FAQs Undergraduate

Please note, that the Alumni Email service (name@alumni.ubc.ca) hosted mailboxes has been replaced by the UBC Student Email Service. The legacy Student & Alumni Email service (name@alumni.ubc.ca) will continue to operate, but no further changes to these aliases will be possible after August 17, 2020. For more information, please review UBC IT Student and Alumni Email changes FAQs.

Sign up for Student and Alumni Email address

Student and Alumni Webmail

What if I already have a name@alumni.ubc.ca email address?
When you sign up for a new Student Email account as an active student, your email address will change to cwl@student.ubc.ca. However email sent to your name@alumni.ubc.ca will continue to be delivered. Current students are encouraged to switch to the new cwl@student.ubc.ca email account to gain access to a range of UBC services, including Microsoft Teams and OneDrive. 

In the BSN Program we strongly encourage you to use the UBC hosted mailbox as your primary form of communication with the program & the School of Nursing - especially with regards to clinical placement communication. We do not recommend forwarding your email to an external mailbox for three primary reasons:

1. You should treat all your communication about clinical placement & with preceptors and clinical instructors related to clinical placement in accordance with  British Columbia privacy legislation. UBC hosted mailboxes are subject to  FIPPA (Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act) legislation. Content never leaves Canadian soil and nobody can gain access to your email unless the law allows for it.This is not true of free email servers (any server hosted outside of Canada, including but not limited to: gmail, hotmail, Mac mail, etc...) 
2. Health Authorities and HSPnet refuse to communicate with BSN Students using different email addresses from the ones provided by the students' university where the BSN program is being completed. This is in keeping with the standard above, and the standard for all Nursing students in BC, not just UBC.
3. We have experienced difficulties with mail outs that are sent to a group of students  when they are not using the UBC Hosted Mailbox. Aside from the insecurity of forwarding through a free non-FIPPA compliant email server, it would appear once students set up mail forwarding, e-mails sent to groups of students are filtered out by their external carrier & students never receive the message.

While UBC IT considers it optional for students to use the UBC Hosted Mailbox for their personal and academic correspondence with the university, the School of Nursing requires you to use an email account via your UBC Hosted Mailbox for communication regarding clinical placements and clinical practice courses.

BSN students are also required to add & make primary their UBC Hosted email on Canvas because in Practice Course Canvas shells, students and instructors often post information about things that are protected by Freedom of Information & Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA). 

To update your email on Canvas please:  

• Ensure that you have a UBC Hosted mailbox. 
• Go to https://canvas.ubc.ca/ & login with your CWL 
• Select the "Account" icon on the top left corner of the page. 
• From the menu that appears select "Settings" 
• Under ways to contact, select add email & add your UBC Hosted email address. 
• You will receive an email from Canvas asking you to confirm your email for your account. 
• Once you've confirmed your email, please ensure the star that appears next to the email appears next to your UBC Hosted email. This will ensure communications from Canvas are sent to this email. 

Students employed as ESNs are subject to regulatory oversight and inquiry and discipline of the British Columbia College of Nurse and Midwives (BCCNM), held to BCCNM Standards of Practice “As BCCNM registrants, employed student registrants are held to all applicable BCCNM Standards of Practice that set out requirements for RNs or RPNs.” (BCCNM Employed Student Registrants Practice Standard (2022)). For more information visit the BCCNM website.

Yes. HCAs are subject to regulatory oversight of the BC Care Aide and Health Worker Registry, respectively. Once completed, students submit the application to SoN Student Services for signature by the AD, Undergraduate Programs or designate prior to submitting to BCCNM. Students are required to register with the BC Care Aide and Health Worker Registry when working as a health care aide or assistant. Students employed as HCAS are subject to the oversight of the BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry under its “Role and Mandate” and “Ensuring Public Safety” guidelines.

You are eligible to apply to the BSN program if you have a bachelor's degree or significant progress (minimum of 48 non-nursing, undergraduate level university transferrable credits) toward a degree in another field of study at a recognized university and will complete the prerequisite courses by April of the year they apply for entry (i.e., end of April, 2022 for September 2022 intake). Note: Applied degrees will be considered on case-by-case basis.

There are two steps to apply to the Nursing program, and both can be done once you create an account and access the Student Service Centre. You must complete two applications - one for UBC and one for the School of Nursing (called the Supplemental Application).

Visit http://you.ubc.ca/how-to-apply/, read instructions and then click Apply Now. After you pay the processing fee and submit the Undergraduate Admission Application, the system will give you access to the Supplemental Application.

Note: Current UBC students applying for a change of degree program will not lose their eligibility in the current program.

Be sure to remember that there are fees attached to each application.

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing - BSN program is an innovative approach to providing excellence in nursing education within a flexible and dynamic learning environment. The program combines focused nursing study with solid academic support to prepare outstanding professional nurses.

The UBC School of Nursing BSN Program is an accelerated program leading to a BSN degree. Currently, students enter this UBC program in Year 3 either after completing a bachelor degree or achieving a minimum of 48 credits in another field of study at UBC or another recognized college or university. All nursing courses are taken in Years 3 and 4 plus a summer term between these years, resulting in a five term BSN program (i.e., 20 consecutive months of study). Visit the UBC Academic Calendar Program Description. 

The BSN program offers a program of study to students with advanced standing or previous bachelor degrees and prerequisite courses. Students enter directly into third year level courses, and focus exclusively on nursing courses so they may complete the BSN degree in 20 months.

The BSN program is specifically designed to prepare nurses to meet current and emerging health care needs in Canada within the context of increasing globalization of health care concerns, and to meet the BCCNM Entry-Level Competencies for Registered Nurses. In keeping with the SoN Academic Plan, set within the context of the University’s vision for the 21st century (TREK 2010), overall key priorities are people, learning, research, community, and internationalization.

All clinical learning experiences provide students with the opportunity to apply entry-level competencies in providing direct care to clients. The expected level of student performance increases as students progress from basic client experiences to more complex client conditions and situations.

The School provides enriching learning environments; whether in the classroom, Learning Resource Centre, or placements in the community or at acute care hospitals. Students learn to be self-paced as they prepare to effectively define problems, gather and evaluate information and develop solutions to complex nursing care situations.

The nursing program is approved by the Provincial Government and the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM). At the completion of the program you will be eligible to apply to the BCCNM to write the national exam and on successful completion apply for provincial nursing registration, which is required to practice as a Registered Nurse in BC. Visit the BCCNM on the web to learn more.

Enrolment Services Advisors (ESA) are here to provide personalized support throughout your time at UBC. If you have questions about the registration process or your student account, contact your Enrolment Services Advisor. ESAs are available to help all UBC students.

All undergraduate students in a degree program at UBC's Vancouver campus have their own dedicated Enrolment Services Advisor. Your ESA can help you over the phone, by email, or you can make an appointment to meet with your ESA in person at a time that's convenient for you. 

Your ESA will be your go-to person for help with anything from your tuition payment to your application to graduate:

• Tuition and fee collection and inquiries
• Financial assistance and planning
• Registration help
• Support for U-Pass, your medical/dental plan and opting out
• Requests for transcripts, etc.
• Referrals to the right student services and resources across campus

Find your ESA's contact information on the Student Service Centre (SSC) under Personal Info > UBC Contacts.