salaam Mosque 5060 Canada Way Phone 604-524-4499
Sikh Temples Gurudwaras Street Address Contact info
Akali Singh Sikh Temple1890 Skeena Street
Vancouver BC - V5M 4L3Phone (604) 254-2117
Canadian Ramgharia Society 6908 Macpherson Ave (604) 438-0846
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Burnaby BC - V5J 4N3
Babbar Khalsa Dal4767 Union Street
Burnaby British ColumbiaTel (604) 376 1749
Cloverdale Sikh Society5748 175 Street
Surrey BC - V3S 4T7 (604) 574-7594
Gurdwara Sahib DasmeshDarbar
115-12885 85 AvenueSurrey BC - V3W 0K8
(604) 594-2573
Khalsa Darbar61st and Prince Edward Street
Vancouver BCPhone 604-325-2290
Gurdwara Khalsa Darbar390 61st Avenue East
Vancouver BC - V5X 2B6Phone (604) 325-2290
Campus Security
Vancouver is one of the most livable cities in the world Although its crime rate is low still security is a concern
particularly against thefts UBC campus security is provided by the UBC patrol and RCMP (Royal Canadian
Mounted Police)
Campus security is located next to the UBC Bookstore Campus Security provides 24-hour assistance seven days a
week Call 604-822-2222 if you have a safety concern or an emergency situation For more information visit
wwwsecurityubcca
If you are walking alone late night or not too sure where to go and you can also take help of safety walk Safewalk
provides male and female student teams that will accompany anyone between points on campus free of charge Theservice runs throughout the school year and during the summer months You can book a walk by calling 604-822-
5355 dropping by the office in the SUB concourse or looking for the Safewalk patrollers in bright red jackets Visit
wwwamsubccasafewalk for hours and other information
Call 911 in case of emergency or have been the victim of crime Always give the location to the operator particularly
the building address Calls to 911 are received at a call centre in Downtown Vancouver and the operators may not
be familiar with the building names on campus
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Blue Phones
Blue phones are located at various locations around the campus core Elevator phones in most building also provide
direct access to Campus Security
Campus Maps
You can download the UBC campus map from here
httpwwwstudentsubccacurrentdownloadcampusmap07pdf
You can search for locations on the UBC campus map at this site
httpwwwmapsubccaPRODindexphp
httpwwwstudentsubccacurrentcampuscfm
The on-campus residences map
httpwwwhousingubccarez_maprez_maphtm
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Contact us
Email utsav_ubcyahoocom
Facebook httpwwwfacebookcomgroupphpgid=3220440131
Webpage httpwwwindiaubccom
YahoogroupUBC_bharatyahoogroupcom
To subscribe to our mailing list send a blank email to
ubc_bharat-subscribeyahoogroupscom
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Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the inputs from the International Student Handbook 200910
published by International Student Development at UBC MITACS Globalink program Handbook and UTSAV website which were immensely helpful in compiling this information
handbook
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Appendix
Things to pack
We Indian Student Association ndash UTSAV helps undergraduate and graduate students prospective and currentstudents throughtout their stay at UBC Please check the reminders section to make sure you do not forget important
documents while travelling
You should bring with you all your original transcripts degree certificate provisional certificate migration
certificate TOEFLGRE scores certificates birth certificate work experience certificate papers and publications
for which you have mentioned in your portfolio Sometimes the school may ask you to show them to validate or may
ask you to submit you originals Hence it would be safe if you keep them with you when you arrive here
In flight
1 Specify while you book your ticket regarding your food preferences especially when you are a strict vegetarian
Few flights do provide the service of providing Jain and Hindu meals in flight
2 Keep your hand baggage as light as possible because during transit you may have to walk long distances Try to
carry hand bags with trolley that would help you in easy transfer
Important Note
1 Make sure you carry your Indian Driving license this help you here while you apply for International Driving
LicensePermit
2 Try to carry 3-4 pairs of glasses (spares) with you and have an advance eye sight check up in India because here
these things are usually very expensive You anyway would have an eye check up during your Pre-Medical
Examination
3 A dental check up at least fifteen days in advance would be quite appropriate
4 Carry money as travelers cheques they are the safest and most convenient method of carrying money
What to Get and What Not
1 It will be great if you can get yourself the books you need here though we have very good library here which
would provide you with sufficient copies of each book of your requirement But see to it that carrying them you
arenrsquot exceeding your baggage weight limitations
2 If you are looking forward to cook Indian food at your place then bring along a Pressure Cooker and any flat
bottomed vessels
3 You can carry pulses rice Indian spices pickles etc with you but it is better if you donrsquot carry them with you as
we have many Indian grocery shops at Vancouver mainly at Fraser and Main Street Also there are some good
shops within campus where you can get all the above mentioned things
4 Get yourself sufficient stock of undergarments and socks as you might be washing clothes once every 10 days or
more
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5 You should bring with yourself 1-2 umbrellas a raincoat or a wind-sheeter as it rains a lot here from October till
March
6 You would need warm clothes (a good winter jacket) as it is cold here except for 2-4 months in summer Good
sweaters preferably two woollen gloves mufflers and woollen caps thermal vest and long johns
7 Get all the stationary items like staplers punchers etc also a good alarm clock
8 Buy a good pair of walking shoe sports shoe formal shoe (all water-proof) as it rains a lot here and you might
have to walk a lot here
9 Donrsquot get along any electronic items here as the voltage is much lower than in India
10 And if you are still carrying then get yourself a Step-upStep-down voltage convertor This will prove a lot more
helpful here Make sure you are buying it for the correct Watt as for hair dryers you might have to go for 1800W
These convertors are available here as well but a bit more expensive
11 A good school bag a Visa folder (to hold cards) a walletpurses
12 Get some medicines which you think would be useful or any common health problems that you have You could
get some basic medicines for headache stomach ache indigestion fever etc
Baggage specifications
You should check this out with your concerned airlines preferably there website They would give you perfect
information on the weight and dimensional limitations It would be good if you can lock your baggage with TSA
locks
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What should I bring from INDIA All the items mention ed below can be fo und easily in the city of Vancouver However the reason we have written them
is to remind you wh at to carry or buy here in case you forget This list is a checklist of items yo u migh t need here We
recommend you to buy mo st of the items fro m India because these items are very expensive in the city of Vancouver
Item Comments
A Clothes
1 Full Sleeve Shirts
2 Half Sleeve Shirts
3 Formal Trousers
4 Blazer (Informal) Suit (Formal) Suit Recommended
5 Tie
6 T-shirts
7 Jeans
8 Shorts Cargos Bermudas9 Belts
10 Traditional Highly Recommended for Indian events
11 Sweaters Recommended
12 Pyjamas Night Suit
13 Under Garments
14 Towels
15 Handkerchiefs used less here
16 Blanket (Light Weight) depends on your baggage (can buy here)
17 Single Bed Sheet
18 Bed Cover
19 Pillow Cover
20 Woolen Gloves Leather amp wool (Highly Recommended)21 Jacket Optional (can buy here)
22 Thermal Innerwear Long johns Required in winter
23 CapsToques Optional
24 Swimwear Expensive here
B Footwear
1 Chappals Sandals Traditional Footwear
2 Slippers Flotters
3 Formal Black Leather Shoes
4 Casual Sport Shoes
5 Shoe Polish for Formal Shoes
6 Shoe Polishing Brush
7 Socks (black for formal shoes)
8 Socks (White) Cheaply Available here
C Miscellaneous Items
1 Glasses Contact Lenses Must (Optics very expensive here)
2 Contact Lenses Solution Check for yourself
3 Stitching Kit
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G Stationary
1 School Bag A Little Expensive here
2 Ball Point Pen For initial use
3 Refils
4 BondedClutch Pencils
5 Sharpener
6 Eraser Pencil
7 Clutch Pencil (05 mm)
8 Lead Box (05 mm)
9 Steel Scale 6 Optional
10 Stapler Donrsquot forget these
11 Stapler Pins Box
12 Punch Please donrsquot bring 3 holes punch required here
13 Scientific Calculator Replace the batteries without fail
14 Cello Tapes Optional
15 Glue Stick Glue Optional
16 Sketch Pen Optional
17 Note books Papers Files Folders Do not bring
H Books (apart from course-work)
1 Oxford Concise Dictionary
2 Books about India Optional
3 Religious Books Optional
I Medicines (optional)
1 Vicks (Vaporub amp Inhaler)
2 Balm (Amrutanjan etc)
3 Iodex
4 Dettol
5 Band-Aid (wash proof)6 Burnol
7 Painkiller tabs like Combiflam Brufen
8 Drugs amp Antibiotics (fever amp cold etc)
9 Vaseline Especially for people coming in winter
J Documents
1 Recent Photographs Negatives
2 General Photographs
3 Passport Photocopies
4 Admission
5 VISA photocopies
6 Credentials Transcripts
7 Recommendation SOP
8 GRE TOEFL Score Sheet
9 Medical Fitness Certificate
10 Medical Prescription of all medicines
11 College Leaving Certificate
12 Traveller cheques
13 Enough Money-Cash with some change
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Compiled by C P Sha r m a ( Cheenu ) 201 0 - 11 W eb admin and New s let t e r Ed i to r
Valuable contributions from
UTSAV execu t i ve team 2010 - 11
Sr in iv as Ram an Harshu l Sr iv as tava Rashm i Bhadaur ia
An i r uddha Cha t t e r j ee Sw iya Na th Tab i ta Ve r m a amp Sneha She th s tuden t s ove r the
yea r s and o the r ex t e r na l agenc ies
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About us
Indian Studentsrsquo Association (ISA-UTSAV) is a student-run organization which endeavours to celebrateSouth Asian culture The Association was founded in 1980 by a collection of students from the Universityof British Columbia (UBC) Vancouver They all shared the same passion to unite Indian students whowere far away from home ISA-UTSAV has since then grown to be one of the biggest student runorganizations in UBC encompassing BC students and alumni of all South Asian backgrounds
ISA-UTSAV works to build an understanding and acceptance for oneness while celebrating culturaldiversity of South Asia Our main objective is to encourage UBCs South Asian students to maintain theiridentity and be proud of what it entails while adopting and successfully integrating into a diverse world
ISA-UTSAV takes pride in its ability to provide the Universityrsquos student body with the opportunity to beexposed to the many facets and beauty of South Asian culture community and traditions The association
caters to the exceedingly diverse population of South Asian backgrounds which includes Indian PakistaniBangladeshi and Sri Lankan to name a few By unifying these groups and celebrating their distinctionsand cultural similarities ISA-UTSAV takes pride in representing UBCs South Asian community andstrives to promote oneness in multiculturalism
UTSAV means celebration and the spirit and passion to celebrate life and Indian culture is evident in ouractivities By organizing events such as Diwali Holi Cricket Movie-nights Antakshari etc ISA-UTSAVblends together everyone providing an exciting and fun-filled experience for its members ISA-UTSAValso encourages students of non-Indian descent to join the organization and learn about and experience thediversity and richness of Indian culture
UTSAV is a registered club of the Alma Mater Society of the University of British Columbia and
therefore is bound by the constitution that governs the AMS
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Obtaining the VISA
Here is comprehensive information about obtaining a student authorization in Canada
To obtain a Student Visa for your studies in Canada first and foremost visit the website httpwwwvfs-canadacoin This website provides comprehensive information about obtaining a student authorization in Canada
Make sure you visit their office once before you start the Visa Application Process as they will help you out byanswering clarifying and resolving all your Visa related queries They will also help you out by getting all the
preliminary forms and documents needed to start the process though every form they provide are already availableonline in the website mentioned above
After this visit you will surely develop a fair amount of idea regarding how this journey of obtaining a CanadianStudent Visa would basically be like Once this is done the next big task would be to undergo the MedicalExamination
Before 31 March 2010 the Medical Examination used to be carried out after you have submitted your Study permitapplication Hence the process was a bit complex previously when based on your acceptance of the Study permitapplication the passport was sent at your residence address after which you were suppose to undergo the MedicalExamination at your near-by Designated Medical Practitioners (DMP) This list can be found out athttpwwwcicgccadmp-mdmedicalaspx Once you were through this you were asked to resubmit your passportat your near-by VFS Office which was then sent back to the Governing Office in Delhi They then use to take
another month for the final approval of your application
But importantly from 31 March 2010 they have simplified the above process by taking an initiative to completeyour lsquoPre-Application Medical Examinationrsquo before you submit your application for Study Permit So thissimplified process has left students now to first meet those three sets in the second page of Checklist 2010 and thendedicate them to meet the fourth set (in Checklist) which is your Medical Examination Form IMM 1017 The lsquoPre-Application Medical Examinationrsquo though would give a thrill in your body when you would hear it for the first timebut believe us there is nothing to get tensed about it is very much like your regular body check-up which includesyour blood test urine test respiratory checks etc
They have got an important checklist which will help you out in arranging and developing a folder consisting of academic financial and government administration related documents The checklist is in the form of four setsdefining clearly their requirements
The various forms required are
Student Form Personal Information Form Student Questionnaire Form Study Permit Checklist Detailed Information on studying in Canada
For more information log on to httpwwwvfs-canadacoinindexhtml
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Things to Pack
bull There is no particular dress code in the campus People wear casual attires Bring as many set of dressesyou want Though expensive but good quality winter jacketsHoodies are available here You can bringthem from India as well Good to have woolen accessories like gloves muffler and woolen caps
bull Utensils since you have to cook your own food Preferably Flat-bottomed cooking vessels because hereelectric stoves are used Do not bring all of them but a basic starter set should do Once you are familiarwith the city and the stores around it you can buy them when you need The set should include a plate
spoons basic cooking utensils pressure cooker (if you need) glasses and any other basic cutlery Pleasenote that utensils are available here but they might be cheaper in India
bull All the traditional masala powders are available here but you may want to bring some with you for the firstfew days Recipes of your favorite dishes if you wish to test your culinary skills
bull You can bring your own medicines but donrsquot forget to get the prescription from doctor
bull Good to have some basic stationary from India as you might find things expensive here Avoid bringingfiles and punch as the filing system is different here with a three-hole punch A good carrying bag isadvisable
bull Best quality Umbrellas and raincoats are a must as you might need them most of the time They call itldquoRAINCOUVERrdquo here Rain Boots if you really need them
bull BOOKS Highly expensive here Get in touch with your supervisor and bring the recommendedTextbooks related to your field of study for sure Although we have the most advanced and sophisticatedlibrary system here
bull DOCUMENTS Bring them safely and securely along with their photocopies as you will need them morefrequently during initial days Some passport size photographs as well
bull Glasses and Contact Lens are a must Optics very expensive here Pictures of Deities basic every dayutilities (bed sheets Towels Toiletries etc)
A comprehensive list of things to pack can be referred in the appendix
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Things to do on arrival
bull Obtain a Campus-Wide Login username and password and get access to student service centre (SSC)httpssscadmubccasscportalservletsSRVSSCFramework Campus-Wide Login (CWL) is a single
username and password that allows you to access many online services at UBC including the StudentService Centre Update your information (e-mail address and current mailing address etc) on the portal
bull Meet your supervisor register for courses and pay your fees You can always add or drop a course within acertain deadline after which a course can only be dropped with a W standing till certain date After this datecourse cannot be dropped at all
bull Get in touch with Department Graduate secretary and fill out various forms in order to get access to UBCresources and fulfill other mandatory requirements
bull Attend the orientations scheduled and take a tour of University of British Columbia
bull Pick up your UBC card and U-Pass For more info refer
httpswwwubccardubcca
httpwwwupassubccaupassupassindexhtml
bull Apply for social insurance number (SIN) Get the relevant info and forms to be filled from yourdepartmentrsquos Graduate Secretary
httpwwwhrubccafaculty_relationsimmigrationsinhtml
bull Arrange for Health insurance plan and Apply for medical services plan (MSP) of BC
bull Open a bank account
bull Get connected over the mobile phones and internet UBC wireless internet is one of the largest campus
wireless networks in the world You just need to login with Campus-Wide Login (CWL)
bull Check your department welcome package for details (International student Handbook) To download thehandbook -
httpwwwstudentsubccainternationalinternational-studentsinternational-student-
handbookpage=employment
bull Come and join the magic of Indian Student Association- UTSAV and explore the culture and diversity of UBC
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Vancouver City
Vancouver is on the west coast of Canada and it is the third largest city in Canada It is 60 miles north of Seattle
which is the closest American city Vancouver has a fairly large International airport and it connects to almost all the
major cities in North America as well as to the rest of the world With the 2010 Winter Olympics being held in
Vancouver transportation has been upgraded to meet world class standards
Vancouver is a cosmopolitan city and here the size of the Indian community is around 60000 The city is in thePacific Time zone and that puts it 13 12 hours behind India during winter and 12 12 hours behind India during
summer Daylight savings occur during the second Sunday in March (1 hour forward) and the first Sunday in
November (1 hour back) Daylight savings allows us to make maximum use of the sunlight hours
In general Vancouver has a milder weather than the rest of the Canadian cities During winter the temperature rarely
dips below zero degrees Celsius and in summer the average temperature is around 23 degrees Vancouver is famous
for its rain so pack an umbrella (or five) raincoat and waterproof boots if you have them The rainy season lasts
from mid-November until mid-February
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Transportation
Vancouver has a very good public transportation system UBC students are provided with a subsidized Student
Transit Pass (U-Pass) which allows for unlimited usage of the system UBC automatically deducts the fees for thispass as part of your student fees ($2675 per month) You just have to collect your pass when you first arrive on
campus There are three modes of public transportation - buses sea buses and sky trains The U-Pass can be used for
all of these If you do not have a U-Pass an individual one zone bus ticket costs $250 Taxis can also be used as
means of transport but they are expensive Generally it costs about $30 to reach UBC campus from the airport and it
takes around 25 minutes Airport buses are available from the lower level of the airport One should board bus
number 4 and number 17 from downtown to reach UBC You can plan your trip and get more information about
transit schedules and fares at wwwtranslinkca Shuttle service is also provided by the International House Please
check the International House Web page for details
Another option to get to UBC from airport
Canada Line skytrain from the airport getting off at Cambie and Broadway station and take 99B line or at
Olympic Village station which in downtown and take Bus number 84
If you take either the 99B line or the 84 (electric bus) from the any of the two stops respectively the last stop of
both is UBC campus
You can find the full details with exact timings here translink
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Basic Layout of UBC Campus
The campus is divided into two approximate halves in the East-West directions by Main Mall and in the North-South directions by University Boulevard These two streets serve as the basic reference frame to the UBC
Vancouver Campus
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Food amp Accommodation
Vancouver has an assortment of cuisine such as Indian Chinese Thailand Mexican Japanese etc Indian spices andcondiments are freely available in the local market situated 15-20 minutes from the campus and these areas areeasily accessible by bus
It is a good idea to apply for residence beforehand There is a good sized waiting list for on-campus housing (theones that you see on the on-campus residences map) An example would be booking for a Thunderbird apartment inApril and getting it in November All the on-campus housing information is available at wwwhousingubcca
On-campus (within UBC) housing is relatively expensive compared to the housing options in the cityof Vancouver due to its added advantages If you find the below on-campus housing options expensive I haveprovided a link to the website that can assist you with housing options in city of Vancouver If you wish then youcan share the housingapartments among yourself in order to save the cost
Below are the housing options available on campus (within UBC) for Graduate Students
1) UBC Thunderbird Housing (Available through UBC Housing)
Website httpwwwhousingubccathunderbirdthundebird-overview Rental fee httpwwwhousingubccaresidence-feesthunderbird-residence
2) Marine Drive Housing (Available through UBC Housing)Websitehttpwwwhousingubccamarine-drivemarine-drive-overview Rental feehttpwwwhousingubccaresidence-feesmarine-drive
3) St Andrews Hallhttpwwwstandrewsedu
4) Green Collegehttpwwwgreencollegeubccaapply_for_residenceaccommodation_optionsindexphp
5) St Johns College
httpwwwstjohnsubccaMemberResstm
6) Greenwood Commonshttpwwwgreenwoodcommonsca
7) Vancouver School of Theologyhttpwwwvstedumainroomsstudent-housing
8) Carey Centre
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httpwwwcareycentrecomfacilityindexphpoption=com_contentampview=articleampid=2ampItemid=8
To find on-campus housing through external websites1) httpvancouverencraigslistca 2) Under housing choose aptshousing for rent3) On the right side of rent option there is an option for choosing no of bedrooms and you have your results
there
There is another website that can help you to find the on-campus housing Itrsquos called wwwamsrentslinecom Hereare the steps
1) wwwamsrentslinecom 2) In the quick search choose the number of bedroom under lsquoAccomodation Typersquo3) Leave the options of lsquoDistance to Universityrsquo and lsquoMaximum Rentrsquo just like that4) In the neighbourhood option choose UBC campus under ldquoVancouverrdquo and then search for your results
Please note that the above two websites are the most important websites for searching off-campus housing also(outside UBC)
Banking
Many banks are located in University Village area like CIBC and Bank of Montreal
Other than that the following banks are located on West 10th Avenue near Sasamat Street CIBC HSBC Scotia
bank RBC TD Canada Trust Vancity and Bank of Montreal
To open a bank account you will probably need to provide your UBCcard passport and local address Whenever
you make visit to a bank ask for any student accounts that offer low service fees
In Canada banks are generally open from Monday to Friday 1000 am to 400 pm Some bank branches are open onSaturday but closed on Monday
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Health and Insurance
Apply for BCrsquos Medical Services Plan (MSP)
Health care in Canada can be very expensive So itrsquos important to get covered by some insurance policy as soon as
you arrive in British Columbia
Usually international students are covered by iMED (private medical insurance) for a waiting period of three
months This waiting period includes the remainder of the month you arrive in BC plus two more months For
example if you arrived in BC on August 20 you would be eligible for MSP on November 1
wwwdavid-cummingscomimed
After three months of waiting period you can become eligible for MSP which is BCrsquos provincial Health insurance
plan for the rest of your stay in BC Donrsquot forget to apply for MSP as soon as you arrive in Vancouver
httpwwwhealthgovbccamspinfobenindexhtml
Alma Mater SocietyGraduate Student Society (AMSGSS) Health and Dental Plan can also be taken for extras not
covered by MSP or iMED
For more information referhttpwwwstudentsubccainternationalinternational-studentshealth-care-and-health-insurance
Mobile phones
Fido Bell WIND Mobile Rogers Koodo and TELUS are the major mobile service providers in Vancouver
You can opt for any one depending upon the utility and service plans Usually they have their stalls put
up in Student union Building (SUB) in the beginning of session wherein you can check and compare
different plans available Most of the plans have an agreement period of 2-3 years (unless you opt for
pay-as- you-go scheme) So take some time to select which plan would be most suitable and economical
for you
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FundingScholarships
UBC offers ample of scholarships for both Graduate and Undergraduate students You need to remain updated withsuch information so that you can fulfill their criteria and apply on time
Graduate Student
bull Most of the graduate students are offer International Partial tution fee which covers almost 50 of thetution fee If you are getting this scholarship then it will be mentioned on the offer letter from university
bull Research assistantship and TAship are also a major source of fundingRAship is funded by your professoror some time from the university (amount is average $17000 but it may vary depending on the departmentand professor as well)
bull You can apply for Teaching assistantship (TAship) Other than RA Itrsquos a good idea to look for it when youare applying to university If you donrsquot get it then no worries You can apply for the next term(Gradsecratery and your Professor are a great help in this matter)
bull Apart from this there are some scholarships which can be get on the basis of meritRules and amount of scholarship may vary year to year So itrsquos a good idea to keep an eye on your yearrsquos listing Following isthe link for Graduate students they can refer to it for this year
httpsyouubccaubcvancouverintlscholarshipsezc httpwwwgradubccaawardsindexasp httpwwwgradubccaprospective-studentsscholarships-awards-funding
Undergraduate students
Undergraduate students can refer to following link It covers all the details from tuition fee to available scholarshipsNormally all the undergraduate students are automatically considered for scholarships
httpsyouubccaubcvancouverfinancesezcpageID=1028
You can also find scholarship from outside sources through websites such as wwwscholarshipscanadacom andwwwstudentawardscom
Apart from this you can work while studying as well (refer next section) You can know more about it once youreach hereGood luck
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On off campus jobs
UBC career services provide excellent opportunities to work in order to support your education to gain valuable
Canadian workplace experience as well as lot of voluntary work
httpwwwstudentsubccacareersindexcfm
The following link would be of great help for searching on-campus as well as off campus work opportunities (there
is a waiting period of at least six months to get your off-campus work permit from the day you arrive)
httpwwwstudentsubccainternationalinternational-studentsworking
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Entertainment
There are many cinema complexes around the city (Silvercity Tinseltown Paramount etc) and a few of them thatexclusively screen latest Hindi movies (Raja Cinemas) Many Indian films and music are available at video rentalsand music stores IMAX and OMNIMAX theaters are also located in Vancouver Local Indian Radio stationsinclude 1600AM (Radio India) 1200AM (Rim Jhim) 1550AM (Radio Punjab) and 931FM (REDFM) Indian TVshows and movies are screened on Channel 8 (Omni BC) and Channel 119 (Shaw Multicultural Channel) on various
daystimes throughout the week Weekly South Asian newspapers include lsquoThe Linkrsquo lsquoThe Voicersquo lsquoThe Asian Starrsquoand lsquoThe South Asian PostrsquoVancouverites are an active bunch and there are many outdoor activities one can take part in during your spare timeIn the summer biking hiking and camping are quite common and in the winter you can go skating or skiingThere are also various UBC intramural sports leagues students can take part in including soccer volleyballbadminton tennis and basketball Vancouver also has 2 different cricket leagues which run during the summerFor those who are spiritually inclined there are at least 8 large Temples 2 large Mosques and countless Gurdwarasand Churches spread all throughout the Lower Mainland
The best must-visit destinations worth visit in coastal British Columbia are Tofino Sunshine Coast Victoria andGulf Islands Other places of interest around Vancouver region may be a trip to Whistler Harrison Lake GreaterVancouver Zoo Stanley Park Bowen Island Granville Island China Town Night Market in Richmond GrouseMountain Gas town Robson Street and VanDusen Garden
The UBC campus offers easy access to many of Vancouverrsquos beaches that you may like to visit Most popular onesbeing Kitsilano Beach Spanish Banks Wreck Beach Tower Beach English Bay and Jericho Beach
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Clubs and Extra-curricular
The mild climate and spectacular natural environment makes Vancouver a haven for people who love the outdoors
Snowboarding and skiing kayaking hiking trail running rock climbing ndash whatever your passion you can get
outside and enjoy it most of the year
The Varsity Outdoor Club (VOC) is open to anyone at UBC - students faculty staff spouses and members of the
greater community The club is dedicated to those who want to explore the outdoors here and anywhere else in the
world Great platform for members to actively pursue hiking rock-climbing mountaineering kayaking ski touring
ice climbing and socializingrdquo (Info courtesy VOC wiki)
httpwwwubc-voccom
UBC Dance Club
httpwwwubcdanceclubcom
Varsity Outdoor Club
httpwwwubc-voccom
UBC Aquatic Centre
httpwwwaquaticsubcca
UBC REC
httpwwwrecubcca
Attractions UBC
httpwwwattractionsubcca
UBC Tennis
httpwwwtennisubcca
Please make yourselves aware of all the safety precautions and waivers before attempting any adventure sports
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Faith
Hindu Temples Mandir Street Address Contact info
Mahalakshmi Hindu Temple 467 11th Avenue EastVancouver BC V5T2C8 Phone 604-874-0175
Vishva Hindu Parishad
Temple 3885 Albert Street
Burnaby BC V5C 2C8 Phone 604-299-5922
Shiv Mandir 1795 Napier Street
Vancouver BC V5L 2N1
Phone 604- 874-0175
ISKCON Vancouver5462 Marine Drive
Burnaby BC V5J 3G8Phone 604-433-9728
Mosques Street Address Contact info
Jamia Masjid Vancouver655 West 8th Ave
Vancouver BC V5Z 1C7Phone 604-309-6036
Richmond Jamia Mosque
(Biggest mosque in BC)
12300 Blundell Rd
Richmond BC V6W 1B3Phone 604-270-2522
Islamic Information Centre3127 Kingsway St
Vancouver BC V5R 5J9Phone 604-434-7526
Masjid Alhaq4162 Welwyn StVancouver BC
Phone 604-873-1787
Dar Al-Madinah IslamicSociety
7155 Victoria DriveVancouver BC
PhoneFax 604-873-8580
Surrey Mosque12407 72nd Ave
Surrey BC V3W 2M5Phone 604-591-7601
Al-Noor Mosque13526 98A Ave
Surrey BCPhoneFax 604-930-9742
Masjidur-Rahmah13585 62nd Ave
Surrey BC V3A 2J3 Phone 604-597-7863
Al- Salaam Mosque 5060 Canada Way Phone 604-524-4499
Sikh Temples Gurudwaras Street Address Contact info
Akali Singh Sikh Temple1890 Skeena Street
Vancouver BC - V5M 4L3Phone (604) 254-2117
Canadian Ramgharia Society 6908 Macpherson Ave (604) 438-0846
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Burnaby BC - V5J 4N3
Babbar Khalsa Dal4767 Union Street
Burnaby British ColumbiaTel (604) 376 1749
Cloverdale Sikh Society5748 175 Street
Surrey BC - V3S 4T7 (604) 574-7594
Gurdwara Sahib DasmeshDarbar
115-12885 85 AvenueSurrey BC - V3W 0K8
(604) 594-2573
Khalsa Darbar61st and Prince Edward Street
Vancouver BCPhone 604-325-2290
Gurdwara Khalsa Darbar390 61st Avenue East
Vancouver BC - V5X 2B6Phone (604) 325-2290
Campus Security
Vancouver is one of the most livable cities in the world Although its crime rate is low still security is a concern
particularly against thefts UBC campus security is provided by the UBC patrol and RCMP (Royal Canadian
Mounted Police)
Campus security is located next to the UBC Bookstore Campus Security provides 24-hour assistance seven days a
week Call 604-822-2222 if you have a safety concern or an emergency situation For more information visit
wwwsecurityubcca
If you are walking alone late night or not too sure where to go and you can also take help of safety walk Safewalk
provides male and female student teams that will accompany anyone between points on campus free of charge Theservice runs throughout the school year and during the summer months You can book a walk by calling 604-822-
5355 dropping by the office in the SUB concourse or looking for the Safewalk patrollers in bright red jackets Visit
wwwamsubccasafewalk for hours and other information
Call 911 in case of emergency or have been the victim of crime Always give the location to the operator particularly
the building address Calls to 911 are received at a call centre in Downtown Vancouver and the operators may not
be familiar with the building names on campus
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Blue Phones
Blue phones are located at various locations around the campus core Elevator phones in most building also provide
direct access to Campus Security
Campus Maps
You can download the UBC campus map from here
httpwwwstudentsubccacurrentdownloadcampusmap07pdf
You can search for locations on the UBC campus map at this site
httpwwwmapsubccaPRODindexphp
httpwwwstudentsubccacurrentcampuscfm
The on-campus residences map
httpwwwhousingubccarez_maprez_maphtm
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Contact us
Email utsav_ubcyahoocom
Facebook httpwwwfacebookcomgroupphpgid=3220440131
Webpage httpwwwindiaubccom
YahoogroupUBC_bharatyahoogroupcom
To subscribe to our mailing list send a blank email to
ubc_bharat-subscribeyahoogroupscom
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Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the inputs from the International Student Handbook 200910
published by International Student Development at UBC MITACS Globalink program Handbook and UTSAV website which were immensely helpful in compiling this information
handbook
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Appendix
Things to pack
We Indian Student Association ndash UTSAV helps undergraduate and graduate students prospective and currentstudents throughtout their stay at UBC Please check the reminders section to make sure you do not forget important
documents while travelling
You should bring with you all your original transcripts degree certificate provisional certificate migration
certificate TOEFLGRE scores certificates birth certificate work experience certificate papers and publications
for which you have mentioned in your portfolio Sometimes the school may ask you to show them to validate or may
ask you to submit you originals Hence it would be safe if you keep them with you when you arrive here
In flight
1 Specify while you book your ticket regarding your food preferences especially when you are a strict vegetarian
Few flights do provide the service of providing Jain and Hindu meals in flight
2 Keep your hand baggage as light as possible because during transit you may have to walk long distances Try to
carry hand bags with trolley that would help you in easy transfer
Important Note
1 Make sure you carry your Indian Driving license this help you here while you apply for International Driving
LicensePermit
2 Try to carry 3-4 pairs of glasses (spares) with you and have an advance eye sight check up in India because here
these things are usually very expensive You anyway would have an eye check up during your Pre-Medical
Examination
3 A dental check up at least fifteen days in advance would be quite appropriate
4 Carry money as travelers cheques they are the safest and most convenient method of carrying money
What to Get and What Not
1 It will be great if you can get yourself the books you need here though we have very good library here which
would provide you with sufficient copies of each book of your requirement But see to it that carrying them you
arenrsquot exceeding your baggage weight limitations
2 If you are looking forward to cook Indian food at your place then bring along a Pressure Cooker and any flat
bottomed vessels
3 You can carry pulses rice Indian spices pickles etc with you but it is better if you donrsquot carry them with you as
we have many Indian grocery shops at Vancouver mainly at Fraser and Main Street Also there are some good
shops within campus where you can get all the above mentioned things
4 Get yourself sufficient stock of undergarments and socks as you might be washing clothes once every 10 days or
more
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5 You should bring with yourself 1-2 umbrellas a raincoat or a wind-sheeter as it rains a lot here from October till
March
6 You would need warm clothes (a good winter jacket) as it is cold here except for 2-4 months in summer Good
sweaters preferably two woollen gloves mufflers and woollen caps thermal vest and long johns
7 Get all the stationary items like staplers punchers etc also a good alarm clock
8 Buy a good pair of walking shoe sports shoe formal shoe (all water-proof) as it rains a lot here and you might
have to walk a lot here
9 Donrsquot get along any electronic items here as the voltage is much lower than in India
10 And if you are still carrying then get yourself a Step-upStep-down voltage convertor This will prove a lot more
helpful here Make sure you are buying it for the correct Watt as for hair dryers you might have to go for 1800W
These convertors are available here as well but a bit more expensive
11 A good school bag a Visa folder (to hold cards) a walletpurses
12 Get some medicines which you think would be useful or any common health problems that you have You could
get some basic medicines for headache stomach ache indigestion fever etc
Baggage specifications
You should check this out with your concerned airlines preferably there website They would give you perfect
information on the weight and dimensional limitations It would be good if you can lock your baggage with TSA
locks
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What should I bring from INDIA All the items mention ed below can be fo und easily in the city of Vancouver However the reason we have written them
is to remind you wh at to carry or buy here in case you forget This list is a checklist of items yo u migh t need here We
recommend you to buy mo st of the items fro m India because these items are very expensive in the city of Vancouver
Item Comments
A Clothes
1 Full Sleeve Shirts
2 Half Sleeve Shirts
3 Formal Trousers
4 Blazer (Informal) Suit (Formal) Suit Recommended
5 Tie
6 T-shirts
7 Jeans
8 Shorts Cargos Bermudas9 Belts
10 Traditional Highly Recommended for Indian events
11 Sweaters Recommended
12 Pyjamas Night Suit
13 Under Garments
14 Towels
15 Handkerchiefs used less here
16 Blanket (Light Weight) depends on your baggage (can buy here)
17 Single Bed Sheet
18 Bed Cover
19 Pillow Cover
20 Woolen Gloves Leather amp wool (Highly Recommended)21 Jacket Optional (can buy here)
22 Thermal Innerwear Long johns Required in winter
23 CapsToques Optional
24 Swimwear Expensive here
B Footwear
1 Chappals Sandals Traditional Footwear
2 Slippers Flotters
3 Formal Black Leather Shoes
4 Casual Sport Shoes
5 Shoe Polish for Formal Shoes
6 Shoe Polishing Brush
7 Socks (black for formal shoes)
8 Socks (White) Cheaply Available here
C Miscellaneous Items
1 Glasses Contact Lenses Must (Optics very expensive here)
2 Contact Lenses Solution Check for yourself
3 Stitching Kit
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G Stationary
1 School Bag A Little Expensive here
2 Ball Point Pen For initial use
3 Refils
4 BondedClutch Pencils
5 Sharpener
6 Eraser Pencil
7 Clutch Pencil (05 mm)
8 Lead Box (05 mm)
9 Steel Scale 6 Optional
10 Stapler Donrsquot forget these
11 Stapler Pins Box
12 Punch Please donrsquot bring 3 holes punch required here
13 Scientific Calculator Replace the batteries without fail
14 Cello Tapes Optional
15 Glue Stick Glue Optional
16 Sketch Pen Optional
17 Note books Papers Files Folders Do not bring
H Books (apart from course-work)
1 Oxford Concise Dictionary
2 Books about India Optional
3 Religious Books Optional
I Medicines (optional)
1 Vicks (Vaporub amp Inhaler)
2 Balm (Amrutanjan etc)
3 Iodex
4 Dettol
5 Band-Aid (wash proof)6 Burnol
7 Painkiller tabs like Combiflam Brufen
8 Drugs amp Antibiotics (fever amp cold etc)
9 Vaseline Especially for people coming in winter
J Documents
1 Recent Photographs Negatives
2 General Photographs
3 Passport Photocopies
4 Admission
5 VISA photocopies
6 Credentials Transcripts
7 Recommendation SOP
8 GRE TOEFL Score Sheet
9 Medical Fitness Certificate
10 Medical Prescription of all medicines
11 College Leaving Certificate
12 Traveller cheques
13 Enough Money-Cash with some change
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Compiled by C P Sha r m a ( Cheenu ) 201 0 - 11 W eb admin and New s let t e r Ed i to r
Valuable contributions from
UTSAV execu t i ve team 2010 - 11
Sr in iv as Ram an Harshu l Sr iv as tava Rashm i Bhadaur ia
An i r uddha Cha t t e r j ee Sw iya Na th Tab i ta Ve r m a amp Sneha She th s tuden t s ove r the
yea r s and o the r ex t e r na l agenc ies
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Obtaining the VISA
Here is comprehensive information about obtaining a student authorization in Canada
To obtain a Student Visa for your studies in Canada first and foremost visit the website httpwwwvfs-canadacoin This website provides comprehensive information about obtaining a student authorization in Canada
Make sure you visit their office once before you start the Visa Application Process as they will help you out byanswering clarifying and resolving all your Visa related queries They will also help you out by getting all the
preliminary forms and documents needed to start the process though every form they provide are already availableonline in the website mentioned above
After this visit you will surely develop a fair amount of idea regarding how this journey of obtaining a CanadianStudent Visa would basically be like Once this is done the next big task would be to undergo the MedicalExamination
Before 31 March 2010 the Medical Examination used to be carried out after you have submitted your Study permitapplication Hence the process was a bit complex previously when based on your acceptance of the Study permitapplication the passport was sent at your residence address after which you were suppose to undergo the MedicalExamination at your near-by Designated Medical Practitioners (DMP) This list can be found out athttpwwwcicgccadmp-mdmedicalaspx Once you were through this you were asked to resubmit your passportat your near-by VFS Office which was then sent back to the Governing Office in Delhi They then use to take
another month for the final approval of your application
But importantly from 31 March 2010 they have simplified the above process by taking an initiative to completeyour lsquoPre-Application Medical Examinationrsquo before you submit your application for Study Permit So thissimplified process has left students now to first meet those three sets in the second page of Checklist 2010 and thendedicate them to meet the fourth set (in Checklist) which is your Medical Examination Form IMM 1017 The lsquoPre-Application Medical Examinationrsquo though would give a thrill in your body when you would hear it for the first timebut believe us there is nothing to get tensed about it is very much like your regular body check-up which includesyour blood test urine test respiratory checks etc
They have got an important checklist which will help you out in arranging and developing a folder consisting of academic financial and government administration related documents The checklist is in the form of four setsdefining clearly their requirements
The various forms required are
Student Form Personal Information Form Student Questionnaire Form Study Permit Checklist Detailed Information on studying in Canada
For more information log on to httpwwwvfs-canadacoinindexhtml
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Things to Pack
bull There is no particular dress code in the campus People wear casual attires Bring as many set of dressesyou want Though expensive but good quality winter jacketsHoodies are available here You can bringthem from India as well Good to have woolen accessories like gloves muffler and woolen caps
bull Utensils since you have to cook your own food Preferably Flat-bottomed cooking vessels because hereelectric stoves are used Do not bring all of them but a basic starter set should do Once you are familiarwith the city and the stores around it you can buy them when you need The set should include a plate
spoons basic cooking utensils pressure cooker (if you need) glasses and any other basic cutlery Pleasenote that utensils are available here but they might be cheaper in India
bull All the traditional masala powders are available here but you may want to bring some with you for the firstfew days Recipes of your favorite dishes if you wish to test your culinary skills
bull You can bring your own medicines but donrsquot forget to get the prescription from doctor
bull Good to have some basic stationary from India as you might find things expensive here Avoid bringingfiles and punch as the filing system is different here with a three-hole punch A good carrying bag isadvisable
bull Best quality Umbrellas and raincoats are a must as you might need them most of the time They call itldquoRAINCOUVERrdquo here Rain Boots if you really need them
bull BOOKS Highly expensive here Get in touch with your supervisor and bring the recommendedTextbooks related to your field of study for sure Although we have the most advanced and sophisticatedlibrary system here
bull DOCUMENTS Bring them safely and securely along with their photocopies as you will need them morefrequently during initial days Some passport size photographs as well
bull Glasses and Contact Lens are a must Optics very expensive here Pictures of Deities basic every dayutilities (bed sheets Towels Toiletries etc)
A comprehensive list of things to pack can be referred in the appendix
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Things to do on arrival
bull Obtain a Campus-Wide Login username and password and get access to student service centre (SSC)httpssscadmubccasscportalservletsSRVSSCFramework Campus-Wide Login (CWL) is a single
username and password that allows you to access many online services at UBC including the StudentService Centre Update your information (e-mail address and current mailing address etc) on the portal
bull Meet your supervisor register for courses and pay your fees You can always add or drop a course within acertain deadline after which a course can only be dropped with a W standing till certain date After this datecourse cannot be dropped at all
bull Get in touch with Department Graduate secretary and fill out various forms in order to get access to UBCresources and fulfill other mandatory requirements
bull Attend the orientations scheduled and take a tour of University of British Columbia
bull Pick up your UBC card and U-Pass For more info refer
httpswwwubccardubcca
httpwwwupassubccaupassupassindexhtml
bull Apply for social insurance number (SIN) Get the relevant info and forms to be filled from yourdepartmentrsquos Graduate Secretary
httpwwwhrubccafaculty_relationsimmigrationsinhtml
bull Arrange for Health insurance plan and Apply for medical services plan (MSP) of BC
bull Open a bank account
bull Get connected over the mobile phones and internet UBC wireless internet is one of the largest campus
wireless networks in the world You just need to login with Campus-Wide Login (CWL)
bull Check your department welcome package for details (International student Handbook) To download thehandbook -
httpwwwstudentsubccainternationalinternational-studentsinternational-student-
handbookpage=employment
bull Come and join the magic of Indian Student Association- UTSAV and explore the culture and diversity of UBC
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Vancouver City
Vancouver is on the west coast of Canada and it is the third largest city in Canada It is 60 miles north of Seattle
which is the closest American city Vancouver has a fairly large International airport and it connects to almost all the
major cities in North America as well as to the rest of the world With the 2010 Winter Olympics being held in
Vancouver transportation has been upgraded to meet world class standards
Vancouver is a cosmopolitan city and here the size of the Indian community is around 60000 The city is in thePacific Time zone and that puts it 13 12 hours behind India during winter and 12 12 hours behind India during
summer Daylight savings occur during the second Sunday in March (1 hour forward) and the first Sunday in
November (1 hour back) Daylight savings allows us to make maximum use of the sunlight hours
In general Vancouver has a milder weather than the rest of the Canadian cities During winter the temperature rarely
dips below zero degrees Celsius and in summer the average temperature is around 23 degrees Vancouver is famous
for its rain so pack an umbrella (or five) raincoat and waterproof boots if you have them The rainy season lasts
from mid-November until mid-February
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Transportation
Vancouver has a very good public transportation system UBC students are provided with a subsidized Student
Transit Pass (U-Pass) which allows for unlimited usage of the system UBC automatically deducts the fees for thispass as part of your student fees ($2675 per month) You just have to collect your pass when you first arrive on
campus There are three modes of public transportation - buses sea buses and sky trains The U-Pass can be used for
all of these If you do not have a U-Pass an individual one zone bus ticket costs $250 Taxis can also be used as
means of transport but they are expensive Generally it costs about $30 to reach UBC campus from the airport and it
takes around 25 minutes Airport buses are available from the lower level of the airport One should board bus
number 4 and number 17 from downtown to reach UBC You can plan your trip and get more information about
transit schedules and fares at wwwtranslinkca Shuttle service is also provided by the International House Please
check the International House Web page for details
Another option to get to UBC from airport
Canada Line skytrain from the airport getting off at Cambie and Broadway station and take 99B line or at
Olympic Village station which in downtown and take Bus number 84
If you take either the 99B line or the 84 (electric bus) from the any of the two stops respectively the last stop of
both is UBC campus
You can find the full details with exact timings here translink
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Basic Layout of UBC Campus
The campus is divided into two approximate halves in the East-West directions by Main Mall and in the North-South directions by University Boulevard These two streets serve as the basic reference frame to the UBC
Vancouver Campus
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Food amp Accommodation
Vancouver has an assortment of cuisine such as Indian Chinese Thailand Mexican Japanese etc Indian spices andcondiments are freely available in the local market situated 15-20 minutes from the campus and these areas areeasily accessible by bus
It is a good idea to apply for residence beforehand There is a good sized waiting list for on-campus housing (theones that you see on the on-campus residences map) An example would be booking for a Thunderbird apartment inApril and getting it in November All the on-campus housing information is available at wwwhousingubcca
On-campus (within UBC) housing is relatively expensive compared to the housing options in the cityof Vancouver due to its added advantages If you find the below on-campus housing options expensive I haveprovided a link to the website that can assist you with housing options in city of Vancouver If you wish then youcan share the housingapartments among yourself in order to save the cost
Below are the housing options available on campus (within UBC) for Graduate Students
1) UBC Thunderbird Housing (Available through UBC Housing)
Website httpwwwhousingubccathunderbirdthundebird-overview Rental fee httpwwwhousingubccaresidence-feesthunderbird-residence
2) Marine Drive Housing (Available through UBC Housing)Websitehttpwwwhousingubccamarine-drivemarine-drive-overview Rental feehttpwwwhousingubccaresidence-feesmarine-drive
3) St Andrews Hallhttpwwwstandrewsedu
4) Green Collegehttpwwwgreencollegeubccaapply_for_residenceaccommodation_optionsindexphp
5) St Johns College
httpwwwstjohnsubccaMemberResstm
6) Greenwood Commonshttpwwwgreenwoodcommonsca
7) Vancouver School of Theologyhttpwwwvstedumainroomsstudent-housing
8) Carey Centre
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httpwwwcareycentrecomfacilityindexphpoption=com_contentampview=articleampid=2ampItemid=8
To find on-campus housing through external websites1) httpvancouverencraigslistca 2) Under housing choose aptshousing for rent3) On the right side of rent option there is an option for choosing no of bedrooms and you have your results
there
There is another website that can help you to find the on-campus housing Itrsquos called wwwamsrentslinecom Hereare the steps
1) wwwamsrentslinecom 2) In the quick search choose the number of bedroom under lsquoAccomodation Typersquo3) Leave the options of lsquoDistance to Universityrsquo and lsquoMaximum Rentrsquo just like that4) In the neighbourhood option choose UBC campus under ldquoVancouverrdquo and then search for your results
Please note that the above two websites are the most important websites for searching off-campus housing also(outside UBC)
Banking
Many banks are located in University Village area like CIBC and Bank of Montreal
Other than that the following banks are located on West 10th Avenue near Sasamat Street CIBC HSBC Scotia
bank RBC TD Canada Trust Vancity and Bank of Montreal
To open a bank account you will probably need to provide your UBCcard passport and local address Whenever
you make visit to a bank ask for any student accounts that offer low service fees
In Canada banks are generally open from Monday to Friday 1000 am to 400 pm Some bank branches are open onSaturday but closed on Monday
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Health and Insurance
Apply for BCrsquos Medical Services Plan (MSP)
Health care in Canada can be very expensive So itrsquos important to get covered by some insurance policy as soon as
you arrive in British Columbia
Usually international students are covered by iMED (private medical insurance) for a waiting period of three
months This waiting period includes the remainder of the month you arrive in BC plus two more months For
example if you arrived in BC on August 20 you would be eligible for MSP on November 1
wwwdavid-cummingscomimed
After three months of waiting period you can become eligible for MSP which is BCrsquos provincial Health insurance
plan for the rest of your stay in BC Donrsquot forget to apply for MSP as soon as you arrive in Vancouver
httpwwwhealthgovbccamspinfobenindexhtml
Alma Mater SocietyGraduate Student Society (AMSGSS) Health and Dental Plan can also be taken for extras not
covered by MSP or iMED
For more information referhttpwwwstudentsubccainternationalinternational-studentshealth-care-and-health-insurance
Mobile phones
Fido Bell WIND Mobile Rogers Koodo and TELUS are the major mobile service providers in Vancouver
You can opt for any one depending upon the utility and service plans Usually they have their stalls put
up in Student union Building (SUB) in the beginning of session wherein you can check and compare
different plans available Most of the plans have an agreement period of 2-3 years (unless you opt for
pay-as- you-go scheme) So take some time to select which plan would be most suitable and economical
for you
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FundingScholarships
UBC offers ample of scholarships for both Graduate and Undergraduate students You need to remain updated withsuch information so that you can fulfill their criteria and apply on time
Graduate Student
bull Most of the graduate students are offer International Partial tution fee which covers almost 50 of thetution fee If you are getting this scholarship then it will be mentioned on the offer letter from university
bull Research assistantship and TAship are also a major source of fundingRAship is funded by your professoror some time from the university (amount is average $17000 but it may vary depending on the departmentand professor as well)
bull You can apply for Teaching assistantship (TAship) Other than RA Itrsquos a good idea to look for it when youare applying to university If you donrsquot get it then no worries You can apply for the next term(Gradsecratery and your Professor are a great help in this matter)
bull Apart from this there are some scholarships which can be get on the basis of meritRules and amount of scholarship may vary year to year So itrsquos a good idea to keep an eye on your yearrsquos listing Following isthe link for Graduate students they can refer to it for this year
httpsyouubccaubcvancouverintlscholarshipsezc httpwwwgradubccaawardsindexasp httpwwwgradubccaprospective-studentsscholarships-awards-funding
Undergraduate students
Undergraduate students can refer to following link It covers all the details from tuition fee to available scholarshipsNormally all the undergraduate students are automatically considered for scholarships
httpsyouubccaubcvancouverfinancesezcpageID=1028
You can also find scholarship from outside sources through websites such as wwwscholarshipscanadacom andwwwstudentawardscom
Apart from this you can work while studying as well (refer next section) You can know more about it once youreach hereGood luck
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On off campus jobs
UBC career services provide excellent opportunities to work in order to support your education to gain valuable
Canadian workplace experience as well as lot of voluntary work
httpwwwstudentsubccacareersindexcfm
The following link would be of great help for searching on-campus as well as off campus work opportunities (there
is a waiting period of at least six months to get your off-campus work permit from the day you arrive)
httpwwwstudentsubccainternationalinternational-studentsworking
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Entertainment
There are many cinema complexes around the city (Silvercity Tinseltown Paramount etc) and a few of them thatexclusively screen latest Hindi movies (Raja Cinemas) Many Indian films and music are available at video rentalsand music stores IMAX and OMNIMAX theaters are also located in Vancouver Local Indian Radio stationsinclude 1600AM (Radio India) 1200AM (Rim Jhim) 1550AM (Radio Punjab) and 931FM (REDFM) Indian TVshows and movies are screened on Channel 8 (Omni BC) and Channel 119 (Shaw Multicultural Channel) on various
daystimes throughout the week Weekly South Asian newspapers include lsquoThe Linkrsquo lsquoThe Voicersquo lsquoThe Asian Starrsquoand lsquoThe South Asian PostrsquoVancouverites are an active bunch and there are many outdoor activities one can take part in during your spare timeIn the summer biking hiking and camping are quite common and in the winter you can go skating or skiingThere are also various UBC intramural sports leagues students can take part in including soccer volleyballbadminton tennis and basketball Vancouver also has 2 different cricket leagues which run during the summerFor those who are spiritually inclined there are at least 8 large Temples 2 large Mosques and countless Gurdwarasand Churches spread all throughout the Lower Mainland
The best must-visit destinations worth visit in coastal British Columbia are Tofino Sunshine Coast Victoria andGulf Islands Other places of interest around Vancouver region may be a trip to Whistler Harrison Lake GreaterVancouver Zoo Stanley Park Bowen Island Granville Island China Town Night Market in Richmond GrouseMountain Gas town Robson Street and VanDusen Garden
The UBC campus offers easy access to many of Vancouverrsquos beaches that you may like to visit Most popular onesbeing Kitsilano Beach Spanish Banks Wreck Beach Tower Beach English Bay and Jericho Beach
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Clubs and Extra-curricular
The mild climate and spectacular natural environment makes Vancouver a haven for people who love the outdoors
Snowboarding and skiing kayaking hiking trail running rock climbing ndash whatever your passion you can get
outside and enjoy it most of the year
The Varsity Outdoor Club (VOC) is open to anyone at UBC - students faculty staff spouses and members of the
greater community The club is dedicated to those who want to explore the outdoors here and anywhere else in the
world Great platform for members to actively pursue hiking rock-climbing mountaineering kayaking ski touring
ice climbing and socializingrdquo (Info courtesy VOC wiki)
httpwwwubc-voccom
UBC Dance Club
httpwwwubcdanceclubcom
Varsity Outdoor Club
httpwwwubc-voccom
UBC Aquatic Centre
httpwwwaquaticsubcca
UBC REC
httpwwwrecubcca
Attractions UBC
httpwwwattractionsubcca
UBC Tennis
httpwwwtennisubcca
Please make yourselves aware of all the safety precautions and waivers before attempting any adventure sports
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Faith
Hindu Temples Mandir Street Address Contact info
Mahalakshmi Hindu Temple 467 11th Avenue EastVancouver BC V5T2C8 Phone 604-874-0175
Vishva Hindu Parishad
Temple 3885 Albert Street
Burnaby BC V5C 2C8 Phone 604-299-5922
Shiv Mandir 1795 Napier Street
Vancouver BC V5L 2N1
Phone 604- 874-0175
ISKCON Vancouver5462 Marine Drive
Burnaby BC V5J 3G8Phone 604-433-9728
Mosques Street Address Contact info
Jamia Masjid Vancouver655 West 8th Ave
Vancouver BC V5Z 1C7Phone 604-309-6036
Richmond Jamia Mosque
(Biggest mosque in BC)
12300 Blundell Rd
Richmond BC V6W 1B3Phone 604-270-2522
Islamic Information Centre3127 Kingsway St
Vancouver BC V5R 5J9Phone 604-434-7526
Masjid Alhaq4162 Welwyn StVancouver BC
Phone 604-873-1787
Dar Al-Madinah IslamicSociety
7155 Victoria DriveVancouver BC
PhoneFax 604-873-8580
Surrey Mosque12407 72nd Ave
Surrey BC V3W 2M5Phone 604-591-7601
Al-Noor Mosque13526 98A Ave
Surrey BCPhoneFax 604-930-9742
Masjidur-Rahmah13585 62nd Ave
Surrey BC V3A 2J3 Phone 604-597-7863
Al- Salaam Mosque 5060 Canada Way Phone 604-524-4499
Sikh Temples Gurudwaras Street Address Contact info
Akali Singh Sikh Temple1890 Skeena Street
Vancouver BC - V5M 4L3Phone (604) 254-2117
Canadian Ramgharia Society 6908 Macpherson Ave (604) 438-0846
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Burnaby BC - V5J 4N3
Babbar Khalsa Dal4767 Union Street
Burnaby British ColumbiaTel (604) 376 1749
Cloverdale Sikh Society5748 175 Street
Surrey BC - V3S 4T7 (604) 574-7594
Gurdwara Sahib DasmeshDarbar
115-12885 85 AvenueSurrey BC - V3W 0K8
(604) 594-2573
Khalsa Darbar61st and Prince Edward Street
Vancouver BCPhone 604-325-2290
Gurdwara Khalsa Darbar390 61st Avenue East
Vancouver BC - V5X 2B6Phone (604) 325-2290
Campus Security
Vancouver is one of the most livable cities in the world Although its crime rate is low still security is a concern
particularly against thefts UBC campus security is provided by the UBC patrol and RCMP (Royal Canadian
Mounted Police)
Campus security is located next to the UBC Bookstore Campus Security provides 24-hour assistance seven days a
week Call 604-822-2222 if you have a safety concern or an emergency situation For more information visit
wwwsecurityubcca
If you are walking alone late night or not too sure where to go and you can also take help of safety walk Safewalk
provides male and female student teams that will accompany anyone between points on campus free of charge Theservice runs throughout the school year and during the summer months You can book a walk by calling 604-822-
5355 dropping by the office in the SUB concourse or looking for the Safewalk patrollers in bright red jackets Visit
wwwamsubccasafewalk for hours and other information
Call 911 in case of emergency or have been the victim of crime Always give the location to the operator particularly
the building address Calls to 911 are received at a call centre in Downtown Vancouver and the operators may not
be familiar with the building names on campus
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Blue Phones
Blue phones are located at various locations around the campus core Elevator phones in most building also provide
direct access to Campus Security
Campus Maps
You can download the UBC campus map from here
httpwwwstudentsubccacurrentdownloadcampusmap07pdf
You can search for locations on the UBC campus map at this site
httpwwwmapsubccaPRODindexphp
httpwwwstudentsubccacurrentcampuscfm
The on-campus residences map
httpwwwhousingubccarez_maprez_maphtm
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Contact us
Email utsav_ubcyahoocom
Facebook httpwwwfacebookcomgroupphpgid=3220440131
Webpage httpwwwindiaubccom
YahoogroupUBC_bharatyahoogroupcom
To subscribe to our mailing list send a blank email to
ubc_bharat-subscribeyahoogroupscom
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Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the inputs from the International Student Handbook 200910
published by International Student Development at UBC MITACS Globalink program Handbook and UTSAV website which were immensely helpful in compiling this information
handbook
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Appendix
Things to pack
We Indian Student Association ndash UTSAV helps undergraduate and graduate students prospective and currentstudents throughtout their stay at UBC Please check the reminders section to make sure you do not forget important
documents while travelling
You should bring with you all your original transcripts degree certificate provisional certificate migration
certificate TOEFLGRE scores certificates birth certificate work experience certificate papers and publications
for which you have mentioned in your portfolio Sometimes the school may ask you to show them to validate or may
ask you to submit you originals Hence it would be safe if you keep them with you when you arrive here
In flight
1 Specify while you book your ticket regarding your food preferences especially when you are a strict vegetarian
Few flights do provide the service of providing Jain and Hindu meals in flight
2 Keep your hand baggage as light as possible because during transit you may have to walk long distances Try to
carry hand bags with trolley that would help you in easy transfer
Important Note
1 Make sure you carry your Indian Driving license this help you here while you apply for International Driving
LicensePermit
2 Try to carry 3-4 pairs of glasses (spares) with you and have an advance eye sight check up in India because here
these things are usually very expensive You anyway would have an eye check up during your Pre-Medical
Examination
3 A dental check up at least fifteen days in advance would be quite appropriate
4 Carry money as travelers cheques they are the safest and most convenient method of carrying money
What to Get and What Not
1 It will be great if you can get yourself the books you need here though we have very good library here which
would provide you with sufficient copies of each book of your requirement But see to it that carrying them you
arenrsquot exceeding your baggage weight limitations
2 If you are looking forward to cook Indian food at your place then bring along a Pressure Cooker and any flat
bottomed vessels
3 You can carry pulses rice Indian spices pickles etc with you but it is better if you donrsquot carry them with you as
we have many Indian grocery shops at Vancouver mainly at Fraser and Main Street Also there are some good
shops within campus where you can get all the above mentioned things
4 Get yourself sufficient stock of undergarments and socks as you might be washing clothes once every 10 days or
more
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5 You should bring with yourself 1-2 umbrellas a raincoat or a wind-sheeter as it rains a lot here from October till
March
6 You would need warm clothes (a good winter jacket) as it is cold here except for 2-4 months in summer Good
sweaters preferably two woollen gloves mufflers and woollen caps thermal vest and long johns
7 Get all the stationary items like staplers punchers etc also a good alarm clock
8 Buy a good pair of walking shoe sports shoe formal shoe (all water-proof) as it rains a lot here and you might
have to walk a lot here
9 Donrsquot get along any electronic items here as the voltage is much lower than in India
10 And if you are still carrying then get yourself a Step-upStep-down voltage convertor This will prove a lot more
helpful here Make sure you are buying it for the correct Watt as for hair dryers you might have to go for 1800W
These convertors are available here as well but a bit more expensive
11 A good school bag a Visa folder (to hold cards) a walletpurses
12 Get some medicines which you think would be useful or any common health problems that you have You could
get some basic medicines for headache stomach ache indigestion fever etc
Baggage specifications
You should check this out with your concerned airlines preferably there website They would give you perfect
information on the weight and dimensional limitations It would be good if you can lock your baggage with TSA
locks
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What should I bring from INDIA All the items mention ed below can be fo und easily in the city of Vancouver However the reason we have written them
is to remind you wh at to carry or buy here in case you forget This list is a checklist of items yo u migh t need here We
recommend you to buy mo st of the items fro m India because these items are very expensive in the city of Vancouver
Item Comments
A Clothes
1 Full Sleeve Shirts
2 Half Sleeve Shirts
3 Formal Trousers
4 Blazer (Informal) Suit (Formal) Suit Recommended
5 Tie
6 T-shirts
7 Jeans
8 Shorts Cargos Bermudas9 Belts
10 Traditional Highly Recommended for Indian events
11 Sweaters Recommended
12 Pyjamas Night Suit
13 Under Garments
14 Towels
15 Handkerchiefs used less here
16 Blanket (Light Weight) depends on your baggage (can buy here)
17 Single Bed Sheet
18 Bed Cover
19 Pillow Cover
20 Woolen Gloves Leather amp wool (Highly Recommended)21 Jacket Optional (can buy here)
22 Thermal Innerwear Long johns Required in winter
23 CapsToques Optional
24 Swimwear Expensive here
B Footwear
1 Chappals Sandals Traditional Footwear
2 Slippers Flotters
3 Formal Black Leather Shoes
4 Casual Sport Shoes
5 Shoe Polish for Formal Shoes
6 Shoe Polishing Brush
7 Socks (black for formal shoes)
8 Socks (White) Cheaply Available here
C Miscellaneous Items
1 Glasses Contact Lenses Must (Optics very expensive here)
2 Contact Lenses Solution Check for yourself
3 Stitching Kit
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G Stationary
1 School Bag A Little Expensive here
2 Ball Point Pen For initial use
3 Refils
4 BondedClutch Pencils
5 Sharpener
6 Eraser Pencil
7 Clutch Pencil (05 mm)
8 Lead Box (05 mm)
9 Steel Scale 6 Optional
10 Stapler Donrsquot forget these
11 Stapler Pins Box
12 Punch Please donrsquot bring 3 holes punch required here
13 Scientific Calculator Replace the batteries without fail
14 Cello Tapes Optional
15 Glue Stick Glue Optional
16 Sketch Pen Optional
17 Note books Papers Files Folders Do not bring
H Books (apart from course-work)
1 Oxford Concise Dictionary
2 Books about India Optional
3 Religious Books Optional
I Medicines (optional)
1 Vicks (Vaporub amp Inhaler)
2 Balm (Amrutanjan etc)
3 Iodex
4 Dettol
5 Band-Aid (wash proof)6 Burnol
7 Painkiller tabs like Combiflam Brufen
8 Drugs amp Antibiotics (fever amp cold etc)
9 Vaseline Especially for people coming in winter
J Documents
1 Recent Photographs Negatives
2 General Photographs
3 Passport Photocopies
4 Admission
5 VISA photocopies
6 Credentials Transcripts
7 Recommendation SOP
8 GRE TOEFL Score Sheet
9 Medical Fitness Certificate
10 Medical Prescription of all medicines
11 College Leaving Certificate
12 Traveller cheques
13 Enough Money-Cash with some change
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Compiled by C P Sha r m a ( Cheenu ) 201 0 - 11 W eb admin and New s let t e r Ed i to r
Valuable contributions from
UTSAV execu t i ve team 2010 - 11
Sr in iv as Ram an Harshu l Sr iv as tava Rashm i Bhadaur ia
An i r uddha Cha t t e r j ee Sw iya Na th Tab i ta Ve r m a amp Sneha She th s tuden t s ove r the
yea r s and o the r ex t e r na l agenc ies
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Things to Pack
bull There is no particular dress code in the campus People wear casual attires Bring as many set of dressesyou want Though expensive but good quality winter jacketsHoodies are available here You can bringthem from India as well Good to have woolen accessories like gloves muffler and woolen caps
bull Utensils since you have to cook your own food Preferably Flat-bottomed cooking vessels because hereelectric stoves are used Do not bring all of them but a basic starter set should do Once you are familiarwith the city and the stores around it you can buy them when you need The set should include a plate
spoons basic cooking utensils pressure cooker (if you need) glasses and any other basic cutlery Pleasenote that utensils are available here but they might be cheaper in India
bull All the traditional masala powders are available here but you may want to bring some with you for the firstfew days Recipes of your favorite dishes if you wish to test your culinary skills
bull You can bring your own medicines but donrsquot forget to get the prescription from doctor
bull Good to have some basic stationary from India as you might find things expensive here Avoid bringingfiles and punch as the filing system is different here with a three-hole punch A good carrying bag isadvisable
bull Best quality Umbrellas and raincoats are a must as you might need them most of the time They call itldquoRAINCOUVERrdquo here Rain Boots if you really need them
bull BOOKS Highly expensive here Get in touch with your supervisor and bring the recommendedTextbooks related to your field of study for sure Although we have the most advanced and sophisticatedlibrary system here
bull DOCUMENTS Bring them safely and securely along with their photocopies as you will need them morefrequently during initial days Some passport size photographs as well
bull Glasses and Contact Lens are a must Optics very expensive here Pictures of Deities basic every dayutilities (bed sheets Towels Toiletries etc)
A comprehensive list of things to pack can be referred in the appendix
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Things to do on arrival
bull Obtain a Campus-Wide Login username and password and get access to student service centre (SSC)httpssscadmubccasscportalservletsSRVSSCFramework Campus-Wide Login (CWL) is a single
username and password that allows you to access many online services at UBC including the StudentService Centre Update your information (e-mail address and current mailing address etc) on the portal
bull Meet your supervisor register for courses and pay your fees You can always add or drop a course within acertain deadline after which a course can only be dropped with a W standing till certain date After this datecourse cannot be dropped at all
bull Get in touch with Department Graduate secretary and fill out various forms in order to get access to UBCresources and fulfill other mandatory requirements
bull Attend the orientations scheduled and take a tour of University of British Columbia
bull Pick up your UBC card and U-Pass For more info refer
httpswwwubccardubcca
httpwwwupassubccaupassupassindexhtml
bull Apply for social insurance number (SIN) Get the relevant info and forms to be filled from yourdepartmentrsquos Graduate Secretary
httpwwwhrubccafaculty_relationsimmigrationsinhtml
bull Arrange for Health insurance plan and Apply for medical services plan (MSP) of BC
bull Open a bank account
bull Get connected over the mobile phones and internet UBC wireless internet is one of the largest campus
wireless networks in the world You just need to login with Campus-Wide Login (CWL)
bull Check your department welcome package for details (International student Handbook) To download thehandbook -
httpwwwstudentsubccainternationalinternational-studentsinternational-student-
handbookpage=employment
bull Come and join the magic of Indian Student Association- UTSAV and explore the culture and diversity of UBC
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Vancouver City
Vancouver is on the west coast of Canada and it is the third largest city in Canada It is 60 miles north of Seattle
which is the closest American city Vancouver has a fairly large International airport and it connects to almost all the
major cities in North America as well as to the rest of the world With the 2010 Winter Olympics being held in
Vancouver transportation has been upgraded to meet world class standards
Vancouver is a cosmopolitan city and here the size of the Indian community is around 60000 The city is in thePacific Time zone and that puts it 13 12 hours behind India during winter and 12 12 hours behind India during
summer Daylight savings occur during the second Sunday in March (1 hour forward) and the first Sunday in
November (1 hour back) Daylight savings allows us to make maximum use of the sunlight hours
In general Vancouver has a milder weather than the rest of the Canadian cities During winter the temperature rarely
dips below zero degrees Celsius and in summer the average temperature is around 23 degrees Vancouver is famous
for its rain so pack an umbrella (or five) raincoat and waterproof boots if you have them The rainy season lasts
from mid-November until mid-February
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Transportation
Vancouver has a very good public transportation system UBC students are provided with a subsidized Student
Transit Pass (U-Pass) which allows for unlimited usage of the system UBC automatically deducts the fees for thispass as part of your student fees ($2675 per month) You just have to collect your pass when you first arrive on
campus There are three modes of public transportation - buses sea buses and sky trains The U-Pass can be used for
all of these If you do not have a U-Pass an individual one zone bus ticket costs $250 Taxis can also be used as
means of transport but they are expensive Generally it costs about $30 to reach UBC campus from the airport and it
takes around 25 minutes Airport buses are available from the lower level of the airport One should board bus
number 4 and number 17 from downtown to reach UBC You can plan your trip and get more information about
transit schedules and fares at wwwtranslinkca Shuttle service is also provided by the International House Please
check the International House Web page for details
Another option to get to UBC from airport
Canada Line skytrain from the airport getting off at Cambie and Broadway station and take 99B line or at
Olympic Village station which in downtown and take Bus number 84
If you take either the 99B line or the 84 (electric bus) from the any of the two stops respectively the last stop of
both is UBC campus
You can find the full details with exact timings here translink
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Basic Layout of UBC Campus
The campus is divided into two approximate halves in the East-West directions by Main Mall and in the North-South directions by University Boulevard These two streets serve as the basic reference frame to the UBC
Vancouver Campus
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Food amp Accommodation
Vancouver has an assortment of cuisine such as Indian Chinese Thailand Mexican Japanese etc Indian spices andcondiments are freely available in the local market situated 15-20 minutes from the campus and these areas areeasily accessible by bus
It is a good idea to apply for residence beforehand There is a good sized waiting list for on-campus housing (theones that you see on the on-campus residences map) An example would be booking for a Thunderbird apartment inApril and getting it in November All the on-campus housing information is available at wwwhousingubcca
On-campus (within UBC) housing is relatively expensive compared to the housing options in the cityof Vancouver due to its added advantages If you find the below on-campus housing options expensive I haveprovided a link to the website that can assist you with housing options in city of Vancouver If you wish then youcan share the housingapartments among yourself in order to save the cost
Below are the housing options available on campus (within UBC) for Graduate Students
1) UBC Thunderbird Housing (Available through UBC Housing)
Website httpwwwhousingubccathunderbirdthundebird-overview Rental fee httpwwwhousingubccaresidence-feesthunderbird-residence
2) Marine Drive Housing (Available through UBC Housing)Websitehttpwwwhousingubccamarine-drivemarine-drive-overview Rental feehttpwwwhousingubccaresidence-feesmarine-drive
3) St Andrews Hallhttpwwwstandrewsedu
4) Green Collegehttpwwwgreencollegeubccaapply_for_residenceaccommodation_optionsindexphp
5) St Johns College
httpwwwstjohnsubccaMemberResstm
6) Greenwood Commonshttpwwwgreenwoodcommonsca
7) Vancouver School of Theologyhttpwwwvstedumainroomsstudent-housing
8) Carey Centre
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httpwwwcareycentrecomfacilityindexphpoption=com_contentampview=articleampid=2ampItemid=8
To find on-campus housing through external websites1) httpvancouverencraigslistca 2) Under housing choose aptshousing for rent3) On the right side of rent option there is an option for choosing no of bedrooms and you have your results
there
There is another website that can help you to find the on-campus housing Itrsquos called wwwamsrentslinecom Hereare the steps
1) wwwamsrentslinecom 2) In the quick search choose the number of bedroom under lsquoAccomodation Typersquo3) Leave the options of lsquoDistance to Universityrsquo and lsquoMaximum Rentrsquo just like that4) In the neighbourhood option choose UBC campus under ldquoVancouverrdquo and then search for your results
Please note that the above two websites are the most important websites for searching off-campus housing also(outside UBC)
Banking
Many banks are located in University Village area like CIBC and Bank of Montreal
Other than that the following banks are located on West 10th Avenue near Sasamat Street CIBC HSBC Scotia
bank RBC TD Canada Trust Vancity and Bank of Montreal
To open a bank account you will probably need to provide your UBCcard passport and local address Whenever
you make visit to a bank ask for any student accounts that offer low service fees
In Canada banks are generally open from Monday to Friday 1000 am to 400 pm Some bank branches are open onSaturday but closed on Monday
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Health and Insurance
Apply for BCrsquos Medical Services Plan (MSP)
Health care in Canada can be very expensive So itrsquos important to get covered by some insurance policy as soon as
you arrive in British Columbia
Usually international students are covered by iMED (private medical insurance) for a waiting period of three
months This waiting period includes the remainder of the month you arrive in BC plus two more months For
example if you arrived in BC on August 20 you would be eligible for MSP on November 1
wwwdavid-cummingscomimed
After three months of waiting period you can become eligible for MSP which is BCrsquos provincial Health insurance
plan for the rest of your stay in BC Donrsquot forget to apply for MSP as soon as you arrive in Vancouver
httpwwwhealthgovbccamspinfobenindexhtml
Alma Mater SocietyGraduate Student Society (AMSGSS) Health and Dental Plan can also be taken for extras not
covered by MSP or iMED
For more information referhttpwwwstudentsubccainternationalinternational-studentshealth-care-and-health-insurance
Mobile phones
Fido Bell WIND Mobile Rogers Koodo and TELUS are the major mobile service providers in Vancouver
You can opt for any one depending upon the utility and service plans Usually they have their stalls put
up in Student union Building (SUB) in the beginning of session wherein you can check and compare
different plans available Most of the plans have an agreement period of 2-3 years (unless you opt for
pay-as- you-go scheme) So take some time to select which plan would be most suitable and economical
for you
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FundingScholarships
UBC offers ample of scholarships for both Graduate and Undergraduate students You need to remain updated withsuch information so that you can fulfill their criteria and apply on time
Graduate Student
bull Most of the graduate students are offer International Partial tution fee which covers almost 50 of thetution fee If you are getting this scholarship then it will be mentioned on the offer letter from university
bull Research assistantship and TAship are also a major source of fundingRAship is funded by your professoror some time from the university (amount is average $17000 but it may vary depending on the departmentand professor as well)
bull You can apply for Teaching assistantship (TAship) Other than RA Itrsquos a good idea to look for it when youare applying to university If you donrsquot get it then no worries You can apply for the next term(Gradsecratery and your Professor are a great help in this matter)
bull Apart from this there are some scholarships which can be get on the basis of meritRules and amount of scholarship may vary year to year So itrsquos a good idea to keep an eye on your yearrsquos listing Following isthe link for Graduate students they can refer to it for this year
httpsyouubccaubcvancouverintlscholarshipsezc httpwwwgradubccaawardsindexasp httpwwwgradubccaprospective-studentsscholarships-awards-funding
Undergraduate students
Undergraduate students can refer to following link It covers all the details from tuition fee to available scholarshipsNormally all the undergraduate students are automatically considered for scholarships
httpsyouubccaubcvancouverfinancesezcpageID=1028
You can also find scholarship from outside sources through websites such as wwwscholarshipscanadacom andwwwstudentawardscom
Apart from this you can work while studying as well (refer next section) You can know more about it once youreach hereGood luck
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On off campus jobs
UBC career services provide excellent opportunities to work in order to support your education to gain valuable
Canadian workplace experience as well as lot of voluntary work
httpwwwstudentsubccacareersindexcfm
The following link would be of great help for searching on-campus as well as off campus work opportunities (there
is a waiting period of at least six months to get your off-campus work permit from the day you arrive)
httpwwwstudentsubccainternationalinternational-studentsworking
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Entertainment
There are many cinema complexes around the city (Silvercity Tinseltown Paramount etc) and a few of them thatexclusively screen latest Hindi movies (Raja Cinemas) Many Indian films and music are available at video rentalsand music stores IMAX and OMNIMAX theaters are also located in Vancouver Local Indian Radio stationsinclude 1600AM (Radio India) 1200AM (Rim Jhim) 1550AM (Radio Punjab) and 931FM (REDFM) Indian TVshows and movies are screened on Channel 8 (Omni BC) and Channel 119 (Shaw Multicultural Channel) on various
daystimes throughout the week Weekly South Asian newspapers include lsquoThe Linkrsquo lsquoThe Voicersquo lsquoThe Asian Starrsquoand lsquoThe South Asian PostrsquoVancouverites are an active bunch and there are many outdoor activities one can take part in during your spare timeIn the summer biking hiking and camping are quite common and in the winter you can go skating or skiingThere are also various UBC intramural sports leagues students can take part in including soccer volleyballbadminton tennis and basketball Vancouver also has 2 different cricket leagues which run during the summerFor those who are spiritually inclined there are at least 8 large Temples 2 large Mosques and countless Gurdwarasand Churches spread all throughout the Lower Mainland
The best must-visit destinations worth visit in coastal British Columbia are Tofino Sunshine Coast Victoria andGulf Islands Other places of interest around Vancouver region may be a trip to Whistler Harrison Lake GreaterVancouver Zoo Stanley Park Bowen Island Granville Island China Town Night Market in Richmond GrouseMountain Gas town Robson Street and VanDusen Garden
The UBC campus offers easy access to many of Vancouverrsquos beaches that you may like to visit Most popular onesbeing Kitsilano Beach Spanish Banks Wreck Beach Tower Beach English Bay and Jericho Beach
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Clubs and Extra-curricular
The mild climate and spectacular natural environment makes Vancouver a haven for people who love the outdoors
Snowboarding and skiing kayaking hiking trail running rock climbing ndash whatever your passion you can get
outside and enjoy it most of the year
The Varsity Outdoor Club (VOC) is open to anyone at UBC - students faculty staff spouses and members of the
greater community The club is dedicated to those who want to explore the outdoors here and anywhere else in the
world Great platform for members to actively pursue hiking rock-climbing mountaineering kayaking ski touring
ice climbing and socializingrdquo (Info courtesy VOC wiki)
httpwwwubc-voccom
UBC Dance Club
httpwwwubcdanceclubcom
Varsity Outdoor Club
httpwwwubc-voccom
UBC Aquatic Centre
httpwwwaquaticsubcca
UBC REC
httpwwwrecubcca
Attractions UBC
httpwwwattractionsubcca
UBC Tennis
httpwwwtennisubcca
Please make yourselves aware of all the safety precautions and waivers before attempting any adventure sports
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Faith
Hindu Temples Mandir Street Address Contact info
Mahalakshmi Hindu Temple 467 11th Avenue EastVancouver BC V5T2C8 Phone 604-874-0175
Vishva Hindu Parishad
Temple 3885 Albert Street
Burnaby BC V5C 2C8 Phone 604-299-5922
Shiv Mandir 1795 Napier Street
Vancouver BC V5L 2N1
Phone 604- 874-0175
ISKCON Vancouver5462 Marine Drive
Burnaby BC V5J 3G8Phone 604-433-9728
Mosques Street Address Contact info
Jamia Masjid Vancouver655 West 8th Ave
Vancouver BC V5Z 1C7Phone 604-309-6036
Richmond Jamia Mosque
(Biggest mosque in BC)
12300 Blundell Rd
Richmond BC V6W 1B3Phone 604-270-2522
Islamic Information Centre3127 Kingsway St
Vancouver BC V5R 5J9Phone 604-434-7526
Masjid Alhaq4162 Welwyn StVancouver BC
Phone 604-873-1787
Dar Al-Madinah IslamicSociety
7155 Victoria DriveVancouver BC
PhoneFax 604-873-8580
Surrey Mosque12407 72nd Ave
Surrey BC V3W 2M5Phone 604-591-7601
Al-Noor Mosque13526 98A Ave
Surrey BCPhoneFax 604-930-9742
Masjidur-Rahmah13585 62nd Ave
Surrey BC V3A 2J3 Phone 604-597-7863
Al- Salaam Mosque 5060 Canada Way Phone 604-524-4499
Sikh Temples Gurudwaras Street Address Contact info
Akali Singh Sikh Temple1890 Skeena Street
Vancouver BC - V5M 4L3Phone (604) 254-2117
Canadian Ramgharia Society 6908 Macpherson Ave (604) 438-0846
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Burnaby BC - V5J 4N3
Babbar Khalsa Dal4767 Union Street
Burnaby British ColumbiaTel (604) 376 1749
Cloverdale Sikh Society5748 175 Street
Surrey BC - V3S 4T7 (604) 574-7594
Gurdwara Sahib DasmeshDarbar
115-12885 85 AvenueSurrey BC - V3W 0K8
(604) 594-2573
Khalsa Darbar61st and Prince Edward Street
Vancouver BCPhone 604-325-2290
Gurdwara Khalsa Darbar390 61st Avenue East
Vancouver BC - V5X 2B6Phone (604) 325-2290
Campus Security
Vancouver is one of the most livable cities in the world Although its crime rate is low still security is a concern
particularly against thefts UBC campus security is provided by the UBC patrol and RCMP (Royal Canadian
Mounted Police)
Campus security is located next to the UBC Bookstore Campus Security provides 24-hour assistance seven days a
week Call 604-822-2222 if you have a safety concern or an emergency situation For more information visit
wwwsecurityubcca
If you are walking alone late night or not too sure where to go and you can also take help of safety walk Safewalk
provides male and female student teams that will accompany anyone between points on campus free of charge Theservice runs throughout the school year and during the summer months You can book a walk by calling 604-822-
5355 dropping by the office in the SUB concourse or looking for the Safewalk patrollers in bright red jackets Visit
wwwamsubccasafewalk for hours and other information
Call 911 in case of emergency or have been the victim of crime Always give the location to the operator particularly
the building address Calls to 911 are received at a call centre in Downtown Vancouver and the operators may not
be familiar with the building names on campus
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Blue Phones
Blue phones are located at various locations around the campus core Elevator phones in most building also provide
direct access to Campus Security
Campus Maps
You can download the UBC campus map from here
httpwwwstudentsubccacurrentdownloadcampusmap07pdf
You can search for locations on the UBC campus map at this site
httpwwwmapsubccaPRODindexphp
httpwwwstudentsubccacurrentcampuscfm
The on-campus residences map
httpwwwhousingubccarez_maprez_maphtm
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Contact us
Email utsav_ubcyahoocom
Facebook httpwwwfacebookcomgroupphpgid=3220440131
Webpage httpwwwindiaubccom
YahoogroupUBC_bharatyahoogroupcom
To subscribe to our mailing list send a blank email to
ubc_bharat-subscribeyahoogroupscom
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Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the inputs from the International Student Handbook 200910
published by International Student Development at UBC MITACS Globalink program Handbook and UTSAV website which were immensely helpful in compiling this information
handbook
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Appendix
Things to pack
We Indian Student Association ndash UTSAV helps undergraduate and graduate students prospective and currentstudents throughtout their stay at UBC Please check the reminders section to make sure you do not forget important
documents while travelling
You should bring with you all your original transcripts degree certificate provisional certificate migration
certificate TOEFLGRE scores certificates birth certificate work experience certificate papers and publications
for which you have mentioned in your portfolio Sometimes the school may ask you to show them to validate or may
ask you to submit you originals Hence it would be safe if you keep them with you when you arrive here
In flight
1 Specify while you book your ticket regarding your food preferences especially when you are a strict vegetarian
Few flights do provide the service of providing Jain and Hindu meals in flight
2 Keep your hand baggage as light as possible because during transit you may have to walk long distances Try to
carry hand bags with trolley that would help you in easy transfer
Important Note
1 Make sure you carry your Indian Driving license this help you here while you apply for International Driving
LicensePermit
2 Try to carry 3-4 pairs of glasses (spares) with you and have an advance eye sight check up in India because here
these things are usually very expensive You anyway would have an eye check up during your Pre-Medical
Examination
3 A dental check up at least fifteen days in advance would be quite appropriate
4 Carry money as travelers cheques they are the safest and most convenient method of carrying money
What to Get and What Not
1 It will be great if you can get yourself the books you need here though we have very good library here which
would provide you with sufficient copies of each book of your requirement But see to it that carrying them you
arenrsquot exceeding your baggage weight limitations
2 If you are looking forward to cook Indian food at your place then bring along a Pressure Cooker and any flat
bottomed vessels
3 You can carry pulses rice Indian spices pickles etc with you but it is better if you donrsquot carry them with you as
we have many Indian grocery shops at Vancouver mainly at Fraser and Main Street Also there are some good
shops within campus where you can get all the above mentioned things
4 Get yourself sufficient stock of undergarments and socks as you might be washing clothes once every 10 days or
more
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5 You should bring with yourself 1-2 umbrellas a raincoat or a wind-sheeter as it rains a lot here from October till
March
6 You would need warm clothes (a good winter jacket) as it is cold here except for 2-4 months in summer Good
sweaters preferably two woollen gloves mufflers and woollen caps thermal vest and long johns
7 Get all the stationary items like staplers punchers etc also a good alarm clock
8 Buy a good pair of walking shoe sports shoe formal shoe (all water-proof) as it rains a lot here and you might
have to walk a lot here
9 Donrsquot get along any electronic items here as the voltage is much lower than in India
10 And if you are still carrying then get yourself a Step-upStep-down voltage convertor This will prove a lot more
helpful here Make sure you are buying it for the correct Watt as for hair dryers you might have to go for 1800W
These convertors are available here as well but a bit more expensive
11 A good school bag a Visa folder (to hold cards) a walletpurses
12 Get some medicines which you think would be useful or any common health problems that you have You could
get some basic medicines for headache stomach ache indigestion fever etc
Baggage specifications
You should check this out with your concerned airlines preferably there website They would give you perfect
information on the weight and dimensional limitations It would be good if you can lock your baggage with TSA
locks
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What should I bring from INDIA All the items mention ed below can be fo und easily in the city of Vancouver However the reason we have written them
is to remind you wh at to carry or buy here in case you forget This list is a checklist of items yo u migh t need here We
recommend you to buy mo st of the items fro m India because these items are very expensive in the city of Vancouver
Item Comments
A Clothes
1 Full Sleeve Shirts
2 Half Sleeve Shirts
3 Formal Trousers
4 Blazer (Informal) Suit (Formal) Suit Recommended
5 Tie
6 T-shirts
7 Jeans
8 Shorts Cargos Bermudas9 Belts
10 Traditional Highly Recommended for Indian events
11 Sweaters Recommended
12 Pyjamas Night Suit
13 Under Garments
14 Towels
15 Handkerchiefs used less here
16 Blanket (Light Weight) depends on your baggage (can buy here)
17 Single Bed Sheet
18 Bed Cover
19 Pillow Cover
20 Woolen Gloves Leather amp wool (Highly Recommended)21 Jacket Optional (can buy here)
22 Thermal Innerwear Long johns Required in winter
23 CapsToques Optional
24 Swimwear Expensive here
B Footwear
1 Chappals Sandals Traditional Footwear
2 Slippers Flotters
3 Formal Black Leather Shoes
4 Casual Sport Shoes
5 Shoe Polish for Formal Shoes
6 Shoe Polishing Brush
7 Socks (black for formal shoes)
8 Socks (White) Cheaply Available here
C Miscellaneous Items
1 Glasses Contact Lenses Must (Optics very expensive here)
2 Contact Lenses Solution Check for yourself
3 Stitching Kit
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G Stationary
1 School Bag A Little Expensive here
2 Ball Point Pen For initial use
3 Refils
4 BondedClutch Pencils
5 Sharpener
6 Eraser Pencil
7 Clutch Pencil (05 mm)
8 Lead Box (05 mm)
9 Steel Scale 6 Optional
10 Stapler Donrsquot forget these
11 Stapler Pins Box
12 Punch Please donrsquot bring 3 holes punch required here
13 Scientific Calculator Replace the batteries without fail
14 Cello Tapes Optional
15 Glue Stick Glue Optional
16 Sketch Pen Optional
17 Note books Papers Files Folders Do not bring
H Books (apart from course-work)
1 Oxford Concise Dictionary
2 Books about India Optional
3 Religious Books Optional
I Medicines (optional)
1 Vicks (Vaporub amp Inhaler)
2 Balm (Amrutanjan etc)
3 Iodex
4 Dettol
5 Band-Aid (wash proof)6 Burnol
7 Painkiller tabs like Combiflam Brufen
8 Drugs amp Antibiotics (fever amp cold etc)
9 Vaseline Especially for people coming in winter
J Documents
1 Recent Photographs Negatives
2 General Photographs
3 Passport Photocopies
4 Admission
5 VISA photocopies
6 Credentials Transcripts
7 Recommendation SOP
8 GRE TOEFL Score Sheet
9 Medical Fitness Certificate
10 Medical Prescription of all medicines
11 College Leaving Certificate
12 Traveller cheques
13 Enough Money-Cash with some change
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Compiled by C P Sha r m a ( Cheenu ) 201 0 - 11 W eb admin and New s let t e r Ed i to r
Valuable contributions from
UTSAV execu t i ve team 2010 - 11
Sr in iv as Ram an Harshu l Sr iv as tava Rashm i Bhadaur ia
An i r uddha Cha t t e r j ee Sw iya Na th Tab i ta Ve r m a amp Sneha She th s tuden t s ove r the
yea r s and o the r ex t e r na l agenc ies
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Things to do on arrival
bull Obtain a Campus-Wide Login username and password and get access to student service centre (SSC)httpssscadmubccasscportalservletsSRVSSCFramework Campus-Wide Login (CWL) is a single
username and password that allows you to access many online services at UBC including the StudentService Centre Update your information (e-mail address and current mailing address etc) on the portal
bull Meet your supervisor register for courses and pay your fees You can always add or drop a course within acertain deadline after which a course can only be dropped with a W standing till certain date After this datecourse cannot be dropped at all
bull Get in touch with Department Graduate secretary and fill out various forms in order to get access to UBCresources and fulfill other mandatory requirements
bull Attend the orientations scheduled and take a tour of University of British Columbia
bull Pick up your UBC card and U-Pass For more info refer
httpswwwubccardubcca
httpwwwupassubccaupassupassindexhtml
bull Apply for social insurance number (SIN) Get the relevant info and forms to be filled from yourdepartmentrsquos Graduate Secretary
httpwwwhrubccafaculty_relationsimmigrationsinhtml
bull Arrange for Health insurance plan and Apply for medical services plan (MSP) of BC
bull Open a bank account
bull Get connected over the mobile phones and internet UBC wireless internet is one of the largest campus
wireless networks in the world You just need to login with Campus-Wide Login (CWL)
bull Check your department welcome package for details (International student Handbook) To download thehandbook -
httpwwwstudentsubccainternationalinternational-studentsinternational-student-
handbookpage=employment
bull Come and join the magic of Indian Student Association- UTSAV and explore the culture and diversity of UBC
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Vancouver City
Vancouver is on the west coast of Canada and it is the third largest city in Canada It is 60 miles north of Seattle
which is the closest American city Vancouver has a fairly large International airport and it connects to almost all the
major cities in North America as well as to the rest of the world With the 2010 Winter Olympics being held in
Vancouver transportation has been upgraded to meet world class standards
Vancouver is a cosmopolitan city and here the size of the Indian community is around 60000 The city is in thePacific Time zone and that puts it 13 12 hours behind India during winter and 12 12 hours behind India during
summer Daylight savings occur during the second Sunday in March (1 hour forward) and the first Sunday in
November (1 hour back) Daylight savings allows us to make maximum use of the sunlight hours
In general Vancouver has a milder weather than the rest of the Canadian cities During winter the temperature rarely
dips below zero degrees Celsius and in summer the average temperature is around 23 degrees Vancouver is famous
for its rain so pack an umbrella (or five) raincoat and waterproof boots if you have them The rainy season lasts
from mid-November until mid-February
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Transportation
Vancouver has a very good public transportation system UBC students are provided with a subsidized Student
Transit Pass (U-Pass) which allows for unlimited usage of the system UBC automatically deducts the fees for thispass as part of your student fees ($2675 per month) You just have to collect your pass when you first arrive on
campus There are three modes of public transportation - buses sea buses and sky trains The U-Pass can be used for
all of these If you do not have a U-Pass an individual one zone bus ticket costs $250 Taxis can also be used as
means of transport but they are expensive Generally it costs about $30 to reach UBC campus from the airport and it
takes around 25 minutes Airport buses are available from the lower level of the airport One should board bus
number 4 and number 17 from downtown to reach UBC You can plan your trip and get more information about
transit schedules and fares at wwwtranslinkca Shuttle service is also provided by the International House Please
check the International House Web page for details
Another option to get to UBC from airport
Canada Line skytrain from the airport getting off at Cambie and Broadway station and take 99B line or at
Olympic Village station which in downtown and take Bus number 84
If you take either the 99B line or the 84 (electric bus) from the any of the two stops respectively the last stop of
both is UBC campus
You can find the full details with exact timings here translink
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Basic Layout of UBC Campus
The campus is divided into two approximate halves in the East-West directions by Main Mall and in the North-South directions by University Boulevard These two streets serve as the basic reference frame to the UBC
Vancouver Campus
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Food amp Accommodation
Vancouver has an assortment of cuisine such as Indian Chinese Thailand Mexican Japanese etc Indian spices andcondiments are freely available in the local market situated 15-20 minutes from the campus and these areas areeasily accessible by bus
It is a good idea to apply for residence beforehand There is a good sized waiting list for on-campus housing (theones that you see on the on-campus residences map) An example would be booking for a Thunderbird apartment inApril and getting it in November All the on-campus housing information is available at wwwhousingubcca
On-campus (within UBC) housing is relatively expensive compared to the housing options in the cityof Vancouver due to its added advantages If you find the below on-campus housing options expensive I haveprovided a link to the website that can assist you with housing options in city of Vancouver If you wish then youcan share the housingapartments among yourself in order to save the cost
Below are the housing options available on campus (within UBC) for Graduate Students
1) UBC Thunderbird Housing (Available through UBC Housing)
Website httpwwwhousingubccathunderbirdthundebird-overview Rental fee httpwwwhousingubccaresidence-feesthunderbird-residence
2) Marine Drive Housing (Available through UBC Housing)Websitehttpwwwhousingubccamarine-drivemarine-drive-overview Rental feehttpwwwhousingubccaresidence-feesmarine-drive
3) St Andrews Hallhttpwwwstandrewsedu
4) Green Collegehttpwwwgreencollegeubccaapply_for_residenceaccommodation_optionsindexphp
5) St Johns College
httpwwwstjohnsubccaMemberResstm
6) Greenwood Commonshttpwwwgreenwoodcommonsca
7) Vancouver School of Theologyhttpwwwvstedumainroomsstudent-housing
8) Carey Centre
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httpwwwcareycentrecomfacilityindexphpoption=com_contentampview=articleampid=2ampItemid=8
To find on-campus housing through external websites1) httpvancouverencraigslistca 2) Under housing choose aptshousing for rent3) On the right side of rent option there is an option for choosing no of bedrooms and you have your results
there
There is another website that can help you to find the on-campus housing Itrsquos called wwwamsrentslinecom Hereare the steps
1) wwwamsrentslinecom 2) In the quick search choose the number of bedroom under lsquoAccomodation Typersquo3) Leave the options of lsquoDistance to Universityrsquo and lsquoMaximum Rentrsquo just like that4) In the neighbourhood option choose UBC campus under ldquoVancouverrdquo and then search for your results
Please note that the above two websites are the most important websites for searching off-campus housing also(outside UBC)
Banking
Many banks are located in University Village area like CIBC and Bank of Montreal
Other than that the following banks are located on West 10th Avenue near Sasamat Street CIBC HSBC Scotia
bank RBC TD Canada Trust Vancity and Bank of Montreal
To open a bank account you will probably need to provide your UBCcard passport and local address Whenever
you make visit to a bank ask for any student accounts that offer low service fees
In Canada banks are generally open from Monday to Friday 1000 am to 400 pm Some bank branches are open onSaturday but closed on Monday
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Health and Insurance
Apply for BCrsquos Medical Services Plan (MSP)
Health care in Canada can be very expensive So itrsquos important to get covered by some insurance policy as soon as
you arrive in British Columbia
Usually international students are covered by iMED (private medical insurance) for a waiting period of three
months This waiting period includes the remainder of the month you arrive in BC plus two more months For
example if you arrived in BC on August 20 you would be eligible for MSP on November 1
wwwdavid-cummingscomimed
After three months of waiting period you can become eligible for MSP which is BCrsquos provincial Health insurance
plan for the rest of your stay in BC Donrsquot forget to apply for MSP as soon as you arrive in Vancouver
httpwwwhealthgovbccamspinfobenindexhtml
Alma Mater SocietyGraduate Student Society (AMSGSS) Health and Dental Plan can also be taken for extras not
covered by MSP or iMED
For more information referhttpwwwstudentsubccainternationalinternational-studentshealth-care-and-health-insurance
Mobile phones
Fido Bell WIND Mobile Rogers Koodo and TELUS are the major mobile service providers in Vancouver
You can opt for any one depending upon the utility and service plans Usually they have their stalls put
up in Student union Building (SUB) in the beginning of session wherein you can check and compare
different plans available Most of the plans have an agreement period of 2-3 years (unless you opt for
pay-as- you-go scheme) So take some time to select which plan would be most suitable and economical
for you
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FundingScholarships
UBC offers ample of scholarships for both Graduate and Undergraduate students You need to remain updated withsuch information so that you can fulfill their criteria and apply on time
Graduate Student
bull Most of the graduate students are offer International Partial tution fee which covers almost 50 of thetution fee If you are getting this scholarship then it will be mentioned on the offer letter from university
bull Research assistantship and TAship are also a major source of fundingRAship is funded by your professoror some time from the university (amount is average $17000 but it may vary depending on the departmentand professor as well)
bull You can apply for Teaching assistantship (TAship) Other than RA Itrsquos a good idea to look for it when youare applying to university If you donrsquot get it then no worries You can apply for the next term(Gradsecratery and your Professor are a great help in this matter)
bull Apart from this there are some scholarships which can be get on the basis of meritRules and amount of scholarship may vary year to year So itrsquos a good idea to keep an eye on your yearrsquos listing Following isthe link for Graduate students they can refer to it for this year
httpsyouubccaubcvancouverintlscholarshipsezc httpwwwgradubccaawardsindexasp httpwwwgradubccaprospective-studentsscholarships-awards-funding
Undergraduate students
Undergraduate students can refer to following link It covers all the details from tuition fee to available scholarshipsNormally all the undergraduate students are automatically considered for scholarships
httpsyouubccaubcvancouverfinancesezcpageID=1028
You can also find scholarship from outside sources through websites such as wwwscholarshipscanadacom andwwwstudentawardscom
Apart from this you can work while studying as well (refer next section) You can know more about it once youreach hereGood luck
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On off campus jobs
UBC career services provide excellent opportunities to work in order to support your education to gain valuable
Canadian workplace experience as well as lot of voluntary work
httpwwwstudentsubccacareersindexcfm
The following link would be of great help for searching on-campus as well as off campus work opportunities (there
is a waiting period of at least six months to get your off-campus work permit from the day you arrive)
httpwwwstudentsubccainternationalinternational-studentsworking
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Entertainment
There are many cinema complexes around the city (Silvercity Tinseltown Paramount etc) and a few of them thatexclusively screen latest Hindi movies (Raja Cinemas) Many Indian films and music are available at video rentalsand music stores IMAX and OMNIMAX theaters are also located in Vancouver Local Indian Radio stationsinclude 1600AM (Radio India) 1200AM (Rim Jhim) 1550AM (Radio Punjab) and 931FM (REDFM) Indian TVshows and movies are screened on Channel 8 (Omni BC) and Channel 119 (Shaw Multicultural Channel) on various
daystimes throughout the week Weekly South Asian newspapers include lsquoThe Linkrsquo lsquoThe Voicersquo lsquoThe Asian Starrsquoand lsquoThe South Asian PostrsquoVancouverites are an active bunch and there are many outdoor activities one can take part in during your spare timeIn the summer biking hiking and camping are quite common and in the winter you can go skating or skiingThere are also various UBC intramural sports leagues students can take part in including soccer volleyballbadminton tennis and basketball Vancouver also has 2 different cricket leagues which run during the summerFor those who are spiritually inclined there are at least 8 large Temples 2 large Mosques and countless Gurdwarasand Churches spread all throughout the Lower Mainland
The best must-visit destinations worth visit in coastal British Columbia are Tofino Sunshine Coast Victoria andGulf Islands Other places of interest around Vancouver region may be a trip to Whistler Harrison Lake GreaterVancouver Zoo Stanley Park Bowen Island Granville Island China Town Night Market in Richmond GrouseMountain Gas town Robson Street and VanDusen Garden
The UBC campus offers easy access to many of Vancouverrsquos beaches that you may like to visit Most popular onesbeing Kitsilano Beach Spanish Banks Wreck Beach Tower Beach English Bay and Jericho Beach
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Clubs and Extra-curricular
The mild climate and spectacular natural environment makes Vancouver a haven for people who love the outdoors
Snowboarding and skiing kayaking hiking trail running rock climbing ndash whatever your passion you can get
outside and enjoy it most of the year
The Varsity Outdoor Club (VOC) is open to anyone at UBC - students faculty staff spouses and members of the
greater community The club is dedicated to those who want to explore the outdoors here and anywhere else in the
world Great platform for members to actively pursue hiking rock-climbing mountaineering kayaking ski touring
ice climbing and socializingrdquo (Info courtesy VOC wiki)
httpwwwubc-voccom
UBC Dance Club
httpwwwubcdanceclubcom
Varsity Outdoor Club
httpwwwubc-voccom
UBC Aquatic Centre
httpwwwaquaticsubcca
UBC REC
httpwwwrecubcca
Attractions UBC
httpwwwattractionsubcca
UBC Tennis
httpwwwtennisubcca
Please make yourselves aware of all the safety precautions and waivers before attempting any adventure sports
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Faith
Hindu Temples Mandir Street Address Contact info
Mahalakshmi Hindu Temple 467 11th Avenue EastVancouver BC V5T2C8 Phone 604-874-0175
Vishva Hindu Parishad
Temple 3885 Albert Street
Burnaby BC V5C 2C8 Phone 604-299-5922
Shiv Mandir 1795 Napier Street
Vancouver BC V5L 2N1
Phone 604- 874-0175
ISKCON Vancouver5462 Marine Drive
Burnaby BC V5J 3G8Phone 604-433-9728
Mosques Street Address Contact info
Jamia Masjid Vancouver655 West 8th Ave
Vancouver BC V5Z 1C7Phone 604-309-6036
Richmond Jamia Mosque
(Biggest mosque in BC)
12300 Blundell Rd
Richmond BC V6W 1B3Phone 604-270-2522
Islamic Information Centre3127 Kingsway St
Vancouver BC V5R 5J9Phone 604-434-7526
Masjid Alhaq4162 Welwyn StVancouver BC
Phone 604-873-1787
Dar Al-Madinah IslamicSociety
7155 Victoria DriveVancouver BC
PhoneFax 604-873-8580
Surrey Mosque12407 72nd Ave
Surrey BC V3W 2M5Phone 604-591-7601
Al-Noor Mosque13526 98A Ave
Surrey BCPhoneFax 604-930-9742
Masjidur-Rahmah13585 62nd Ave
Surrey BC V3A 2J3 Phone 604-597-7863
Al- Salaam Mosque 5060 Canada Way Phone 604-524-4499
Sikh Temples Gurudwaras Street Address Contact info
Akali Singh Sikh Temple1890 Skeena Street
Vancouver BC - V5M 4L3Phone (604) 254-2117
Canadian Ramgharia Society 6908 Macpherson Ave (604) 438-0846
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Burnaby BC - V5J 4N3
Babbar Khalsa Dal4767 Union Street
Burnaby British ColumbiaTel (604) 376 1749
Cloverdale Sikh Society5748 175 Street
Surrey BC - V3S 4T7 (604) 574-7594
Gurdwara Sahib DasmeshDarbar
115-12885 85 AvenueSurrey BC - V3W 0K8
(604) 594-2573
Khalsa Darbar61st and Prince Edward Street
Vancouver BCPhone 604-325-2290
Gurdwara Khalsa Darbar390 61st Avenue East
Vancouver BC - V5X 2B6Phone (604) 325-2290
Campus Security
Vancouver is one of the most livable cities in the world Although its crime rate is low still security is a concern
particularly against thefts UBC campus security is provided by the UBC patrol and RCMP (Royal Canadian
Mounted Police)
Campus security is located next to the UBC Bookstore Campus Security provides 24-hour assistance seven days a
week Call 604-822-2222 if you have a safety concern or an emergency situation For more information visit
wwwsecurityubcca
If you are walking alone late night or not too sure where to go and you can also take help of safety walk Safewalk
provides male and female student teams that will accompany anyone between points on campus free of charge Theservice runs throughout the school year and during the summer months You can book a walk by calling 604-822-
5355 dropping by the office in the SUB concourse or looking for the Safewalk patrollers in bright red jackets Visit
wwwamsubccasafewalk for hours and other information
Call 911 in case of emergency or have been the victim of crime Always give the location to the operator particularly
the building address Calls to 911 are received at a call centre in Downtown Vancouver and the operators may not
be familiar with the building names on campus
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Blue Phones
Blue phones are located at various locations around the campus core Elevator phones in most building also provide
direct access to Campus Security
Campus Maps
You can download the UBC campus map from here
httpwwwstudentsubccacurrentdownloadcampusmap07pdf
You can search for locations on the UBC campus map at this site
httpwwwmapsubccaPRODindexphp
httpwwwstudentsubccacurrentcampuscfm
The on-campus residences map
httpwwwhousingubccarez_maprez_maphtm
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Contact us
Email utsav_ubcyahoocom
Facebook httpwwwfacebookcomgroupphpgid=3220440131
Webpage httpwwwindiaubccom
YahoogroupUBC_bharatyahoogroupcom
To subscribe to our mailing list send a blank email to
ubc_bharat-subscribeyahoogroupscom
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Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the inputs from the International Student Handbook 200910
published by International Student Development at UBC MITACS Globalink program Handbook and UTSAV website which were immensely helpful in compiling this information
handbook
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Appendix
Things to pack
We Indian Student Association ndash UTSAV helps undergraduate and graduate students prospective and currentstudents throughtout their stay at UBC Please check the reminders section to make sure you do not forget important
documents while travelling
You should bring with you all your original transcripts degree certificate provisional certificate migration
certificate TOEFLGRE scores certificates birth certificate work experience certificate papers and publications
for which you have mentioned in your portfolio Sometimes the school may ask you to show them to validate or may
ask you to submit you originals Hence it would be safe if you keep them with you when you arrive here
In flight
1 Specify while you book your ticket regarding your food preferences especially when you are a strict vegetarian
Few flights do provide the service of providing Jain and Hindu meals in flight
2 Keep your hand baggage as light as possible because during transit you may have to walk long distances Try to
carry hand bags with trolley that would help you in easy transfer
Important Note
1 Make sure you carry your Indian Driving license this help you here while you apply for International Driving
LicensePermit
2 Try to carry 3-4 pairs of glasses (spares) with you and have an advance eye sight check up in India because here
these things are usually very expensive You anyway would have an eye check up during your Pre-Medical
Examination
3 A dental check up at least fifteen days in advance would be quite appropriate
4 Carry money as travelers cheques they are the safest and most convenient method of carrying money
What to Get and What Not
1 It will be great if you can get yourself the books you need here though we have very good library here which
would provide you with sufficient copies of each book of your requirement But see to it that carrying them you
arenrsquot exceeding your baggage weight limitations
2 If you are looking forward to cook Indian food at your place then bring along a Pressure Cooker and any flat
bottomed vessels
3 You can carry pulses rice Indian spices pickles etc with you but it is better if you donrsquot carry them with you as
we have many Indian grocery shops at Vancouver mainly at Fraser and Main Street Also there are some good
shops within campus where you can get all the above mentioned things
4 Get yourself sufficient stock of undergarments and socks as you might be washing clothes once every 10 days or
more
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indiaubccom page 24 of 28
5 You should bring with yourself 1-2 umbrellas a raincoat or a wind-sheeter as it rains a lot here from October till
March
6 You would need warm clothes (a good winter jacket) as it is cold here except for 2-4 months in summer Good
sweaters preferably two woollen gloves mufflers and woollen caps thermal vest and long johns
7 Get all the stationary items like staplers punchers etc also a good alarm clock
8 Buy a good pair of walking shoe sports shoe formal shoe (all water-proof) as it rains a lot here and you might
have to walk a lot here
9 Donrsquot get along any electronic items here as the voltage is much lower than in India
10 And if you are still carrying then get yourself a Step-upStep-down voltage convertor This will prove a lot more
helpful here Make sure you are buying it for the correct Watt as for hair dryers you might have to go for 1800W
These convertors are available here as well but a bit more expensive
11 A good school bag a Visa folder (to hold cards) a walletpurses
12 Get some medicines which you think would be useful or any common health problems that you have You could
get some basic medicines for headache stomach ache indigestion fever etc
Baggage specifications
You should check this out with your concerned airlines preferably there website They would give you perfect
information on the weight and dimensional limitations It would be good if you can lock your baggage with TSA
locks
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indiaubccom page 25 of 28
What should I bring from INDIA All the items mention ed below can be fo und easily in the city of Vancouver However the reason we have written them
is to remind you wh at to carry or buy here in case you forget This list is a checklist of items yo u migh t need here We
recommend you to buy mo st of the items fro m India because these items are very expensive in the city of Vancouver
Item Comments
A Clothes
1 Full Sleeve Shirts
2 Half Sleeve Shirts
3 Formal Trousers
4 Blazer (Informal) Suit (Formal) Suit Recommended
5 Tie
6 T-shirts
7 Jeans
8 Shorts Cargos Bermudas9 Belts
10 Traditional Highly Recommended for Indian events
11 Sweaters Recommended
12 Pyjamas Night Suit
13 Under Garments
14 Towels
15 Handkerchiefs used less here
16 Blanket (Light Weight) depends on your baggage (can buy here)
17 Single Bed Sheet
18 Bed Cover
19 Pillow Cover
20 Woolen Gloves Leather amp wool (Highly Recommended)21 Jacket Optional (can buy here)
22 Thermal Innerwear Long johns Required in winter
23 CapsToques Optional
24 Swimwear Expensive here
B Footwear
1 Chappals Sandals Traditional Footwear
2 Slippers Flotters
3 Formal Black Leather Shoes
4 Casual Sport Shoes
5 Shoe Polish for Formal Shoes
6 Shoe Polishing Brush
7 Socks (black for formal shoes)
8 Socks (White) Cheaply Available here
C Miscellaneous Items
1 Glasses Contact Lenses Must (Optics very expensive here)
2 Contact Lenses Solution Check for yourself
3 Stitching Kit
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indiaubccom page 27 of 28
G Stationary
1 School Bag A Little Expensive here
2 Ball Point Pen For initial use
3 Refils
4 BondedClutch Pencils
5 Sharpener
6 Eraser Pencil
7 Clutch Pencil (05 mm)
8 Lead Box (05 mm)
9 Steel Scale 6 Optional
10 Stapler Donrsquot forget these
11 Stapler Pins Box
12 Punch Please donrsquot bring 3 holes punch required here
13 Scientific Calculator Replace the batteries without fail
14 Cello Tapes Optional
15 Glue Stick Glue Optional
16 Sketch Pen Optional
17 Note books Papers Files Folders Do not bring
H Books (apart from course-work)
1 Oxford Concise Dictionary
2 Books about India Optional
3 Religious Books Optional
I Medicines (optional)
1 Vicks (Vaporub amp Inhaler)
2 Balm (Amrutanjan etc)
3 Iodex
4 Dettol
5 Band-Aid (wash proof)6 Burnol
7 Painkiller tabs like Combiflam Brufen
8 Drugs amp Antibiotics (fever amp cold etc)
9 Vaseline Especially for people coming in winter
J Documents
1 Recent Photographs Negatives
2 General Photographs
3 Passport Photocopies
4 Admission
5 VISA photocopies
6 Credentials Transcripts
7 Recommendation SOP
8 GRE TOEFL Score Sheet
9 Medical Fitness Certificate
10 Medical Prescription of all medicines
11 College Leaving Certificate
12 Traveller cheques
13 Enough Money-Cash with some change
862019 Student Info Handbook
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Compiled by C P Sha r m a ( Cheenu ) 201 0 - 11 W eb admin and New s let t e r Ed i to r
Valuable contributions from
UTSAV execu t i ve team 2010 - 11
Sr in iv as Ram an Harshu l Sr iv as tava Rashm i Bhadaur ia
An i r uddha Cha t t e r j ee Sw iya Na th Tab i ta Ve r m a amp Sneha She th s tuden t s ove r the
yea r s and o the r ex t e r na l agenc ies
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indiaubccom page 7 of 28
Vancouver City
Vancouver is on the west coast of Canada and it is the third largest city in Canada It is 60 miles north of Seattle
which is the closest American city Vancouver has a fairly large International airport and it connects to almost all the
major cities in North America as well as to the rest of the world With the 2010 Winter Olympics being held in
Vancouver transportation has been upgraded to meet world class standards
Vancouver is a cosmopolitan city and here the size of the Indian community is around 60000 The city is in thePacific Time zone and that puts it 13 12 hours behind India during winter and 12 12 hours behind India during
summer Daylight savings occur during the second Sunday in March (1 hour forward) and the first Sunday in
November (1 hour back) Daylight savings allows us to make maximum use of the sunlight hours
In general Vancouver has a milder weather than the rest of the Canadian cities During winter the temperature rarely
dips below zero degrees Celsius and in summer the average temperature is around 23 degrees Vancouver is famous
for its rain so pack an umbrella (or five) raincoat and waterproof boots if you have them The rainy season lasts
from mid-November until mid-February
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Transportation
Vancouver has a very good public transportation system UBC students are provided with a subsidized Student
Transit Pass (U-Pass) which allows for unlimited usage of the system UBC automatically deducts the fees for thispass as part of your student fees ($2675 per month) You just have to collect your pass when you first arrive on
campus There are three modes of public transportation - buses sea buses and sky trains The U-Pass can be used for
all of these If you do not have a U-Pass an individual one zone bus ticket costs $250 Taxis can also be used as
means of transport but they are expensive Generally it costs about $30 to reach UBC campus from the airport and it
takes around 25 minutes Airport buses are available from the lower level of the airport One should board bus
number 4 and number 17 from downtown to reach UBC You can plan your trip and get more information about
transit schedules and fares at wwwtranslinkca Shuttle service is also provided by the International House Please
check the International House Web page for details
Another option to get to UBC from airport
Canada Line skytrain from the airport getting off at Cambie and Broadway station and take 99B line or at
Olympic Village station which in downtown and take Bus number 84
If you take either the 99B line or the 84 (electric bus) from the any of the two stops respectively the last stop of
both is UBC campus
You can find the full details with exact timings here translink
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Basic Layout of UBC Campus
The campus is divided into two approximate halves in the East-West directions by Main Mall and in the North-South directions by University Boulevard These two streets serve as the basic reference frame to the UBC
Vancouver Campus
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Food amp Accommodation
Vancouver has an assortment of cuisine such as Indian Chinese Thailand Mexican Japanese etc Indian spices andcondiments are freely available in the local market situated 15-20 minutes from the campus and these areas areeasily accessible by bus
It is a good idea to apply for residence beforehand There is a good sized waiting list for on-campus housing (theones that you see on the on-campus residences map) An example would be booking for a Thunderbird apartment inApril and getting it in November All the on-campus housing information is available at wwwhousingubcca
On-campus (within UBC) housing is relatively expensive compared to the housing options in the cityof Vancouver due to its added advantages If you find the below on-campus housing options expensive I haveprovided a link to the website that can assist you with housing options in city of Vancouver If you wish then youcan share the housingapartments among yourself in order to save the cost
Below are the housing options available on campus (within UBC) for Graduate Students
1) UBC Thunderbird Housing (Available through UBC Housing)
Website httpwwwhousingubccathunderbirdthundebird-overview Rental fee httpwwwhousingubccaresidence-feesthunderbird-residence
2) Marine Drive Housing (Available through UBC Housing)Websitehttpwwwhousingubccamarine-drivemarine-drive-overview Rental feehttpwwwhousingubccaresidence-feesmarine-drive
3) St Andrews Hallhttpwwwstandrewsedu
4) Green Collegehttpwwwgreencollegeubccaapply_for_residenceaccommodation_optionsindexphp
5) St Johns College
httpwwwstjohnsubccaMemberResstm
6) Greenwood Commonshttpwwwgreenwoodcommonsca
7) Vancouver School of Theologyhttpwwwvstedumainroomsstudent-housing
8) Carey Centre
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indiaubccom page 11 of 28
httpwwwcareycentrecomfacilityindexphpoption=com_contentampview=articleampid=2ampItemid=8
To find on-campus housing through external websites1) httpvancouverencraigslistca 2) Under housing choose aptshousing for rent3) On the right side of rent option there is an option for choosing no of bedrooms and you have your results
there
There is another website that can help you to find the on-campus housing Itrsquos called wwwamsrentslinecom Hereare the steps
1) wwwamsrentslinecom 2) In the quick search choose the number of bedroom under lsquoAccomodation Typersquo3) Leave the options of lsquoDistance to Universityrsquo and lsquoMaximum Rentrsquo just like that4) In the neighbourhood option choose UBC campus under ldquoVancouverrdquo and then search for your results
Please note that the above two websites are the most important websites for searching off-campus housing also(outside UBC)
Banking
Many banks are located in University Village area like CIBC and Bank of Montreal
Other than that the following banks are located on West 10th Avenue near Sasamat Street CIBC HSBC Scotia
bank RBC TD Canada Trust Vancity and Bank of Montreal
To open a bank account you will probably need to provide your UBCcard passport and local address Whenever
you make visit to a bank ask for any student accounts that offer low service fees
In Canada banks are generally open from Monday to Friday 1000 am to 400 pm Some bank branches are open onSaturday but closed on Monday
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Health and Insurance
Apply for BCrsquos Medical Services Plan (MSP)
Health care in Canada can be very expensive So itrsquos important to get covered by some insurance policy as soon as
you arrive in British Columbia
Usually international students are covered by iMED (private medical insurance) for a waiting period of three
months This waiting period includes the remainder of the month you arrive in BC plus two more months For
example if you arrived in BC on August 20 you would be eligible for MSP on November 1
wwwdavid-cummingscomimed
After three months of waiting period you can become eligible for MSP which is BCrsquos provincial Health insurance
plan for the rest of your stay in BC Donrsquot forget to apply for MSP as soon as you arrive in Vancouver
httpwwwhealthgovbccamspinfobenindexhtml
Alma Mater SocietyGraduate Student Society (AMSGSS) Health and Dental Plan can also be taken for extras not
covered by MSP or iMED
For more information referhttpwwwstudentsubccainternationalinternational-studentshealth-care-and-health-insurance
Mobile phones
Fido Bell WIND Mobile Rogers Koodo and TELUS are the major mobile service providers in Vancouver
You can opt for any one depending upon the utility and service plans Usually they have their stalls put
up in Student union Building (SUB) in the beginning of session wherein you can check and compare
different plans available Most of the plans have an agreement period of 2-3 years (unless you opt for
pay-as- you-go scheme) So take some time to select which plan would be most suitable and economical
for you
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FundingScholarships
UBC offers ample of scholarships for both Graduate and Undergraduate students You need to remain updated withsuch information so that you can fulfill their criteria and apply on time
Graduate Student
bull Most of the graduate students are offer International Partial tution fee which covers almost 50 of thetution fee If you are getting this scholarship then it will be mentioned on the offer letter from university
bull Research assistantship and TAship are also a major source of fundingRAship is funded by your professoror some time from the university (amount is average $17000 but it may vary depending on the departmentand professor as well)
bull You can apply for Teaching assistantship (TAship) Other than RA Itrsquos a good idea to look for it when youare applying to university If you donrsquot get it then no worries You can apply for the next term(Gradsecratery and your Professor are a great help in this matter)
bull Apart from this there are some scholarships which can be get on the basis of meritRules and amount of scholarship may vary year to year So itrsquos a good idea to keep an eye on your yearrsquos listing Following isthe link for Graduate students they can refer to it for this year
httpsyouubccaubcvancouverintlscholarshipsezc httpwwwgradubccaawardsindexasp httpwwwgradubccaprospective-studentsscholarships-awards-funding
Undergraduate students
Undergraduate students can refer to following link It covers all the details from tuition fee to available scholarshipsNormally all the undergraduate students are automatically considered for scholarships
httpsyouubccaubcvancouverfinancesezcpageID=1028
You can also find scholarship from outside sources through websites such as wwwscholarshipscanadacom andwwwstudentawardscom
Apart from this you can work while studying as well (refer next section) You can know more about it once youreach hereGood luck
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On off campus jobs
UBC career services provide excellent opportunities to work in order to support your education to gain valuable
Canadian workplace experience as well as lot of voluntary work
httpwwwstudentsubccacareersindexcfm
The following link would be of great help for searching on-campus as well as off campus work opportunities (there
is a waiting period of at least six months to get your off-campus work permit from the day you arrive)
httpwwwstudentsubccainternationalinternational-studentsworking
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Entertainment
There are many cinema complexes around the city (Silvercity Tinseltown Paramount etc) and a few of them thatexclusively screen latest Hindi movies (Raja Cinemas) Many Indian films and music are available at video rentalsand music stores IMAX and OMNIMAX theaters are also located in Vancouver Local Indian Radio stationsinclude 1600AM (Radio India) 1200AM (Rim Jhim) 1550AM (Radio Punjab) and 931FM (REDFM) Indian TVshows and movies are screened on Channel 8 (Omni BC) and Channel 119 (Shaw Multicultural Channel) on various
daystimes throughout the week Weekly South Asian newspapers include lsquoThe Linkrsquo lsquoThe Voicersquo lsquoThe Asian Starrsquoand lsquoThe South Asian PostrsquoVancouverites are an active bunch and there are many outdoor activities one can take part in during your spare timeIn the summer biking hiking and camping are quite common and in the winter you can go skating or skiingThere are also various UBC intramural sports leagues students can take part in including soccer volleyballbadminton tennis and basketball Vancouver also has 2 different cricket leagues which run during the summerFor those who are spiritually inclined there are at least 8 large Temples 2 large Mosques and countless Gurdwarasand Churches spread all throughout the Lower Mainland
The best must-visit destinations worth visit in coastal British Columbia are Tofino Sunshine Coast Victoria andGulf Islands Other places of interest around Vancouver region may be a trip to Whistler Harrison Lake GreaterVancouver Zoo Stanley Park Bowen Island Granville Island China Town Night Market in Richmond GrouseMountain Gas town Robson Street and VanDusen Garden
The UBC campus offers easy access to many of Vancouverrsquos beaches that you may like to visit Most popular onesbeing Kitsilano Beach Spanish Banks Wreck Beach Tower Beach English Bay and Jericho Beach
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Clubs and Extra-curricular
The mild climate and spectacular natural environment makes Vancouver a haven for people who love the outdoors
Snowboarding and skiing kayaking hiking trail running rock climbing ndash whatever your passion you can get
outside and enjoy it most of the year
The Varsity Outdoor Club (VOC) is open to anyone at UBC - students faculty staff spouses and members of the
greater community The club is dedicated to those who want to explore the outdoors here and anywhere else in the
world Great platform for members to actively pursue hiking rock-climbing mountaineering kayaking ski touring
ice climbing and socializingrdquo (Info courtesy VOC wiki)
httpwwwubc-voccom
UBC Dance Club
httpwwwubcdanceclubcom
Varsity Outdoor Club
httpwwwubc-voccom
UBC Aquatic Centre
httpwwwaquaticsubcca
UBC REC
httpwwwrecubcca
Attractions UBC
httpwwwattractionsubcca
UBC Tennis
httpwwwtennisubcca
Please make yourselves aware of all the safety precautions and waivers before attempting any adventure sports
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Faith
Hindu Temples Mandir Street Address Contact info
Mahalakshmi Hindu Temple 467 11th Avenue EastVancouver BC V5T2C8 Phone 604-874-0175
Vishva Hindu Parishad
Temple 3885 Albert Street
Burnaby BC V5C 2C8 Phone 604-299-5922
Shiv Mandir 1795 Napier Street
Vancouver BC V5L 2N1
Phone 604- 874-0175
ISKCON Vancouver5462 Marine Drive
Burnaby BC V5J 3G8Phone 604-433-9728
Mosques Street Address Contact info
Jamia Masjid Vancouver655 West 8th Ave
Vancouver BC V5Z 1C7Phone 604-309-6036
Richmond Jamia Mosque
(Biggest mosque in BC)
12300 Blundell Rd
Richmond BC V6W 1B3Phone 604-270-2522
Islamic Information Centre3127 Kingsway St
Vancouver BC V5R 5J9Phone 604-434-7526
Masjid Alhaq4162 Welwyn StVancouver BC
Phone 604-873-1787
Dar Al-Madinah IslamicSociety
7155 Victoria DriveVancouver BC
PhoneFax 604-873-8580
Surrey Mosque12407 72nd Ave
Surrey BC V3W 2M5Phone 604-591-7601
Al-Noor Mosque13526 98A Ave
Surrey BCPhoneFax 604-930-9742
Masjidur-Rahmah13585 62nd Ave
Surrey BC V3A 2J3 Phone 604-597-7863
Al- Salaam Mosque 5060 Canada Way Phone 604-524-4499
Sikh Temples Gurudwaras Street Address Contact info
Akali Singh Sikh Temple1890 Skeena Street
Vancouver BC - V5M 4L3Phone (604) 254-2117
Canadian Ramgharia Society 6908 Macpherson Ave (604) 438-0846
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Burnaby BC - V5J 4N3
Babbar Khalsa Dal4767 Union Street
Burnaby British ColumbiaTel (604) 376 1749
Cloverdale Sikh Society5748 175 Street
Surrey BC - V3S 4T7 (604) 574-7594
Gurdwara Sahib DasmeshDarbar
115-12885 85 AvenueSurrey BC - V3W 0K8
(604) 594-2573
Khalsa Darbar61st and Prince Edward Street
Vancouver BCPhone 604-325-2290
Gurdwara Khalsa Darbar390 61st Avenue East
Vancouver BC - V5X 2B6Phone (604) 325-2290
Campus Security
Vancouver is one of the most livable cities in the world Although its crime rate is low still security is a concern
particularly against thefts UBC campus security is provided by the UBC patrol and RCMP (Royal Canadian
Mounted Police)
Campus security is located next to the UBC Bookstore Campus Security provides 24-hour assistance seven days a
week Call 604-822-2222 if you have a safety concern or an emergency situation For more information visit
wwwsecurityubcca
If you are walking alone late night or not too sure where to go and you can also take help of safety walk Safewalk
provides male and female student teams that will accompany anyone between points on campus free of charge Theservice runs throughout the school year and during the summer months You can book a walk by calling 604-822-
5355 dropping by the office in the SUB concourse or looking for the Safewalk patrollers in bright red jackets Visit
wwwamsubccasafewalk for hours and other information
Call 911 in case of emergency or have been the victim of crime Always give the location to the operator particularly
the building address Calls to 911 are received at a call centre in Downtown Vancouver and the operators may not
be familiar with the building names on campus
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Blue Phones
Blue phones are located at various locations around the campus core Elevator phones in most building also provide
direct access to Campus Security
Campus Maps
You can download the UBC campus map from here
httpwwwstudentsubccacurrentdownloadcampusmap07pdf
You can search for locations on the UBC campus map at this site
httpwwwmapsubccaPRODindexphp
httpwwwstudentsubccacurrentcampuscfm
The on-campus residences map
httpwwwhousingubccarez_maprez_maphtm
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Contact us
Email utsav_ubcyahoocom
Facebook httpwwwfacebookcomgroupphpgid=3220440131
Webpage httpwwwindiaubccom
YahoogroupUBC_bharatyahoogroupcom
To subscribe to our mailing list send a blank email to
ubc_bharat-subscribeyahoogroupscom
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Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the inputs from the International Student Handbook 200910
published by International Student Development at UBC MITACS Globalink program Handbook and UTSAV website which were immensely helpful in compiling this information
handbook
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Appendix
Things to pack
We Indian Student Association ndash UTSAV helps undergraduate and graduate students prospective and currentstudents throughtout their stay at UBC Please check the reminders section to make sure you do not forget important
documents while travelling
You should bring with you all your original transcripts degree certificate provisional certificate migration
certificate TOEFLGRE scores certificates birth certificate work experience certificate papers and publications
for which you have mentioned in your portfolio Sometimes the school may ask you to show them to validate or may
ask you to submit you originals Hence it would be safe if you keep them with you when you arrive here
In flight
1 Specify while you book your ticket regarding your food preferences especially when you are a strict vegetarian
Few flights do provide the service of providing Jain and Hindu meals in flight
2 Keep your hand baggage as light as possible because during transit you may have to walk long distances Try to
carry hand bags with trolley that would help you in easy transfer
Important Note
1 Make sure you carry your Indian Driving license this help you here while you apply for International Driving
LicensePermit
2 Try to carry 3-4 pairs of glasses (spares) with you and have an advance eye sight check up in India because here
these things are usually very expensive You anyway would have an eye check up during your Pre-Medical
Examination
3 A dental check up at least fifteen days in advance would be quite appropriate
4 Carry money as travelers cheques they are the safest and most convenient method of carrying money
What to Get and What Not
1 It will be great if you can get yourself the books you need here though we have very good library here which
would provide you with sufficient copies of each book of your requirement But see to it that carrying them you
arenrsquot exceeding your baggage weight limitations
2 If you are looking forward to cook Indian food at your place then bring along a Pressure Cooker and any flat
bottomed vessels
3 You can carry pulses rice Indian spices pickles etc with you but it is better if you donrsquot carry them with you as
we have many Indian grocery shops at Vancouver mainly at Fraser and Main Street Also there are some good
shops within campus where you can get all the above mentioned things
4 Get yourself sufficient stock of undergarments and socks as you might be washing clothes once every 10 days or
more
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indiaubccom page 24 of 28
5 You should bring with yourself 1-2 umbrellas a raincoat or a wind-sheeter as it rains a lot here from October till
March
6 You would need warm clothes (a good winter jacket) as it is cold here except for 2-4 months in summer Good
sweaters preferably two woollen gloves mufflers and woollen caps thermal vest and long johns
7 Get all the stationary items like staplers punchers etc also a good alarm clock
8 Buy a good pair of walking shoe sports shoe formal shoe (all water-proof) as it rains a lot here and you might
have to walk a lot here
9 Donrsquot get along any electronic items here as the voltage is much lower than in India
10 And if you are still carrying then get yourself a Step-upStep-down voltage convertor This will prove a lot more
helpful here Make sure you are buying it for the correct Watt as for hair dryers you might have to go for 1800W
These convertors are available here as well but a bit more expensive
11 A good school bag a Visa folder (to hold cards) a walletpurses
12 Get some medicines which you think would be useful or any common health problems that you have You could
get some basic medicines for headache stomach ache indigestion fever etc
Baggage specifications
You should check this out with your concerned airlines preferably there website They would give you perfect
information on the weight and dimensional limitations It would be good if you can lock your baggage with TSA
locks
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2528
indiaubccom page 25 of 28
What should I bring from INDIA All the items mention ed below can be fo und easily in the city of Vancouver However the reason we have written them
is to remind you wh at to carry or buy here in case you forget This list is a checklist of items yo u migh t need here We
recommend you to buy mo st of the items fro m India because these items are very expensive in the city of Vancouver
Item Comments
A Clothes
1 Full Sleeve Shirts
2 Half Sleeve Shirts
3 Formal Trousers
4 Blazer (Informal) Suit (Formal) Suit Recommended
5 Tie
6 T-shirts
7 Jeans
8 Shorts Cargos Bermudas9 Belts
10 Traditional Highly Recommended for Indian events
11 Sweaters Recommended
12 Pyjamas Night Suit
13 Under Garments
14 Towels
15 Handkerchiefs used less here
16 Blanket (Light Weight) depends on your baggage (can buy here)
17 Single Bed Sheet
18 Bed Cover
19 Pillow Cover
20 Woolen Gloves Leather amp wool (Highly Recommended)21 Jacket Optional (can buy here)
22 Thermal Innerwear Long johns Required in winter
23 CapsToques Optional
24 Swimwear Expensive here
B Footwear
1 Chappals Sandals Traditional Footwear
2 Slippers Flotters
3 Formal Black Leather Shoes
4 Casual Sport Shoes
5 Shoe Polish for Formal Shoes
6 Shoe Polishing Brush
7 Socks (black for formal shoes)
8 Socks (White) Cheaply Available here
C Miscellaneous Items
1 Glasses Contact Lenses Must (Optics very expensive here)
2 Contact Lenses Solution Check for yourself
3 Stitching Kit
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862019 Student Info Handbook
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indiaubccom page 27 of 28
G Stationary
1 School Bag A Little Expensive here
2 Ball Point Pen For initial use
3 Refils
4 BondedClutch Pencils
5 Sharpener
6 Eraser Pencil
7 Clutch Pencil (05 mm)
8 Lead Box (05 mm)
9 Steel Scale 6 Optional
10 Stapler Donrsquot forget these
11 Stapler Pins Box
12 Punch Please donrsquot bring 3 holes punch required here
13 Scientific Calculator Replace the batteries without fail
14 Cello Tapes Optional
15 Glue Stick Glue Optional
16 Sketch Pen Optional
17 Note books Papers Files Folders Do not bring
H Books (apart from course-work)
1 Oxford Concise Dictionary
2 Books about India Optional
3 Religious Books Optional
I Medicines (optional)
1 Vicks (Vaporub amp Inhaler)
2 Balm (Amrutanjan etc)
3 Iodex
4 Dettol
5 Band-Aid (wash proof)6 Burnol
7 Painkiller tabs like Combiflam Brufen
8 Drugs amp Antibiotics (fever amp cold etc)
9 Vaseline Especially for people coming in winter
J Documents
1 Recent Photographs Negatives
2 General Photographs
3 Passport Photocopies
4 Admission
5 VISA photocopies
6 Credentials Transcripts
7 Recommendation SOP
8 GRE TOEFL Score Sheet
9 Medical Fitness Certificate
10 Medical Prescription of all medicines
11 College Leaving Certificate
12 Traveller cheques
13 Enough Money-Cash with some change
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2828
Compiled by C P Sha r m a ( Cheenu ) 201 0 - 11 W eb admin and New s let t e r Ed i to r
Valuable contributions from
UTSAV execu t i ve team 2010 - 11
Sr in iv as Ram an Harshu l Sr iv as tava Rashm i Bhadaur ia
An i r uddha Cha t t e r j ee Sw iya Na th Tab i ta Ve r m a amp Sneha She th s tuden t s ove r the
yea r s and o the r ex t e r na l agenc ies
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indiaubccom page 8 of 28
Transportation
Vancouver has a very good public transportation system UBC students are provided with a subsidized Student
Transit Pass (U-Pass) which allows for unlimited usage of the system UBC automatically deducts the fees for thispass as part of your student fees ($2675 per month) You just have to collect your pass when you first arrive on
campus There are three modes of public transportation - buses sea buses and sky trains The U-Pass can be used for
all of these If you do not have a U-Pass an individual one zone bus ticket costs $250 Taxis can also be used as
means of transport but they are expensive Generally it costs about $30 to reach UBC campus from the airport and it
takes around 25 minutes Airport buses are available from the lower level of the airport One should board bus
number 4 and number 17 from downtown to reach UBC You can plan your trip and get more information about
transit schedules and fares at wwwtranslinkca Shuttle service is also provided by the International House Please
check the International House Web page for details
Another option to get to UBC from airport
Canada Line skytrain from the airport getting off at Cambie and Broadway station and take 99B line or at
Olympic Village station which in downtown and take Bus number 84
If you take either the 99B line or the 84 (electric bus) from the any of the two stops respectively the last stop of
both is UBC campus
You can find the full details with exact timings here translink
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Basic Layout of UBC Campus
The campus is divided into two approximate halves in the East-West directions by Main Mall and in the North-South directions by University Boulevard These two streets serve as the basic reference frame to the UBC
Vancouver Campus
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Food amp Accommodation
Vancouver has an assortment of cuisine such as Indian Chinese Thailand Mexican Japanese etc Indian spices andcondiments are freely available in the local market situated 15-20 minutes from the campus and these areas areeasily accessible by bus
It is a good idea to apply for residence beforehand There is a good sized waiting list for on-campus housing (theones that you see on the on-campus residences map) An example would be booking for a Thunderbird apartment inApril and getting it in November All the on-campus housing information is available at wwwhousingubcca
On-campus (within UBC) housing is relatively expensive compared to the housing options in the cityof Vancouver due to its added advantages If you find the below on-campus housing options expensive I haveprovided a link to the website that can assist you with housing options in city of Vancouver If you wish then youcan share the housingapartments among yourself in order to save the cost
Below are the housing options available on campus (within UBC) for Graduate Students
1) UBC Thunderbird Housing (Available through UBC Housing)
Website httpwwwhousingubccathunderbirdthundebird-overview Rental fee httpwwwhousingubccaresidence-feesthunderbird-residence
2) Marine Drive Housing (Available through UBC Housing)Websitehttpwwwhousingubccamarine-drivemarine-drive-overview Rental feehttpwwwhousingubccaresidence-feesmarine-drive
3) St Andrews Hallhttpwwwstandrewsedu
4) Green Collegehttpwwwgreencollegeubccaapply_for_residenceaccommodation_optionsindexphp
5) St Johns College
httpwwwstjohnsubccaMemberResstm
6) Greenwood Commonshttpwwwgreenwoodcommonsca
7) Vancouver School of Theologyhttpwwwvstedumainroomsstudent-housing
8) Carey Centre
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indiaubccom page 11 of 28
httpwwwcareycentrecomfacilityindexphpoption=com_contentampview=articleampid=2ampItemid=8
To find on-campus housing through external websites1) httpvancouverencraigslistca 2) Under housing choose aptshousing for rent3) On the right side of rent option there is an option for choosing no of bedrooms and you have your results
there
There is another website that can help you to find the on-campus housing Itrsquos called wwwamsrentslinecom Hereare the steps
1) wwwamsrentslinecom 2) In the quick search choose the number of bedroom under lsquoAccomodation Typersquo3) Leave the options of lsquoDistance to Universityrsquo and lsquoMaximum Rentrsquo just like that4) In the neighbourhood option choose UBC campus under ldquoVancouverrdquo and then search for your results
Please note that the above two websites are the most important websites for searching off-campus housing also(outside UBC)
Banking
Many banks are located in University Village area like CIBC and Bank of Montreal
Other than that the following banks are located on West 10th Avenue near Sasamat Street CIBC HSBC Scotia
bank RBC TD Canada Trust Vancity and Bank of Montreal
To open a bank account you will probably need to provide your UBCcard passport and local address Whenever
you make visit to a bank ask for any student accounts that offer low service fees
In Canada banks are generally open from Monday to Friday 1000 am to 400 pm Some bank branches are open onSaturday but closed on Monday
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indiaubccom page 12 of 28
Health and Insurance
Apply for BCrsquos Medical Services Plan (MSP)
Health care in Canada can be very expensive So itrsquos important to get covered by some insurance policy as soon as
you arrive in British Columbia
Usually international students are covered by iMED (private medical insurance) for a waiting period of three
months This waiting period includes the remainder of the month you arrive in BC plus two more months For
example if you arrived in BC on August 20 you would be eligible for MSP on November 1
wwwdavid-cummingscomimed
After three months of waiting period you can become eligible for MSP which is BCrsquos provincial Health insurance
plan for the rest of your stay in BC Donrsquot forget to apply for MSP as soon as you arrive in Vancouver
httpwwwhealthgovbccamspinfobenindexhtml
Alma Mater SocietyGraduate Student Society (AMSGSS) Health and Dental Plan can also be taken for extras not
covered by MSP or iMED
For more information referhttpwwwstudentsubccainternationalinternational-studentshealth-care-and-health-insurance
Mobile phones
Fido Bell WIND Mobile Rogers Koodo and TELUS are the major mobile service providers in Vancouver
You can opt for any one depending upon the utility and service plans Usually they have their stalls put
up in Student union Building (SUB) in the beginning of session wherein you can check and compare
different plans available Most of the plans have an agreement period of 2-3 years (unless you opt for
pay-as- you-go scheme) So take some time to select which plan would be most suitable and economical
for you
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FundingScholarships
UBC offers ample of scholarships for both Graduate and Undergraduate students You need to remain updated withsuch information so that you can fulfill their criteria and apply on time
Graduate Student
bull Most of the graduate students are offer International Partial tution fee which covers almost 50 of thetution fee If you are getting this scholarship then it will be mentioned on the offer letter from university
bull Research assistantship and TAship are also a major source of fundingRAship is funded by your professoror some time from the university (amount is average $17000 but it may vary depending on the departmentand professor as well)
bull You can apply for Teaching assistantship (TAship) Other than RA Itrsquos a good idea to look for it when youare applying to university If you donrsquot get it then no worries You can apply for the next term(Gradsecratery and your Professor are a great help in this matter)
bull Apart from this there are some scholarships which can be get on the basis of meritRules and amount of scholarship may vary year to year So itrsquos a good idea to keep an eye on your yearrsquos listing Following isthe link for Graduate students they can refer to it for this year
httpsyouubccaubcvancouverintlscholarshipsezc httpwwwgradubccaawardsindexasp httpwwwgradubccaprospective-studentsscholarships-awards-funding
Undergraduate students
Undergraduate students can refer to following link It covers all the details from tuition fee to available scholarshipsNormally all the undergraduate students are automatically considered for scholarships
httpsyouubccaubcvancouverfinancesezcpageID=1028
You can also find scholarship from outside sources through websites such as wwwscholarshipscanadacom andwwwstudentawardscom
Apart from this you can work while studying as well (refer next section) You can know more about it once youreach hereGood luck
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On off campus jobs
UBC career services provide excellent opportunities to work in order to support your education to gain valuable
Canadian workplace experience as well as lot of voluntary work
httpwwwstudentsubccacareersindexcfm
The following link would be of great help for searching on-campus as well as off campus work opportunities (there
is a waiting period of at least six months to get your off-campus work permit from the day you arrive)
httpwwwstudentsubccainternationalinternational-studentsworking
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Entertainment
There are many cinema complexes around the city (Silvercity Tinseltown Paramount etc) and a few of them thatexclusively screen latest Hindi movies (Raja Cinemas) Many Indian films and music are available at video rentalsand music stores IMAX and OMNIMAX theaters are also located in Vancouver Local Indian Radio stationsinclude 1600AM (Radio India) 1200AM (Rim Jhim) 1550AM (Radio Punjab) and 931FM (REDFM) Indian TVshows and movies are screened on Channel 8 (Omni BC) and Channel 119 (Shaw Multicultural Channel) on various
daystimes throughout the week Weekly South Asian newspapers include lsquoThe Linkrsquo lsquoThe Voicersquo lsquoThe Asian Starrsquoand lsquoThe South Asian PostrsquoVancouverites are an active bunch and there are many outdoor activities one can take part in during your spare timeIn the summer biking hiking and camping are quite common and in the winter you can go skating or skiingThere are also various UBC intramural sports leagues students can take part in including soccer volleyballbadminton tennis and basketball Vancouver also has 2 different cricket leagues which run during the summerFor those who are spiritually inclined there are at least 8 large Temples 2 large Mosques and countless Gurdwarasand Churches spread all throughout the Lower Mainland
The best must-visit destinations worth visit in coastal British Columbia are Tofino Sunshine Coast Victoria andGulf Islands Other places of interest around Vancouver region may be a trip to Whistler Harrison Lake GreaterVancouver Zoo Stanley Park Bowen Island Granville Island China Town Night Market in Richmond GrouseMountain Gas town Robson Street and VanDusen Garden
The UBC campus offers easy access to many of Vancouverrsquos beaches that you may like to visit Most popular onesbeing Kitsilano Beach Spanish Banks Wreck Beach Tower Beach English Bay and Jericho Beach
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Clubs and Extra-curricular
The mild climate and spectacular natural environment makes Vancouver a haven for people who love the outdoors
Snowboarding and skiing kayaking hiking trail running rock climbing ndash whatever your passion you can get
outside and enjoy it most of the year
The Varsity Outdoor Club (VOC) is open to anyone at UBC - students faculty staff spouses and members of the
greater community The club is dedicated to those who want to explore the outdoors here and anywhere else in the
world Great platform for members to actively pursue hiking rock-climbing mountaineering kayaking ski touring
ice climbing and socializingrdquo (Info courtesy VOC wiki)
httpwwwubc-voccom
UBC Dance Club
httpwwwubcdanceclubcom
Varsity Outdoor Club
httpwwwubc-voccom
UBC Aquatic Centre
httpwwwaquaticsubcca
UBC REC
httpwwwrecubcca
Attractions UBC
httpwwwattractionsubcca
UBC Tennis
httpwwwtennisubcca
Please make yourselves aware of all the safety precautions and waivers before attempting any adventure sports
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Faith
Hindu Temples Mandir Street Address Contact info
Mahalakshmi Hindu Temple 467 11th Avenue EastVancouver BC V5T2C8 Phone 604-874-0175
Vishva Hindu Parishad
Temple 3885 Albert Street
Burnaby BC V5C 2C8 Phone 604-299-5922
Shiv Mandir 1795 Napier Street
Vancouver BC V5L 2N1
Phone 604- 874-0175
ISKCON Vancouver5462 Marine Drive
Burnaby BC V5J 3G8Phone 604-433-9728
Mosques Street Address Contact info
Jamia Masjid Vancouver655 West 8th Ave
Vancouver BC V5Z 1C7Phone 604-309-6036
Richmond Jamia Mosque
(Biggest mosque in BC)
12300 Blundell Rd
Richmond BC V6W 1B3Phone 604-270-2522
Islamic Information Centre3127 Kingsway St
Vancouver BC V5R 5J9Phone 604-434-7526
Masjid Alhaq4162 Welwyn StVancouver BC
Phone 604-873-1787
Dar Al-Madinah IslamicSociety
7155 Victoria DriveVancouver BC
PhoneFax 604-873-8580
Surrey Mosque12407 72nd Ave
Surrey BC V3W 2M5Phone 604-591-7601
Al-Noor Mosque13526 98A Ave
Surrey BCPhoneFax 604-930-9742
Masjidur-Rahmah13585 62nd Ave
Surrey BC V3A 2J3 Phone 604-597-7863
Al- Salaam Mosque 5060 Canada Way Phone 604-524-4499
Sikh Temples Gurudwaras Street Address Contact info
Akali Singh Sikh Temple1890 Skeena Street
Vancouver BC - V5M 4L3Phone (604) 254-2117
Canadian Ramgharia Society 6908 Macpherson Ave (604) 438-0846
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Burnaby BC - V5J 4N3
Babbar Khalsa Dal4767 Union Street
Burnaby British ColumbiaTel (604) 376 1749
Cloverdale Sikh Society5748 175 Street
Surrey BC - V3S 4T7 (604) 574-7594
Gurdwara Sahib DasmeshDarbar
115-12885 85 AvenueSurrey BC - V3W 0K8
(604) 594-2573
Khalsa Darbar61st and Prince Edward Street
Vancouver BCPhone 604-325-2290
Gurdwara Khalsa Darbar390 61st Avenue East
Vancouver BC - V5X 2B6Phone (604) 325-2290
Campus Security
Vancouver is one of the most livable cities in the world Although its crime rate is low still security is a concern
particularly against thefts UBC campus security is provided by the UBC patrol and RCMP (Royal Canadian
Mounted Police)
Campus security is located next to the UBC Bookstore Campus Security provides 24-hour assistance seven days a
week Call 604-822-2222 if you have a safety concern or an emergency situation For more information visit
wwwsecurityubcca
If you are walking alone late night or not too sure where to go and you can also take help of safety walk Safewalk
provides male and female student teams that will accompany anyone between points on campus free of charge Theservice runs throughout the school year and during the summer months You can book a walk by calling 604-822-
5355 dropping by the office in the SUB concourse or looking for the Safewalk patrollers in bright red jackets Visit
wwwamsubccasafewalk for hours and other information
Call 911 in case of emergency or have been the victim of crime Always give the location to the operator particularly
the building address Calls to 911 are received at a call centre in Downtown Vancouver and the operators may not
be familiar with the building names on campus
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Blue Phones
Blue phones are located at various locations around the campus core Elevator phones in most building also provide
direct access to Campus Security
Campus Maps
You can download the UBC campus map from here
httpwwwstudentsubccacurrentdownloadcampusmap07pdf
You can search for locations on the UBC campus map at this site
httpwwwmapsubccaPRODindexphp
httpwwwstudentsubccacurrentcampuscfm
The on-campus residences map
httpwwwhousingubccarez_maprez_maphtm
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Contact us
Email utsav_ubcyahoocom
Facebook httpwwwfacebookcomgroupphpgid=3220440131
Webpage httpwwwindiaubccom
YahoogroupUBC_bharatyahoogroupcom
To subscribe to our mailing list send a blank email to
ubc_bharat-subscribeyahoogroupscom
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Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the inputs from the International Student Handbook 200910
published by International Student Development at UBC MITACS Globalink program Handbook and UTSAV website which were immensely helpful in compiling this information
handbook
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Appendix
Things to pack
We Indian Student Association ndash UTSAV helps undergraduate and graduate students prospective and currentstudents throughtout their stay at UBC Please check the reminders section to make sure you do not forget important
documents while travelling
You should bring with you all your original transcripts degree certificate provisional certificate migration
certificate TOEFLGRE scores certificates birth certificate work experience certificate papers and publications
for which you have mentioned in your portfolio Sometimes the school may ask you to show them to validate or may
ask you to submit you originals Hence it would be safe if you keep them with you when you arrive here
In flight
1 Specify while you book your ticket regarding your food preferences especially when you are a strict vegetarian
Few flights do provide the service of providing Jain and Hindu meals in flight
2 Keep your hand baggage as light as possible because during transit you may have to walk long distances Try to
carry hand bags with trolley that would help you in easy transfer
Important Note
1 Make sure you carry your Indian Driving license this help you here while you apply for International Driving
LicensePermit
2 Try to carry 3-4 pairs of glasses (spares) with you and have an advance eye sight check up in India because here
these things are usually very expensive You anyway would have an eye check up during your Pre-Medical
Examination
3 A dental check up at least fifteen days in advance would be quite appropriate
4 Carry money as travelers cheques they are the safest and most convenient method of carrying money
What to Get and What Not
1 It will be great if you can get yourself the books you need here though we have very good library here which
would provide you with sufficient copies of each book of your requirement But see to it that carrying them you
arenrsquot exceeding your baggage weight limitations
2 If you are looking forward to cook Indian food at your place then bring along a Pressure Cooker and any flat
bottomed vessels
3 You can carry pulses rice Indian spices pickles etc with you but it is better if you donrsquot carry them with you as
we have many Indian grocery shops at Vancouver mainly at Fraser and Main Street Also there are some good
shops within campus where you can get all the above mentioned things
4 Get yourself sufficient stock of undergarments and socks as you might be washing clothes once every 10 days or
more
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5 You should bring with yourself 1-2 umbrellas a raincoat or a wind-sheeter as it rains a lot here from October till
March
6 You would need warm clothes (a good winter jacket) as it is cold here except for 2-4 months in summer Good
sweaters preferably two woollen gloves mufflers and woollen caps thermal vest and long johns
7 Get all the stationary items like staplers punchers etc also a good alarm clock
8 Buy a good pair of walking shoe sports shoe formal shoe (all water-proof) as it rains a lot here and you might
have to walk a lot here
9 Donrsquot get along any electronic items here as the voltage is much lower than in India
10 And if you are still carrying then get yourself a Step-upStep-down voltage convertor This will prove a lot more
helpful here Make sure you are buying it for the correct Watt as for hair dryers you might have to go for 1800W
These convertors are available here as well but a bit more expensive
11 A good school bag a Visa folder (to hold cards) a walletpurses
12 Get some medicines which you think would be useful or any common health problems that you have You could
get some basic medicines for headache stomach ache indigestion fever etc
Baggage specifications
You should check this out with your concerned airlines preferably there website They would give you perfect
information on the weight and dimensional limitations It would be good if you can lock your baggage with TSA
locks
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What should I bring from INDIA All the items mention ed below can be fo und easily in the city of Vancouver However the reason we have written them
is to remind you wh at to carry or buy here in case you forget This list is a checklist of items yo u migh t need here We
recommend you to buy mo st of the items fro m India because these items are very expensive in the city of Vancouver
Item Comments
A Clothes
1 Full Sleeve Shirts
2 Half Sleeve Shirts
3 Formal Trousers
4 Blazer (Informal) Suit (Formal) Suit Recommended
5 Tie
6 T-shirts
7 Jeans
8 Shorts Cargos Bermudas9 Belts
10 Traditional Highly Recommended for Indian events
11 Sweaters Recommended
12 Pyjamas Night Suit
13 Under Garments
14 Towels
15 Handkerchiefs used less here
16 Blanket (Light Weight) depends on your baggage (can buy here)
17 Single Bed Sheet
18 Bed Cover
19 Pillow Cover
20 Woolen Gloves Leather amp wool (Highly Recommended)21 Jacket Optional (can buy here)
22 Thermal Innerwear Long johns Required in winter
23 CapsToques Optional
24 Swimwear Expensive here
B Footwear
1 Chappals Sandals Traditional Footwear
2 Slippers Flotters
3 Formal Black Leather Shoes
4 Casual Sport Shoes
5 Shoe Polish for Formal Shoes
6 Shoe Polishing Brush
7 Socks (black for formal shoes)
8 Socks (White) Cheaply Available here
C Miscellaneous Items
1 Glasses Contact Lenses Must (Optics very expensive here)
2 Contact Lenses Solution Check for yourself
3 Stitching Kit
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indiaubccom page 27 of 28
G Stationary
1 School Bag A Little Expensive here
2 Ball Point Pen For initial use
3 Refils
4 BondedClutch Pencils
5 Sharpener
6 Eraser Pencil
7 Clutch Pencil (05 mm)
8 Lead Box (05 mm)
9 Steel Scale 6 Optional
10 Stapler Donrsquot forget these
11 Stapler Pins Box
12 Punch Please donrsquot bring 3 holes punch required here
13 Scientific Calculator Replace the batteries without fail
14 Cello Tapes Optional
15 Glue Stick Glue Optional
16 Sketch Pen Optional
17 Note books Papers Files Folders Do not bring
H Books (apart from course-work)
1 Oxford Concise Dictionary
2 Books about India Optional
3 Religious Books Optional
I Medicines (optional)
1 Vicks (Vaporub amp Inhaler)
2 Balm (Amrutanjan etc)
3 Iodex
4 Dettol
5 Band-Aid (wash proof)6 Burnol
7 Painkiller tabs like Combiflam Brufen
8 Drugs amp Antibiotics (fever amp cold etc)
9 Vaseline Especially for people coming in winter
J Documents
1 Recent Photographs Negatives
2 General Photographs
3 Passport Photocopies
4 Admission
5 VISA photocopies
6 Credentials Transcripts
7 Recommendation SOP
8 GRE TOEFL Score Sheet
9 Medical Fitness Certificate
10 Medical Prescription of all medicines
11 College Leaving Certificate
12 Traveller cheques
13 Enough Money-Cash with some change
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2828
Compiled by C P Sha r m a ( Cheenu ) 201 0 - 11 W eb admin and New s let t e r Ed i to r
Valuable contributions from
UTSAV execu t i ve team 2010 - 11
Sr in iv as Ram an Harshu l Sr iv as tava Rashm i Bhadaur ia
An i r uddha Cha t t e r j ee Sw iya Na th Tab i ta Ve r m a amp Sneha She th s tuden t s ove r the
yea r s and o the r ex t e r na l agenc ies
862019 Student Info Handbook
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indiaubccom page 9 of 28
Basic Layout of UBC Campus
The campus is divided into two approximate halves in the East-West directions by Main Mall and in the North-South directions by University Boulevard These two streets serve as the basic reference frame to the UBC
Vancouver Campus
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Food amp Accommodation
Vancouver has an assortment of cuisine such as Indian Chinese Thailand Mexican Japanese etc Indian spices andcondiments are freely available in the local market situated 15-20 minutes from the campus and these areas areeasily accessible by bus
It is a good idea to apply for residence beforehand There is a good sized waiting list for on-campus housing (theones that you see on the on-campus residences map) An example would be booking for a Thunderbird apartment inApril and getting it in November All the on-campus housing information is available at wwwhousingubcca
On-campus (within UBC) housing is relatively expensive compared to the housing options in the cityof Vancouver due to its added advantages If you find the below on-campus housing options expensive I haveprovided a link to the website that can assist you with housing options in city of Vancouver If you wish then youcan share the housingapartments among yourself in order to save the cost
Below are the housing options available on campus (within UBC) for Graduate Students
1) UBC Thunderbird Housing (Available through UBC Housing)
Website httpwwwhousingubccathunderbirdthundebird-overview Rental fee httpwwwhousingubccaresidence-feesthunderbird-residence
2) Marine Drive Housing (Available through UBC Housing)Websitehttpwwwhousingubccamarine-drivemarine-drive-overview Rental feehttpwwwhousingubccaresidence-feesmarine-drive
3) St Andrews Hallhttpwwwstandrewsedu
4) Green Collegehttpwwwgreencollegeubccaapply_for_residenceaccommodation_optionsindexphp
5) St Johns College
httpwwwstjohnsubccaMemberResstm
6) Greenwood Commonshttpwwwgreenwoodcommonsca
7) Vancouver School of Theologyhttpwwwvstedumainroomsstudent-housing
8) Carey Centre
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indiaubccom page 11 of 28
httpwwwcareycentrecomfacilityindexphpoption=com_contentampview=articleampid=2ampItemid=8
To find on-campus housing through external websites1) httpvancouverencraigslistca 2) Under housing choose aptshousing for rent3) On the right side of rent option there is an option for choosing no of bedrooms and you have your results
there
There is another website that can help you to find the on-campus housing Itrsquos called wwwamsrentslinecom Hereare the steps
1) wwwamsrentslinecom 2) In the quick search choose the number of bedroom under lsquoAccomodation Typersquo3) Leave the options of lsquoDistance to Universityrsquo and lsquoMaximum Rentrsquo just like that4) In the neighbourhood option choose UBC campus under ldquoVancouverrdquo and then search for your results
Please note that the above two websites are the most important websites for searching off-campus housing also(outside UBC)
Banking
Many banks are located in University Village area like CIBC and Bank of Montreal
Other than that the following banks are located on West 10th Avenue near Sasamat Street CIBC HSBC Scotia
bank RBC TD Canada Trust Vancity and Bank of Montreal
To open a bank account you will probably need to provide your UBCcard passport and local address Whenever
you make visit to a bank ask for any student accounts that offer low service fees
In Canada banks are generally open from Monday to Friday 1000 am to 400 pm Some bank branches are open onSaturday but closed on Monday
862019 Student Info Handbook
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indiaubccom page 12 of 28
Health and Insurance
Apply for BCrsquos Medical Services Plan (MSP)
Health care in Canada can be very expensive So itrsquos important to get covered by some insurance policy as soon as
you arrive in British Columbia
Usually international students are covered by iMED (private medical insurance) for a waiting period of three
months This waiting period includes the remainder of the month you arrive in BC plus two more months For
example if you arrived in BC on August 20 you would be eligible for MSP on November 1
wwwdavid-cummingscomimed
After three months of waiting period you can become eligible for MSP which is BCrsquos provincial Health insurance
plan for the rest of your stay in BC Donrsquot forget to apply for MSP as soon as you arrive in Vancouver
httpwwwhealthgovbccamspinfobenindexhtml
Alma Mater SocietyGraduate Student Society (AMSGSS) Health and Dental Plan can also be taken for extras not
covered by MSP or iMED
For more information referhttpwwwstudentsubccainternationalinternational-studentshealth-care-and-health-insurance
Mobile phones
Fido Bell WIND Mobile Rogers Koodo and TELUS are the major mobile service providers in Vancouver
You can opt for any one depending upon the utility and service plans Usually they have their stalls put
up in Student union Building (SUB) in the beginning of session wherein you can check and compare
different plans available Most of the plans have an agreement period of 2-3 years (unless you opt for
pay-as- you-go scheme) So take some time to select which plan would be most suitable and economical
for you
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1328
indiaubccom page 13 of 28
FundingScholarships
UBC offers ample of scholarships for both Graduate and Undergraduate students You need to remain updated withsuch information so that you can fulfill their criteria and apply on time
Graduate Student
bull Most of the graduate students are offer International Partial tution fee which covers almost 50 of thetution fee If you are getting this scholarship then it will be mentioned on the offer letter from university
bull Research assistantship and TAship are also a major source of fundingRAship is funded by your professoror some time from the university (amount is average $17000 but it may vary depending on the departmentand professor as well)
bull You can apply for Teaching assistantship (TAship) Other than RA Itrsquos a good idea to look for it when youare applying to university If you donrsquot get it then no worries You can apply for the next term(Gradsecratery and your Professor are a great help in this matter)
bull Apart from this there are some scholarships which can be get on the basis of meritRules and amount of scholarship may vary year to year So itrsquos a good idea to keep an eye on your yearrsquos listing Following isthe link for Graduate students they can refer to it for this year
httpsyouubccaubcvancouverintlscholarshipsezc httpwwwgradubccaawardsindexasp httpwwwgradubccaprospective-studentsscholarships-awards-funding
Undergraduate students
Undergraduate students can refer to following link It covers all the details from tuition fee to available scholarshipsNormally all the undergraduate students are automatically considered for scholarships
httpsyouubccaubcvancouverfinancesezcpageID=1028
You can also find scholarship from outside sources through websites such as wwwscholarshipscanadacom andwwwstudentawardscom
Apart from this you can work while studying as well (refer next section) You can know more about it once youreach hereGood luck
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1428
indiaubccom page 14 of 28
On off campus jobs
UBC career services provide excellent opportunities to work in order to support your education to gain valuable
Canadian workplace experience as well as lot of voluntary work
httpwwwstudentsubccacareersindexcfm
The following link would be of great help for searching on-campus as well as off campus work opportunities (there
is a waiting period of at least six months to get your off-campus work permit from the day you arrive)
httpwwwstudentsubccainternationalinternational-studentsworking
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1528
indiaubccom page 15 of 28
Entertainment
There are many cinema complexes around the city (Silvercity Tinseltown Paramount etc) and a few of them thatexclusively screen latest Hindi movies (Raja Cinemas) Many Indian films and music are available at video rentalsand music stores IMAX and OMNIMAX theaters are also located in Vancouver Local Indian Radio stationsinclude 1600AM (Radio India) 1200AM (Rim Jhim) 1550AM (Radio Punjab) and 931FM (REDFM) Indian TVshows and movies are screened on Channel 8 (Omni BC) and Channel 119 (Shaw Multicultural Channel) on various
daystimes throughout the week Weekly South Asian newspapers include lsquoThe Linkrsquo lsquoThe Voicersquo lsquoThe Asian Starrsquoand lsquoThe South Asian PostrsquoVancouverites are an active bunch and there are many outdoor activities one can take part in during your spare timeIn the summer biking hiking and camping are quite common and in the winter you can go skating or skiingThere are also various UBC intramural sports leagues students can take part in including soccer volleyballbadminton tennis and basketball Vancouver also has 2 different cricket leagues which run during the summerFor those who are spiritually inclined there are at least 8 large Temples 2 large Mosques and countless Gurdwarasand Churches spread all throughout the Lower Mainland
The best must-visit destinations worth visit in coastal British Columbia are Tofino Sunshine Coast Victoria andGulf Islands Other places of interest around Vancouver region may be a trip to Whistler Harrison Lake GreaterVancouver Zoo Stanley Park Bowen Island Granville Island China Town Night Market in Richmond GrouseMountain Gas town Robson Street and VanDusen Garden
The UBC campus offers easy access to many of Vancouverrsquos beaches that you may like to visit Most popular onesbeing Kitsilano Beach Spanish Banks Wreck Beach Tower Beach English Bay and Jericho Beach
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1628
indiaubccom page 16 of 28
Clubs and Extra-curricular
The mild climate and spectacular natural environment makes Vancouver a haven for people who love the outdoors
Snowboarding and skiing kayaking hiking trail running rock climbing ndash whatever your passion you can get
outside and enjoy it most of the year
The Varsity Outdoor Club (VOC) is open to anyone at UBC - students faculty staff spouses and members of the
greater community The club is dedicated to those who want to explore the outdoors here and anywhere else in the
world Great platform for members to actively pursue hiking rock-climbing mountaineering kayaking ski touring
ice climbing and socializingrdquo (Info courtesy VOC wiki)
httpwwwubc-voccom
UBC Dance Club
httpwwwubcdanceclubcom
Varsity Outdoor Club
httpwwwubc-voccom
UBC Aquatic Centre
httpwwwaquaticsubcca
UBC REC
httpwwwrecubcca
Attractions UBC
httpwwwattractionsubcca
UBC Tennis
httpwwwtennisubcca
Please make yourselves aware of all the safety precautions and waivers before attempting any adventure sports
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1728
indiaubccom page 17 of 28
Faith
Hindu Temples Mandir Street Address Contact info
Mahalakshmi Hindu Temple 467 11th Avenue EastVancouver BC V5T2C8 Phone 604-874-0175
Vishva Hindu Parishad
Temple 3885 Albert Street
Burnaby BC V5C 2C8 Phone 604-299-5922
Shiv Mandir 1795 Napier Street
Vancouver BC V5L 2N1
Phone 604- 874-0175
ISKCON Vancouver5462 Marine Drive
Burnaby BC V5J 3G8Phone 604-433-9728
Mosques Street Address Contact info
Jamia Masjid Vancouver655 West 8th Ave
Vancouver BC V5Z 1C7Phone 604-309-6036
Richmond Jamia Mosque
(Biggest mosque in BC)
12300 Blundell Rd
Richmond BC V6W 1B3Phone 604-270-2522
Islamic Information Centre3127 Kingsway St
Vancouver BC V5R 5J9Phone 604-434-7526
Masjid Alhaq4162 Welwyn StVancouver BC
Phone 604-873-1787
Dar Al-Madinah IslamicSociety
7155 Victoria DriveVancouver BC
PhoneFax 604-873-8580
Surrey Mosque12407 72nd Ave
Surrey BC V3W 2M5Phone 604-591-7601
Al-Noor Mosque13526 98A Ave
Surrey BCPhoneFax 604-930-9742
Masjidur-Rahmah13585 62nd Ave
Surrey BC V3A 2J3 Phone 604-597-7863
Al- Salaam Mosque 5060 Canada Way Phone 604-524-4499
Sikh Temples Gurudwaras Street Address Contact info
Akali Singh Sikh Temple1890 Skeena Street
Vancouver BC - V5M 4L3Phone (604) 254-2117
Canadian Ramgharia Society 6908 Macpherson Ave (604) 438-0846
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indiaubccom page 18 of 28
Burnaby BC - V5J 4N3
Babbar Khalsa Dal4767 Union Street
Burnaby British ColumbiaTel (604) 376 1749
Cloverdale Sikh Society5748 175 Street
Surrey BC - V3S 4T7 (604) 574-7594
Gurdwara Sahib DasmeshDarbar
115-12885 85 AvenueSurrey BC - V3W 0K8
(604) 594-2573
Khalsa Darbar61st and Prince Edward Street
Vancouver BCPhone 604-325-2290
Gurdwara Khalsa Darbar390 61st Avenue East
Vancouver BC - V5X 2B6Phone (604) 325-2290
Campus Security
Vancouver is one of the most livable cities in the world Although its crime rate is low still security is a concern
particularly against thefts UBC campus security is provided by the UBC patrol and RCMP (Royal Canadian
Mounted Police)
Campus security is located next to the UBC Bookstore Campus Security provides 24-hour assistance seven days a
week Call 604-822-2222 if you have a safety concern or an emergency situation For more information visit
wwwsecurityubcca
If you are walking alone late night or not too sure where to go and you can also take help of safety walk Safewalk
provides male and female student teams that will accompany anyone between points on campus free of charge Theservice runs throughout the school year and during the summer months You can book a walk by calling 604-822-
5355 dropping by the office in the SUB concourse or looking for the Safewalk patrollers in bright red jackets Visit
wwwamsubccasafewalk for hours and other information
Call 911 in case of emergency or have been the victim of crime Always give the location to the operator particularly
the building address Calls to 911 are received at a call centre in Downtown Vancouver and the operators may not
be familiar with the building names on campus
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indiaubccom page 19 of 28
Blue Phones
Blue phones are located at various locations around the campus core Elevator phones in most building also provide
direct access to Campus Security
Campus Maps
You can download the UBC campus map from here
httpwwwstudentsubccacurrentdownloadcampusmap07pdf
You can search for locations on the UBC campus map at this site
httpwwwmapsubccaPRODindexphp
httpwwwstudentsubccacurrentcampuscfm
The on-campus residences map
httpwwwhousingubccarez_maprez_maphtm
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indiaubccom page 20 of 28
862019 Student Info Handbook
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indiaubccom page 21 of 28
Contact us
Email utsav_ubcyahoocom
Facebook httpwwwfacebookcomgroupphpgid=3220440131
Webpage httpwwwindiaubccom
YahoogroupUBC_bharatyahoogroupcom
To subscribe to our mailing list send a blank email to
ubc_bharat-subscribeyahoogroupscom
862019 Student Info Handbook
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indiaubccom page 22 of 28
Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the inputs from the International Student Handbook 200910
published by International Student Development at UBC MITACS Globalink program Handbook and UTSAV website which were immensely helpful in compiling this information
handbook
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indiaubccom page 23 of 28
Appendix
Things to pack
We Indian Student Association ndash UTSAV helps undergraduate and graduate students prospective and currentstudents throughtout their stay at UBC Please check the reminders section to make sure you do not forget important
documents while travelling
You should bring with you all your original transcripts degree certificate provisional certificate migration
certificate TOEFLGRE scores certificates birth certificate work experience certificate papers and publications
for which you have mentioned in your portfolio Sometimes the school may ask you to show them to validate or may
ask you to submit you originals Hence it would be safe if you keep them with you when you arrive here
In flight
1 Specify while you book your ticket regarding your food preferences especially when you are a strict vegetarian
Few flights do provide the service of providing Jain and Hindu meals in flight
2 Keep your hand baggage as light as possible because during transit you may have to walk long distances Try to
carry hand bags with trolley that would help you in easy transfer
Important Note
1 Make sure you carry your Indian Driving license this help you here while you apply for International Driving
LicensePermit
2 Try to carry 3-4 pairs of glasses (spares) with you and have an advance eye sight check up in India because here
these things are usually very expensive You anyway would have an eye check up during your Pre-Medical
Examination
3 A dental check up at least fifteen days in advance would be quite appropriate
4 Carry money as travelers cheques they are the safest and most convenient method of carrying money
What to Get and What Not
1 It will be great if you can get yourself the books you need here though we have very good library here which
would provide you with sufficient copies of each book of your requirement But see to it that carrying them you
arenrsquot exceeding your baggage weight limitations
2 If you are looking forward to cook Indian food at your place then bring along a Pressure Cooker and any flat
bottomed vessels
3 You can carry pulses rice Indian spices pickles etc with you but it is better if you donrsquot carry them with you as
we have many Indian grocery shops at Vancouver mainly at Fraser and Main Street Also there are some good
shops within campus where you can get all the above mentioned things
4 Get yourself sufficient stock of undergarments and socks as you might be washing clothes once every 10 days or
more
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indiaubccom page 24 of 28
5 You should bring with yourself 1-2 umbrellas a raincoat or a wind-sheeter as it rains a lot here from October till
March
6 You would need warm clothes (a good winter jacket) as it is cold here except for 2-4 months in summer Good
sweaters preferably two woollen gloves mufflers and woollen caps thermal vest and long johns
7 Get all the stationary items like staplers punchers etc also a good alarm clock
8 Buy a good pair of walking shoe sports shoe formal shoe (all water-proof) as it rains a lot here and you might
have to walk a lot here
9 Donrsquot get along any electronic items here as the voltage is much lower than in India
10 And if you are still carrying then get yourself a Step-upStep-down voltage convertor This will prove a lot more
helpful here Make sure you are buying it for the correct Watt as for hair dryers you might have to go for 1800W
These convertors are available here as well but a bit more expensive
11 A good school bag a Visa folder (to hold cards) a walletpurses
12 Get some medicines which you think would be useful or any common health problems that you have You could
get some basic medicines for headache stomach ache indigestion fever etc
Baggage specifications
You should check this out with your concerned airlines preferably there website They would give you perfect
information on the weight and dimensional limitations It would be good if you can lock your baggage with TSA
locks
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indiaubccom page 25 of 28
What should I bring from INDIA All the items mention ed below can be fo und easily in the city of Vancouver However the reason we have written them
is to remind you wh at to carry or buy here in case you forget This list is a checklist of items yo u migh t need here We
recommend you to buy mo st of the items fro m India because these items are very expensive in the city of Vancouver
Item Comments
A Clothes
1 Full Sleeve Shirts
2 Half Sleeve Shirts
3 Formal Trousers
4 Blazer (Informal) Suit (Formal) Suit Recommended
5 Tie
6 T-shirts
7 Jeans
8 Shorts Cargos Bermudas9 Belts
10 Traditional Highly Recommended for Indian events
11 Sweaters Recommended
12 Pyjamas Night Suit
13 Under Garments
14 Towels
15 Handkerchiefs used less here
16 Blanket (Light Weight) depends on your baggage (can buy here)
17 Single Bed Sheet
18 Bed Cover
19 Pillow Cover
20 Woolen Gloves Leather amp wool (Highly Recommended)21 Jacket Optional (can buy here)
22 Thermal Innerwear Long johns Required in winter
23 CapsToques Optional
24 Swimwear Expensive here
B Footwear
1 Chappals Sandals Traditional Footwear
2 Slippers Flotters
3 Formal Black Leather Shoes
4 Casual Sport Shoes
5 Shoe Polish for Formal Shoes
6 Shoe Polishing Brush
7 Socks (black for formal shoes)
8 Socks (White) Cheaply Available here
C Miscellaneous Items
1 Glasses Contact Lenses Must (Optics very expensive here)
2 Contact Lenses Solution Check for yourself
3 Stitching Kit
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862019 Student Info Handbook
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indiaubccom page 27 of 28
G Stationary
1 School Bag A Little Expensive here
2 Ball Point Pen For initial use
3 Refils
4 BondedClutch Pencils
5 Sharpener
6 Eraser Pencil
7 Clutch Pencil (05 mm)
8 Lead Box (05 mm)
9 Steel Scale 6 Optional
10 Stapler Donrsquot forget these
11 Stapler Pins Box
12 Punch Please donrsquot bring 3 holes punch required here
13 Scientific Calculator Replace the batteries without fail
14 Cello Tapes Optional
15 Glue Stick Glue Optional
16 Sketch Pen Optional
17 Note books Papers Files Folders Do not bring
H Books (apart from course-work)
1 Oxford Concise Dictionary
2 Books about India Optional
3 Religious Books Optional
I Medicines (optional)
1 Vicks (Vaporub amp Inhaler)
2 Balm (Amrutanjan etc)
3 Iodex
4 Dettol
5 Band-Aid (wash proof)6 Burnol
7 Painkiller tabs like Combiflam Brufen
8 Drugs amp Antibiotics (fever amp cold etc)
9 Vaseline Especially for people coming in winter
J Documents
1 Recent Photographs Negatives
2 General Photographs
3 Passport Photocopies
4 Admission
5 VISA photocopies
6 Credentials Transcripts
7 Recommendation SOP
8 GRE TOEFL Score Sheet
9 Medical Fitness Certificate
10 Medical Prescription of all medicines
11 College Leaving Certificate
12 Traveller cheques
13 Enough Money-Cash with some change
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2828
Compiled by C P Sha r m a ( Cheenu ) 201 0 - 11 W eb admin and New s let t e r Ed i to r
Valuable contributions from
UTSAV execu t i ve team 2010 - 11
Sr in iv as Ram an Harshu l Sr iv as tava Rashm i Bhadaur ia
An i r uddha Cha t t e r j ee Sw iya Na th Tab i ta Ve r m a amp Sneha She th s tuden t s ove r the
yea r s and o the r ex t e r na l agenc ies
862019 Student Info Handbook
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indiaubccom page 10 of 28
Food amp Accommodation
Vancouver has an assortment of cuisine such as Indian Chinese Thailand Mexican Japanese etc Indian spices andcondiments are freely available in the local market situated 15-20 minutes from the campus and these areas areeasily accessible by bus
It is a good idea to apply for residence beforehand There is a good sized waiting list for on-campus housing (theones that you see on the on-campus residences map) An example would be booking for a Thunderbird apartment inApril and getting it in November All the on-campus housing information is available at wwwhousingubcca
On-campus (within UBC) housing is relatively expensive compared to the housing options in the cityof Vancouver due to its added advantages If you find the below on-campus housing options expensive I haveprovided a link to the website that can assist you with housing options in city of Vancouver If you wish then youcan share the housingapartments among yourself in order to save the cost
Below are the housing options available on campus (within UBC) for Graduate Students
1) UBC Thunderbird Housing (Available through UBC Housing)
Website httpwwwhousingubccathunderbirdthundebird-overview Rental fee httpwwwhousingubccaresidence-feesthunderbird-residence
2) Marine Drive Housing (Available through UBC Housing)Websitehttpwwwhousingubccamarine-drivemarine-drive-overview Rental feehttpwwwhousingubccaresidence-feesmarine-drive
3) St Andrews Hallhttpwwwstandrewsedu
4) Green Collegehttpwwwgreencollegeubccaapply_for_residenceaccommodation_optionsindexphp
5) St Johns College
httpwwwstjohnsubccaMemberResstm
6) Greenwood Commonshttpwwwgreenwoodcommonsca
7) Vancouver School of Theologyhttpwwwvstedumainroomsstudent-housing
8) Carey Centre
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1128
indiaubccom page 11 of 28
httpwwwcareycentrecomfacilityindexphpoption=com_contentampview=articleampid=2ampItemid=8
To find on-campus housing through external websites1) httpvancouverencraigslistca 2) Under housing choose aptshousing for rent3) On the right side of rent option there is an option for choosing no of bedrooms and you have your results
there
There is another website that can help you to find the on-campus housing Itrsquos called wwwamsrentslinecom Hereare the steps
1) wwwamsrentslinecom 2) In the quick search choose the number of bedroom under lsquoAccomodation Typersquo3) Leave the options of lsquoDistance to Universityrsquo and lsquoMaximum Rentrsquo just like that4) In the neighbourhood option choose UBC campus under ldquoVancouverrdquo and then search for your results
Please note that the above two websites are the most important websites for searching off-campus housing also(outside UBC)
Banking
Many banks are located in University Village area like CIBC and Bank of Montreal
Other than that the following banks are located on West 10th Avenue near Sasamat Street CIBC HSBC Scotia
bank RBC TD Canada Trust Vancity and Bank of Montreal
To open a bank account you will probably need to provide your UBCcard passport and local address Whenever
you make visit to a bank ask for any student accounts that offer low service fees
In Canada banks are generally open from Monday to Friday 1000 am to 400 pm Some bank branches are open onSaturday but closed on Monday
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1228
indiaubccom page 12 of 28
Health and Insurance
Apply for BCrsquos Medical Services Plan (MSP)
Health care in Canada can be very expensive So itrsquos important to get covered by some insurance policy as soon as
you arrive in British Columbia
Usually international students are covered by iMED (private medical insurance) for a waiting period of three
months This waiting period includes the remainder of the month you arrive in BC plus two more months For
example if you arrived in BC on August 20 you would be eligible for MSP on November 1
wwwdavid-cummingscomimed
After three months of waiting period you can become eligible for MSP which is BCrsquos provincial Health insurance
plan for the rest of your stay in BC Donrsquot forget to apply for MSP as soon as you arrive in Vancouver
httpwwwhealthgovbccamspinfobenindexhtml
Alma Mater SocietyGraduate Student Society (AMSGSS) Health and Dental Plan can also be taken for extras not
covered by MSP or iMED
For more information referhttpwwwstudentsubccainternationalinternational-studentshealth-care-and-health-insurance
Mobile phones
Fido Bell WIND Mobile Rogers Koodo and TELUS are the major mobile service providers in Vancouver
You can opt for any one depending upon the utility and service plans Usually they have their stalls put
up in Student union Building (SUB) in the beginning of session wherein you can check and compare
different plans available Most of the plans have an agreement period of 2-3 years (unless you opt for
pay-as- you-go scheme) So take some time to select which plan would be most suitable and economical
for you
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1328
indiaubccom page 13 of 28
FundingScholarships
UBC offers ample of scholarships for both Graduate and Undergraduate students You need to remain updated withsuch information so that you can fulfill their criteria and apply on time
Graduate Student
bull Most of the graduate students are offer International Partial tution fee which covers almost 50 of thetution fee If you are getting this scholarship then it will be mentioned on the offer letter from university
bull Research assistantship and TAship are also a major source of fundingRAship is funded by your professoror some time from the university (amount is average $17000 but it may vary depending on the departmentand professor as well)
bull You can apply for Teaching assistantship (TAship) Other than RA Itrsquos a good idea to look for it when youare applying to university If you donrsquot get it then no worries You can apply for the next term(Gradsecratery and your Professor are a great help in this matter)
bull Apart from this there are some scholarships which can be get on the basis of meritRules and amount of scholarship may vary year to year So itrsquos a good idea to keep an eye on your yearrsquos listing Following isthe link for Graduate students they can refer to it for this year
httpsyouubccaubcvancouverintlscholarshipsezc httpwwwgradubccaawardsindexasp httpwwwgradubccaprospective-studentsscholarships-awards-funding
Undergraduate students
Undergraduate students can refer to following link It covers all the details from tuition fee to available scholarshipsNormally all the undergraduate students are automatically considered for scholarships
httpsyouubccaubcvancouverfinancesezcpageID=1028
You can also find scholarship from outside sources through websites such as wwwscholarshipscanadacom andwwwstudentawardscom
Apart from this you can work while studying as well (refer next section) You can know more about it once youreach hereGood luck
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1428
indiaubccom page 14 of 28
On off campus jobs
UBC career services provide excellent opportunities to work in order to support your education to gain valuable
Canadian workplace experience as well as lot of voluntary work
httpwwwstudentsubccacareersindexcfm
The following link would be of great help for searching on-campus as well as off campus work opportunities (there
is a waiting period of at least six months to get your off-campus work permit from the day you arrive)
httpwwwstudentsubccainternationalinternational-studentsworking
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1528
indiaubccom page 15 of 28
Entertainment
There are many cinema complexes around the city (Silvercity Tinseltown Paramount etc) and a few of them thatexclusively screen latest Hindi movies (Raja Cinemas) Many Indian films and music are available at video rentalsand music stores IMAX and OMNIMAX theaters are also located in Vancouver Local Indian Radio stationsinclude 1600AM (Radio India) 1200AM (Rim Jhim) 1550AM (Radio Punjab) and 931FM (REDFM) Indian TVshows and movies are screened on Channel 8 (Omni BC) and Channel 119 (Shaw Multicultural Channel) on various
daystimes throughout the week Weekly South Asian newspapers include lsquoThe Linkrsquo lsquoThe Voicersquo lsquoThe Asian Starrsquoand lsquoThe South Asian PostrsquoVancouverites are an active bunch and there are many outdoor activities one can take part in during your spare timeIn the summer biking hiking and camping are quite common and in the winter you can go skating or skiingThere are also various UBC intramural sports leagues students can take part in including soccer volleyballbadminton tennis and basketball Vancouver also has 2 different cricket leagues which run during the summerFor those who are spiritually inclined there are at least 8 large Temples 2 large Mosques and countless Gurdwarasand Churches spread all throughout the Lower Mainland
The best must-visit destinations worth visit in coastal British Columbia are Tofino Sunshine Coast Victoria andGulf Islands Other places of interest around Vancouver region may be a trip to Whistler Harrison Lake GreaterVancouver Zoo Stanley Park Bowen Island Granville Island China Town Night Market in Richmond GrouseMountain Gas town Robson Street and VanDusen Garden
The UBC campus offers easy access to many of Vancouverrsquos beaches that you may like to visit Most popular onesbeing Kitsilano Beach Spanish Banks Wreck Beach Tower Beach English Bay and Jericho Beach
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1628
indiaubccom page 16 of 28
Clubs and Extra-curricular
The mild climate and spectacular natural environment makes Vancouver a haven for people who love the outdoors
Snowboarding and skiing kayaking hiking trail running rock climbing ndash whatever your passion you can get
outside and enjoy it most of the year
The Varsity Outdoor Club (VOC) is open to anyone at UBC - students faculty staff spouses and members of the
greater community The club is dedicated to those who want to explore the outdoors here and anywhere else in the
world Great platform for members to actively pursue hiking rock-climbing mountaineering kayaking ski touring
ice climbing and socializingrdquo (Info courtesy VOC wiki)
httpwwwubc-voccom
UBC Dance Club
httpwwwubcdanceclubcom
Varsity Outdoor Club
httpwwwubc-voccom
UBC Aquatic Centre
httpwwwaquaticsubcca
UBC REC
httpwwwrecubcca
Attractions UBC
httpwwwattractionsubcca
UBC Tennis
httpwwwtennisubcca
Please make yourselves aware of all the safety precautions and waivers before attempting any adventure sports
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1728
indiaubccom page 17 of 28
Faith
Hindu Temples Mandir Street Address Contact info
Mahalakshmi Hindu Temple 467 11th Avenue EastVancouver BC V5T2C8 Phone 604-874-0175
Vishva Hindu Parishad
Temple 3885 Albert Street
Burnaby BC V5C 2C8 Phone 604-299-5922
Shiv Mandir 1795 Napier Street
Vancouver BC V5L 2N1
Phone 604- 874-0175
ISKCON Vancouver5462 Marine Drive
Burnaby BC V5J 3G8Phone 604-433-9728
Mosques Street Address Contact info
Jamia Masjid Vancouver655 West 8th Ave
Vancouver BC V5Z 1C7Phone 604-309-6036
Richmond Jamia Mosque
(Biggest mosque in BC)
12300 Blundell Rd
Richmond BC V6W 1B3Phone 604-270-2522
Islamic Information Centre3127 Kingsway St
Vancouver BC V5R 5J9Phone 604-434-7526
Masjid Alhaq4162 Welwyn StVancouver BC
Phone 604-873-1787
Dar Al-Madinah IslamicSociety
7155 Victoria DriveVancouver BC
PhoneFax 604-873-8580
Surrey Mosque12407 72nd Ave
Surrey BC V3W 2M5Phone 604-591-7601
Al-Noor Mosque13526 98A Ave
Surrey BCPhoneFax 604-930-9742
Masjidur-Rahmah13585 62nd Ave
Surrey BC V3A 2J3 Phone 604-597-7863
Al- Salaam Mosque 5060 Canada Way Phone 604-524-4499
Sikh Temples Gurudwaras Street Address Contact info
Akali Singh Sikh Temple1890 Skeena Street
Vancouver BC - V5M 4L3Phone (604) 254-2117
Canadian Ramgharia Society 6908 Macpherson Ave (604) 438-0846
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indiaubccom page 18 of 28
Burnaby BC - V5J 4N3
Babbar Khalsa Dal4767 Union Street
Burnaby British ColumbiaTel (604) 376 1749
Cloverdale Sikh Society5748 175 Street
Surrey BC - V3S 4T7 (604) 574-7594
Gurdwara Sahib DasmeshDarbar
115-12885 85 AvenueSurrey BC - V3W 0K8
(604) 594-2573
Khalsa Darbar61st and Prince Edward Street
Vancouver BCPhone 604-325-2290
Gurdwara Khalsa Darbar390 61st Avenue East
Vancouver BC - V5X 2B6Phone (604) 325-2290
Campus Security
Vancouver is one of the most livable cities in the world Although its crime rate is low still security is a concern
particularly against thefts UBC campus security is provided by the UBC patrol and RCMP (Royal Canadian
Mounted Police)
Campus security is located next to the UBC Bookstore Campus Security provides 24-hour assistance seven days a
week Call 604-822-2222 if you have a safety concern or an emergency situation For more information visit
wwwsecurityubcca
If you are walking alone late night or not too sure where to go and you can also take help of safety walk Safewalk
provides male and female student teams that will accompany anyone between points on campus free of charge Theservice runs throughout the school year and during the summer months You can book a walk by calling 604-822-
5355 dropping by the office in the SUB concourse or looking for the Safewalk patrollers in bright red jackets Visit
wwwamsubccasafewalk for hours and other information
Call 911 in case of emergency or have been the victim of crime Always give the location to the operator particularly
the building address Calls to 911 are received at a call centre in Downtown Vancouver and the operators may not
be familiar with the building names on campus
862019 Student Info Handbook
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indiaubccom page 19 of 28
Blue Phones
Blue phones are located at various locations around the campus core Elevator phones in most building also provide
direct access to Campus Security
Campus Maps
You can download the UBC campus map from here
httpwwwstudentsubccacurrentdownloadcampusmap07pdf
You can search for locations on the UBC campus map at this site
httpwwwmapsubccaPRODindexphp
httpwwwstudentsubccacurrentcampuscfm
The on-campus residences map
httpwwwhousingubccarez_maprez_maphtm
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indiaubccom page 20 of 28
862019 Student Info Handbook
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indiaubccom page 21 of 28
Contact us
Email utsav_ubcyahoocom
Facebook httpwwwfacebookcomgroupphpgid=3220440131
Webpage httpwwwindiaubccom
YahoogroupUBC_bharatyahoogroupcom
To subscribe to our mailing list send a blank email to
ubc_bharat-subscribeyahoogroupscom
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2228
indiaubccom page 22 of 28
Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the inputs from the International Student Handbook 200910
published by International Student Development at UBC MITACS Globalink program Handbook and UTSAV website which were immensely helpful in compiling this information
handbook
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2328
indiaubccom page 23 of 28
Appendix
Things to pack
We Indian Student Association ndash UTSAV helps undergraduate and graduate students prospective and currentstudents throughtout their stay at UBC Please check the reminders section to make sure you do not forget important
documents while travelling
You should bring with you all your original transcripts degree certificate provisional certificate migration
certificate TOEFLGRE scores certificates birth certificate work experience certificate papers and publications
for which you have mentioned in your portfolio Sometimes the school may ask you to show them to validate or may
ask you to submit you originals Hence it would be safe if you keep them with you when you arrive here
In flight
1 Specify while you book your ticket regarding your food preferences especially when you are a strict vegetarian
Few flights do provide the service of providing Jain and Hindu meals in flight
2 Keep your hand baggage as light as possible because during transit you may have to walk long distances Try to
carry hand bags with trolley that would help you in easy transfer
Important Note
1 Make sure you carry your Indian Driving license this help you here while you apply for International Driving
LicensePermit
2 Try to carry 3-4 pairs of glasses (spares) with you and have an advance eye sight check up in India because here
these things are usually very expensive You anyway would have an eye check up during your Pre-Medical
Examination
3 A dental check up at least fifteen days in advance would be quite appropriate
4 Carry money as travelers cheques they are the safest and most convenient method of carrying money
What to Get and What Not
1 It will be great if you can get yourself the books you need here though we have very good library here which
would provide you with sufficient copies of each book of your requirement But see to it that carrying them you
arenrsquot exceeding your baggage weight limitations
2 If you are looking forward to cook Indian food at your place then bring along a Pressure Cooker and any flat
bottomed vessels
3 You can carry pulses rice Indian spices pickles etc with you but it is better if you donrsquot carry them with you as
we have many Indian grocery shops at Vancouver mainly at Fraser and Main Street Also there are some good
shops within campus where you can get all the above mentioned things
4 Get yourself sufficient stock of undergarments and socks as you might be washing clothes once every 10 days or
more
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2428
indiaubccom page 24 of 28
5 You should bring with yourself 1-2 umbrellas a raincoat or a wind-sheeter as it rains a lot here from October till
March
6 You would need warm clothes (a good winter jacket) as it is cold here except for 2-4 months in summer Good
sweaters preferably two woollen gloves mufflers and woollen caps thermal vest and long johns
7 Get all the stationary items like staplers punchers etc also a good alarm clock
8 Buy a good pair of walking shoe sports shoe formal shoe (all water-proof) as it rains a lot here and you might
have to walk a lot here
9 Donrsquot get along any electronic items here as the voltage is much lower than in India
10 And if you are still carrying then get yourself a Step-upStep-down voltage convertor This will prove a lot more
helpful here Make sure you are buying it for the correct Watt as for hair dryers you might have to go for 1800W
These convertors are available here as well but a bit more expensive
11 A good school bag a Visa folder (to hold cards) a walletpurses
12 Get some medicines which you think would be useful or any common health problems that you have You could
get some basic medicines for headache stomach ache indigestion fever etc
Baggage specifications
You should check this out with your concerned airlines preferably there website They would give you perfect
information on the weight and dimensional limitations It would be good if you can lock your baggage with TSA
locks
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2528
indiaubccom page 25 of 28
What should I bring from INDIA All the items mention ed below can be fo und easily in the city of Vancouver However the reason we have written them
is to remind you wh at to carry or buy here in case you forget This list is a checklist of items yo u migh t need here We
recommend you to buy mo st of the items fro m India because these items are very expensive in the city of Vancouver
Item Comments
A Clothes
1 Full Sleeve Shirts
2 Half Sleeve Shirts
3 Formal Trousers
4 Blazer (Informal) Suit (Formal) Suit Recommended
5 Tie
6 T-shirts
7 Jeans
8 Shorts Cargos Bermudas9 Belts
10 Traditional Highly Recommended for Indian events
11 Sweaters Recommended
12 Pyjamas Night Suit
13 Under Garments
14 Towels
15 Handkerchiefs used less here
16 Blanket (Light Weight) depends on your baggage (can buy here)
17 Single Bed Sheet
18 Bed Cover
19 Pillow Cover
20 Woolen Gloves Leather amp wool (Highly Recommended)21 Jacket Optional (can buy here)
22 Thermal Innerwear Long johns Required in winter
23 CapsToques Optional
24 Swimwear Expensive here
B Footwear
1 Chappals Sandals Traditional Footwear
2 Slippers Flotters
3 Formal Black Leather Shoes
4 Casual Sport Shoes
5 Shoe Polish for Formal Shoes
6 Shoe Polishing Brush
7 Socks (black for formal shoes)
8 Socks (White) Cheaply Available here
C Miscellaneous Items
1 Glasses Contact Lenses Must (Optics very expensive here)
2 Contact Lenses Solution Check for yourself
3 Stitching Kit
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862019 Student Info Handbook
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indiaubccom page 27 of 28
G Stationary
1 School Bag A Little Expensive here
2 Ball Point Pen For initial use
3 Refils
4 BondedClutch Pencils
5 Sharpener
6 Eraser Pencil
7 Clutch Pencil (05 mm)
8 Lead Box (05 mm)
9 Steel Scale 6 Optional
10 Stapler Donrsquot forget these
11 Stapler Pins Box
12 Punch Please donrsquot bring 3 holes punch required here
13 Scientific Calculator Replace the batteries without fail
14 Cello Tapes Optional
15 Glue Stick Glue Optional
16 Sketch Pen Optional
17 Note books Papers Files Folders Do not bring
H Books (apart from course-work)
1 Oxford Concise Dictionary
2 Books about India Optional
3 Religious Books Optional
I Medicines (optional)
1 Vicks (Vaporub amp Inhaler)
2 Balm (Amrutanjan etc)
3 Iodex
4 Dettol
5 Band-Aid (wash proof)6 Burnol
7 Painkiller tabs like Combiflam Brufen
8 Drugs amp Antibiotics (fever amp cold etc)
9 Vaseline Especially for people coming in winter
J Documents
1 Recent Photographs Negatives
2 General Photographs
3 Passport Photocopies
4 Admission
5 VISA photocopies
6 Credentials Transcripts
7 Recommendation SOP
8 GRE TOEFL Score Sheet
9 Medical Fitness Certificate
10 Medical Prescription of all medicines
11 College Leaving Certificate
12 Traveller cheques
13 Enough Money-Cash with some change
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2828
Compiled by C P Sha r m a ( Cheenu ) 201 0 - 11 W eb admin and New s let t e r Ed i to r
Valuable contributions from
UTSAV execu t i ve team 2010 - 11
Sr in iv as Ram an Harshu l Sr iv as tava Rashm i Bhadaur ia
An i r uddha Cha t t e r j ee Sw iya Na th Tab i ta Ve r m a amp Sneha She th s tuden t s ove r the
yea r s and o the r ex t e r na l agenc ies
862019 Student Info Handbook
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indiaubccom page 11 of 28
httpwwwcareycentrecomfacilityindexphpoption=com_contentampview=articleampid=2ampItemid=8
To find on-campus housing through external websites1) httpvancouverencraigslistca 2) Under housing choose aptshousing for rent3) On the right side of rent option there is an option for choosing no of bedrooms and you have your results
there
There is another website that can help you to find the on-campus housing Itrsquos called wwwamsrentslinecom Hereare the steps
1) wwwamsrentslinecom 2) In the quick search choose the number of bedroom under lsquoAccomodation Typersquo3) Leave the options of lsquoDistance to Universityrsquo and lsquoMaximum Rentrsquo just like that4) In the neighbourhood option choose UBC campus under ldquoVancouverrdquo and then search for your results
Please note that the above two websites are the most important websites for searching off-campus housing also(outside UBC)
Banking
Many banks are located in University Village area like CIBC and Bank of Montreal
Other than that the following banks are located on West 10th Avenue near Sasamat Street CIBC HSBC Scotia
bank RBC TD Canada Trust Vancity and Bank of Montreal
To open a bank account you will probably need to provide your UBCcard passport and local address Whenever
you make visit to a bank ask for any student accounts that offer low service fees
In Canada banks are generally open from Monday to Friday 1000 am to 400 pm Some bank branches are open onSaturday but closed on Monday
862019 Student Info Handbook
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indiaubccom page 12 of 28
Health and Insurance
Apply for BCrsquos Medical Services Plan (MSP)
Health care in Canada can be very expensive So itrsquos important to get covered by some insurance policy as soon as
you arrive in British Columbia
Usually international students are covered by iMED (private medical insurance) for a waiting period of three
months This waiting period includes the remainder of the month you arrive in BC plus two more months For
example if you arrived in BC on August 20 you would be eligible for MSP on November 1
wwwdavid-cummingscomimed
After three months of waiting period you can become eligible for MSP which is BCrsquos provincial Health insurance
plan for the rest of your stay in BC Donrsquot forget to apply for MSP as soon as you arrive in Vancouver
httpwwwhealthgovbccamspinfobenindexhtml
Alma Mater SocietyGraduate Student Society (AMSGSS) Health and Dental Plan can also be taken for extras not
covered by MSP or iMED
For more information referhttpwwwstudentsubccainternationalinternational-studentshealth-care-and-health-insurance
Mobile phones
Fido Bell WIND Mobile Rogers Koodo and TELUS are the major mobile service providers in Vancouver
You can opt for any one depending upon the utility and service plans Usually they have their stalls put
up in Student union Building (SUB) in the beginning of session wherein you can check and compare
different plans available Most of the plans have an agreement period of 2-3 years (unless you opt for
pay-as- you-go scheme) So take some time to select which plan would be most suitable and economical
for you
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indiaubccom page 13 of 28
FundingScholarships
UBC offers ample of scholarships for both Graduate and Undergraduate students You need to remain updated withsuch information so that you can fulfill their criteria and apply on time
Graduate Student
bull Most of the graduate students are offer International Partial tution fee which covers almost 50 of thetution fee If you are getting this scholarship then it will be mentioned on the offer letter from university
bull Research assistantship and TAship are also a major source of fundingRAship is funded by your professoror some time from the university (amount is average $17000 but it may vary depending on the departmentand professor as well)
bull You can apply for Teaching assistantship (TAship) Other than RA Itrsquos a good idea to look for it when youare applying to university If you donrsquot get it then no worries You can apply for the next term(Gradsecratery and your Professor are a great help in this matter)
bull Apart from this there are some scholarships which can be get on the basis of meritRules and amount of scholarship may vary year to year So itrsquos a good idea to keep an eye on your yearrsquos listing Following isthe link for Graduate students they can refer to it for this year
httpsyouubccaubcvancouverintlscholarshipsezc httpwwwgradubccaawardsindexasp httpwwwgradubccaprospective-studentsscholarships-awards-funding
Undergraduate students
Undergraduate students can refer to following link It covers all the details from tuition fee to available scholarshipsNormally all the undergraduate students are automatically considered for scholarships
httpsyouubccaubcvancouverfinancesezcpageID=1028
You can also find scholarship from outside sources through websites such as wwwscholarshipscanadacom andwwwstudentawardscom
Apart from this you can work while studying as well (refer next section) You can know more about it once youreach hereGood luck
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indiaubccom page 14 of 28
On off campus jobs
UBC career services provide excellent opportunities to work in order to support your education to gain valuable
Canadian workplace experience as well as lot of voluntary work
httpwwwstudentsubccacareersindexcfm
The following link would be of great help for searching on-campus as well as off campus work opportunities (there
is a waiting period of at least six months to get your off-campus work permit from the day you arrive)
httpwwwstudentsubccainternationalinternational-studentsworking
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indiaubccom page 15 of 28
Entertainment
There are many cinema complexes around the city (Silvercity Tinseltown Paramount etc) and a few of them thatexclusively screen latest Hindi movies (Raja Cinemas) Many Indian films and music are available at video rentalsand music stores IMAX and OMNIMAX theaters are also located in Vancouver Local Indian Radio stationsinclude 1600AM (Radio India) 1200AM (Rim Jhim) 1550AM (Radio Punjab) and 931FM (REDFM) Indian TVshows and movies are screened on Channel 8 (Omni BC) and Channel 119 (Shaw Multicultural Channel) on various
daystimes throughout the week Weekly South Asian newspapers include lsquoThe Linkrsquo lsquoThe Voicersquo lsquoThe Asian Starrsquoand lsquoThe South Asian PostrsquoVancouverites are an active bunch and there are many outdoor activities one can take part in during your spare timeIn the summer biking hiking and camping are quite common and in the winter you can go skating or skiingThere are also various UBC intramural sports leagues students can take part in including soccer volleyballbadminton tennis and basketball Vancouver also has 2 different cricket leagues which run during the summerFor those who are spiritually inclined there are at least 8 large Temples 2 large Mosques and countless Gurdwarasand Churches spread all throughout the Lower Mainland
The best must-visit destinations worth visit in coastal British Columbia are Tofino Sunshine Coast Victoria andGulf Islands Other places of interest around Vancouver region may be a trip to Whistler Harrison Lake GreaterVancouver Zoo Stanley Park Bowen Island Granville Island China Town Night Market in Richmond GrouseMountain Gas town Robson Street and VanDusen Garden
The UBC campus offers easy access to many of Vancouverrsquos beaches that you may like to visit Most popular onesbeing Kitsilano Beach Spanish Banks Wreck Beach Tower Beach English Bay and Jericho Beach
862019 Student Info Handbook
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indiaubccom page 16 of 28
Clubs and Extra-curricular
The mild climate and spectacular natural environment makes Vancouver a haven for people who love the outdoors
Snowboarding and skiing kayaking hiking trail running rock climbing ndash whatever your passion you can get
outside and enjoy it most of the year
The Varsity Outdoor Club (VOC) is open to anyone at UBC - students faculty staff spouses and members of the
greater community The club is dedicated to those who want to explore the outdoors here and anywhere else in the
world Great platform for members to actively pursue hiking rock-climbing mountaineering kayaking ski touring
ice climbing and socializingrdquo (Info courtesy VOC wiki)
httpwwwubc-voccom
UBC Dance Club
httpwwwubcdanceclubcom
Varsity Outdoor Club
httpwwwubc-voccom
UBC Aquatic Centre
httpwwwaquaticsubcca
UBC REC
httpwwwrecubcca
Attractions UBC
httpwwwattractionsubcca
UBC Tennis
httpwwwtennisubcca
Please make yourselves aware of all the safety precautions and waivers before attempting any adventure sports
862019 Student Info Handbook
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indiaubccom page 17 of 28
Faith
Hindu Temples Mandir Street Address Contact info
Mahalakshmi Hindu Temple 467 11th Avenue EastVancouver BC V5T2C8 Phone 604-874-0175
Vishva Hindu Parishad
Temple 3885 Albert Street
Burnaby BC V5C 2C8 Phone 604-299-5922
Shiv Mandir 1795 Napier Street
Vancouver BC V5L 2N1
Phone 604- 874-0175
ISKCON Vancouver5462 Marine Drive
Burnaby BC V5J 3G8Phone 604-433-9728
Mosques Street Address Contact info
Jamia Masjid Vancouver655 West 8th Ave
Vancouver BC V5Z 1C7Phone 604-309-6036
Richmond Jamia Mosque
(Biggest mosque in BC)
12300 Blundell Rd
Richmond BC V6W 1B3Phone 604-270-2522
Islamic Information Centre3127 Kingsway St
Vancouver BC V5R 5J9Phone 604-434-7526
Masjid Alhaq4162 Welwyn StVancouver BC
Phone 604-873-1787
Dar Al-Madinah IslamicSociety
7155 Victoria DriveVancouver BC
PhoneFax 604-873-8580
Surrey Mosque12407 72nd Ave
Surrey BC V3W 2M5Phone 604-591-7601
Al-Noor Mosque13526 98A Ave
Surrey BCPhoneFax 604-930-9742
Masjidur-Rahmah13585 62nd Ave
Surrey BC V3A 2J3 Phone 604-597-7863
Al- Salaam Mosque 5060 Canada Way Phone 604-524-4499
Sikh Temples Gurudwaras Street Address Contact info
Akali Singh Sikh Temple1890 Skeena Street
Vancouver BC - V5M 4L3Phone (604) 254-2117
Canadian Ramgharia Society 6908 Macpherson Ave (604) 438-0846
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1828
indiaubccom page 18 of 28
Burnaby BC - V5J 4N3
Babbar Khalsa Dal4767 Union Street
Burnaby British ColumbiaTel (604) 376 1749
Cloverdale Sikh Society5748 175 Street
Surrey BC - V3S 4T7 (604) 574-7594
Gurdwara Sahib DasmeshDarbar
115-12885 85 AvenueSurrey BC - V3W 0K8
(604) 594-2573
Khalsa Darbar61st and Prince Edward Street
Vancouver BCPhone 604-325-2290
Gurdwara Khalsa Darbar390 61st Avenue East
Vancouver BC - V5X 2B6Phone (604) 325-2290
Campus Security
Vancouver is one of the most livable cities in the world Although its crime rate is low still security is a concern
particularly against thefts UBC campus security is provided by the UBC patrol and RCMP (Royal Canadian
Mounted Police)
Campus security is located next to the UBC Bookstore Campus Security provides 24-hour assistance seven days a
week Call 604-822-2222 if you have a safety concern or an emergency situation For more information visit
wwwsecurityubcca
If you are walking alone late night or not too sure where to go and you can also take help of safety walk Safewalk
provides male and female student teams that will accompany anyone between points on campus free of charge Theservice runs throughout the school year and during the summer months You can book a walk by calling 604-822-
5355 dropping by the office in the SUB concourse or looking for the Safewalk patrollers in bright red jackets Visit
wwwamsubccasafewalk for hours and other information
Call 911 in case of emergency or have been the victim of crime Always give the location to the operator particularly
the building address Calls to 911 are received at a call centre in Downtown Vancouver and the operators may not
be familiar with the building names on campus
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1928
indiaubccom page 19 of 28
Blue Phones
Blue phones are located at various locations around the campus core Elevator phones in most building also provide
direct access to Campus Security
Campus Maps
You can download the UBC campus map from here
httpwwwstudentsubccacurrentdownloadcampusmap07pdf
You can search for locations on the UBC campus map at this site
httpwwwmapsubccaPRODindexphp
httpwwwstudentsubccacurrentcampuscfm
The on-campus residences map
httpwwwhousingubccarez_maprez_maphtm
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2028
indiaubccom page 20 of 28
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2128
indiaubccom page 21 of 28
Contact us
Email utsav_ubcyahoocom
Facebook httpwwwfacebookcomgroupphpgid=3220440131
Webpage httpwwwindiaubccom
YahoogroupUBC_bharatyahoogroupcom
To subscribe to our mailing list send a blank email to
ubc_bharat-subscribeyahoogroupscom
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2228
indiaubccom page 22 of 28
Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the inputs from the International Student Handbook 200910
published by International Student Development at UBC MITACS Globalink program Handbook and UTSAV website which were immensely helpful in compiling this information
handbook
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2328
indiaubccom page 23 of 28
Appendix
Things to pack
We Indian Student Association ndash UTSAV helps undergraduate and graduate students prospective and currentstudents throughtout their stay at UBC Please check the reminders section to make sure you do not forget important
documents while travelling
You should bring with you all your original transcripts degree certificate provisional certificate migration
certificate TOEFLGRE scores certificates birth certificate work experience certificate papers and publications
for which you have mentioned in your portfolio Sometimes the school may ask you to show them to validate or may
ask you to submit you originals Hence it would be safe if you keep them with you when you arrive here
In flight
1 Specify while you book your ticket regarding your food preferences especially when you are a strict vegetarian
Few flights do provide the service of providing Jain and Hindu meals in flight
2 Keep your hand baggage as light as possible because during transit you may have to walk long distances Try to
carry hand bags with trolley that would help you in easy transfer
Important Note
1 Make sure you carry your Indian Driving license this help you here while you apply for International Driving
LicensePermit
2 Try to carry 3-4 pairs of glasses (spares) with you and have an advance eye sight check up in India because here
these things are usually very expensive You anyway would have an eye check up during your Pre-Medical
Examination
3 A dental check up at least fifteen days in advance would be quite appropriate
4 Carry money as travelers cheques they are the safest and most convenient method of carrying money
What to Get and What Not
1 It will be great if you can get yourself the books you need here though we have very good library here which
would provide you with sufficient copies of each book of your requirement But see to it that carrying them you
arenrsquot exceeding your baggage weight limitations
2 If you are looking forward to cook Indian food at your place then bring along a Pressure Cooker and any flat
bottomed vessels
3 You can carry pulses rice Indian spices pickles etc with you but it is better if you donrsquot carry them with you as
we have many Indian grocery shops at Vancouver mainly at Fraser and Main Street Also there are some good
shops within campus where you can get all the above mentioned things
4 Get yourself sufficient stock of undergarments and socks as you might be washing clothes once every 10 days or
more
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2428
indiaubccom page 24 of 28
5 You should bring with yourself 1-2 umbrellas a raincoat or a wind-sheeter as it rains a lot here from October till
March
6 You would need warm clothes (a good winter jacket) as it is cold here except for 2-4 months in summer Good
sweaters preferably two woollen gloves mufflers and woollen caps thermal vest and long johns
7 Get all the stationary items like staplers punchers etc also a good alarm clock
8 Buy a good pair of walking shoe sports shoe formal shoe (all water-proof) as it rains a lot here and you might
have to walk a lot here
9 Donrsquot get along any electronic items here as the voltage is much lower than in India
10 And if you are still carrying then get yourself a Step-upStep-down voltage convertor This will prove a lot more
helpful here Make sure you are buying it for the correct Watt as for hair dryers you might have to go for 1800W
These convertors are available here as well but a bit more expensive
11 A good school bag a Visa folder (to hold cards) a walletpurses
12 Get some medicines which you think would be useful or any common health problems that you have You could
get some basic medicines for headache stomach ache indigestion fever etc
Baggage specifications
You should check this out with your concerned airlines preferably there website They would give you perfect
information on the weight and dimensional limitations It would be good if you can lock your baggage with TSA
locks
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2528
indiaubccom page 25 of 28
What should I bring from INDIA All the items mention ed below can be fo und easily in the city of Vancouver However the reason we have written them
is to remind you wh at to carry or buy here in case you forget This list is a checklist of items yo u migh t need here We
recommend you to buy mo st of the items fro m India because these items are very expensive in the city of Vancouver
Item Comments
A Clothes
1 Full Sleeve Shirts
2 Half Sleeve Shirts
3 Formal Trousers
4 Blazer (Informal) Suit (Formal) Suit Recommended
5 Tie
6 T-shirts
7 Jeans
8 Shorts Cargos Bermudas9 Belts
10 Traditional Highly Recommended for Indian events
11 Sweaters Recommended
12 Pyjamas Night Suit
13 Under Garments
14 Towels
15 Handkerchiefs used less here
16 Blanket (Light Weight) depends on your baggage (can buy here)
17 Single Bed Sheet
18 Bed Cover
19 Pillow Cover
20 Woolen Gloves Leather amp wool (Highly Recommended)21 Jacket Optional (can buy here)
22 Thermal Innerwear Long johns Required in winter
23 CapsToques Optional
24 Swimwear Expensive here
B Footwear
1 Chappals Sandals Traditional Footwear
2 Slippers Flotters
3 Formal Black Leather Shoes
4 Casual Sport Shoes
5 Shoe Polish for Formal Shoes
6 Shoe Polishing Brush
7 Socks (black for formal shoes)
8 Socks (White) Cheaply Available here
C Miscellaneous Items
1 Glasses Contact Lenses Must (Optics very expensive here)
2 Contact Lenses Solution Check for yourself
3 Stitching Kit
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2628
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2728
indiaubccom page 27 of 28
G Stationary
1 School Bag A Little Expensive here
2 Ball Point Pen For initial use
3 Refils
4 BondedClutch Pencils
5 Sharpener
6 Eraser Pencil
7 Clutch Pencil (05 mm)
8 Lead Box (05 mm)
9 Steel Scale 6 Optional
10 Stapler Donrsquot forget these
11 Stapler Pins Box
12 Punch Please donrsquot bring 3 holes punch required here
13 Scientific Calculator Replace the batteries without fail
14 Cello Tapes Optional
15 Glue Stick Glue Optional
16 Sketch Pen Optional
17 Note books Papers Files Folders Do not bring
H Books (apart from course-work)
1 Oxford Concise Dictionary
2 Books about India Optional
3 Religious Books Optional
I Medicines (optional)
1 Vicks (Vaporub amp Inhaler)
2 Balm (Amrutanjan etc)
3 Iodex
4 Dettol
5 Band-Aid (wash proof)6 Burnol
7 Painkiller tabs like Combiflam Brufen
8 Drugs amp Antibiotics (fever amp cold etc)
9 Vaseline Especially for people coming in winter
J Documents
1 Recent Photographs Negatives
2 General Photographs
3 Passport Photocopies
4 Admission
5 VISA photocopies
6 Credentials Transcripts
7 Recommendation SOP
8 GRE TOEFL Score Sheet
9 Medical Fitness Certificate
10 Medical Prescription of all medicines
11 College Leaving Certificate
12 Traveller cheques
13 Enough Money-Cash with some change
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2828
Compiled by C P Sha r m a ( Cheenu ) 201 0 - 11 W eb admin and New s let t e r Ed i to r
Valuable contributions from
UTSAV execu t i ve team 2010 - 11
Sr in iv as Ram an Harshu l Sr iv as tava Rashm i Bhadaur ia
An i r uddha Cha t t e r j ee Sw iya Na th Tab i ta Ve r m a amp Sneha She th s tuden t s ove r the
yea r s and o the r ex t e r na l agenc ies
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1228
indiaubccom page 12 of 28
Health and Insurance
Apply for BCrsquos Medical Services Plan (MSP)
Health care in Canada can be very expensive So itrsquos important to get covered by some insurance policy as soon as
you arrive in British Columbia
Usually international students are covered by iMED (private medical insurance) for a waiting period of three
months This waiting period includes the remainder of the month you arrive in BC plus two more months For
example if you arrived in BC on August 20 you would be eligible for MSP on November 1
wwwdavid-cummingscomimed
After three months of waiting period you can become eligible for MSP which is BCrsquos provincial Health insurance
plan for the rest of your stay in BC Donrsquot forget to apply for MSP as soon as you arrive in Vancouver
httpwwwhealthgovbccamspinfobenindexhtml
Alma Mater SocietyGraduate Student Society (AMSGSS) Health and Dental Plan can also be taken for extras not
covered by MSP or iMED
For more information referhttpwwwstudentsubccainternationalinternational-studentshealth-care-and-health-insurance
Mobile phones
Fido Bell WIND Mobile Rogers Koodo and TELUS are the major mobile service providers in Vancouver
You can opt for any one depending upon the utility and service plans Usually they have their stalls put
up in Student union Building (SUB) in the beginning of session wherein you can check and compare
different plans available Most of the plans have an agreement period of 2-3 years (unless you opt for
pay-as- you-go scheme) So take some time to select which plan would be most suitable and economical
for you
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1328
indiaubccom page 13 of 28
FundingScholarships
UBC offers ample of scholarships for both Graduate and Undergraduate students You need to remain updated withsuch information so that you can fulfill their criteria and apply on time
Graduate Student
bull Most of the graduate students are offer International Partial tution fee which covers almost 50 of thetution fee If you are getting this scholarship then it will be mentioned on the offer letter from university
bull Research assistantship and TAship are also a major source of fundingRAship is funded by your professoror some time from the university (amount is average $17000 but it may vary depending on the departmentand professor as well)
bull You can apply for Teaching assistantship (TAship) Other than RA Itrsquos a good idea to look for it when youare applying to university If you donrsquot get it then no worries You can apply for the next term(Gradsecratery and your Professor are a great help in this matter)
bull Apart from this there are some scholarships which can be get on the basis of meritRules and amount of scholarship may vary year to year So itrsquos a good idea to keep an eye on your yearrsquos listing Following isthe link for Graduate students they can refer to it for this year
httpsyouubccaubcvancouverintlscholarshipsezc httpwwwgradubccaawardsindexasp httpwwwgradubccaprospective-studentsscholarships-awards-funding
Undergraduate students
Undergraduate students can refer to following link It covers all the details from tuition fee to available scholarshipsNormally all the undergraduate students are automatically considered for scholarships
httpsyouubccaubcvancouverfinancesezcpageID=1028
You can also find scholarship from outside sources through websites such as wwwscholarshipscanadacom andwwwstudentawardscom
Apart from this you can work while studying as well (refer next section) You can know more about it once youreach hereGood luck
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1428
indiaubccom page 14 of 28
On off campus jobs
UBC career services provide excellent opportunities to work in order to support your education to gain valuable
Canadian workplace experience as well as lot of voluntary work
httpwwwstudentsubccacareersindexcfm
The following link would be of great help for searching on-campus as well as off campus work opportunities (there
is a waiting period of at least six months to get your off-campus work permit from the day you arrive)
httpwwwstudentsubccainternationalinternational-studentsworking
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1528
indiaubccom page 15 of 28
Entertainment
There are many cinema complexes around the city (Silvercity Tinseltown Paramount etc) and a few of them thatexclusively screen latest Hindi movies (Raja Cinemas) Many Indian films and music are available at video rentalsand music stores IMAX and OMNIMAX theaters are also located in Vancouver Local Indian Radio stationsinclude 1600AM (Radio India) 1200AM (Rim Jhim) 1550AM (Radio Punjab) and 931FM (REDFM) Indian TVshows and movies are screened on Channel 8 (Omni BC) and Channel 119 (Shaw Multicultural Channel) on various
daystimes throughout the week Weekly South Asian newspapers include lsquoThe Linkrsquo lsquoThe Voicersquo lsquoThe Asian Starrsquoand lsquoThe South Asian PostrsquoVancouverites are an active bunch and there are many outdoor activities one can take part in during your spare timeIn the summer biking hiking and camping are quite common and in the winter you can go skating or skiingThere are also various UBC intramural sports leagues students can take part in including soccer volleyballbadminton tennis and basketball Vancouver also has 2 different cricket leagues which run during the summerFor those who are spiritually inclined there are at least 8 large Temples 2 large Mosques and countless Gurdwarasand Churches spread all throughout the Lower Mainland
The best must-visit destinations worth visit in coastal British Columbia are Tofino Sunshine Coast Victoria andGulf Islands Other places of interest around Vancouver region may be a trip to Whistler Harrison Lake GreaterVancouver Zoo Stanley Park Bowen Island Granville Island China Town Night Market in Richmond GrouseMountain Gas town Robson Street and VanDusen Garden
The UBC campus offers easy access to many of Vancouverrsquos beaches that you may like to visit Most popular onesbeing Kitsilano Beach Spanish Banks Wreck Beach Tower Beach English Bay and Jericho Beach
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1628
indiaubccom page 16 of 28
Clubs and Extra-curricular
The mild climate and spectacular natural environment makes Vancouver a haven for people who love the outdoors
Snowboarding and skiing kayaking hiking trail running rock climbing ndash whatever your passion you can get
outside and enjoy it most of the year
The Varsity Outdoor Club (VOC) is open to anyone at UBC - students faculty staff spouses and members of the
greater community The club is dedicated to those who want to explore the outdoors here and anywhere else in the
world Great platform for members to actively pursue hiking rock-climbing mountaineering kayaking ski touring
ice climbing and socializingrdquo (Info courtesy VOC wiki)
httpwwwubc-voccom
UBC Dance Club
httpwwwubcdanceclubcom
Varsity Outdoor Club
httpwwwubc-voccom
UBC Aquatic Centre
httpwwwaquaticsubcca
UBC REC
httpwwwrecubcca
Attractions UBC
httpwwwattractionsubcca
UBC Tennis
httpwwwtennisubcca
Please make yourselves aware of all the safety precautions and waivers before attempting any adventure sports
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1728
indiaubccom page 17 of 28
Faith
Hindu Temples Mandir Street Address Contact info
Mahalakshmi Hindu Temple 467 11th Avenue EastVancouver BC V5T2C8 Phone 604-874-0175
Vishva Hindu Parishad
Temple 3885 Albert Street
Burnaby BC V5C 2C8 Phone 604-299-5922
Shiv Mandir 1795 Napier Street
Vancouver BC V5L 2N1
Phone 604- 874-0175
ISKCON Vancouver5462 Marine Drive
Burnaby BC V5J 3G8Phone 604-433-9728
Mosques Street Address Contact info
Jamia Masjid Vancouver655 West 8th Ave
Vancouver BC V5Z 1C7Phone 604-309-6036
Richmond Jamia Mosque
(Biggest mosque in BC)
12300 Blundell Rd
Richmond BC V6W 1B3Phone 604-270-2522
Islamic Information Centre3127 Kingsway St
Vancouver BC V5R 5J9Phone 604-434-7526
Masjid Alhaq4162 Welwyn StVancouver BC
Phone 604-873-1787
Dar Al-Madinah IslamicSociety
7155 Victoria DriveVancouver BC
PhoneFax 604-873-8580
Surrey Mosque12407 72nd Ave
Surrey BC V3W 2M5Phone 604-591-7601
Al-Noor Mosque13526 98A Ave
Surrey BCPhoneFax 604-930-9742
Masjidur-Rahmah13585 62nd Ave
Surrey BC V3A 2J3 Phone 604-597-7863
Al- Salaam Mosque 5060 Canada Way Phone 604-524-4499
Sikh Temples Gurudwaras Street Address Contact info
Akali Singh Sikh Temple1890 Skeena Street
Vancouver BC - V5M 4L3Phone (604) 254-2117
Canadian Ramgharia Society 6908 Macpherson Ave (604) 438-0846
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1828
indiaubccom page 18 of 28
Burnaby BC - V5J 4N3
Babbar Khalsa Dal4767 Union Street
Burnaby British ColumbiaTel (604) 376 1749
Cloverdale Sikh Society5748 175 Street
Surrey BC - V3S 4T7 (604) 574-7594
Gurdwara Sahib DasmeshDarbar
115-12885 85 AvenueSurrey BC - V3W 0K8
(604) 594-2573
Khalsa Darbar61st and Prince Edward Street
Vancouver BCPhone 604-325-2290
Gurdwara Khalsa Darbar390 61st Avenue East
Vancouver BC - V5X 2B6Phone (604) 325-2290
Campus Security
Vancouver is one of the most livable cities in the world Although its crime rate is low still security is a concern
particularly against thefts UBC campus security is provided by the UBC patrol and RCMP (Royal Canadian
Mounted Police)
Campus security is located next to the UBC Bookstore Campus Security provides 24-hour assistance seven days a
week Call 604-822-2222 if you have a safety concern or an emergency situation For more information visit
wwwsecurityubcca
If you are walking alone late night or not too sure where to go and you can also take help of safety walk Safewalk
provides male and female student teams that will accompany anyone between points on campus free of charge Theservice runs throughout the school year and during the summer months You can book a walk by calling 604-822-
5355 dropping by the office in the SUB concourse or looking for the Safewalk patrollers in bright red jackets Visit
wwwamsubccasafewalk for hours and other information
Call 911 in case of emergency or have been the victim of crime Always give the location to the operator particularly
the building address Calls to 911 are received at a call centre in Downtown Vancouver and the operators may not
be familiar with the building names on campus
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1928
indiaubccom page 19 of 28
Blue Phones
Blue phones are located at various locations around the campus core Elevator phones in most building also provide
direct access to Campus Security
Campus Maps
You can download the UBC campus map from here
httpwwwstudentsubccacurrentdownloadcampusmap07pdf
You can search for locations on the UBC campus map at this site
httpwwwmapsubccaPRODindexphp
httpwwwstudentsubccacurrentcampuscfm
The on-campus residences map
httpwwwhousingubccarez_maprez_maphtm
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2028
indiaubccom page 20 of 28
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2128
indiaubccom page 21 of 28
Contact us
Email utsav_ubcyahoocom
Facebook httpwwwfacebookcomgroupphpgid=3220440131
Webpage httpwwwindiaubccom
YahoogroupUBC_bharatyahoogroupcom
To subscribe to our mailing list send a blank email to
ubc_bharat-subscribeyahoogroupscom
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2228
indiaubccom page 22 of 28
Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the inputs from the International Student Handbook 200910
published by International Student Development at UBC MITACS Globalink program Handbook and UTSAV website which were immensely helpful in compiling this information
handbook
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2328
indiaubccom page 23 of 28
Appendix
Things to pack
We Indian Student Association ndash UTSAV helps undergraduate and graduate students prospective and currentstudents throughtout their stay at UBC Please check the reminders section to make sure you do not forget important
documents while travelling
You should bring with you all your original transcripts degree certificate provisional certificate migration
certificate TOEFLGRE scores certificates birth certificate work experience certificate papers and publications
for which you have mentioned in your portfolio Sometimes the school may ask you to show them to validate or may
ask you to submit you originals Hence it would be safe if you keep them with you when you arrive here
In flight
1 Specify while you book your ticket regarding your food preferences especially when you are a strict vegetarian
Few flights do provide the service of providing Jain and Hindu meals in flight
2 Keep your hand baggage as light as possible because during transit you may have to walk long distances Try to
carry hand bags with trolley that would help you in easy transfer
Important Note
1 Make sure you carry your Indian Driving license this help you here while you apply for International Driving
LicensePermit
2 Try to carry 3-4 pairs of glasses (spares) with you and have an advance eye sight check up in India because here
these things are usually very expensive You anyway would have an eye check up during your Pre-Medical
Examination
3 A dental check up at least fifteen days in advance would be quite appropriate
4 Carry money as travelers cheques they are the safest and most convenient method of carrying money
What to Get and What Not
1 It will be great if you can get yourself the books you need here though we have very good library here which
would provide you with sufficient copies of each book of your requirement But see to it that carrying them you
arenrsquot exceeding your baggage weight limitations
2 If you are looking forward to cook Indian food at your place then bring along a Pressure Cooker and any flat
bottomed vessels
3 You can carry pulses rice Indian spices pickles etc with you but it is better if you donrsquot carry them with you as
we have many Indian grocery shops at Vancouver mainly at Fraser and Main Street Also there are some good
shops within campus where you can get all the above mentioned things
4 Get yourself sufficient stock of undergarments and socks as you might be washing clothes once every 10 days or
more
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2428
indiaubccom page 24 of 28
5 You should bring with yourself 1-2 umbrellas a raincoat or a wind-sheeter as it rains a lot here from October till
March
6 You would need warm clothes (a good winter jacket) as it is cold here except for 2-4 months in summer Good
sweaters preferably two woollen gloves mufflers and woollen caps thermal vest and long johns
7 Get all the stationary items like staplers punchers etc also a good alarm clock
8 Buy a good pair of walking shoe sports shoe formal shoe (all water-proof) as it rains a lot here and you might
have to walk a lot here
9 Donrsquot get along any electronic items here as the voltage is much lower than in India
10 And if you are still carrying then get yourself a Step-upStep-down voltage convertor This will prove a lot more
helpful here Make sure you are buying it for the correct Watt as for hair dryers you might have to go for 1800W
These convertors are available here as well but a bit more expensive
11 A good school bag a Visa folder (to hold cards) a walletpurses
12 Get some medicines which you think would be useful or any common health problems that you have You could
get some basic medicines for headache stomach ache indigestion fever etc
Baggage specifications
You should check this out with your concerned airlines preferably there website They would give you perfect
information on the weight and dimensional limitations It would be good if you can lock your baggage with TSA
locks
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2528
indiaubccom page 25 of 28
What should I bring from INDIA All the items mention ed below can be fo und easily in the city of Vancouver However the reason we have written them
is to remind you wh at to carry or buy here in case you forget This list is a checklist of items yo u migh t need here We
recommend you to buy mo st of the items fro m India because these items are very expensive in the city of Vancouver
Item Comments
A Clothes
1 Full Sleeve Shirts
2 Half Sleeve Shirts
3 Formal Trousers
4 Blazer (Informal) Suit (Formal) Suit Recommended
5 Tie
6 T-shirts
7 Jeans
8 Shorts Cargos Bermudas9 Belts
10 Traditional Highly Recommended for Indian events
11 Sweaters Recommended
12 Pyjamas Night Suit
13 Under Garments
14 Towels
15 Handkerchiefs used less here
16 Blanket (Light Weight) depends on your baggage (can buy here)
17 Single Bed Sheet
18 Bed Cover
19 Pillow Cover
20 Woolen Gloves Leather amp wool (Highly Recommended)21 Jacket Optional (can buy here)
22 Thermal Innerwear Long johns Required in winter
23 CapsToques Optional
24 Swimwear Expensive here
B Footwear
1 Chappals Sandals Traditional Footwear
2 Slippers Flotters
3 Formal Black Leather Shoes
4 Casual Sport Shoes
5 Shoe Polish for Formal Shoes
6 Shoe Polishing Brush
7 Socks (black for formal shoes)
8 Socks (White) Cheaply Available here
C Miscellaneous Items
1 Glasses Contact Lenses Must (Optics very expensive here)
2 Contact Lenses Solution Check for yourself
3 Stitching Kit
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2628
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2728
indiaubccom page 27 of 28
G Stationary
1 School Bag A Little Expensive here
2 Ball Point Pen For initial use
3 Refils
4 BondedClutch Pencils
5 Sharpener
6 Eraser Pencil
7 Clutch Pencil (05 mm)
8 Lead Box (05 mm)
9 Steel Scale 6 Optional
10 Stapler Donrsquot forget these
11 Stapler Pins Box
12 Punch Please donrsquot bring 3 holes punch required here
13 Scientific Calculator Replace the batteries without fail
14 Cello Tapes Optional
15 Glue Stick Glue Optional
16 Sketch Pen Optional
17 Note books Papers Files Folders Do not bring
H Books (apart from course-work)
1 Oxford Concise Dictionary
2 Books about India Optional
3 Religious Books Optional
I Medicines (optional)
1 Vicks (Vaporub amp Inhaler)
2 Balm (Amrutanjan etc)
3 Iodex
4 Dettol
5 Band-Aid (wash proof)6 Burnol
7 Painkiller tabs like Combiflam Brufen
8 Drugs amp Antibiotics (fever amp cold etc)
9 Vaseline Especially for people coming in winter
J Documents
1 Recent Photographs Negatives
2 General Photographs
3 Passport Photocopies
4 Admission
5 VISA photocopies
6 Credentials Transcripts
7 Recommendation SOP
8 GRE TOEFL Score Sheet
9 Medical Fitness Certificate
10 Medical Prescription of all medicines
11 College Leaving Certificate
12 Traveller cheques
13 Enough Money-Cash with some change
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2828
Compiled by C P Sha r m a ( Cheenu ) 201 0 - 11 W eb admin and New s let t e r Ed i to r
Valuable contributions from
UTSAV execu t i ve team 2010 - 11
Sr in iv as Ram an Harshu l Sr iv as tava Rashm i Bhadaur ia
An i r uddha Cha t t e r j ee Sw iya Na th Tab i ta Ve r m a amp Sneha She th s tuden t s ove r the
yea r s and o the r ex t e r na l agenc ies
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1328
indiaubccom page 13 of 28
FundingScholarships
UBC offers ample of scholarships for both Graduate and Undergraduate students You need to remain updated withsuch information so that you can fulfill their criteria and apply on time
Graduate Student
bull Most of the graduate students are offer International Partial tution fee which covers almost 50 of thetution fee If you are getting this scholarship then it will be mentioned on the offer letter from university
bull Research assistantship and TAship are also a major source of fundingRAship is funded by your professoror some time from the university (amount is average $17000 but it may vary depending on the departmentand professor as well)
bull You can apply for Teaching assistantship (TAship) Other than RA Itrsquos a good idea to look for it when youare applying to university If you donrsquot get it then no worries You can apply for the next term(Gradsecratery and your Professor are a great help in this matter)
bull Apart from this there are some scholarships which can be get on the basis of meritRules and amount of scholarship may vary year to year So itrsquos a good idea to keep an eye on your yearrsquos listing Following isthe link for Graduate students they can refer to it for this year
httpsyouubccaubcvancouverintlscholarshipsezc httpwwwgradubccaawardsindexasp httpwwwgradubccaprospective-studentsscholarships-awards-funding
Undergraduate students
Undergraduate students can refer to following link It covers all the details from tuition fee to available scholarshipsNormally all the undergraduate students are automatically considered for scholarships
httpsyouubccaubcvancouverfinancesezcpageID=1028
You can also find scholarship from outside sources through websites such as wwwscholarshipscanadacom andwwwstudentawardscom
Apart from this you can work while studying as well (refer next section) You can know more about it once youreach hereGood luck
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1428
indiaubccom page 14 of 28
On off campus jobs
UBC career services provide excellent opportunities to work in order to support your education to gain valuable
Canadian workplace experience as well as lot of voluntary work
httpwwwstudentsubccacareersindexcfm
The following link would be of great help for searching on-campus as well as off campus work opportunities (there
is a waiting period of at least six months to get your off-campus work permit from the day you arrive)
httpwwwstudentsubccainternationalinternational-studentsworking
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1528
indiaubccom page 15 of 28
Entertainment
There are many cinema complexes around the city (Silvercity Tinseltown Paramount etc) and a few of them thatexclusively screen latest Hindi movies (Raja Cinemas) Many Indian films and music are available at video rentalsand music stores IMAX and OMNIMAX theaters are also located in Vancouver Local Indian Radio stationsinclude 1600AM (Radio India) 1200AM (Rim Jhim) 1550AM (Radio Punjab) and 931FM (REDFM) Indian TVshows and movies are screened on Channel 8 (Omni BC) and Channel 119 (Shaw Multicultural Channel) on various
daystimes throughout the week Weekly South Asian newspapers include lsquoThe Linkrsquo lsquoThe Voicersquo lsquoThe Asian Starrsquoand lsquoThe South Asian PostrsquoVancouverites are an active bunch and there are many outdoor activities one can take part in during your spare timeIn the summer biking hiking and camping are quite common and in the winter you can go skating or skiingThere are also various UBC intramural sports leagues students can take part in including soccer volleyballbadminton tennis and basketball Vancouver also has 2 different cricket leagues which run during the summerFor those who are spiritually inclined there are at least 8 large Temples 2 large Mosques and countless Gurdwarasand Churches spread all throughout the Lower Mainland
The best must-visit destinations worth visit in coastal British Columbia are Tofino Sunshine Coast Victoria andGulf Islands Other places of interest around Vancouver region may be a trip to Whistler Harrison Lake GreaterVancouver Zoo Stanley Park Bowen Island Granville Island China Town Night Market in Richmond GrouseMountain Gas town Robson Street and VanDusen Garden
The UBC campus offers easy access to many of Vancouverrsquos beaches that you may like to visit Most popular onesbeing Kitsilano Beach Spanish Banks Wreck Beach Tower Beach English Bay and Jericho Beach
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1628
indiaubccom page 16 of 28
Clubs and Extra-curricular
The mild climate and spectacular natural environment makes Vancouver a haven for people who love the outdoors
Snowboarding and skiing kayaking hiking trail running rock climbing ndash whatever your passion you can get
outside and enjoy it most of the year
The Varsity Outdoor Club (VOC) is open to anyone at UBC - students faculty staff spouses and members of the
greater community The club is dedicated to those who want to explore the outdoors here and anywhere else in the
world Great platform for members to actively pursue hiking rock-climbing mountaineering kayaking ski touring
ice climbing and socializingrdquo (Info courtesy VOC wiki)
httpwwwubc-voccom
UBC Dance Club
httpwwwubcdanceclubcom
Varsity Outdoor Club
httpwwwubc-voccom
UBC Aquatic Centre
httpwwwaquaticsubcca
UBC REC
httpwwwrecubcca
Attractions UBC
httpwwwattractionsubcca
UBC Tennis
httpwwwtennisubcca
Please make yourselves aware of all the safety precautions and waivers before attempting any adventure sports
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1728
indiaubccom page 17 of 28
Faith
Hindu Temples Mandir Street Address Contact info
Mahalakshmi Hindu Temple 467 11th Avenue EastVancouver BC V5T2C8 Phone 604-874-0175
Vishva Hindu Parishad
Temple 3885 Albert Street
Burnaby BC V5C 2C8 Phone 604-299-5922
Shiv Mandir 1795 Napier Street
Vancouver BC V5L 2N1
Phone 604- 874-0175
ISKCON Vancouver5462 Marine Drive
Burnaby BC V5J 3G8Phone 604-433-9728
Mosques Street Address Contact info
Jamia Masjid Vancouver655 West 8th Ave
Vancouver BC V5Z 1C7Phone 604-309-6036
Richmond Jamia Mosque
(Biggest mosque in BC)
12300 Blundell Rd
Richmond BC V6W 1B3Phone 604-270-2522
Islamic Information Centre3127 Kingsway St
Vancouver BC V5R 5J9Phone 604-434-7526
Masjid Alhaq4162 Welwyn StVancouver BC
Phone 604-873-1787
Dar Al-Madinah IslamicSociety
7155 Victoria DriveVancouver BC
PhoneFax 604-873-8580
Surrey Mosque12407 72nd Ave
Surrey BC V3W 2M5Phone 604-591-7601
Al-Noor Mosque13526 98A Ave
Surrey BCPhoneFax 604-930-9742
Masjidur-Rahmah13585 62nd Ave
Surrey BC V3A 2J3 Phone 604-597-7863
Al- Salaam Mosque 5060 Canada Way Phone 604-524-4499
Sikh Temples Gurudwaras Street Address Contact info
Akali Singh Sikh Temple1890 Skeena Street
Vancouver BC - V5M 4L3Phone (604) 254-2117
Canadian Ramgharia Society 6908 Macpherson Ave (604) 438-0846
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1828
indiaubccom page 18 of 28
Burnaby BC - V5J 4N3
Babbar Khalsa Dal4767 Union Street
Burnaby British ColumbiaTel (604) 376 1749
Cloverdale Sikh Society5748 175 Street
Surrey BC - V3S 4T7 (604) 574-7594
Gurdwara Sahib DasmeshDarbar
115-12885 85 AvenueSurrey BC - V3W 0K8
(604) 594-2573
Khalsa Darbar61st and Prince Edward Street
Vancouver BCPhone 604-325-2290
Gurdwara Khalsa Darbar390 61st Avenue East
Vancouver BC - V5X 2B6Phone (604) 325-2290
Campus Security
Vancouver is one of the most livable cities in the world Although its crime rate is low still security is a concern
particularly against thefts UBC campus security is provided by the UBC patrol and RCMP (Royal Canadian
Mounted Police)
Campus security is located next to the UBC Bookstore Campus Security provides 24-hour assistance seven days a
week Call 604-822-2222 if you have a safety concern or an emergency situation For more information visit
wwwsecurityubcca
If you are walking alone late night or not too sure where to go and you can also take help of safety walk Safewalk
provides male and female student teams that will accompany anyone between points on campus free of charge Theservice runs throughout the school year and during the summer months You can book a walk by calling 604-822-
5355 dropping by the office in the SUB concourse or looking for the Safewalk patrollers in bright red jackets Visit
wwwamsubccasafewalk for hours and other information
Call 911 in case of emergency or have been the victim of crime Always give the location to the operator particularly
the building address Calls to 911 are received at a call centre in Downtown Vancouver and the operators may not
be familiar with the building names on campus
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1928
indiaubccom page 19 of 28
Blue Phones
Blue phones are located at various locations around the campus core Elevator phones in most building also provide
direct access to Campus Security
Campus Maps
You can download the UBC campus map from here
httpwwwstudentsubccacurrentdownloadcampusmap07pdf
You can search for locations on the UBC campus map at this site
httpwwwmapsubccaPRODindexphp
httpwwwstudentsubccacurrentcampuscfm
The on-campus residences map
httpwwwhousingubccarez_maprez_maphtm
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2028
indiaubccom page 20 of 28
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2128
indiaubccom page 21 of 28
Contact us
Email utsav_ubcyahoocom
Facebook httpwwwfacebookcomgroupphpgid=3220440131
Webpage httpwwwindiaubccom
YahoogroupUBC_bharatyahoogroupcom
To subscribe to our mailing list send a blank email to
ubc_bharat-subscribeyahoogroupscom
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2228
indiaubccom page 22 of 28
Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the inputs from the International Student Handbook 200910
published by International Student Development at UBC MITACS Globalink program Handbook and UTSAV website which were immensely helpful in compiling this information
handbook
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2328
indiaubccom page 23 of 28
Appendix
Things to pack
We Indian Student Association ndash UTSAV helps undergraduate and graduate students prospective and currentstudents throughtout their stay at UBC Please check the reminders section to make sure you do not forget important
documents while travelling
You should bring with you all your original transcripts degree certificate provisional certificate migration
certificate TOEFLGRE scores certificates birth certificate work experience certificate papers and publications
for which you have mentioned in your portfolio Sometimes the school may ask you to show them to validate or may
ask you to submit you originals Hence it would be safe if you keep them with you when you arrive here
In flight
1 Specify while you book your ticket regarding your food preferences especially when you are a strict vegetarian
Few flights do provide the service of providing Jain and Hindu meals in flight
2 Keep your hand baggage as light as possible because during transit you may have to walk long distances Try to
carry hand bags with trolley that would help you in easy transfer
Important Note
1 Make sure you carry your Indian Driving license this help you here while you apply for International Driving
LicensePermit
2 Try to carry 3-4 pairs of glasses (spares) with you and have an advance eye sight check up in India because here
these things are usually very expensive You anyway would have an eye check up during your Pre-Medical
Examination
3 A dental check up at least fifteen days in advance would be quite appropriate
4 Carry money as travelers cheques they are the safest and most convenient method of carrying money
What to Get and What Not
1 It will be great if you can get yourself the books you need here though we have very good library here which
would provide you with sufficient copies of each book of your requirement But see to it that carrying them you
arenrsquot exceeding your baggage weight limitations
2 If you are looking forward to cook Indian food at your place then bring along a Pressure Cooker and any flat
bottomed vessels
3 You can carry pulses rice Indian spices pickles etc with you but it is better if you donrsquot carry them with you as
we have many Indian grocery shops at Vancouver mainly at Fraser and Main Street Also there are some good
shops within campus where you can get all the above mentioned things
4 Get yourself sufficient stock of undergarments and socks as you might be washing clothes once every 10 days or
more
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2428
indiaubccom page 24 of 28
5 You should bring with yourself 1-2 umbrellas a raincoat or a wind-sheeter as it rains a lot here from October till
March
6 You would need warm clothes (a good winter jacket) as it is cold here except for 2-4 months in summer Good
sweaters preferably two woollen gloves mufflers and woollen caps thermal vest and long johns
7 Get all the stationary items like staplers punchers etc also a good alarm clock
8 Buy a good pair of walking shoe sports shoe formal shoe (all water-proof) as it rains a lot here and you might
have to walk a lot here
9 Donrsquot get along any electronic items here as the voltage is much lower than in India
10 And if you are still carrying then get yourself a Step-upStep-down voltage convertor This will prove a lot more
helpful here Make sure you are buying it for the correct Watt as for hair dryers you might have to go for 1800W
These convertors are available here as well but a bit more expensive
11 A good school bag a Visa folder (to hold cards) a walletpurses
12 Get some medicines which you think would be useful or any common health problems that you have You could
get some basic medicines for headache stomach ache indigestion fever etc
Baggage specifications
You should check this out with your concerned airlines preferably there website They would give you perfect
information on the weight and dimensional limitations It would be good if you can lock your baggage with TSA
locks
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2528
indiaubccom page 25 of 28
What should I bring from INDIA All the items mention ed below can be fo und easily in the city of Vancouver However the reason we have written them
is to remind you wh at to carry or buy here in case you forget This list is a checklist of items yo u migh t need here We
recommend you to buy mo st of the items fro m India because these items are very expensive in the city of Vancouver
Item Comments
A Clothes
1 Full Sleeve Shirts
2 Half Sleeve Shirts
3 Formal Trousers
4 Blazer (Informal) Suit (Formal) Suit Recommended
5 Tie
6 T-shirts
7 Jeans
8 Shorts Cargos Bermudas9 Belts
10 Traditional Highly Recommended for Indian events
11 Sweaters Recommended
12 Pyjamas Night Suit
13 Under Garments
14 Towels
15 Handkerchiefs used less here
16 Blanket (Light Weight) depends on your baggage (can buy here)
17 Single Bed Sheet
18 Bed Cover
19 Pillow Cover
20 Woolen Gloves Leather amp wool (Highly Recommended)21 Jacket Optional (can buy here)
22 Thermal Innerwear Long johns Required in winter
23 CapsToques Optional
24 Swimwear Expensive here
B Footwear
1 Chappals Sandals Traditional Footwear
2 Slippers Flotters
3 Formal Black Leather Shoes
4 Casual Sport Shoes
5 Shoe Polish for Formal Shoes
6 Shoe Polishing Brush
7 Socks (black for formal shoes)
8 Socks (White) Cheaply Available here
C Miscellaneous Items
1 Glasses Contact Lenses Must (Optics very expensive here)
2 Contact Lenses Solution Check for yourself
3 Stitching Kit
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2628
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2728
indiaubccom page 27 of 28
G Stationary
1 School Bag A Little Expensive here
2 Ball Point Pen For initial use
3 Refils
4 BondedClutch Pencils
5 Sharpener
6 Eraser Pencil
7 Clutch Pencil (05 mm)
8 Lead Box (05 mm)
9 Steel Scale 6 Optional
10 Stapler Donrsquot forget these
11 Stapler Pins Box
12 Punch Please donrsquot bring 3 holes punch required here
13 Scientific Calculator Replace the batteries without fail
14 Cello Tapes Optional
15 Glue Stick Glue Optional
16 Sketch Pen Optional
17 Note books Papers Files Folders Do not bring
H Books (apart from course-work)
1 Oxford Concise Dictionary
2 Books about India Optional
3 Religious Books Optional
I Medicines (optional)
1 Vicks (Vaporub amp Inhaler)
2 Balm (Amrutanjan etc)
3 Iodex
4 Dettol
5 Band-Aid (wash proof)6 Burnol
7 Painkiller tabs like Combiflam Brufen
8 Drugs amp Antibiotics (fever amp cold etc)
9 Vaseline Especially for people coming in winter
J Documents
1 Recent Photographs Negatives
2 General Photographs
3 Passport Photocopies
4 Admission
5 VISA photocopies
6 Credentials Transcripts
7 Recommendation SOP
8 GRE TOEFL Score Sheet
9 Medical Fitness Certificate
10 Medical Prescription of all medicines
11 College Leaving Certificate
12 Traveller cheques
13 Enough Money-Cash with some change
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2828
Compiled by C P Sha r m a ( Cheenu ) 201 0 - 11 W eb admin and New s let t e r Ed i to r
Valuable contributions from
UTSAV execu t i ve team 2010 - 11
Sr in iv as Ram an Harshu l Sr iv as tava Rashm i Bhadaur ia
An i r uddha Cha t t e r j ee Sw iya Na th Tab i ta Ve r m a amp Sneha She th s tuden t s ove r the
yea r s and o the r ex t e r na l agenc ies
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1428
indiaubccom page 14 of 28
On off campus jobs
UBC career services provide excellent opportunities to work in order to support your education to gain valuable
Canadian workplace experience as well as lot of voluntary work
httpwwwstudentsubccacareersindexcfm
The following link would be of great help for searching on-campus as well as off campus work opportunities (there
is a waiting period of at least six months to get your off-campus work permit from the day you arrive)
httpwwwstudentsubccainternationalinternational-studentsworking
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1528
indiaubccom page 15 of 28
Entertainment
There are many cinema complexes around the city (Silvercity Tinseltown Paramount etc) and a few of them thatexclusively screen latest Hindi movies (Raja Cinemas) Many Indian films and music are available at video rentalsand music stores IMAX and OMNIMAX theaters are also located in Vancouver Local Indian Radio stationsinclude 1600AM (Radio India) 1200AM (Rim Jhim) 1550AM (Radio Punjab) and 931FM (REDFM) Indian TVshows and movies are screened on Channel 8 (Omni BC) and Channel 119 (Shaw Multicultural Channel) on various
daystimes throughout the week Weekly South Asian newspapers include lsquoThe Linkrsquo lsquoThe Voicersquo lsquoThe Asian Starrsquoand lsquoThe South Asian PostrsquoVancouverites are an active bunch and there are many outdoor activities one can take part in during your spare timeIn the summer biking hiking and camping are quite common and in the winter you can go skating or skiingThere are also various UBC intramural sports leagues students can take part in including soccer volleyballbadminton tennis and basketball Vancouver also has 2 different cricket leagues which run during the summerFor those who are spiritually inclined there are at least 8 large Temples 2 large Mosques and countless Gurdwarasand Churches spread all throughout the Lower Mainland
The best must-visit destinations worth visit in coastal British Columbia are Tofino Sunshine Coast Victoria andGulf Islands Other places of interest around Vancouver region may be a trip to Whistler Harrison Lake GreaterVancouver Zoo Stanley Park Bowen Island Granville Island China Town Night Market in Richmond GrouseMountain Gas town Robson Street and VanDusen Garden
The UBC campus offers easy access to many of Vancouverrsquos beaches that you may like to visit Most popular onesbeing Kitsilano Beach Spanish Banks Wreck Beach Tower Beach English Bay and Jericho Beach
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1628
indiaubccom page 16 of 28
Clubs and Extra-curricular
The mild climate and spectacular natural environment makes Vancouver a haven for people who love the outdoors
Snowboarding and skiing kayaking hiking trail running rock climbing ndash whatever your passion you can get
outside and enjoy it most of the year
The Varsity Outdoor Club (VOC) is open to anyone at UBC - students faculty staff spouses and members of the
greater community The club is dedicated to those who want to explore the outdoors here and anywhere else in the
world Great platform for members to actively pursue hiking rock-climbing mountaineering kayaking ski touring
ice climbing and socializingrdquo (Info courtesy VOC wiki)
httpwwwubc-voccom
UBC Dance Club
httpwwwubcdanceclubcom
Varsity Outdoor Club
httpwwwubc-voccom
UBC Aquatic Centre
httpwwwaquaticsubcca
UBC REC
httpwwwrecubcca
Attractions UBC
httpwwwattractionsubcca
UBC Tennis
httpwwwtennisubcca
Please make yourselves aware of all the safety precautions and waivers before attempting any adventure sports
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1728
indiaubccom page 17 of 28
Faith
Hindu Temples Mandir Street Address Contact info
Mahalakshmi Hindu Temple 467 11th Avenue EastVancouver BC V5T2C8 Phone 604-874-0175
Vishva Hindu Parishad
Temple 3885 Albert Street
Burnaby BC V5C 2C8 Phone 604-299-5922
Shiv Mandir 1795 Napier Street
Vancouver BC V5L 2N1
Phone 604- 874-0175
ISKCON Vancouver5462 Marine Drive
Burnaby BC V5J 3G8Phone 604-433-9728
Mosques Street Address Contact info
Jamia Masjid Vancouver655 West 8th Ave
Vancouver BC V5Z 1C7Phone 604-309-6036
Richmond Jamia Mosque
(Biggest mosque in BC)
12300 Blundell Rd
Richmond BC V6W 1B3Phone 604-270-2522
Islamic Information Centre3127 Kingsway St
Vancouver BC V5R 5J9Phone 604-434-7526
Masjid Alhaq4162 Welwyn StVancouver BC
Phone 604-873-1787
Dar Al-Madinah IslamicSociety
7155 Victoria DriveVancouver BC
PhoneFax 604-873-8580
Surrey Mosque12407 72nd Ave
Surrey BC V3W 2M5Phone 604-591-7601
Al-Noor Mosque13526 98A Ave
Surrey BCPhoneFax 604-930-9742
Masjidur-Rahmah13585 62nd Ave
Surrey BC V3A 2J3 Phone 604-597-7863
Al- Salaam Mosque 5060 Canada Way Phone 604-524-4499
Sikh Temples Gurudwaras Street Address Contact info
Akali Singh Sikh Temple1890 Skeena Street
Vancouver BC - V5M 4L3Phone (604) 254-2117
Canadian Ramgharia Society 6908 Macpherson Ave (604) 438-0846
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1828
indiaubccom page 18 of 28
Burnaby BC - V5J 4N3
Babbar Khalsa Dal4767 Union Street
Burnaby British ColumbiaTel (604) 376 1749
Cloverdale Sikh Society5748 175 Street
Surrey BC - V3S 4T7 (604) 574-7594
Gurdwara Sahib DasmeshDarbar
115-12885 85 AvenueSurrey BC - V3W 0K8
(604) 594-2573
Khalsa Darbar61st and Prince Edward Street
Vancouver BCPhone 604-325-2290
Gurdwara Khalsa Darbar390 61st Avenue East
Vancouver BC - V5X 2B6Phone (604) 325-2290
Campus Security
Vancouver is one of the most livable cities in the world Although its crime rate is low still security is a concern
particularly against thefts UBC campus security is provided by the UBC patrol and RCMP (Royal Canadian
Mounted Police)
Campus security is located next to the UBC Bookstore Campus Security provides 24-hour assistance seven days a
week Call 604-822-2222 if you have a safety concern or an emergency situation For more information visit
wwwsecurityubcca
If you are walking alone late night or not too sure where to go and you can also take help of safety walk Safewalk
provides male and female student teams that will accompany anyone between points on campus free of charge Theservice runs throughout the school year and during the summer months You can book a walk by calling 604-822-
5355 dropping by the office in the SUB concourse or looking for the Safewalk patrollers in bright red jackets Visit
wwwamsubccasafewalk for hours and other information
Call 911 in case of emergency or have been the victim of crime Always give the location to the operator particularly
the building address Calls to 911 are received at a call centre in Downtown Vancouver and the operators may not
be familiar with the building names on campus
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1928
indiaubccom page 19 of 28
Blue Phones
Blue phones are located at various locations around the campus core Elevator phones in most building also provide
direct access to Campus Security
Campus Maps
You can download the UBC campus map from here
httpwwwstudentsubccacurrentdownloadcampusmap07pdf
You can search for locations on the UBC campus map at this site
httpwwwmapsubccaPRODindexphp
httpwwwstudentsubccacurrentcampuscfm
The on-campus residences map
httpwwwhousingubccarez_maprez_maphtm
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2028
indiaubccom page 20 of 28
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2128
indiaubccom page 21 of 28
Contact us
Email utsav_ubcyahoocom
Facebook httpwwwfacebookcomgroupphpgid=3220440131
Webpage httpwwwindiaubccom
YahoogroupUBC_bharatyahoogroupcom
To subscribe to our mailing list send a blank email to
ubc_bharat-subscribeyahoogroupscom
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2228
indiaubccom page 22 of 28
Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the inputs from the International Student Handbook 200910
published by International Student Development at UBC MITACS Globalink program Handbook and UTSAV website which were immensely helpful in compiling this information
handbook
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2328
indiaubccom page 23 of 28
Appendix
Things to pack
We Indian Student Association ndash UTSAV helps undergraduate and graduate students prospective and currentstudents throughtout their stay at UBC Please check the reminders section to make sure you do not forget important
documents while travelling
You should bring with you all your original transcripts degree certificate provisional certificate migration
certificate TOEFLGRE scores certificates birth certificate work experience certificate papers and publications
for which you have mentioned in your portfolio Sometimes the school may ask you to show them to validate or may
ask you to submit you originals Hence it would be safe if you keep them with you when you arrive here
In flight
1 Specify while you book your ticket regarding your food preferences especially when you are a strict vegetarian
Few flights do provide the service of providing Jain and Hindu meals in flight
2 Keep your hand baggage as light as possible because during transit you may have to walk long distances Try to
carry hand bags with trolley that would help you in easy transfer
Important Note
1 Make sure you carry your Indian Driving license this help you here while you apply for International Driving
LicensePermit
2 Try to carry 3-4 pairs of glasses (spares) with you and have an advance eye sight check up in India because here
these things are usually very expensive You anyway would have an eye check up during your Pre-Medical
Examination
3 A dental check up at least fifteen days in advance would be quite appropriate
4 Carry money as travelers cheques they are the safest and most convenient method of carrying money
What to Get and What Not
1 It will be great if you can get yourself the books you need here though we have very good library here which
would provide you with sufficient copies of each book of your requirement But see to it that carrying them you
arenrsquot exceeding your baggage weight limitations
2 If you are looking forward to cook Indian food at your place then bring along a Pressure Cooker and any flat
bottomed vessels
3 You can carry pulses rice Indian spices pickles etc with you but it is better if you donrsquot carry them with you as
we have many Indian grocery shops at Vancouver mainly at Fraser and Main Street Also there are some good
shops within campus where you can get all the above mentioned things
4 Get yourself sufficient stock of undergarments and socks as you might be washing clothes once every 10 days or
more
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2428
indiaubccom page 24 of 28
5 You should bring with yourself 1-2 umbrellas a raincoat or a wind-sheeter as it rains a lot here from October till
March
6 You would need warm clothes (a good winter jacket) as it is cold here except for 2-4 months in summer Good
sweaters preferably two woollen gloves mufflers and woollen caps thermal vest and long johns
7 Get all the stationary items like staplers punchers etc also a good alarm clock
8 Buy a good pair of walking shoe sports shoe formal shoe (all water-proof) as it rains a lot here and you might
have to walk a lot here
9 Donrsquot get along any electronic items here as the voltage is much lower than in India
10 And if you are still carrying then get yourself a Step-upStep-down voltage convertor This will prove a lot more
helpful here Make sure you are buying it for the correct Watt as for hair dryers you might have to go for 1800W
These convertors are available here as well but a bit more expensive
11 A good school bag a Visa folder (to hold cards) a walletpurses
12 Get some medicines which you think would be useful or any common health problems that you have You could
get some basic medicines for headache stomach ache indigestion fever etc
Baggage specifications
You should check this out with your concerned airlines preferably there website They would give you perfect
information on the weight and dimensional limitations It would be good if you can lock your baggage with TSA
locks
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2528
indiaubccom page 25 of 28
What should I bring from INDIA All the items mention ed below can be fo und easily in the city of Vancouver However the reason we have written them
is to remind you wh at to carry or buy here in case you forget This list is a checklist of items yo u migh t need here We
recommend you to buy mo st of the items fro m India because these items are very expensive in the city of Vancouver
Item Comments
A Clothes
1 Full Sleeve Shirts
2 Half Sleeve Shirts
3 Formal Trousers
4 Blazer (Informal) Suit (Formal) Suit Recommended
5 Tie
6 T-shirts
7 Jeans
8 Shorts Cargos Bermudas9 Belts
10 Traditional Highly Recommended for Indian events
11 Sweaters Recommended
12 Pyjamas Night Suit
13 Under Garments
14 Towels
15 Handkerchiefs used less here
16 Blanket (Light Weight) depends on your baggage (can buy here)
17 Single Bed Sheet
18 Bed Cover
19 Pillow Cover
20 Woolen Gloves Leather amp wool (Highly Recommended)21 Jacket Optional (can buy here)
22 Thermal Innerwear Long johns Required in winter
23 CapsToques Optional
24 Swimwear Expensive here
B Footwear
1 Chappals Sandals Traditional Footwear
2 Slippers Flotters
3 Formal Black Leather Shoes
4 Casual Sport Shoes
5 Shoe Polish for Formal Shoes
6 Shoe Polishing Brush
7 Socks (black for formal shoes)
8 Socks (White) Cheaply Available here
C Miscellaneous Items
1 Glasses Contact Lenses Must (Optics very expensive here)
2 Contact Lenses Solution Check for yourself
3 Stitching Kit
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2628
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2728
indiaubccom page 27 of 28
G Stationary
1 School Bag A Little Expensive here
2 Ball Point Pen For initial use
3 Refils
4 BondedClutch Pencils
5 Sharpener
6 Eraser Pencil
7 Clutch Pencil (05 mm)
8 Lead Box (05 mm)
9 Steel Scale 6 Optional
10 Stapler Donrsquot forget these
11 Stapler Pins Box
12 Punch Please donrsquot bring 3 holes punch required here
13 Scientific Calculator Replace the batteries without fail
14 Cello Tapes Optional
15 Glue Stick Glue Optional
16 Sketch Pen Optional
17 Note books Papers Files Folders Do not bring
H Books (apart from course-work)
1 Oxford Concise Dictionary
2 Books about India Optional
3 Religious Books Optional
I Medicines (optional)
1 Vicks (Vaporub amp Inhaler)
2 Balm (Amrutanjan etc)
3 Iodex
4 Dettol
5 Band-Aid (wash proof)6 Burnol
7 Painkiller tabs like Combiflam Brufen
8 Drugs amp Antibiotics (fever amp cold etc)
9 Vaseline Especially for people coming in winter
J Documents
1 Recent Photographs Negatives
2 General Photographs
3 Passport Photocopies
4 Admission
5 VISA photocopies
6 Credentials Transcripts
7 Recommendation SOP
8 GRE TOEFL Score Sheet
9 Medical Fitness Certificate
10 Medical Prescription of all medicines
11 College Leaving Certificate
12 Traveller cheques
13 Enough Money-Cash with some change
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2828
Compiled by C P Sha r m a ( Cheenu ) 201 0 - 11 W eb admin and New s let t e r Ed i to r
Valuable contributions from
UTSAV execu t i ve team 2010 - 11
Sr in iv as Ram an Harshu l Sr iv as tava Rashm i Bhadaur ia
An i r uddha Cha t t e r j ee Sw iya Na th Tab i ta Ve r m a amp Sneha She th s tuden t s ove r the
yea r s and o the r ex t e r na l agenc ies
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1528
indiaubccom page 15 of 28
Entertainment
There are many cinema complexes around the city (Silvercity Tinseltown Paramount etc) and a few of them thatexclusively screen latest Hindi movies (Raja Cinemas) Many Indian films and music are available at video rentalsand music stores IMAX and OMNIMAX theaters are also located in Vancouver Local Indian Radio stationsinclude 1600AM (Radio India) 1200AM (Rim Jhim) 1550AM (Radio Punjab) and 931FM (REDFM) Indian TVshows and movies are screened on Channel 8 (Omni BC) and Channel 119 (Shaw Multicultural Channel) on various
daystimes throughout the week Weekly South Asian newspapers include lsquoThe Linkrsquo lsquoThe Voicersquo lsquoThe Asian Starrsquoand lsquoThe South Asian PostrsquoVancouverites are an active bunch and there are many outdoor activities one can take part in during your spare timeIn the summer biking hiking and camping are quite common and in the winter you can go skating or skiingThere are also various UBC intramural sports leagues students can take part in including soccer volleyballbadminton tennis and basketball Vancouver also has 2 different cricket leagues which run during the summerFor those who are spiritually inclined there are at least 8 large Temples 2 large Mosques and countless Gurdwarasand Churches spread all throughout the Lower Mainland
The best must-visit destinations worth visit in coastal British Columbia are Tofino Sunshine Coast Victoria andGulf Islands Other places of interest around Vancouver region may be a trip to Whistler Harrison Lake GreaterVancouver Zoo Stanley Park Bowen Island Granville Island China Town Night Market in Richmond GrouseMountain Gas town Robson Street and VanDusen Garden
The UBC campus offers easy access to many of Vancouverrsquos beaches that you may like to visit Most popular onesbeing Kitsilano Beach Spanish Banks Wreck Beach Tower Beach English Bay and Jericho Beach
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1628
indiaubccom page 16 of 28
Clubs and Extra-curricular
The mild climate and spectacular natural environment makes Vancouver a haven for people who love the outdoors
Snowboarding and skiing kayaking hiking trail running rock climbing ndash whatever your passion you can get
outside and enjoy it most of the year
The Varsity Outdoor Club (VOC) is open to anyone at UBC - students faculty staff spouses and members of the
greater community The club is dedicated to those who want to explore the outdoors here and anywhere else in the
world Great platform for members to actively pursue hiking rock-climbing mountaineering kayaking ski touring
ice climbing and socializingrdquo (Info courtesy VOC wiki)
httpwwwubc-voccom
UBC Dance Club
httpwwwubcdanceclubcom
Varsity Outdoor Club
httpwwwubc-voccom
UBC Aquatic Centre
httpwwwaquaticsubcca
UBC REC
httpwwwrecubcca
Attractions UBC
httpwwwattractionsubcca
UBC Tennis
httpwwwtennisubcca
Please make yourselves aware of all the safety precautions and waivers before attempting any adventure sports
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1728
indiaubccom page 17 of 28
Faith
Hindu Temples Mandir Street Address Contact info
Mahalakshmi Hindu Temple 467 11th Avenue EastVancouver BC V5T2C8 Phone 604-874-0175
Vishva Hindu Parishad
Temple 3885 Albert Street
Burnaby BC V5C 2C8 Phone 604-299-5922
Shiv Mandir 1795 Napier Street
Vancouver BC V5L 2N1
Phone 604- 874-0175
ISKCON Vancouver5462 Marine Drive
Burnaby BC V5J 3G8Phone 604-433-9728
Mosques Street Address Contact info
Jamia Masjid Vancouver655 West 8th Ave
Vancouver BC V5Z 1C7Phone 604-309-6036
Richmond Jamia Mosque
(Biggest mosque in BC)
12300 Blundell Rd
Richmond BC V6W 1B3Phone 604-270-2522
Islamic Information Centre3127 Kingsway St
Vancouver BC V5R 5J9Phone 604-434-7526
Masjid Alhaq4162 Welwyn StVancouver BC
Phone 604-873-1787
Dar Al-Madinah IslamicSociety
7155 Victoria DriveVancouver BC
PhoneFax 604-873-8580
Surrey Mosque12407 72nd Ave
Surrey BC V3W 2M5Phone 604-591-7601
Al-Noor Mosque13526 98A Ave
Surrey BCPhoneFax 604-930-9742
Masjidur-Rahmah13585 62nd Ave
Surrey BC V3A 2J3 Phone 604-597-7863
Al- Salaam Mosque 5060 Canada Way Phone 604-524-4499
Sikh Temples Gurudwaras Street Address Contact info
Akali Singh Sikh Temple1890 Skeena Street
Vancouver BC - V5M 4L3Phone (604) 254-2117
Canadian Ramgharia Society 6908 Macpherson Ave (604) 438-0846
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1828
indiaubccom page 18 of 28
Burnaby BC - V5J 4N3
Babbar Khalsa Dal4767 Union Street
Burnaby British ColumbiaTel (604) 376 1749
Cloverdale Sikh Society5748 175 Street
Surrey BC - V3S 4T7 (604) 574-7594
Gurdwara Sahib DasmeshDarbar
115-12885 85 AvenueSurrey BC - V3W 0K8
(604) 594-2573
Khalsa Darbar61st and Prince Edward Street
Vancouver BCPhone 604-325-2290
Gurdwara Khalsa Darbar390 61st Avenue East
Vancouver BC - V5X 2B6Phone (604) 325-2290
Campus Security
Vancouver is one of the most livable cities in the world Although its crime rate is low still security is a concern
particularly against thefts UBC campus security is provided by the UBC patrol and RCMP (Royal Canadian
Mounted Police)
Campus security is located next to the UBC Bookstore Campus Security provides 24-hour assistance seven days a
week Call 604-822-2222 if you have a safety concern or an emergency situation For more information visit
wwwsecurityubcca
If you are walking alone late night or not too sure where to go and you can also take help of safety walk Safewalk
provides male and female student teams that will accompany anyone between points on campus free of charge Theservice runs throughout the school year and during the summer months You can book a walk by calling 604-822-
5355 dropping by the office in the SUB concourse or looking for the Safewalk patrollers in bright red jackets Visit
wwwamsubccasafewalk for hours and other information
Call 911 in case of emergency or have been the victim of crime Always give the location to the operator particularly
the building address Calls to 911 are received at a call centre in Downtown Vancouver and the operators may not
be familiar with the building names on campus
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1928
indiaubccom page 19 of 28
Blue Phones
Blue phones are located at various locations around the campus core Elevator phones in most building also provide
direct access to Campus Security
Campus Maps
You can download the UBC campus map from here
httpwwwstudentsubccacurrentdownloadcampusmap07pdf
You can search for locations on the UBC campus map at this site
httpwwwmapsubccaPRODindexphp
httpwwwstudentsubccacurrentcampuscfm
The on-campus residences map
httpwwwhousingubccarez_maprez_maphtm
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2028
indiaubccom page 20 of 28
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2128
indiaubccom page 21 of 28
Contact us
Email utsav_ubcyahoocom
Facebook httpwwwfacebookcomgroupphpgid=3220440131
Webpage httpwwwindiaubccom
YahoogroupUBC_bharatyahoogroupcom
To subscribe to our mailing list send a blank email to
ubc_bharat-subscribeyahoogroupscom
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2228
indiaubccom page 22 of 28
Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the inputs from the International Student Handbook 200910
published by International Student Development at UBC MITACS Globalink program Handbook and UTSAV website which were immensely helpful in compiling this information
handbook
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2328
indiaubccom page 23 of 28
Appendix
Things to pack
We Indian Student Association ndash UTSAV helps undergraduate and graduate students prospective and currentstudents throughtout their stay at UBC Please check the reminders section to make sure you do not forget important
documents while travelling
You should bring with you all your original transcripts degree certificate provisional certificate migration
certificate TOEFLGRE scores certificates birth certificate work experience certificate papers and publications
for which you have mentioned in your portfolio Sometimes the school may ask you to show them to validate or may
ask you to submit you originals Hence it would be safe if you keep them with you when you arrive here
In flight
1 Specify while you book your ticket regarding your food preferences especially when you are a strict vegetarian
Few flights do provide the service of providing Jain and Hindu meals in flight
2 Keep your hand baggage as light as possible because during transit you may have to walk long distances Try to
carry hand bags with trolley that would help you in easy transfer
Important Note
1 Make sure you carry your Indian Driving license this help you here while you apply for International Driving
LicensePermit
2 Try to carry 3-4 pairs of glasses (spares) with you and have an advance eye sight check up in India because here
these things are usually very expensive You anyway would have an eye check up during your Pre-Medical
Examination
3 A dental check up at least fifteen days in advance would be quite appropriate
4 Carry money as travelers cheques they are the safest and most convenient method of carrying money
What to Get and What Not
1 It will be great if you can get yourself the books you need here though we have very good library here which
would provide you with sufficient copies of each book of your requirement But see to it that carrying them you
arenrsquot exceeding your baggage weight limitations
2 If you are looking forward to cook Indian food at your place then bring along a Pressure Cooker and any flat
bottomed vessels
3 You can carry pulses rice Indian spices pickles etc with you but it is better if you donrsquot carry them with you as
we have many Indian grocery shops at Vancouver mainly at Fraser and Main Street Also there are some good
shops within campus where you can get all the above mentioned things
4 Get yourself sufficient stock of undergarments and socks as you might be washing clothes once every 10 days or
more
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2428
indiaubccom page 24 of 28
5 You should bring with yourself 1-2 umbrellas a raincoat or a wind-sheeter as it rains a lot here from October till
March
6 You would need warm clothes (a good winter jacket) as it is cold here except for 2-4 months in summer Good
sweaters preferably two woollen gloves mufflers and woollen caps thermal vest and long johns
7 Get all the stationary items like staplers punchers etc also a good alarm clock
8 Buy a good pair of walking shoe sports shoe formal shoe (all water-proof) as it rains a lot here and you might
have to walk a lot here
9 Donrsquot get along any electronic items here as the voltage is much lower than in India
10 And if you are still carrying then get yourself a Step-upStep-down voltage convertor This will prove a lot more
helpful here Make sure you are buying it for the correct Watt as for hair dryers you might have to go for 1800W
These convertors are available here as well but a bit more expensive
11 A good school bag a Visa folder (to hold cards) a walletpurses
12 Get some medicines which you think would be useful or any common health problems that you have You could
get some basic medicines for headache stomach ache indigestion fever etc
Baggage specifications
You should check this out with your concerned airlines preferably there website They would give you perfect
information on the weight and dimensional limitations It would be good if you can lock your baggage with TSA
locks
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2528
indiaubccom page 25 of 28
What should I bring from INDIA All the items mention ed below can be fo und easily in the city of Vancouver However the reason we have written them
is to remind you wh at to carry or buy here in case you forget This list is a checklist of items yo u migh t need here We
recommend you to buy mo st of the items fro m India because these items are very expensive in the city of Vancouver
Item Comments
A Clothes
1 Full Sleeve Shirts
2 Half Sleeve Shirts
3 Formal Trousers
4 Blazer (Informal) Suit (Formal) Suit Recommended
5 Tie
6 T-shirts
7 Jeans
8 Shorts Cargos Bermudas9 Belts
10 Traditional Highly Recommended for Indian events
11 Sweaters Recommended
12 Pyjamas Night Suit
13 Under Garments
14 Towels
15 Handkerchiefs used less here
16 Blanket (Light Weight) depends on your baggage (can buy here)
17 Single Bed Sheet
18 Bed Cover
19 Pillow Cover
20 Woolen Gloves Leather amp wool (Highly Recommended)21 Jacket Optional (can buy here)
22 Thermal Innerwear Long johns Required in winter
23 CapsToques Optional
24 Swimwear Expensive here
B Footwear
1 Chappals Sandals Traditional Footwear
2 Slippers Flotters
3 Formal Black Leather Shoes
4 Casual Sport Shoes
5 Shoe Polish for Formal Shoes
6 Shoe Polishing Brush
7 Socks (black for formal shoes)
8 Socks (White) Cheaply Available here
C Miscellaneous Items
1 Glasses Contact Lenses Must (Optics very expensive here)
2 Contact Lenses Solution Check for yourself
3 Stitching Kit
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2628
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2728
indiaubccom page 27 of 28
G Stationary
1 School Bag A Little Expensive here
2 Ball Point Pen For initial use
3 Refils
4 BondedClutch Pencils
5 Sharpener
6 Eraser Pencil
7 Clutch Pencil (05 mm)
8 Lead Box (05 mm)
9 Steel Scale 6 Optional
10 Stapler Donrsquot forget these
11 Stapler Pins Box
12 Punch Please donrsquot bring 3 holes punch required here
13 Scientific Calculator Replace the batteries without fail
14 Cello Tapes Optional
15 Glue Stick Glue Optional
16 Sketch Pen Optional
17 Note books Papers Files Folders Do not bring
H Books (apart from course-work)
1 Oxford Concise Dictionary
2 Books about India Optional
3 Religious Books Optional
I Medicines (optional)
1 Vicks (Vaporub amp Inhaler)
2 Balm (Amrutanjan etc)
3 Iodex
4 Dettol
5 Band-Aid (wash proof)6 Burnol
7 Painkiller tabs like Combiflam Brufen
8 Drugs amp Antibiotics (fever amp cold etc)
9 Vaseline Especially for people coming in winter
J Documents
1 Recent Photographs Negatives
2 General Photographs
3 Passport Photocopies
4 Admission
5 VISA photocopies
6 Credentials Transcripts
7 Recommendation SOP
8 GRE TOEFL Score Sheet
9 Medical Fitness Certificate
10 Medical Prescription of all medicines
11 College Leaving Certificate
12 Traveller cheques
13 Enough Money-Cash with some change
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2828
Compiled by C P Sha r m a ( Cheenu ) 201 0 - 11 W eb admin and New s let t e r Ed i to r
Valuable contributions from
UTSAV execu t i ve team 2010 - 11
Sr in iv as Ram an Harshu l Sr iv as tava Rashm i Bhadaur ia
An i r uddha Cha t t e r j ee Sw iya Na th Tab i ta Ve r m a amp Sneha She th s tuden t s ove r the
yea r s and o the r ex t e r na l agenc ies
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1628
indiaubccom page 16 of 28
Clubs and Extra-curricular
The mild climate and spectacular natural environment makes Vancouver a haven for people who love the outdoors
Snowboarding and skiing kayaking hiking trail running rock climbing ndash whatever your passion you can get
outside and enjoy it most of the year
The Varsity Outdoor Club (VOC) is open to anyone at UBC - students faculty staff spouses and members of the
greater community The club is dedicated to those who want to explore the outdoors here and anywhere else in the
world Great platform for members to actively pursue hiking rock-climbing mountaineering kayaking ski touring
ice climbing and socializingrdquo (Info courtesy VOC wiki)
httpwwwubc-voccom
UBC Dance Club
httpwwwubcdanceclubcom
Varsity Outdoor Club
httpwwwubc-voccom
UBC Aquatic Centre
httpwwwaquaticsubcca
UBC REC
httpwwwrecubcca
Attractions UBC
httpwwwattractionsubcca
UBC Tennis
httpwwwtennisubcca
Please make yourselves aware of all the safety precautions and waivers before attempting any adventure sports
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1728
indiaubccom page 17 of 28
Faith
Hindu Temples Mandir Street Address Contact info
Mahalakshmi Hindu Temple 467 11th Avenue EastVancouver BC V5T2C8 Phone 604-874-0175
Vishva Hindu Parishad
Temple 3885 Albert Street
Burnaby BC V5C 2C8 Phone 604-299-5922
Shiv Mandir 1795 Napier Street
Vancouver BC V5L 2N1
Phone 604- 874-0175
ISKCON Vancouver5462 Marine Drive
Burnaby BC V5J 3G8Phone 604-433-9728
Mosques Street Address Contact info
Jamia Masjid Vancouver655 West 8th Ave
Vancouver BC V5Z 1C7Phone 604-309-6036
Richmond Jamia Mosque
(Biggest mosque in BC)
12300 Blundell Rd
Richmond BC V6W 1B3Phone 604-270-2522
Islamic Information Centre3127 Kingsway St
Vancouver BC V5R 5J9Phone 604-434-7526
Masjid Alhaq4162 Welwyn StVancouver BC
Phone 604-873-1787
Dar Al-Madinah IslamicSociety
7155 Victoria DriveVancouver BC
PhoneFax 604-873-8580
Surrey Mosque12407 72nd Ave
Surrey BC V3W 2M5Phone 604-591-7601
Al-Noor Mosque13526 98A Ave
Surrey BCPhoneFax 604-930-9742
Masjidur-Rahmah13585 62nd Ave
Surrey BC V3A 2J3 Phone 604-597-7863
Al- Salaam Mosque 5060 Canada Way Phone 604-524-4499
Sikh Temples Gurudwaras Street Address Contact info
Akali Singh Sikh Temple1890 Skeena Street
Vancouver BC - V5M 4L3Phone (604) 254-2117
Canadian Ramgharia Society 6908 Macpherson Ave (604) 438-0846
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1828
indiaubccom page 18 of 28
Burnaby BC - V5J 4N3
Babbar Khalsa Dal4767 Union Street
Burnaby British ColumbiaTel (604) 376 1749
Cloverdale Sikh Society5748 175 Street
Surrey BC - V3S 4T7 (604) 574-7594
Gurdwara Sahib DasmeshDarbar
115-12885 85 AvenueSurrey BC - V3W 0K8
(604) 594-2573
Khalsa Darbar61st and Prince Edward Street
Vancouver BCPhone 604-325-2290
Gurdwara Khalsa Darbar390 61st Avenue East
Vancouver BC - V5X 2B6Phone (604) 325-2290
Campus Security
Vancouver is one of the most livable cities in the world Although its crime rate is low still security is a concern
particularly against thefts UBC campus security is provided by the UBC patrol and RCMP (Royal Canadian
Mounted Police)
Campus security is located next to the UBC Bookstore Campus Security provides 24-hour assistance seven days a
week Call 604-822-2222 if you have a safety concern or an emergency situation For more information visit
wwwsecurityubcca
If you are walking alone late night or not too sure where to go and you can also take help of safety walk Safewalk
provides male and female student teams that will accompany anyone between points on campus free of charge Theservice runs throughout the school year and during the summer months You can book a walk by calling 604-822-
5355 dropping by the office in the SUB concourse or looking for the Safewalk patrollers in bright red jackets Visit
wwwamsubccasafewalk for hours and other information
Call 911 in case of emergency or have been the victim of crime Always give the location to the operator particularly
the building address Calls to 911 are received at a call centre in Downtown Vancouver and the operators may not
be familiar with the building names on campus
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1928
indiaubccom page 19 of 28
Blue Phones
Blue phones are located at various locations around the campus core Elevator phones in most building also provide
direct access to Campus Security
Campus Maps
You can download the UBC campus map from here
httpwwwstudentsubccacurrentdownloadcampusmap07pdf
You can search for locations on the UBC campus map at this site
httpwwwmapsubccaPRODindexphp
httpwwwstudentsubccacurrentcampuscfm
The on-campus residences map
httpwwwhousingubccarez_maprez_maphtm
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2028
indiaubccom page 20 of 28
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2128
indiaubccom page 21 of 28
Contact us
Email utsav_ubcyahoocom
Facebook httpwwwfacebookcomgroupphpgid=3220440131
Webpage httpwwwindiaubccom
YahoogroupUBC_bharatyahoogroupcom
To subscribe to our mailing list send a blank email to
ubc_bharat-subscribeyahoogroupscom
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2228
indiaubccom page 22 of 28
Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the inputs from the International Student Handbook 200910
published by International Student Development at UBC MITACS Globalink program Handbook and UTSAV website which were immensely helpful in compiling this information
handbook
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2328
indiaubccom page 23 of 28
Appendix
Things to pack
We Indian Student Association ndash UTSAV helps undergraduate and graduate students prospective and currentstudents throughtout their stay at UBC Please check the reminders section to make sure you do not forget important
documents while travelling
You should bring with you all your original transcripts degree certificate provisional certificate migration
certificate TOEFLGRE scores certificates birth certificate work experience certificate papers and publications
for which you have mentioned in your portfolio Sometimes the school may ask you to show them to validate or may
ask you to submit you originals Hence it would be safe if you keep them with you when you arrive here
In flight
1 Specify while you book your ticket regarding your food preferences especially when you are a strict vegetarian
Few flights do provide the service of providing Jain and Hindu meals in flight
2 Keep your hand baggage as light as possible because during transit you may have to walk long distances Try to
carry hand bags with trolley that would help you in easy transfer
Important Note
1 Make sure you carry your Indian Driving license this help you here while you apply for International Driving
LicensePermit
2 Try to carry 3-4 pairs of glasses (spares) with you and have an advance eye sight check up in India because here
these things are usually very expensive You anyway would have an eye check up during your Pre-Medical
Examination
3 A dental check up at least fifteen days in advance would be quite appropriate
4 Carry money as travelers cheques they are the safest and most convenient method of carrying money
What to Get and What Not
1 It will be great if you can get yourself the books you need here though we have very good library here which
would provide you with sufficient copies of each book of your requirement But see to it that carrying them you
arenrsquot exceeding your baggage weight limitations
2 If you are looking forward to cook Indian food at your place then bring along a Pressure Cooker and any flat
bottomed vessels
3 You can carry pulses rice Indian spices pickles etc with you but it is better if you donrsquot carry them with you as
we have many Indian grocery shops at Vancouver mainly at Fraser and Main Street Also there are some good
shops within campus where you can get all the above mentioned things
4 Get yourself sufficient stock of undergarments and socks as you might be washing clothes once every 10 days or
more
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2428
indiaubccom page 24 of 28
5 You should bring with yourself 1-2 umbrellas a raincoat or a wind-sheeter as it rains a lot here from October till
March
6 You would need warm clothes (a good winter jacket) as it is cold here except for 2-4 months in summer Good
sweaters preferably two woollen gloves mufflers and woollen caps thermal vest and long johns
7 Get all the stationary items like staplers punchers etc also a good alarm clock
8 Buy a good pair of walking shoe sports shoe formal shoe (all water-proof) as it rains a lot here and you might
have to walk a lot here
9 Donrsquot get along any electronic items here as the voltage is much lower than in India
10 And if you are still carrying then get yourself a Step-upStep-down voltage convertor This will prove a lot more
helpful here Make sure you are buying it for the correct Watt as for hair dryers you might have to go for 1800W
These convertors are available here as well but a bit more expensive
11 A good school bag a Visa folder (to hold cards) a walletpurses
12 Get some medicines which you think would be useful or any common health problems that you have You could
get some basic medicines for headache stomach ache indigestion fever etc
Baggage specifications
You should check this out with your concerned airlines preferably there website They would give you perfect
information on the weight and dimensional limitations It would be good if you can lock your baggage with TSA
locks
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2528
indiaubccom page 25 of 28
What should I bring from INDIA All the items mention ed below can be fo und easily in the city of Vancouver However the reason we have written them
is to remind you wh at to carry or buy here in case you forget This list is a checklist of items yo u migh t need here We
recommend you to buy mo st of the items fro m India because these items are very expensive in the city of Vancouver
Item Comments
A Clothes
1 Full Sleeve Shirts
2 Half Sleeve Shirts
3 Formal Trousers
4 Blazer (Informal) Suit (Formal) Suit Recommended
5 Tie
6 T-shirts
7 Jeans
8 Shorts Cargos Bermudas9 Belts
10 Traditional Highly Recommended for Indian events
11 Sweaters Recommended
12 Pyjamas Night Suit
13 Under Garments
14 Towels
15 Handkerchiefs used less here
16 Blanket (Light Weight) depends on your baggage (can buy here)
17 Single Bed Sheet
18 Bed Cover
19 Pillow Cover
20 Woolen Gloves Leather amp wool (Highly Recommended)21 Jacket Optional (can buy here)
22 Thermal Innerwear Long johns Required in winter
23 CapsToques Optional
24 Swimwear Expensive here
B Footwear
1 Chappals Sandals Traditional Footwear
2 Slippers Flotters
3 Formal Black Leather Shoes
4 Casual Sport Shoes
5 Shoe Polish for Formal Shoes
6 Shoe Polishing Brush
7 Socks (black for formal shoes)
8 Socks (White) Cheaply Available here
C Miscellaneous Items
1 Glasses Contact Lenses Must (Optics very expensive here)
2 Contact Lenses Solution Check for yourself
3 Stitching Kit
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2628
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2728
indiaubccom page 27 of 28
G Stationary
1 School Bag A Little Expensive here
2 Ball Point Pen For initial use
3 Refils
4 BondedClutch Pencils
5 Sharpener
6 Eraser Pencil
7 Clutch Pencil (05 mm)
8 Lead Box (05 mm)
9 Steel Scale 6 Optional
10 Stapler Donrsquot forget these
11 Stapler Pins Box
12 Punch Please donrsquot bring 3 holes punch required here
13 Scientific Calculator Replace the batteries without fail
14 Cello Tapes Optional
15 Glue Stick Glue Optional
16 Sketch Pen Optional
17 Note books Papers Files Folders Do not bring
H Books (apart from course-work)
1 Oxford Concise Dictionary
2 Books about India Optional
3 Religious Books Optional
I Medicines (optional)
1 Vicks (Vaporub amp Inhaler)
2 Balm (Amrutanjan etc)
3 Iodex
4 Dettol
5 Band-Aid (wash proof)6 Burnol
7 Painkiller tabs like Combiflam Brufen
8 Drugs amp Antibiotics (fever amp cold etc)
9 Vaseline Especially for people coming in winter
J Documents
1 Recent Photographs Negatives
2 General Photographs
3 Passport Photocopies
4 Admission
5 VISA photocopies
6 Credentials Transcripts
7 Recommendation SOP
8 GRE TOEFL Score Sheet
9 Medical Fitness Certificate
10 Medical Prescription of all medicines
11 College Leaving Certificate
12 Traveller cheques
13 Enough Money-Cash with some change
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2828
Compiled by C P Sha r m a ( Cheenu ) 201 0 - 11 W eb admin and New s let t e r Ed i to r
Valuable contributions from
UTSAV execu t i ve team 2010 - 11
Sr in iv as Ram an Harshu l Sr iv as tava Rashm i Bhadaur ia
An i r uddha Cha t t e r j ee Sw iya Na th Tab i ta Ve r m a amp Sneha She th s tuden t s ove r the
yea r s and o the r ex t e r na l agenc ies
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1728
indiaubccom page 17 of 28
Faith
Hindu Temples Mandir Street Address Contact info
Mahalakshmi Hindu Temple 467 11th Avenue EastVancouver BC V5T2C8 Phone 604-874-0175
Vishva Hindu Parishad
Temple 3885 Albert Street
Burnaby BC V5C 2C8 Phone 604-299-5922
Shiv Mandir 1795 Napier Street
Vancouver BC V5L 2N1
Phone 604- 874-0175
ISKCON Vancouver5462 Marine Drive
Burnaby BC V5J 3G8Phone 604-433-9728
Mosques Street Address Contact info
Jamia Masjid Vancouver655 West 8th Ave
Vancouver BC V5Z 1C7Phone 604-309-6036
Richmond Jamia Mosque
(Biggest mosque in BC)
12300 Blundell Rd
Richmond BC V6W 1B3Phone 604-270-2522
Islamic Information Centre3127 Kingsway St
Vancouver BC V5R 5J9Phone 604-434-7526
Masjid Alhaq4162 Welwyn StVancouver BC
Phone 604-873-1787
Dar Al-Madinah IslamicSociety
7155 Victoria DriveVancouver BC
PhoneFax 604-873-8580
Surrey Mosque12407 72nd Ave
Surrey BC V3W 2M5Phone 604-591-7601
Al-Noor Mosque13526 98A Ave
Surrey BCPhoneFax 604-930-9742
Masjidur-Rahmah13585 62nd Ave
Surrey BC V3A 2J3 Phone 604-597-7863
Al- Salaam Mosque 5060 Canada Way Phone 604-524-4499
Sikh Temples Gurudwaras Street Address Contact info
Akali Singh Sikh Temple1890 Skeena Street
Vancouver BC - V5M 4L3Phone (604) 254-2117
Canadian Ramgharia Society 6908 Macpherson Ave (604) 438-0846
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1828
indiaubccom page 18 of 28
Burnaby BC - V5J 4N3
Babbar Khalsa Dal4767 Union Street
Burnaby British ColumbiaTel (604) 376 1749
Cloverdale Sikh Society5748 175 Street
Surrey BC - V3S 4T7 (604) 574-7594
Gurdwara Sahib DasmeshDarbar
115-12885 85 AvenueSurrey BC - V3W 0K8
(604) 594-2573
Khalsa Darbar61st and Prince Edward Street
Vancouver BCPhone 604-325-2290
Gurdwara Khalsa Darbar390 61st Avenue East
Vancouver BC - V5X 2B6Phone (604) 325-2290
Campus Security
Vancouver is one of the most livable cities in the world Although its crime rate is low still security is a concern
particularly against thefts UBC campus security is provided by the UBC patrol and RCMP (Royal Canadian
Mounted Police)
Campus security is located next to the UBC Bookstore Campus Security provides 24-hour assistance seven days a
week Call 604-822-2222 if you have a safety concern or an emergency situation For more information visit
wwwsecurityubcca
If you are walking alone late night or not too sure where to go and you can also take help of safety walk Safewalk
provides male and female student teams that will accompany anyone between points on campus free of charge Theservice runs throughout the school year and during the summer months You can book a walk by calling 604-822-
5355 dropping by the office in the SUB concourse or looking for the Safewalk patrollers in bright red jackets Visit
wwwamsubccasafewalk for hours and other information
Call 911 in case of emergency or have been the victim of crime Always give the location to the operator particularly
the building address Calls to 911 are received at a call centre in Downtown Vancouver and the operators may not
be familiar with the building names on campus
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1928
indiaubccom page 19 of 28
Blue Phones
Blue phones are located at various locations around the campus core Elevator phones in most building also provide
direct access to Campus Security
Campus Maps
You can download the UBC campus map from here
httpwwwstudentsubccacurrentdownloadcampusmap07pdf
You can search for locations on the UBC campus map at this site
httpwwwmapsubccaPRODindexphp
httpwwwstudentsubccacurrentcampuscfm
The on-campus residences map
httpwwwhousingubccarez_maprez_maphtm
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2028
indiaubccom page 20 of 28
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2128
indiaubccom page 21 of 28
Contact us
Email utsav_ubcyahoocom
Facebook httpwwwfacebookcomgroupphpgid=3220440131
Webpage httpwwwindiaubccom
YahoogroupUBC_bharatyahoogroupcom
To subscribe to our mailing list send a blank email to
ubc_bharat-subscribeyahoogroupscom
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2228
indiaubccom page 22 of 28
Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the inputs from the International Student Handbook 200910
published by International Student Development at UBC MITACS Globalink program Handbook and UTSAV website which were immensely helpful in compiling this information
handbook
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2328
indiaubccom page 23 of 28
Appendix
Things to pack
We Indian Student Association ndash UTSAV helps undergraduate and graduate students prospective and currentstudents throughtout their stay at UBC Please check the reminders section to make sure you do not forget important
documents while travelling
You should bring with you all your original transcripts degree certificate provisional certificate migration
certificate TOEFLGRE scores certificates birth certificate work experience certificate papers and publications
for which you have mentioned in your portfolio Sometimes the school may ask you to show them to validate or may
ask you to submit you originals Hence it would be safe if you keep them with you when you arrive here
In flight
1 Specify while you book your ticket regarding your food preferences especially when you are a strict vegetarian
Few flights do provide the service of providing Jain and Hindu meals in flight
2 Keep your hand baggage as light as possible because during transit you may have to walk long distances Try to
carry hand bags with trolley that would help you in easy transfer
Important Note
1 Make sure you carry your Indian Driving license this help you here while you apply for International Driving
LicensePermit
2 Try to carry 3-4 pairs of glasses (spares) with you and have an advance eye sight check up in India because here
these things are usually very expensive You anyway would have an eye check up during your Pre-Medical
Examination
3 A dental check up at least fifteen days in advance would be quite appropriate
4 Carry money as travelers cheques they are the safest and most convenient method of carrying money
What to Get and What Not
1 It will be great if you can get yourself the books you need here though we have very good library here which
would provide you with sufficient copies of each book of your requirement But see to it that carrying them you
arenrsquot exceeding your baggage weight limitations
2 If you are looking forward to cook Indian food at your place then bring along a Pressure Cooker and any flat
bottomed vessels
3 You can carry pulses rice Indian spices pickles etc with you but it is better if you donrsquot carry them with you as
we have many Indian grocery shops at Vancouver mainly at Fraser and Main Street Also there are some good
shops within campus where you can get all the above mentioned things
4 Get yourself sufficient stock of undergarments and socks as you might be washing clothes once every 10 days or
more
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2428
indiaubccom page 24 of 28
5 You should bring with yourself 1-2 umbrellas a raincoat or a wind-sheeter as it rains a lot here from October till
March
6 You would need warm clothes (a good winter jacket) as it is cold here except for 2-4 months in summer Good
sweaters preferably two woollen gloves mufflers and woollen caps thermal vest and long johns
7 Get all the stationary items like staplers punchers etc also a good alarm clock
8 Buy a good pair of walking shoe sports shoe formal shoe (all water-proof) as it rains a lot here and you might
have to walk a lot here
9 Donrsquot get along any electronic items here as the voltage is much lower than in India
10 And if you are still carrying then get yourself a Step-upStep-down voltage convertor This will prove a lot more
helpful here Make sure you are buying it for the correct Watt as for hair dryers you might have to go for 1800W
These convertors are available here as well but a bit more expensive
11 A good school bag a Visa folder (to hold cards) a walletpurses
12 Get some medicines which you think would be useful or any common health problems that you have You could
get some basic medicines for headache stomach ache indigestion fever etc
Baggage specifications
You should check this out with your concerned airlines preferably there website They would give you perfect
information on the weight and dimensional limitations It would be good if you can lock your baggage with TSA
locks
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2528
indiaubccom page 25 of 28
What should I bring from INDIA All the items mention ed below can be fo und easily in the city of Vancouver However the reason we have written them
is to remind you wh at to carry or buy here in case you forget This list is a checklist of items yo u migh t need here We
recommend you to buy mo st of the items fro m India because these items are very expensive in the city of Vancouver
Item Comments
A Clothes
1 Full Sleeve Shirts
2 Half Sleeve Shirts
3 Formal Trousers
4 Blazer (Informal) Suit (Formal) Suit Recommended
5 Tie
6 T-shirts
7 Jeans
8 Shorts Cargos Bermudas9 Belts
10 Traditional Highly Recommended for Indian events
11 Sweaters Recommended
12 Pyjamas Night Suit
13 Under Garments
14 Towels
15 Handkerchiefs used less here
16 Blanket (Light Weight) depends on your baggage (can buy here)
17 Single Bed Sheet
18 Bed Cover
19 Pillow Cover
20 Woolen Gloves Leather amp wool (Highly Recommended)21 Jacket Optional (can buy here)
22 Thermal Innerwear Long johns Required in winter
23 CapsToques Optional
24 Swimwear Expensive here
B Footwear
1 Chappals Sandals Traditional Footwear
2 Slippers Flotters
3 Formal Black Leather Shoes
4 Casual Sport Shoes
5 Shoe Polish for Formal Shoes
6 Shoe Polishing Brush
7 Socks (black for formal shoes)
8 Socks (White) Cheaply Available here
C Miscellaneous Items
1 Glasses Contact Lenses Must (Optics very expensive here)
2 Contact Lenses Solution Check for yourself
3 Stitching Kit
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2628
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2728
indiaubccom page 27 of 28
G Stationary
1 School Bag A Little Expensive here
2 Ball Point Pen For initial use
3 Refils
4 BondedClutch Pencils
5 Sharpener
6 Eraser Pencil
7 Clutch Pencil (05 mm)
8 Lead Box (05 mm)
9 Steel Scale 6 Optional
10 Stapler Donrsquot forget these
11 Stapler Pins Box
12 Punch Please donrsquot bring 3 holes punch required here
13 Scientific Calculator Replace the batteries without fail
14 Cello Tapes Optional
15 Glue Stick Glue Optional
16 Sketch Pen Optional
17 Note books Papers Files Folders Do not bring
H Books (apart from course-work)
1 Oxford Concise Dictionary
2 Books about India Optional
3 Religious Books Optional
I Medicines (optional)
1 Vicks (Vaporub amp Inhaler)
2 Balm (Amrutanjan etc)
3 Iodex
4 Dettol
5 Band-Aid (wash proof)6 Burnol
7 Painkiller tabs like Combiflam Brufen
8 Drugs amp Antibiotics (fever amp cold etc)
9 Vaseline Especially for people coming in winter
J Documents
1 Recent Photographs Negatives
2 General Photographs
3 Passport Photocopies
4 Admission
5 VISA photocopies
6 Credentials Transcripts
7 Recommendation SOP
8 GRE TOEFL Score Sheet
9 Medical Fitness Certificate
10 Medical Prescription of all medicines
11 College Leaving Certificate
12 Traveller cheques
13 Enough Money-Cash with some change
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2828
Compiled by C P Sha r m a ( Cheenu ) 201 0 - 11 W eb admin and New s let t e r Ed i to r
Valuable contributions from
UTSAV execu t i ve team 2010 - 11
Sr in iv as Ram an Harshu l Sr iv as tava Rashm i Bhadaur ia
An i r uddha Cha t t e r j ee Sw iya Na th Tab i ta Ve r m a amp Sneha She th s tuden t s ove r the
yea r s and o the r ex t e r na l agenc ies
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1828
indiaubccom page 18 of 28
Burnaby BC - V5J 4N3
Babbar Khalsa Dal4767 Union Street
Burnaby British ColumbiaTel (604) 376 1749
Cloverdale Sikh Society5748 175 Street
Surrey BC - V3S 4T7 (604) 574-7594
Gurdwara Sahib DasmeshDarbar
115-12885 85 AvenueSurrey BC - V3W 0K8
(604) 594-2573
Khalsa Darbar61st and Prince Edward Street
Vancouver BCPhone 604-325-2290
Gurdwara Khalsa Darbar390 61st Avenue East
Vancouver BC - V5X 2B6Phone (604) 325-2290
Campus Security
Vancouver is one of the most livable cities in the world Although its crime rate is low still security is a concern
particularly against thefts UBC campus security is provided by the UBC patrol and RCMP (Royal Canadian
Mounted Police)
Campus security is located next to the UBC Bookstore Campus Security provides 24-hour assistance seven days a
week Call 604-822-2222 if you have a safety concern or an emergency situation For more information visit
wwwsecurityubcca
If you are walking alone late night or not too sure where to go and you can also take help of safety walk Safewalk
provides male and female student teams that will accompany anyone between points on campus free of charge Theservice runs throughout the school year and during the summer months You can book a walk by calling 604-822-
5355 dropping by the office in the SUB concourse or looking for the Safewalk patrollers in bright red jackets Visit
wwwamsubccasafewalk for hours and other information
Call 911 in case of emergency or have been the victim of crime Always give the location to the operator particularly
the building address Calls to 911 are received at a call centre in Downtown Vancouver and the operators may not
be familiar with the building names on campus
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1928
indiaubccom page 19 of 28
Blue Phones
Blue phones are located at various locations around the campus core Elevator phones in most building also provide
direct access to Campus Security
Campus Maps
You can download the UBC campus map from here
httpwwwstudentsubccacurrentdownloadcampusmap07pdf
You can search for locations on the UBC campus map at this site
httpwwwmapsubccaPRODindexphp
httpwwwstudentsubccacurrentcampuscfm
The on-campus residences map
httpwwwhousingubccarez_maprez_maphtm
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2028
indiaubccom page 20 of 28
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2128
indiaubccom page 21 of 28
Contact us
Email utsav_ubcyahoocom
Facebook httpwwwfacebookcomgroupphpgid=3220440131
Webpage httpwwwindiaubccom
YahoogroupUBC_bharatyahoogroupcom
To subscribe to our mailing list send a blank email to
ubc_bharat-subscribeyahoogroupscom
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2228
indiaubccom page 22 of 28
Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the inputs from the International Student Handbook 200910
published by International Student Development at UBC MITACS Globalink program Handbook and UTSAV website which were immensely helpful in compiling this information
handbook
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2328
indiaubccom page 23 of 28
Appendix
Things to pack
We Indian Student Association ndash UTSAV helps undergraduate and graduate students prospective and currentstudents throughtout their stay at UBC Please check the reminders section to make sure you do not forget important
documents while travelling
You should bring with you all your original transcripts degree certificate provisional certificate migration
certificate TOEFLGRE scores certificates birth certificate work experience certificate papers and publications
for which you have mentioned in your portfolio Sometimes the school may ask you to show them to validate or may
ask you to submit you originals Hence it would be safe if you keep them with you when you arrive here
In flight
1 Specify while you book your ticket regarding your food preferences especially when you are a strict vegetarian
Few flights do provide the service of providing Jain and Hindu meals in flight
2 Keep your hand baggage as light as possible because during transit you may have to walk long distances Try to
carry hand bags with trolley that would help you in easy transfer
Important Note
1 Make sure you carry your Indian Driving license this help you here while you apply for International Driving
LicensePermit
2 Try to carry 3-4 pairs of glasses (spares) with you and have an advance eye sight check up in India because here
these things are usually very expensive You anyway would have an eye check up during your Pre-Medical
Examination
3 A dental check up at least fifteen days in advance would be quite appropriate
4 Carry money as travelers cheques they are the safest and most convenient method of carrying money
What to Get and What Not
1 It will be great if you can get yourself the books you need here though we have very good library here which
would provide you with sufficient copies of each book of your requirement But see to it that carrying them you
arenrsquot exceeding your baggage weight limitations
2 If you are looking forward to cook Indian food at your place then bring along a Pressure Cooker and any flat
bottomed vessels
3 You can carry pulses rice Indian spices pickles etc with you but it is better if you donrsquot carry them with you as
we have many Indian grocery shops at Vancouver mainly at Fraser and Main Street Also there are some good
shops within campus where you can get all the above mentioned things
4 Get yourself sufficient stock of undergarments and socks as you might be washing clothes once every 10 days or
more
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2428
indiaubccom page 24 of 28
5 You should bring with yourself 1-2 umbrellas a raincoat or a wind-sheeter as it rains a lot here from October till
March
6 You would need warm clothes (a good winter jacket) as it is cold here except for 2-4 months in summer Good
sweaters preferably two woollen gloves mufflers and woollen caps thermal vest and long johns
7 Get all the stationary items like staplers punchers etc also a good alarm clock
8 Buy a good pair of walking shoe sports shoe formal shoe (all water-proof) as it rains a lot here and you might
have to walk a lot here
9 Donrsquot get along any electronic items here as the voltage is much lower than in India
10 And if you are still carrying then get yourself a Step-upStep-down voltage convertor This will prove a lot more
helpful here Make sure you are buying it for the correct Watt as for hair dryers you might have to go for 1800W
These convertors are available here as well but a bit more expensive
11 A good school bag a Visa folder (to hold cards) a walletpurses
12 Get some medicines which you think would be useful or any common health problems that you have You could
get some basic medicines for headache stomach ache indigestion fever etc
Baggage specifications
You should check this out with your concerned airlines preferably there website They would give you perfect
information on the weight and dimensional limitations It would be good if you can lock your baggage with TSA
locks
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2528
indiaubccom page 25 of 28
What should I bring from INDIA All the items mention ed below can be fo und easily in the city of Vancouver However the reason we have written them
is to remind you wh at to carry or buy here in case you forget This list is a checklist of items yo u migh t need here We
recommend you to buy mo st of the items fro m India because these items are very expensive in the city of Vancouver
Item Comments
A Clothes
1 Full Sleeve Shirts
2 Half Sleeve Shirts
3 Formal Trousers
4 Blazer (Informal) Suit (Formal) Suit Recommended
5 Tie
6 T-shirts
7 Jeans
8 Shorts Cargos Bermudas9 Belts
10 Traditional Highly Recommended for Indian events
11 Sweaters Recommended
12 Pyjamas Night Suit
13 Under Garments
14 Towels
15 Handkerchiefs used less here
16 Blanket (Light Weight) depends on your baggage (can buy here)
17 Single Bed Sheet
18 Bed Cover
19 Pillow Cover
20 Woolen Gloves Leather amp wool (Highly Recommended)21 Jacket Optional (can buy here)
22 Thermal Innerwear Long johns Required in winter
23 CapsToques Optional
24 Swimwear Expensive here
B Footwear
1 Chappals Sandals Traditional Footwear
2 Slippers Flotters
3 Formal Black Leather Shoes
4 Casual Sport Shoes
5 Shoe Polish for Formal Shoes
6 Shoe Polishing Brush
7 Socks (black for formal shoes)
8 Socks (White) Cheaply Available here
C Miscellaneous Items
1 Glasses Contact Lenses Must (Optics very expensive here)
2 Contact Lenses Solution Check for yourself
3 Stitching Kit
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2628
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2728
indiaubccom page 27 of 28
G Stationary
1 School Bag A Little Expensive here
2 Ball Point Pen For initial use
3 Refils
4 BondedClutch Pencils
5 Sharpener
6 Eraser Pencil
7 Clutch Pencil (05 mm)
8 Lead Box (05 mm)
9 Steel Scale 6 Optional
10 Stapler Donrsquot forget these
11 Stapler Pins Box
12 Punch Please donrsquot bring 3 holes punch required here
13 Scientific Calculator Replace the batteries without fail
14 Cello Tapes Optional
15 Glue Stick Glue Optional
16 Sketch Pen Optional
17 Note books Papers Files Folders Do not bring
H Books (apart from course-work)
1 Oxford Concise Dictionary
2 Books about India Optional
3 Religious Books Optional
I Medicines (optional)
1 Vicks (Vaporub amp Inhaler)
2 Balm (Amrutanjan etc)
3 Iodex
4 Dettol
5 Band-Aid (wash proof)6 Burnol
7 Painkiller tabs like Combiflam Brufen
8 Drugs amp Antibiotics (fever amp cold etc)
9 Vaseline Especially for people coming in winter
J Documents
1 Recent Photographs Negatives
2 General Photographs
3 Passport Photocopies
4 Admission
5 VISA photocopies
6 Credentials Transcripts
7 Recommendation SOP
8 GRE TOEFL Score Sheet
9 Medical Fitness Certificate
10 Medical Prescription of all medicines
11 College Leaving Certificate
12 Traveller cheques
13 Enough Money-Cash with some change
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2828
Compiled by C P Sha r m a ( Cheenu ) 201 0 - 11 W eb admin and New s let t e r Ed i to r
Valuable contributions from
UTSAV execu t i ve team 2010 - 11
Sr in iv as Ram an Harshu l Sr iv as tava Rashm i Bhadaur ia
An i r uddha Cha t t e r j ee Sw iya Na th Tab i ta Ve r m a amp Sneha She th s tuden t s ove r the
yea r s and o the r ex t e r na l agenc ies
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 1928
indiaubccom page 19 of 28
Blue Phones
Blue phones are located at various locations around the campus core Elevator phones in most building also provide
direct access to Campus Security
Campus Maps
You can download the UBC campus map from here
httpwwwstudentsubccacurrentdownloadcampusmap07pdf
You can search for locations on the UBC campus map at this site
httpwwwmapsubccaPRODindexphp
httpwwwstudentsubccacurrentcampuscfm
The on-campus residences map
httpwwwhousingubccarez_maprez_maphtm
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2028
indiaubccom page 20 of 28
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2128
indiaubccom page 21 of 28
Contact us
Email utsav_ubcyahoocom
Facebook httpwwwfacebookcomgroupphpgid=3220440131
Webpage httpwwwindiaubccom
YahoogroupUBC_bharatyahoogroupcom
To subscribe to our mailing list send a blank email to
ubc_bharat-subscribeyahoogroupscom
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2228
indiaubccom page 22 of 28
Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the inputs from the International Student Handbook 200910
published by International Student Development at UBC MITACS Globalink program Handbook and UTSAV website which were immensely helpful in compiling this information
handbook
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2328
indiaubccom page 23 of 28
Appendix
Things to pack
We Indian Student Association ndash UTSAV helps undergraduate and graduate students prospective and currentstudents throughtout their stay at UBC Please check the reminders section to make sure you do not forget important
documents while travelling
You should bring with you all your original transcripts degree certificate provisional certificate migration
certificate TOEFLGRE scores certificates birth certificate work experience certificate papers and publications
for which you have mentioned in your portfolio Sometimes the school may ask you to show them to validate or may
ask you to submit you originals Hence it would be safe if you keep them with you when you arrive here
In flight
1 Specify while you book your ticket regarding your food preferences especially when you are a strict vegetarian
Few flights do provide the service of providing Jain and Hindu meals in flight
2 Keep your hand baggage as light as possible because during transit you may have to walk long distances Try to
carry hand bags with trolley that would help you in easy transfer
Important Note
1 Make sure you carry your Indian Driving license this help you here while you apply for International Driving
LicensePermit
2 Try to carry 3-4 pairs of glasses (spares) with you and have an advance eye sight check up in India because here
these things are usually very expensive You anyway would have an eye check up during your Pre-Medical
Examination
3 A dental check up at least fifteen days in advance would be quite appropriate
4 Carry money as travelers cheques they are the safest and most convenient method of carrying money
What to Get and What Not
1 It will be great if you can get yourself the books you need here though we have very good library here which
would provide you with sufficient copies of each book of your requirement But see to it that carrying them you
arenrsquot exceeding your baggage weight limitations
2 If you are looking forward to cook Indian food at your place then bring along a Pressure Cooker and any flat
bottomed vessels
3 You can carry pulses rice Indian spices pickles etc with you but it is better if you donrsquot carry them with you as
we have many Indian grocery shops at Vancouver mainly at Fraser and Main Street Also there are some good
shops within campus where you can get all the above mentioned things
4 Get yourself sufficient stock of undergarments and socks as you might be washing clothes once every 10 days or
more
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2428
indiaubccom page 24 of 28
5 You should bring with yourself 1-2 umbrellas a raincoat or a wind-sheeter as it rains a lot here from October till
March
6 You would need warm clothes (a good winter jacket) as it is cold here except for 2-4 months in summer Good
sweaters preferably two woollen gloves mufflers and woollen caps thermal vest and long johns
7 Get all the stationary items like staplers punchers etc also a good alarm clock
8 Buy a good pair of walking shoe sports shoe formal shoe (all water-proof) as it rains a lot here and you might
have to walk a lot here
9 Donrsquot get along any electronic items here as the voltage is much lower than in India
10 And if you are still carrying then get yourself a Step-upStep-down voltage convertor This will prove a lot more
helpful here Make sure you are buying it for the correct Watt as for hair dryers you might have to go for 1800W
These convertors are available here as well but a bit more expensive
11 A good school bag a Visa folder (to hold cards) a walletpurses
12 Get some medicines which you think would be useful or any common health problems that you have You could
get some basic medicines for headache stomach ache indigestion fever etc
Baggage specifications
You should check this out with your concerned airlines preferably there website They would give you perfect
information on the weight and dimensional limitations It would be good if you can lock your baggage with TSA
locks
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2528
indiaubccom page 25 of 28
What should I bring from INDIA All the items mention ed below can be fo und easily in the city of Vancouver However the reason we have written them
is to remind you wh at to carry or buy here in case you forget This list is a checklist of items yo u migh t need here We
recommend you to buy mo st of the items fro m India because these items are very expensive in the city of Vancouver
Item Comments
A Clothes
1 Full Sleeve Shirts
2 Half Sleeve Shirts
3 Formal Trousers
4 Blazer (Informal) Suit (Formal) Suit Recommended
5 Tie
6 T-shirts
7 Jeans
8 Shorts Cargos Bermudas9 Belts
10 Traditional Highly Recommended for Indian events
11 Sweaters Recommended
12 Pyjamas Night Suit
13 Under Garments
14 Towels
15 Handkerchiefs used less here
16 Blanket (Light Weight) depends on your baggage (can buy here)
17 Single Bed Sheet
18 Bed Cover
19 Pillow Cover
20 Woolen Gloves Leather amp wool (Highly Recommended)21 Jacket Optional (can buy here)
22 Thermal Innerwear Long johns Required in winter
23 CapsToques Optional
24 Swimwear Expensive here
B Footwear
1 Chappals Sandals Traditional Footwear
2 Slippers Flotters
3 Formal Black Leather Shoes
4 Casual Sport Shoes
5 Shoe Polish for Formal Shoes
6 Shoe Polishing Brush
7 Socks (black for formal shoes)
8 Socks (White) Cheaply Available here
C Miscellaneous Items
1 Glasses Contact Lenses Must (Optics very expensive here)
2 Contact Lenses Solution Check for yourself
3 Stitching Kit
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2628
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2728
indiaubccom page 27 of 28
G Stationary
1 School Bag A Little Expensive here
2 Ball Point Pen For initial use
3 Refils
4 BondedClutch Pencils
5 Sharpener
6 Eraser Pencil
7 Clutch Pencil (05 mm)
8 Lead Box (05 mm)
9 Steel Scale 6 Optional
10 Stapler Donrsquot forget these
11 Stapler Pins Box
12 Punch Please donrsquot bring 3 holes punch required here
13 Scientific Calculator Replace the batteries without fail
14 Cello Tapes Optional
15 Glue Stick Glue Optional
16 Sketch Pen Optional
17 Note books Papers Files Folders Do not bring
H Books (apart from course-work)
1 Oxford Concise Dictionary
2 Books about India Optional
3 Religious Books Optional
I Medicines (optional)
1 Vicks (Vaporub amp Inhaler)
2 Balm (Amrutanjan etc)
3 Iodex
4 Dettol
5 Band-Aid (wash proof)6 Burnol
7 Painkiller tabs like Combiflam Brufen
8 Drugs amp Antibiotics (fever amp cold etc)
9 Vaseline Especially for people coming in winter
J Documents
1 Recent Photographs Negatives
2 General Photographs
3 Passport Photocopies
4 Admission
5 VISA photocopies
6 Credentials Transcripts
7 Recommendation SOP
8 GRE TOEFL Score Sheet
9 Medical Fitness Certificate
10 Medical Prescription of all medicines
11 College Leaving Certificate
12 Traveller cheques
13 Enough Money-Cash with some change
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2828
Compiled by C P Sha r m a ( Cheenu ) 201 0 - 11 W eb admin and New s let t e r Ed i to r
Valuable contributions from
UTSAV execu t i ve team 2010 - 11
Sr in iv as Ram an Harshu l Sr iv as tava Rashm i Bhadaur ia
An i r uddha Cha t t e r j ee Sw iya Na th Tab i ta Ve r m a amp Sneha She th s tuden t s ove r the
yea r s and o the r ex t e r na l agenc ies
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2028
indiaubccom page 20 of 28
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2128
indiaubccom page 21 of 28
Contact us
Email utsav_ubcyahoocom
Facebook httpwwwfacebookcomgroupphpgid=3220440131
Webpage httpwwwindiaubccom
YahoogroupUBC_bharatyahoogroupcom
To subscribe to our mailing list send a blank email to
ubc_bharat-subscribeyahoogroupscom
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2228
indiaubccom page 22 of 28
Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the inputs from the International Student Handbook 200910
published by International Student Development at UBC MITACS Globalink program Handbook and UTSAV website which were immensely helpful in compiling this information
handbook
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2328
indiaubccom page 23 of 28
Appendix
Things to pack
We Indian Student Association ndash UTSAV helps undergraduate and graduate students prospective and currentstudents throughtout their stay at UBC Please check the reminders section to make sure you do not forget important
documents while travelling
You should bring with you all your original transcripts degree certificate provisional certificate migration
certificate TOEFLGRE scores certificates birth certificate work experience certificate papers and publications
for which you have mentioned in your portfolio Sometimes the school may ask you to show them to validate or may
ask you to submit you originals Hence it would be safe if you keep them with you when you arrive here
In flight
1 Specify while you book your ticket regarding your food preferences especially when you are a strict vegetarian
Few flights do provide the service of providing Jain and Hindu meals in flight
2 Keep your hand baggage as light as possible because during transit you may have to walk long distances Try to
carry hand bags with trolley that would help you in easy transfer
Important Note
1 Make sure you carry your Indian Driving license this help you here while you apply for International Driving
LicensePermit
2 Try to carry 3-4 pairs of glasses (spares) with you and have an advance eye sight check up in India because here
these things are usually very expensive You anyway would have an eye check up during your Pre-Medical
Examination
3 A dental check up at least fifteen days in advance would be quite appropriate
4 Carry money as travelers cheques they are the safest and most convenient method of carrying money
What to Get and What Not
1 It will be great if you can get yourself the books you need here though we have very good library here which
would provide you with sufficient copies of each book of your requirement But see to it that carrying them you
arenrsquot exceeding your baggage weight limitations
2 If you are looking forward to cook Indian food at your place then bring along a Pressure Cooker and any flat
bottomed vessels
3 You can carry pulses rice Indian spices pickles etc with you but it is better if you donrsquot carry them with you as
we have many Indian grocery shops at Vancouver mainly at Fraser and Main Street Also there are some good
shops within campus where you can get all the above mentioned things
4 Get yourself sufficient stock of undergarments and socks as you might be washing clothes once every 10 days or
more
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2428
indiaubccom page 24 of 28
5 You should bring with yourself 1-2 umbrellas a raincoat or a wind-sheeter as it rains a lot here from October till
March
6 You would need warm clothes (a good winter jacket) as it is cold here except for 2-4 months in summer Good
sweaters preferably two woollen gloves mufflers and woollen caps thermal vest and long johns
7 Get all the stationary items like staplers punchers etc also a good alarm clock
8 Buy a good pair of walking shoe sports shoe formal shoe (all water-proof) as it rains a lot here and you might
have to walk a lot here
9 Donrsquot get along any electronic items here as the voltage is much lower than in India
10 And if you are still carrying then get yourself a Step-upStep-down voltage convertor This will prove a lot more
helpful here Make sure you are buying it for the correct Watt as for hair dryers you might have to go for 1800W
These convertors are available here as well but a bit more expensive
11 A good school bag a Visa folder (to hold cards) a walletpurses
12 Get some medicines which you think would be useful or any common health problems that you have You could
get some basic medicines for headache stomach ache indigestion fever etc
Baggage specifications
You should check this out with your concerned airlines preferably there website They would give you perfect
information on the weight and dimensional limitations It would be good if you can lock your baggage with TSA
locks
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2528
indiaubccom page 25 of 28
What should I bring from INDIA All the items mention ed below can be fo und easily in the city of Vancouver However the reason we have written them
is to remind you wh at to carry or buy here in case you forget This list is a checklist of items yo u migh t need here We
recommend you to buy mo st of the items fro m India because these items are very expensive in the city of Vancouver
Item Comments
A Clothes
1 Full Sleeve Shirts
2 Half Sleeve Shirts
3 Formal Trousers
4 Blazer (Informal) Suit (Formal) Suit Recommended
5 Tie
6 T-shirts
7 Jeans
8 Shorts Cargos Bermudas9 Belts
10 Traditional Highly Recommended for Indian events
11 Sweaters Recommended
12 Pyjamas Night Suit
13 Under Garments
14 Towels
15 Handkerchiefs used less here
16 Blanket (Light Weight) depends on your baggage (can buy here)
17 Single Bed Sheet
18 Bed Cover
19 Pillow Cover
20 Woolen Gloves Leather amp wool (Highly Recommended)21 Jacket Optional (can buy here)
22 Thermal Innerwear Long johns Required in winter
23 CapsToques Optional
24 Swimwear Expensive here
B Footwear
1 Chappals Sandals Traditional Footwear
2 Slippers Flotters
3 Formal Black Leather Shoes
4 Casual Sport Shoes
5 Shoe Polish for Formal Shoes
6 Shoe Polishing Brush
7 Socks (black for formal shoes)
8 Socks (White) Cheaply Available here
C Miscellaneous Items
1 Glasses Contact Lenses Must (Optics very expensive here)
2 Contact Lenses Solution Check for yourself
3 Stitching Kit
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2628
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2728
indiaubccom page 27 of 28
G Stationary
1 School Bag A Little Expensive here
2 Ball Point Pen For initial use
3 Refils
4 BondedClutch Pencils
5 Sharpener
6 Eraser Pencil
7 Clutch Pencil (05 mm)
8 Lead Box (05 mm)
9 Steel Scale 6 Optional
10 Stapler Donrsquot forget these
11 Stapler Pins Box
12 Punch Please donrsquot bring 3 holes punch required here
13 Scientific Calculator Replace the batteries without fail
14 Cello Tapes Optional
15 Glue Stick Glue Optional
16 Sketch Pen Optional
17 Note books Papers Files Folders Do not bring
H Books (apart from course-work)
1 Oxford Concise Dictionary
2 Books about India Optional
3 Religious Books Optional
I Medicines (optional)
1 Vicks (Vaporub amp Inhaler)
2 Balm (Amrutanjan etc)
3 Iodex
4 Dettol
5 Band-Aid (wash proof)6 Burnol
7 Painkiller tabs like Combiflam Brufen
8 Drugs amp Antibiotics (fever amp cold etc)
9 Vaseline Especially for people coming in winter
J Documents
1 Recent Photographs Negatives
2 General Photographs
3 Passport Photocopies
4 Admission
5 VISA photocopies
6 Credentials Transcripts
7 Recommendation SOP
8 GRE TOEFL Score Sheet
9 Medical Fitness Certificate
10 Medical Prescription of all medicines
11 College Leaving Certificate
12 Traveller cheques
13 Enough Money-Cash with some change
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2828
Compiled by C P Sha r m a ( Cheenu ) 201 0 - 11 W eb admin and New s let t e r Ed i to r
Valuable contributions from
UTSAV execu t i ve team 2010 - 11
Sr in iv as Ram an Harshu l Sr iv as tava Rashm i Bhadaur ia
An i r uddha Cha t t e r j ee Sw iya Na th Tab i ta Ve r m a amp Sneha She th s tuden t s ove r the
yea r s and o the r ex t e r na l agenc ies
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2128
indiaubccom page 21 of 28
Contact us
Email utsav_ubcyahoocom
Facebook httpwwwfacebookcomgroupphpgid=3220440131
Webpage httpwwwindiaubccom
YahoogroupUBC_bharatyahoogroupcom
To subscribe to our mailing list send a blank email to
ubc_bharat-subscribeyahoogroupscom
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2228
indiaubccom page 22 of 28
Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the inputs from the International Student Handbook 200910
published by International Student Development at UBC MITACS Globalink program Handbook and UTSAV website which were immensely helpful in compiling this information
handbook
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2328
indiaubccom page 23 of 28
Appendix
Things to pack
We Indian Student Association ndash UTSAV helps undergraduate and graduate students prospective and currentstudents throughtout their stay at UBC Please check the reminders section to make sure you do not forget important
documents while travelling
You should bring with you all your original transcripts degree certificate provisional certificate migration
certificate TOEFLGRE scores certificates birth certificate work experience certificate papers and publications
for which you have mentioned in your portfolio Sometimes the school may ask you to show them to validate or may
ask you to submit you originals Hence it would be safe if you keep them with you when you arrive here
In flight
1 Specify while you book your ticket regarding your food preferences especially when you are a strict vegetarian
Few flights do provide the service of providing Jain and Hindu meals in flight
2 Keep your hand baggage as light as possible because during transit you may have to walk long distances Try to
carry hand bags with trolley that would help you in easy transfer
Important Note
1 Make sure you carry your Indian Driving license this help you here while you apply for International Driving
LicensePermit
2 Try to carry 3-4 pairs of glasses (spares) with you and have an advance eye sight check up in India because here
these things are usually very expensive You anyway would have an eye check up during your Pre-Medical
Examination
3 A dental check up at least fifteen days in advance would be quite appropriate
4 Carry money as travelers cheques they are the safest and most convenient method of carrying money
What to Get and What Not
1 It will be great if you can get yourself the books you need here though we have very good library here which
would provide you with sufficient copies of each book of your requirement But see to it that carrying them you
arenrsquot exceeding your baggage weight limitations
2 If you are looking forward to cook Indian food at your place then bring along a Pressure Cooker and any flat
bottomed vessels
3 You can carry pulses rice Indian spices pickles etc with you but it is better if you donrsquot carry them with you as
we have many Indian grocery shops at Vancouver mainly at Fraser and Main Street Also there are some good
shops within campus where you can get all the above mentioned things
4 Get yourself sufficient stock of undergarments and socks as you might be washing clothes once every 10 days or
more
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2428
indiaubccom page 24 of 28
5 You should bring with yourself 1-2 umbrellas a raincoat or a wind-sheeter as it rains a lot here from October till
March
6 You would need warm clothes (a good winter jacket) as it is cold here except for 2-4 months in summer Good
sweaters preferably two woollen gloves mufflers and woollen caps thermal vest and long johns
7 Get all the stationary items like staplers punchers etc also a good alarm clock
8 Buy a good pair of walking shoe sports shoe formal shoe (all water-proof) as it rains a lot here and you might
have to walk a lot here
9 Donrsquot get along any electronic items here as the voltage is much lower than in India
10 And if you are still carrying then get yourself a Step-upStep-down voltage convertor This will prove a lot more
helpful here Make sure you are buying it for the correct Watt as for hair dryers you might have to go for 1800W
These convertors are available here as well but a bit more expensive
11 A good school bag a Visa folder (to hold cards) a walletpurses
12 Get some medicines which you think would be useful or any common health problems that you have You could
get some basic medicines for headache stomach ache indigestion fever etc
Baggage specifications
You should check this out with your concerned airlines preferably there website They would give you perfect
information on the weight and dimensional limitations It would be good if you can lock your baggage with TSA
locks
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2528
indiaubccom page 25 of 28
What should I bring from INDIA All the items mention ed below can be fo und easily in the city of Vancouver However the reason we have written them
is to remind you wh at to carry or buy here in case you forget This list is a checklist of items yo u migh t need here We
recommend you to buy mo st of the items fro m India because these items are very expensive in the city of Vancouver
Item Comments
A Clothes
1 Full Sleeve Shirts
2 Half Sleeve Shirts
3 Formal Trousers
4 Blazer (Informal) Suit (Formal) Suit Recommended
5 Tie
6 T-shirts
7 Jeans
8 Shorts Cargos Bermudas9 Belts
10 Traditional Highly Recommended for Indian events
11 Sweaters Recommended
12 Pyjamas Night Suit
13 Under Garments
14 Towels
15 Handkerchiefs used less here
16 Blanket (Light Weight) depends on your baggage (can buy here)
17 Single Bed Sheet
18 Bed Cover
19 Pillow Cover
20 Woolen Gloves Leather amp wool (Highly Recommended)21 Jacket Optional (can buy here)
22 Thermal Innerwear Long johns Required in winter
23 CapsToques Optional
24 Swimwear Expensive here
B Footwear
1 Chappals Sandals Traditional Footwear
2 Slippers Flotters
3 Formal Black Leather Shoes
4 Casual Sport Shoes
5 Shoe Polish for Formal Shoes
6 Shoe Polishing Brush
7 Socks (black for formal shoes)
8 Socks (White) Cheaply Available here
C Miscellaneous Items
1 Glasses Contact Lenses Must (Optics very expensive here)
2 Contact Lenses Solution Check for yourself
3 Stitching Kit
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2628
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2728
indiaubccom page 27 of 28
G Stationary
1 School Bag A Little Expensive here
2 Ball Point Pen For initial use
3 Refils
4 BondedClutch Pencils
5 Sharpener
6 Eraser Pencil
7 Clutch Pencil (05 mm)
8 Lead Box (05 mm)
9 Steel Scale 6 Optional
10 Stapler Donrsquot forget these
11 Stapler Pins Box
12 Punch Please donrsquot bring 3 holes punch required here
13 Scientific Calculator Replace the batteries without fail
14 Cello Tapes Optional
15 Glue Stick Glue Optional
16 Sketch Pen Optional
17 Note books Papers Files Folders Do not bring
H Books (apart from course-work)
1 Oxford Concise Dictionary
2 Books about India Optional
3 Religious Books Optional
I Medicines (optional)
1 Vicks (Vaporub amp Inhaler)
2 Balm (Amrutanjan etc)
3 Iodex
4 Dettol
5 Band-Aid (wash proof)6 Burnol
7 Painkiller tabs like Combiflam Brufen
8 Drugs amp Antibiotics (fever amp cold etc)
9 Vaseline Especially for people coming in winter
J Documents
1 Recent Photographs Negatives
2 General Photographs
3 Passport Photocopies
4 Admission
5 VISA photocopies
6 Credentials Transcripts
7 Recommendation SOP
8 GRE TOEFL Score Sheet
9 Medical Fitness Certificate
10 Medical Prescription of all medicines
11 College Leaving Certificate
12 Traveller cheques
13 Enough Money-Cash with some change
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2828
Compiled by C P Sha r m a ( Cheenu ) 201 0 - 11 W eb admin and New s let t e r Ed i to r
Valuable contributions from
UTSAV execu t i ve team 2010 - 11
Sr in iv as Ram an Harshu l Sr iv as tava Rashm i Bhadaur ia
An i r uddha Cha t t e r j ee Sw iya Na th Tab i ta Ve r m a amp Sneha She th s tuden t s ove r the
yea r s and o the r ex t e r na l agenc ies
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2228
indiaubccom page 22 of 28
Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the inputs from the International Student Handbook 200910
published by International Student Development at UBC MITACS Globalink program Handbook and UTSAV website which were immensely helpful in compiling this information
handbook
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2328
indiaubccom page 23 of 28
Appendix
Things to pack
We Indian Student Association ndash UTSAV helps undergraduate and graduate students prospective and currentstudents throughtout their stay at UBC Please check the reminders section to make sure you do not forget important
documents while travelling
You should bring with you all your original transcripts degree certificate provisional certificate migration
certificate TOEFLGRE scores certificates birth certificate work experience certificate papers and publications
for which you have mentioned in your portfolio Sometimes the school may ask you to show them to validate or may
ask you to submit you originals Hence it would be safe if you keep them with you when you arrive here
In flight
1 Specify while you book your ticket regarding your food preferences especially when you are a strict vegetarian
Few flights do provide the service of providing Jain and Hindu meals in flight
2 Keep your hand baggage as light as possible because during transit you may have to walk long distances Try to
carry hand bags with trolley that would help you in easy transfer
Important Note
1 Make sure you carry your Indian Driving license this help you here while you apply for International Driving
LicensePermit
2 Try to carry 3-4 pairs of glasses (spares) with you and have an advance eye sight check up in India because here
these things are usually very expensive You anyway would have an eye check up during your Pre-Medical
Examination
3 A dental check up at least fifteen days in advance would be quite appropriate
4 Carry money as travelers cheques they are the safest and most convenient method of carrying money
What to Get and What Not
1 It will be great if you can get yourself the books you need here though we have very good library here which
would provide you with sufficient copies of each book of your requirement But see to it that carrying them you
arenrsquot exceeding your baggage weight limitations
2 If you are looking forward to cook Indian food at your place then bring along a Pressure Cooker and any flat
bottomed vessels
3 You can carry pulses rice Indian spices pickles etc with you but it is better if you donrsquot carry them with you as
we have many Indian grocery shops at Vancouver mainly at Fraser and Main Street Also there are some good
shops within campus where you can get all the above mentioned things
4 Get yourself sufficient stock of undergarments and socks as you might be washing clothes once every 10 days or
more
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2428
indiaubccom page 24 of 28
5 You should bring with yourself 1-2 umbrellas a raincoat or a wind-sheeter as it rains a lot here from October till
March
6 You would need warm clothes (a good winter jacket) as it is cold here except for 2-4 months in summer Good
sweaters preferably two woollen gloves mufflers and woollen caps thermal vest and long johns
7 Get all the stationary items like staplers punchers etc also a good alarm clock
8 Buy a good pair of walking shoe sports shoe formal shoe (all water-proof) as it rains a lot here and you might
have to walk a lot here
9 Donrsquot get along any electronic items here as the voltage is much lower than in India
10 And if you are still carrying then get yourself a Step-upStep-down voltage convertor This will prove a lot more
helpful here Make sure you are buying it for the correct Watt as for hair dryers you might have to go for 1800W
These convertors are available here as well but a bit more expensive
11 A good school bag a Visa folder (to hold cards) a walletpurses
12 Get some medicines which you think would be useful or any common health problems that you have You could
get some basic medicines for headache stomach ache indigestion fever etc
Baggage specifications
You should check this out with your concerned airlines preferably there website They would give you perfect
information on the weight and dimensional limitations It would be good if you can lock your baggage with TSA
locks
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2528
indiaubccom page 25 of 28
What should I bring from INDIA All the items mention ed below can be fo und easily in the city of Vancouver However the reason we have written them
is to remind you wh at to carry or buy here in case you forget This list is a checklist of items yo u migh t need here We
recommend you to buy mo st of the items fro m India because these items are very expensive in the city of Vancouver
Item Comments
A Clothes
1 Full Sleeve Shirts
2 Half Sleeve Shirts
3 Formal Trousers
4 Blazer (Informal) Suit (Formal) Suit Recommended
5 Tie
6 T-shirts
7 Jeans
8 Shorts Cargos Bermudas9 Belts
10 Traditional Highly Recommended for Indian events
11 Sweaters Recommended
12 Pyjamas Night Suit
13 Under Garments
14 Towels
15 Handkerchiefs used less here
16 Blanket (Light Weight) depends on your baggage (can buy here)
17 Single Bed Sheet
18 Bed Cover
19 Pillow Cover
20 Woolen Gloves Leather amp wool (Highly Recommended)21 Jacket Optional (can buy here)
22 Thermal Innerwear Long johns Required in winter
23 CapsToques Optional
24 Swimwear Expensive here
B Footwear
1 Chappals Sandals Traditional Footwear
2 Slippers Flotters
3 Formal Black Leather Shoes
4 Casual Sport Shoes
5 Shoe Polish for Formal Shoes
6 Shoe Polishing Brush
7 Socks (black for formal shoes)
8 Socks (White) Cheaply Available here
C Miscellaneous Items
1 Glasses Contact Lenses Must (Optics very expensive here)
2 Contact Lenses Solution Check for yourself
3 Stitching Kit
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2628
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2728
indiaubccom page 27 of 28
G Stationary
1 School Bag A Little Expensive here
2 Ball Point Pen For initial use
3 Refils
4 BondedClutch Pencils
5 Sharpener
6 Eraser Pencil
7 Clutch Pencil (05 mm)
8 Lead Box (05 mm)
9 Steel Scale 6 Optional
10 Stapler Donrsquot forget these
11 Stapler Pins Box
12 Punch Please donrsquot bring 3 holes punch required here
13 Scientific Calculator Replace the batteries without fail
14 Cello Tapes Optional
15 Glue Stick Glue Optional
16 Sketch Pen Optional
17 Note books Papers Files Folders Do not bring
H Books (apart from course-work)
1 Oxford Concise Dictionary
2 Books about India Optional
3 Religious Books Optional
I Medicines (optional)
1 Vicks (Vaporub amp Inhaler)
2 Balm (Amrutanjan etc)
3 Iodex
4 Dettol
5 Band-Aid (wash proof)6 Burnol
7 Painkiller tabs like Combiflam Brufen
8 Drugs amp Antibiotics (fever amp cold etc)
9 Vaseline Especially for people coming in winter
J Documents
1 Recent Photographs Negatives
2 General Photographs
3 Passport Photocopies
4 Admission
5 VISA photocopies
6 Credentials Transcripts
7 Recommendation SOP
8 GRE TOEFL Score Sheet
9 Medical Fitness Certificate
10 Medical Prescription of all medicines
11 College Leaving Certificate
12 Traveller cheques
13 Enough Money-Cash with some change
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2828
Compiled by C P Sha r m a ( Cheenu ) 201 0 - 11 W eb admin and New s let t e r Ed i to r
Valuable contributions from
UTSAV execu t i ve team 2010 - 11
Sr in iv as Ram an Harshu l Sr iv as tava Rashm i Bhadaur ia
An i r uddha Cha t t e r j ee Sw iya Na th Tab i ta Ve r m a amp Sneha She th s tuden t s ove r the
yea r s and o the r ex t e r na l agenc ies
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2328
indiaubccom page 23 of 28
Appendix
Things to pack
We Indian Student Association ndash UTSAV helps undergraduate and graduate students prospective and currentstudents throughtout their stay at UBC Please check the reminders section to make sure you do not forget important
documents while travelling
You should bring with you all your original transcripts degree certificate provisional certificate migration
certificate TOEFLGRE scores certificates birth certificate work experience certificate papers and publications
for which you have mentioned in your portfolio Sometimes the school may ask you to show them to validate or may
ask you to submit you originals Hence it would be safe if you keep them with you when you arrive here
In flight
1 Specify while you book your ticket regarding your food preferences especially when you are a strict vegetarian
Few flights do provide the service of providing Jain and Hindu meals in flight
2 Keep your hand baggage as light as possible because during transit you may have to walk long distances Try to
carry hand bags with trolley that would help you in easy transfer
Important Note
1 Make sure you carry your Indian Driving license this help you here while you apply for International Driving
LicensePermit
2 Try to carry 3-4 pairs of glasses (spares) with you and have an advance eye sight check up in India because here
these things are usually very expensive You anyway would have an eye check up during your Pre-Medical
Examination
3 A dental check up at least fifteen days in advance would be quite appropriate
4 Carry money as travelers cheques they are the safest and most convenient method of carrying money
What to Get and What Not
1 It will be great if you can get yourself the books you need here though we have very good library here which
would provide you with sufficient copies of each book of your requirement But see to it that carrying them you
arenrsquot exceeding your baggage weight limitations
2 If you are looking forward to cook Indian food at your place then bring along a Pressure Cooker and any flat
bottomed vessels
3 You can carry pulses rice Indian spices pickles etc with you but it is better if you donrsquot carry them with you as
we have many Indian grocery shops at Vancouver mainly at Fraser and Main Street Also there are some good
shops within campus where you can get all the above mentioned things
4 Get yourself sufficient stock of undergarments and socks as you might be washing clothes once every 10 days or
more
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2428
indiaubccom page 24 of 28
5 You should bring with yourself 1-2 umbrellas a raincoat or a wind-sheeter as it rains a lot here from October till
March
6 You would need warm clothes (a good winter jacket) as it is cold here except for 2-4 months in summer Good
sweaters preferably two woollen gloves mufflers and woollen caps thermal vest and long johns
7 Get all the stationary items like staplers punchers etc also a good alarm clock
8 Buy a good pair of walking shoe sports shoe formal shoe (all water-proof) as it rains a lot here and you might
have to walk a lot here
9 Donrsquot get along any electronic items here as the voltage is much lower than in India
10 And if you are still carrying then get yourself a Step-upStep-down voltage convertor This will prove a lot more
helpful here Make sure you are buying it for the correct Watt as for hair dryers you might have to go for 1800W
These convertors are available here as well but a bit more expensive
11 A good school bag a Visa folder (to hold cards) a walletpurses
12 Get some medicines which you think would be useful or any common health problems that you have You could
get some basic medicines for headache stomach ache indigestion fever etc
Baggage specifications
You should check this out with your concerned airlines preferably there website They would give you perfect
information on the weight and dimensional limitations It would be good if you can lock your baggage with TSA
locks
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2528
indiaubccom page 25 of 28
What should I bring from INDIA All the items mention ed below can be fo und easily in the city of Vancouver However the reason we have written them
is to remind you wh at to carry or buy here in case you forget This list is a checklist of items yo u migh t need here We
recommend you to buy mo st of the items fro m India because these items are very expensive in the city of Vancouver
Item Comments
A Clothes
1 Full Sleeve Shirts
2 Half Sleeve Shirts
3 Formal Trousers
4 Blazer (Informal) Suit (Formal) Suit Recommended
5 Tie
6 T-shirts
7 Jeans
8 Shorts Cargos Bermudas9 Belts
10 Traditional Highly Recommended for Indian events
11 Sweaters Recommended
12 Pyjamas Night Suit
13 Under Garments
14 Towels
15 Handkerchiefs used less here
16 Blanket (Light Weight) depends on your baggage (can buy here)
17 Single Bed Sheet
18 Bed Cover
19 Pillow Cover
20 Woolen Gloves Leather amp wool (Highly Recommended)21 Jacket Optional (can buy here)
22 Thermal Innerwear Long johns Required in winter
23 CapsToques Optional
24 Swimwear Expensive here
B Footwear
1 Chappals Sandals Traditional Footwear
2 Slippers Flotters
3 Formal Black Leather Shoes
4 Casual Sport Shoes
5 Shoe Polish for Formal Shoes
6 Shoe Polishing Brush
7 Socks (black for formal shoes)
8 Socks (White) Cheaply Available here
C Miscellaneous Items
1 Glasses Contact Lenses Must (Optics very expensive here)
2 Contact Lenses Solution Check for yourself
3 Stitching Kit
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2628
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2728
indiaubccom page 27 of 28
G Stationary
1 School Bag A Little Expensive here
2 Ball Point Pen For initial use
3 Refils
4 BondedClutch Pencils
5 Sharpener
6 Eraser Pencil
7 Clutch Pencil (05 mm)
8 Lead Box (05 mm)
9 Steel Scale 6 Optional
10 Stapler Donrsquot forget these
11 Stapler Pins Box
12 Punch Please donrsquot bring 3 holes punch required here
13 Scientific Calculator Replace the batteries without fail
14 Cello Tapes Optional
15 Glue Stick Glue Optional
16 Sketch Pen Optional
17 Note books Papers Files Folders Do not bring
H Books (apart from course-work)
1 Oxford Concise Dictionary
2 Books about India Optional
3 Religious Books Optional
I Medicines (optional)
1 Vicks (Vaporub amp Inhaler)
2 Balm (Amrutanjan etc)
3 Iodex
4 Dettol
5 Band-Aid (wash proof)6 Burnol
7 Painkiller tabs like Combiflam Brufen
8 Drugs amp Antibiotics (fever amp cold etc)
9 Vaseline Especially for people coming in winter
J Documents
1 Recent Photographs Negatives
2 General Photographs
3 Passport Photocopies
4 Admission
5 VISA photocopies
6 Credentials Transcripts
7 Recommendation SOP
8 GRE TOEFL Score Sheet
9 Medical Fitness Certificate
10 Medical Prescription of all medicines
11 College Leaving Certificate
12 Traveller cheques
13 Enough Money-Cash with some change
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2828
Compiled by C P Sha r m a ( Cheenu ) 201 0 - 11 W eb admin and New s let t e r Ed i to r
Valuable contributions from
UTSAV execu t i ve team 2010 - 11
Sr in iv as Ram an Harshu l Sr iv as tava Rashm i Bhadaur ia
An i r uddha Cha t t e r j ee Sw iya Na th Tab i ta Ve r m a amp Sneha She th s tuden t s ove r the
yea r s and o the r ex t e r na l agenc ies
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2428
indiaubccom page 24 of 28
5 You should bring with yourself 1-2 umbrellas a raincoat or a wind-sheeter as it rains a lot here from October till
March
6 You would need warm clothes (a good winter jacket) as it is cold here except for 2-4 months in summer Good
sweaters preferably two woollen gloves mufflers and woollen caps thermal vest and long johns
7 Get all the stationary items like staplers punchers etc also a good alarm clock
8 Buy a good pair of walking shoe sports shoe formal shoe (all water-proof) as it rains a lot here and you might
have to walk a lot here
9 Donrsquot get along any electronic items here as the voltage is much lower than in India
10 And if you are still carrying then get yourself a Step-upStep-down voltage convertor This will prove a lot more
helpful here Make sure you are buying it for the correct Watt as for hair dryers you might have to go for 1800W
These convertors are available here as well but a bit more expensive
11 A good school bag a Visa folder (to hold cards) a walletpurses
12 Get some medicines which you think would be useful or any common health problems that you have You could
get some basic medicines for headache stomach ache indigestion fever etc
Baggage specifications
You should check this out with your concerned airlines preferably there website They would give you perfect
information on the weight and dimensional limitations It would be good if you can lock your baggage with TSA
locks
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2528
indiaubccom page 25 of 28
What should I bring from INDIA All the items mention ed below can be fo und easily in the city of Vancouver However the reason we have written them
is to remind you wh at to carry or buy here in case you forget This list is a checklist of items yo u migh t need here We
recommend you to buy mo st of the items fro m India because these items are very expensive in the city of Vancouver
Item Comments
A Clothes
1 Full Sleeve Shirts
2 Half Sleeve Shirts
3 Formal Trousers
4 Blazer (Informal) Suit (Formal) Suit Recommended
5 Tie
6 T-shirts
7 Jeans
8 Shorts Cargos Bermudas9 Belts
10 Traditional Highly Recommended for Indian events
11 Sweaters Recommended
12 Pyjamas Night Suit
13 Under Garments
14 Towels
15 Handkerchiefs used less here
16 Blanket (Light Weight) depends on your baggage (can buy here)
17 Single Bed Sheet
18 Bed Cover
19 Pillow Cover
20 Woolen Gloves Leather amp wool (Highly Recommended)21 Jacket Optional (can buy here)
22 Thermal Innerwear Long johns Required in winter
23 CapsToques Optional
24 Swimwear Expensive here
B Footwear
1 Chappals Sandals Traditional Footwear
2 Slippers Flotters
3 Formal Black Leather Shoes
4 Casual Sport Shoes
5 Shoe Polish for Formal Shoes
6 Shoe Polishing Brush
7 Socks (black for formal shoes)
8 Socks (White) Cheaply Available here
C Miscellaneous Items
1 Glasses Contact Lenses Must (Optics very expensive here)
2 Contact Lenses Solution Check for yourself
3 Stitching Kit
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2628
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2728
indiaubccom page 27 of 28
G Stationary
1 School Bag A Little Expensive here
2 Ball Point Pen For initial use
3 Refils
4 BondedClutch Pencils
5 Sharpener
6 Eraser Pencil
7 Clutch Pencil (05 mm)
8 Lead Box (05 mm)
9 Steel Scale 6 Optional
10 Stapler Donrsquot forget these
11 Stapler Pins Box
12 Punch Please donrsquot bring 3 holes punch required here
13 Scientific Calculator Replace the batteries without fail
14 Cello Tapes Optional
15 Glue Stick Glue Optional
16 Sketch Pen Optional
17 Note books Papers Files Folders Do not bring
H Books (apart from course-work)
1 Oxford Concise Dictionary
2 Books about India Optional
3 Religious Books Optional
I Medicines (optional)
1 Vicks (Vaporub amp Inhaler)
2 Balm (Amrutanjan etc)
3 Iodex
4 Dettol
5 Band-Aid (wash proof)6 Burnol
7 Painkiller tabs like Combiflam Brufen
8 Drugs amp Antibiotics (fever amp cold etc)
9 Vaseline Especially for people coming in winter
J Documents
1 Recent Photographs Negatives
2 General Photographs
3 Passport Photocopies
4 Admission
5 VISA photocopies
6 Credentials Transcripts
7 Recommendation SOP
8 GRE TOEFL Score Sheet
9 Medical Fitness Certificate
10 Medical Prescription of all medicines
11 College Leaving Certificate
12 Traveller cheques
13 Enough Money-Cash with some change
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2828
Compiled by C P Sha r m a ( Cheenu ) 201 0 - 11 W eb admin and New s let t e r Ed i to r
Valuable contributions from
UTSAV execu t i ve team 2010 - 11
Sr in iv as Ram an Harshu l Sr iv as tava Rashm i Bhadaur ia
An i r uddha Cha t t e r j ee Sw iya Na th Tab i ta Ve r m a amp Sneha She th s tuden t s ove r the
yea r s and o the r ex t e r na l agenc ies
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2528
indiaubccom page 25 of 28
What should I bring from INDIA All the items mention ed below can be fo und easily in the city of Vancouver However the reason we have written them
is to remind you wh at to carry or buy here in case you forget This list is a checklist of items yo u migh t need here We
recommend you to buy mo st of the items fro m India because these items are very expensive in the city of Vancouver
Item Comments
A Clothes
1 Full Sleeve Shirts
2 Half Sleeve Shirts
3 Formal Trousers
4 Blazer (Informal) Suit (Formal) Suit Recommended
5 Tie
6 T-shirts
7 Jeans
8 Shorts Cargos Bermudas9 Belts
10 Traditional Highly Recommended for Indian events
11 Sweaters Recommended
12 Pyjamas Night Suit
13 Under Garments
14 Towels
15 Handkerchiefs used less here
16 Blanket (Light Weight) depends on your baggage (can buy here)
17 Single Bed Sheet
18 Bed Cover
19 Pillow Cover
20 Woolen Gloves Leather amp wool (Highly Recommended)21 Jacket Optional (can buy here)
22 Thermal Innerwear Long johns Required in winter
23 CapsToques Optional
24 Swimwear Expensive here
B Footwear
1 Chappals Sandals Traditional Footwear
2 Slippers Flotters
3 Formal Black Leather Shoes
4 Casual Sport Shoes
5 Shoe Polish for Formal Shoes
6 Shoe Polishing Brush
7 Socks (black for formal shoes)
8 Socks (White) Cheaply Available here
C Miscellaneous Items
1 Glasses Contact Lenses Must (Optics very expensive here)
2 Contact Lenses Solution Check for yourself
3 Stitching Kit
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2628
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2728
indiaubccom page 27 of 28
G Stationary
1 School Bag A Little Expensive here
2 Ball Point Pen For initial use
3 Refils
4 BondedClutch Pencils
5 Sharpener
6 Eraser Pencil
7 Clutch Pencil (05 mm)
8 Lead Box (05 mm)
9 Steel Scale 6 Optional
10 Stapler Donrsquot forget these
11 Stapler Pins Box
12 Punch Please donrsquot bring 3 holes punch required here
13 Scientific Calculator Replace the batteries without fail
14 Cello Tapes Optional
15 Glue Stick Glue Optional
16 Sketch Pen Optional
17 Note books Papers Files Folders Do not bring
H Books (apart from course-work)
1 Oxford Concise Dictionary
2 Books about India Optional
3 Religious Books Optional
I Medicines (optional)
1 Vicks (Vaporub amp Inhaler)
2 Balm (Amrutanjan etc)
3 Iodex
4 Dettol
5 Band-Aid (wash proof)6 Burnol
7 Painkiller tabs like Combiflam Brufen
8 Drugs amp Antibiotics (fever amp cold etc)
9 Vaseline Especially for people coming in winter
J Documents
1 Recent Photographs Negatives
2 General Photographs
3 Passport Photocopies
4 Admission
5 VISA photocopies
6 Credentials Transcripts
7 Recommendation SOP
8 GRE TOEFL Score Sheet
9 Medical Fitness Certificate
10 Medical Prescription of all medicines
11 College Leaving Certificate
12 Traveller cheques
13 Enough Money-Cash with some change
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2828
Compiled by C P Sha r m a ( Cheenu ) 201 0 - 11 W eb admin and New s let t e r Ed i to r
Valuable contributions from
UTSAV execu t i ve team 2010 - 11
Sr in iv as Ram an Harshu l Sr iv as tava Rashm i Bhadaur ia
An i r uddha Cha t t e r j ee Sw iya Na th Tab i ta Ve r m a amp Sneha She th s tuden t s ove r the
yea r s and o the r ex t e r na l agenc ies
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2628
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2728
indiaubccom page 27 of 28
G Stationary
1 School Bag A Little Expensive here
2 Ball Point Pen For initial use
3 Refils
4 BondedClutch Pencils
5 Sharpener
6 Eraser Pencil
7 Clutch Pencil (05 mm)
8 Lead Box (05 mm)
9 Steel Scale 6 Optional
10 Stapler Donrsquot forget these
11 Stapler Pins Box
12 Punch Please donrsquot bring 3 holes punch required here
13 Scientific Calculator Replace the batteries without fail
14 Cello Tapes Optional
15 Glue Stick Glue Optional
16 Sketch Pen Optional
17 Note books Papers Files Folders Do not bring
H Books (apart from course-work)
1 Oxford Concise Dictionary
2 Books about India Optional
3 Religious Books Optional
I Medicines (optional)
1 Vicks (Vaporub amp Inhaler)
2 Balm (Amrutanjan etc)
3 Iodex
4 Dettol
5 Band-Aid (wash proof)6 Burnol
7 Painkiller tabs like Combiflam Brufen
8 Drugs amp Antibiotics (fever amp cold etc)
9 Vaseline Especially for people coming in winter
J Documents
1 Recent Photographs Negatives
2 General Photographs
3 Passport Photocopies
4 Admission
5 VISA photocopies
6 Credentials Transcripts
7 Recommendation SOP
8 GRE TOEFL Score Sheet
9 Medical Fitness Certificate
10 Medical Prescription of all medicines
11 College Leaving Certificate
12 Traveller cheques
13 Enough Money-Cash with some change
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2828
Compiled by C P Sha r m a ( Cheenu ) 201 0 - 11 W eb admin and New s let t e r Ed i to r
Valuable contributions from
UTSAV execu t i ve team 2010 - 11
Sr in iv as Ram an Harshu l Sr iv as tava Rashm i Bhadaur ia
An i r uddha Cha t t e r j ee Sw iya Na th Tab i ta Ve r m a amp Sneha She th s tuden t s ove r the
yea r s and o the r ex t e r na l agenc ies
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2728
indiaubccom page 27 of 28
G Stationary
1 School Bag A Little Expensive here
2 Ball Point Pen For initial use
3 Refils
4 BondedClutch Pencils
5 Sharpener
6 Eraser Pencil
7 Clutch Pencil (05 mm)
8 Lead Box (05 mm)
9 Steel Scale 6 Optional
10 Stapler Donrsquot forget these
11 Stapler Pins Box
12 Punch Please donrsquot bring 3 holes punch required here
13 Scientific Calculator Replace the batteries without fail
14 Cello Tapes Optional
15 Glue Stick Glue Optional
16 Sketch Pen Optional
17 Note books Papers Files Folders Do not bring
H Books (apart from course-work)
1 Oxford Concise Dictionary
2 Books about India Optional
3 Religious Books Optional
I Medicines (optional)
1 Vicks (Vaporub amp Inhaler)
2 Balm (Amrutanjan etc)
3 Iodex
4 Dettol
5 Band-Aid (wash proof)6 Burnol
7 Painkiller tabs like Combiflam Brufen
8 Drugs amp Antibiotics (fever amp cold etc)
9 Vaseline Especially for people coming in winter
J Documents
1 Recent Photographs Negatives
2 General Photographs
3 Passport Photocopies
4 Admission
5 VISA photocopies
6 Credentials Transcripts
7 Recommendation SOP
8 GRE TOEFL Score Sheet
9 Medical Fitness Certificate
10 Medical Prescription of all medicines
11 College Leaving Certificate
12 Traveller cheques
13 Enough Money-Cash with some change
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2828
Compiled by C P Sha r m a ( Cheenu ) 201 0 - 11 W eb admin and New s let t e r Ed i to r
Valuable contributions from
UTSAV execu t i ve team 2010 - 11
Sr in iv as Ram an Harshu l Sr iv as tava Rashm i Bhadaur ia
An i r uddha Cha t t e r j ee Sw iya Na th Tab i ta Ve r m a amp Sneha She th s tuden t s ove r the
yea r s and o the r ex t e r na l agenc ies
862019 Student Info Handbook
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstudent-info-handbook 2828
Compiled by C P Sha r m a ( Cheenu ) 201 0 - 11 W eb admin and New s let t e r Ed i to r
Valuable contributions from
UTSAV execu t i ve team 2010 - 11
Sr in iv as Ram an Harshu l Sr iv as tava Rashm i Bhadaur ia
An i r uddha Cha t t e r j ee Sw iya Na th Tab i ta Ve r m a amp Sneha She th s tuden t s ove r the
yea r s and o the r ex t e r na l agenc ies