EXPLORE Program Guide

Your bursary covers:

• your accommodation costs from the afternoon of May 21 to the morning of June 21
• the tuition fee for your English classes and workshops
• three meals per day
• some socio-cultural activities

Your bursary DOES NOT cover:

• your registration fee and your refundable deposit
• transportation to Vancouver or within Vancouver
• some socio-cultural activities and meals
• weekend trips

• The nonrefundable registration fee is $275.00.
• The refundable deposit is $250.
• Both the registration fee and the refundable deposit must be paid at time of registration.

You will get your deposit back within six weeks of the end of the program. Your deposit will be credited to the credit card you used to pay your registration fees. In order to receive your deposit, you must have completed the program successfully. In addition, you must not have caused any damage in residence, on campus, with your host family or elsewhere.

In cases of cancellation, the registration fee and deposit are nonrefundable. The English Language Institute may exercise discretion in some extenuating circumstances.

All students are expected to attend the first day of the program. You must arrive at the English Language Institute any time before 1pm on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. The program ends at 2:00pm on June 20.

Students who anticipate arriving late must obtain approval from the program before they arrive. Unapproved late arrivals may not be accepted into the program.
Students who leave the program early without our authorization will not receive a program certificate or transcript, and will not receive their $250 refundable deposit.

You can arrive at your homestay as early as Sunday, May 19 and leave as late as Saturday, June 22. Accommodation before and after the program is not covered by the bursary. You must pay the host family yourself, the rate is $65 per night.

From Vancouver Airport you should come to the ELI, taxi is the easiest and most confortable way and will cost $40-$50. You may be able to find other students through the EXPLORE Facebook group to share a taxi with. There will be space for you to leave your luggage securely at the ELI until the end of the day. You will most likely need to make your own travel arrangements to your homestay, unless your host family offers to meet you at the ELI.

UBC has an interactive campus map and a downloadable map.

Yes, there is parking on campus.

Vancouver uses a payment system called Compass Card. You can get a Compass Card by paying a $6 deposit at the ticket vending machines at Vancouver airport and many other retailers throughout the city as well as at the Shoppers Drug Mart on University Boulevard on campus. You will then have to load money onto the card to use it, which you can do online. For the month of June, you may want to purchase a monthly pass, depending on how often you expect to use public transit. You can use the Compass Card, credit card or cash to ride on buses (exact fare only). When using the Canada Line, SkyTrain, SeaBus or West Coast Express, you can use your Compass Card, purchase tickets or tap using a contactless credit card or mobile wallet.

A one-zone monthly pass (valid from the first day of the month to the last day of the month) costs $104.90 and allows you to use transit as often as you like. If you go beyond certain areas on the Canada Line, SkyTrain or SeaBus, you may have to pay an additional fee. All bus travel is considered one zone. On the other hand, if you do not wish to buy the monthly pass, you can load a specific amount of money onto your Compass Card. For each $2.55 on your card, you will be able to ride the bus for a 90-minute period. More information can be found on the Compass Card website.

You will be sent details of your homestay 2 weeks before the EXPLORE program start date.

You can arrive at your homestay as early as Sunday, May 19 and leave as late as Saturday, June 22. Accommodation before and after the program is not covered by the bursary. You must pay the host family yourself, the rate is $65 per night.

You will have your own furnished room (including a bed, bed linen and towels, you can bring your own towels if you prefer) with a place for studying. In special circumstances, you may have to share a room with another EXPLORE student depending on availability.

Students typically use local transit buses (Translink) to travel to UBC from their homestay. Transportation costs are not covered by your bursary, you will need to budget for this expense yourself. Please refer to the “Transportation” section for fares.

After we have received your registration we will send you an email inviting you to let us know if you wish to be placed in the same homestay as a friend and to notify us of any special requirements regarding health and diet.

Yes, you will have access to wifi at your homestay.

Yes, you may use the kitchen and utensils to make snacks and beverages. Coffee and tea will be provided but if you want a specific brand you must provide it yourself.

Yes, you can do laundry at your homestay. Laundry soap will be provided but if you want a specific brand you must provide it yourself.

Consider the climate, temperatures in Vancouver can range from 10° to 30° during May and June.

Vancouver is well known for its rainfall. Although May and June are two of the drier months, you should expect some rain and we recommend you bring an umbrella and rain jacket.

The weather in spring and summer can be very pleasant and it is a good time to enjoy the outdoor cafés, beaches, parks, and mountains. Bring mostly informal clothes because people in Vancouver usually dress casually. You will need comfortable shoes because the UBC campus is large.

On most days, you will have classes and workshops from 9am until 3:15pm. You will have a short break in the morning and a one-hour lunch break. On Fridays, you will have class from 9am until 12:15pm.

Before the program starts you will be asked to complete the online ELI Placement Test. This test will tell us the current level of your English skills and will assist us in placing you in the class that will benefit you most. You will be informed of your classes the weekend before the program starts through Canvas, UBC’s Learning Management System.

Yes, you will need to supply your own choice of pens, notebooks and/or binders, etc.

We recommend that you bring a laptop or tablet because some materials will be provided in Canvas, UBC’s learning management system.

UBC does not give credit for the Explore program but students may be able to get credit from their university.

Within six weeks of the program end date students will be emailed a certificate of participation and a transcript, which will include the hours attended. Students should contact the English Language Institute directly for any additional documentation.

The ELI fosters and promotes the use of English as the main mode of communication within the ELI building, in all ELI classes and while participating in any ELI activity. All instructors, staff and students will play an active role in creating an environment that is respectful and equitable and where English is practiced in a comfortable, supportive atmosphere.

The English Language Institute follows UBC’s Student Code of Conduct. The prohibited behaviour listed in the Student Code of Conduct applies to all students in the EXPLORE program at UBC.

We will send you the list of socio-cultural activities in early May. For now, we can tell you there will be hikes, sports games, public markets, festivals and trips to Whistler and/or Victoria.

For most activities, you will sign up online using a credit card. For some activities, you will sign up using cash.

Many activities are free while others have a fee. You should expect to spend approximately $50-$150 for sociocultural activities with a fee and approximately $300 for any weekend trips, plus spending money.

No. The majority of socio-cultural activities are optional. However, we encourage you to participate in as many as you can. This will allow you to practise your English, make new friends and explore Vancouver.

There are university gyms and privately run gyms on the UBC campus. Please note Explore students do not have regular student status at UBC, as the program is non-credit, so you’ll pay the same fees as paid by the public.

Yes. You can visit the UBC Aquatic Centre for a fee when the pool is open to the public. Make sure you check the pool schedule before you go!

Three meals per day are included in the program.

There are grocery stores, restaurants and cafes on and near the UBC campus.

Three meals per day are included in the program.

UBC has a wide variety of restaurants, cafes, food trucks and grocery stores.

Vancouver is one of the most expensive cities in North America, so you will need to budget carefully. We estimate $175 - $250 per month for miscellaneous expenses. These estimated costs should be used as a guideline only.

Please refer to Socio-Cultural Activities section.

Some students may decide to purchase additional travel insurance when travelling to Vancouver. Quebec residents are, to a certain extent, covered by their Quebec insurance while travelling in other provinces. Please note, however, that most clinics in Vancouver ask Quebec residents to pay for their fees upfront. This means you will have to pay for your visit to the doctor and then be reimbursed in Quebec. In addition, the amount for which you will be reimbursed may vary.

You may be eligible for travel discounts student as an Explore student.

Information regarding the Languages at Work program will be presented in the second week of the program. Interested students are then invited to work directly with the program’s representative.

Languages at Work is designed for Explore bursary recipients, and it offers unique opportunities to continue learning English in a workplace context. Following the completion of the Explore program, you could have the opportunity to stay in BC for job placements ranging from 6 to 8 weeks.

Learn more about the Languages at Work program before you arrive so that you can plan in advance.

It is not guaranteed that you will receive a job placement if you apply for Languages at Work, therefore, we recommend you book a flight with flexibility for your return date.

Students will attend all classes and required program activities
Students will complete all course work
Students agree to stay in arranged accommodation for the duration of the program
Students will not receive a Certificate of Participation if they:

• Fail to meet the attendance requirements for the program
• Receive a final mark below 50%
• Leave the program before the last day of classes

There will be sufficient cause to dismiss students from the program if they:

• Fail to meet the attendance requirements for the program
• Violate university policies

The $250 deposit will not be refunded if students:

• Fail to meet the attendance requirements for the program
• Cause the University any expense or damage university equipment or property