FAQs Graduate

To view fees and make payments can be done through your Student Service Centre (SSC) account.

Fees and tuition can be paid with Interac Online, Online Banking and by Cheque. For more information and video tutorials on tuition payments, please visit: http://students.ubc.ca/enrolment/finances/tuition/payment

In the event of a conflict or issue at the School of Nursing, we suggest you follow these guidelines:

1. Identify the issue and start keeping objective notes for yourself.
2. Approach the person most directly involved with clear, non-judgmental feedback and request for a discussion of your concerns.
3. If appropriate, involve your program's Student Advisor early in the process for support and help with accessing required resources.
4. If not satisfied with the outcome, go to the next appropriate individual and inform the person you initially consulted that you are doing so.
5. If no resolution occurs at this level, take you concerns to the Associate Director and inform the individuals involved that you will be doing so.
6. If still not satisfied with the resulting decisions, contact the Director of the School of Nursing and inform the individuals involved that you will be doing so.

Please familiarize yourself with the British Columbia College of Nursing Professionals (BCCNP) Resolving Professional Practice Problems resource for more information.

UBC School of Nursing Internal Awards:

Several awards that recognize academic achievement are granted annually by the UBC School of Nursing to incoming and continuing graduate students. The School is grateful to the generous donors who make these awards available. These awards are administered by the Graduate Programs Awards Committee and no application is required. These are often referred to as "Departmental Awards" by the university. 

Faculty of Graduate Studies Awards:

In addition to the above mentioned awards, the Faculty of Graduate Studies is responsible for administration of additional awards competitions.

These applications are best completed in collaboration with your provisional advisor or supervisor. Other members of the faculty are ready and willing to assist with the application process. Please note the deadlines and ensure that you plan well in advance.

For details on some of the major award competitions, please visit: https://nursing.ubc.ca/graduate/award-competitions

SSHRC & CIHR Canada Graduate Scholars Competition - Doctoral & Masters Students:

The Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) provides financial support to outstanding students pursuing Master's or Doctoral studies in health sciences. The School of Nursing supports MSN & PhD Students in their CIHR Award Applications through a series of workshops, an internal review process, and individualized application support from the Office of Nursing Research & Teaching Scholarship (ONRTS). For information please contact onrts@nursing.ubc.ca 

Outstanding Completion Competitions:

Awards are given annually in recognition of the outstanding research conducted by graduate students in the School of Nursing.
These awards are announced and acknowledged at November & May Congregation, and nominees may come from students graduating in May or November of each calendar year. These nominations are submitted by the research supervisor and the competition is administered by the Graduate Awards Committee. 

• Outstanding PhD Dissertation Award: One or more annual awards will be given to a graduate of the PHD program in recognition of outstanding dissertation research. Students must be nominated by their research supervisor and they will have completed all requirements for graduation. Nominations should include a statement of support from the supervisor, and statements may include additional comments from committee member(s). Statements of support should describe the ways in which the work is outstanding in terms of originality, scope and relevance. For Dissertation Award nominees, a copy of the external examiner’s report should be included by the supervisor in the nomination package.
• Outstanding MSN Thesis Award: One or more annual awards will be given to a graduate of the MSN program in recognition of outstanding thesis research completed in NURS 599. Students must be nominated by their supervisor and they will have completed all requirements for graduation. Nominations should include a statement of support from the supervisor, and statements may include additional comments from committee member(s). Statements of support should describe the ways in which the work is outstanding in terms of originality, scope and relevance.
• Outstanding MSN SPAR Project Award: One or more annual awards will be given to a graduate of the MSN program in recognition of outstanding Scholarly Practice Advancement Research (SPAR) Project research completed in NURS 595. Students must be nominated by their supervisor and they will have completed all requirements for graduation. Nominations should include a statement of support from the supervisor, and statements may include additional comments from committee member(s). Statements of support should describe the ways in which the work is outstanding in terms of originality, scope and relevance.
• Outstanding MN Primary Care Culminating Project Award: One or more annual awards will be given to a graduate of the MN program in recognition of outstanding culminating primary care project completed in NURS 596. Students must be nominated by their culminating project supervisor and they will have completed all requirements for graduation. Nominations should include a statement of support from the supervisor, and statements may include additional comments from committee member(s). Statements of support should describe the ways in which the work is outstanding in terms of originality, scope and relevance.

In addition to the School of Nursing awards for outstanding final projects, the Faculty of Graduate & Post-doctoral Studies (G+PS) creates opportunities for participation in national dissertation award competitions for doctoral program graduates. These competitions include: 

• CAGS/ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Awards
• UBC Dissertation Prize

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies has a Checklist for New Graduate Students that can assist you.

Doctoral Student 

A minimum mark of 68% must be obtained in all courses taken as part of a qualifying year for a doctoral program. When repeating a failed required course, a minimum mark of 74% must be obtained. Higher minimum marks may be required by the graduate program or the Faculty of Graduate Studies. For doctoral students registered in the Faculty of Graduate Studies, Fail (F) for individual courses is defined as below 68%. Some graduate programs may require a higher passing grade for specific courses.

Masters Student 

A minimum of 60% must be obtained in any course taken by a student enrolled in a master's program for the student to be granted pass standing. However, only 6 credits of pass standing may be counted towards a master's program. For all other courses, a minimum of 68% must be obtained.

When repeating a failed required course, a minimum mark of 74% must be obtained. Higher minimum grades may be required.

However, only 6 credits of pass standing (60-67%) may be counted toward a master's program. For all other courses, a minimum of 68% must be obtained. Some graduate programs may require a higher passing grade for specific courses.

If a course is repeated, both marks will appear on the transcript. The higher mark will be used to determine promotion in a program and in any decision to admit or withdraw a student from a program. For all other purposes, averages will be calculated using both marks.

If you find yourself in a situation where you are facing low scholarship, the first course of action is to speak with your instructor, and the next course of action is to speak with the Graduate Program Coordinator. 

G+PS Policy on Academic Progress / Low Scholarship 

The Practice Education Guidelines for BC has clear guidelines around Negative Behaviour in the Practice Setting. If a student experiences any form of negative behaviour with a Health Care Organization (HCO) staff member, patient or other student, they should:

• Not ignore it or assume it will go away by itself.
• Tell the person that the behaviour is unwelcome and request that the behaviour(s) stop, if the student feels safe to do so.
• Immediately report the situation to the Post Secondary Institution (PSI) Educator or Health Care Organization Educator.
• Keep a record of all relevant facts including the date, time, and location of the incident(s). If possible, obtain the names of any witnesses.
• If a request to stop does not resolve the matter or if the student is not able to address the problem with the individual concerned, the student should bring the complaint to the supervising PSI Educator or HCO Educator for immediate investigation and follow-up.
• If the student feels unsafe in the practice environment, they should immediately inform the HCO Educator and/or HCO Unit Manager and leave the environment. In this situation, the student must immediately inform the PSI Educator or Liaison.

All of the clinical instructors are professional nurses and work within the BCCNP Professional Standards and take student concerns seriously.

In case where you feel that practice related issues have not been resolved, or cannot be addressed directly, refer to practice leader (in the larger clinical courses) or course leader (in the smaller clinical courses).

Student Health Services & Counselling Services have urgent care options for student emergencies. 

If you are experiencing an emergency always call 911

Also keep these numbers in mind:

• UBC Mobile First Aid - 604-822-4444
• UBC Campus Security - 604-822-2222
• UBC Hospital Urgent Care - 604-822-7222
• Ambulance - 604-872-5151
• Campus Fire Department - 604-665-6010
• UBC RCMP Detachment - 604-224-1322 (non-emergency only)

Finally, these resources from UBC Student Health are available to students experiencing an after-hours emergency. 

Urgent care - Student Health Service reserves several same-day appointments each day for sudden illness and urgent care. The type of cases we see at that time tend to be sudden illnesses that interfere with your ability to function as a student. Please use these times for unexpected illnesses only.

After-hour emergencies - If you are a patient at Student Health Service and you have an urgent concern that cannot wait until the clinic opens, please call 604.822.7121 and ask to speak to the doctor on call.

Counselling Services reserves same day emergency appointments for urgent concerns.

What are urgent concerns? Urgent concerns are problems or issues that must be dealt with immediately, such as imminent safety concerns.

How to access emergency appointments? You can request an emergency appointment by calling Counselling Services reception at 604.822.3811 or visiting the office in person at 1040 Brock Hall.

After-hour emergencies - If you call Counselling Services at 604.822.3811 after hours, you will have the option of being linked to the Vancouver Crisis Line.

Please familiarize yourself with the following reference documents:

• BSN Program Levels of Appeal 

It’s important to also be aware of the following posts/policy reference:

• UBC Vancouver Academic Calendar: Regulations
• School of Nursing Policies & Regulations

If you find yourself in a situation where you need to discuss these policies and regulations, your first point of contact for receiving academic advising is the BSN Student Advisor. Please visit the “Who’s Who” page of the BSN FAQ Blog to find out the Faculty member currently in this role.

There is a list of emergency phone numbers and instructions located in each room.

SoN is located on the third floor of the acute care hospital (Koerner Pavilion). In case of fire or other emergency all hospital fire and safety protocols must be observed. Please familiarize yourself with the information provided in the safety folder. Overhead speakers located in the hallways will announce and provide information during emergencies.

In case of fire (Code Red) locate the appropriate exits closest to you. Remain in the area and continue normal activities until instructed otherwise or the evacuation alarm is sounded. Ensure the door to the room is closed and that the lab personnel or lab instructor is aware of your presence.

If needing to evacuate (e.g. fire alarm rings continuously at 120 strokes per minute) immediately evacuate to the closest safe stairway exit and leave the building. Regroup in the parking lot outside the MacDonald Building (Dentistry). Classes should stay in a group with a faculty member and wait for further instructions.

If a student receives a failing grade (60%) in a course in the BSN program, they must make an appointment to meet with the BSN Academic Advisor. The BSN Academic Advisor will take the student's case to the Progressions Committee, and together the Progressions Committee will decide on future steps for the student.

A few important points to note:

• In the case of an academic or clinical failure, both the practice and the theory component of the course must be repeated in order to advance in the nursing program.
• The academic advisor oversees each student’s subsequent progress and advises on academic options in regular consultation with the SoN progression committee.
• Subsequent planning and decision-making for students who have encountered progression challenges are overseen by the academic advisor.
• All students who do not progress to the subsequent term are classified as one of the following: academic probation, academic failure, or program failure.
• A student who fails a course for a second time, or fails two or more courses will be required to discontinue.

For more information, please review the Progression & Advancement Policy and Flowchart.