(updated as of October 21, at 3:00 p.m.)

Please feel free to connect with Sandy (ischool.program@ubc.ca) or Kevin (ischool.edsm@ubc.ca) if you have any questions about your student status, courses, graduation, experiential learning, or anything else related to your program of study. If you need to talk to other faculty or staff members, please contact them via email. Visit the staff and faculty pages to find their contact information.

Students who are struggling to complete coursework or are facing personal circumstances that make progress in their studies challenging are invited to contact the iSchool Graduate Advisor, Dr. Lisa Nathan, to discuss options and means of support. To set up a virtual appointment, please email Dr. Nathan at ischool.gradadvisor@ubc.ca.

Virtual Advising Drop-In Sessions

Kevin Day, our Educational Services Manager, is holding weekly virtual office hours. Feel free to join this drop-in session if you have any questions related to the planning of your program of study or experiential learning opportunities. His virtual office hours are Wednesdays, from 1:00 to 2:00 pm. Join this session here (password: 959988)

Director's Office Hours

UBC iSchool Director, Dr. Erik Kwakkel, is now holding weekly virtual office hours every Monday, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM. These office hours are open to all students, faculty and staff. No appointment is required, users can join this drop-in session anytime during these hours. Visitors will be let in from a waiting room to ensure privacy. [UPDATED LINK AND PASSCODE] Join this session here (passcode: 226335)

(updated as of October 28, at 4:00 p.m.)

LASSA Student Association represents all students at the UBC iSchool. Their purpose is to create and encourage community growth and development among the student body at the iSchool; and to promote, direct, sponsor and co-ordinate such activities as will benefit the Members socially, academically, and professionally. For more information about the association and how to get involved, please visit their website and Facebook page.

In addition to the student association, the Peer Advisors have created a virtual study group for all UBC iSchool students. You can drop in to this session at any time to connect with your peers, discuss readings, and work collaboratively on course assignments. Join this session here

You can contact the Peer Advisors at anytime by email (ischool.peer@ubc.ca) if you have questions or need information and guidance on iSchool procedures.

MAS Virtual Lounge

This session has been cancelled for the rest of the term.

(updated as of September 14, at 2:00 p.m.)

Yes, for Winter Session Term 2 classes will be delivered online. The Faculty of Arts will provide updates on specific programs as planning continues. Course formats for Winter Term 2 have been confirmed. Please consult the timetable page for more information.

(updated as of June 5, at 11:00 a.m.)

Both domestic and international students who are experiencing financial distress due to the COVID-19 situation are encouraged to schedule a confidential advising appointment with an Enrolment Services Advisor. All emergency funding requests/applications should go through Enrolment Services.

Enrolment Services has a dedicated team of advisors for graduate students. An advisor will assess your financial situation and provide the best course of action for your situation. It may not be possible for Enrolment Services to provide immediate support in all circumstances, but meeting with an advisor will also enable the university to gather a clearer picture of the needs that exist and to direct its financial support resources more effectively.

To book an appointment with an Advisor, please call 604.822.9836, or submit a request through Webform.

For more information on Finances, including emergency bursaries for graduate students and student loans, please visit askme.ubc.ca.

(updated as June 5, at 11:00 a.m.)

Through the generous support of our alumni, student groups, and supporters, the School of Information has established an emergency fund for students experiencing financial hardship due to the impacts of the Covid-19 Pandemic.

If you are a current full or part-time graduate student enrolled in one of the iSchool programs and you find yourself in an emergency situation (short term, urgent, and serious) in which you cannot meet your basic living expenses of food and housing, you are welcome to apply to this fund. Please note that the amount of funding available is limited and we may not be able to provide assistance in all cases.

Apply for the School of Information Pandemic Emergency Fund for Students (CWL login required)

(updated as of September 14, at 2:00 p.m.)

For information and resources on Health, Wellbeing and Safety, please visit this UBC Graduate Studies page.

BC Campus has created 'Adapting to COVID-19', a website to help students quickly access the resources and support they may need through these next few months. Users will be able to find information and resources to help with online learning, mental health, professional and financial support.

(updated as April 23, at 10:00 a.m.)

Here2Talk is a free and confidential program that provides all students currently registered with a B.C. post-secondary school access to single-session 24/7 mental health support and community referral services via app, phone and web. Here2Talk aims to support overall wellbeing and mental health by providing students with the following:

• 24/7 support. Confidential emotional support, including crisis intervention, available night and day via phone and chat.
• Experienced professionals. Access to counsellors who have experience dealing with the common challenges faced by students.
• No appointment needed. Call in or start a chat via app or web.
• Free to students. Access to professional mental health and wellbeing support at no additional charge for students currently registered with a B.C post-secondary institution.

For more information, please visit the Here2Talk official website.

(updated as April 9, at 3:00 p.m.)

For US students holding loans, the US Senate passed a bill that includes a waiver of the prohibition against distance education (i.e., online study) for students receiving U.S. Direct Loans for study at eligible non-U.S. institutions of higher education. It now requires the President’s signature. The waiver is retroactive to 1 March 2020 and remains through the end of the COVID- 19 emergency (as declared by Canadian government authorities) and for the following payment period (generally the following term). For more information, please visit the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies COVID-19 page.

(updated as of September 14, at 2:00 p.m.)

Beginning September 8, a limited number of bookable study spaces in the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre will be available Monday through Saturday. The Library continues to provide access to electronic resources, online librarian support and continues to offer an on-campus materials pick-up service to enable access to items in the collection that are not available in electronic formats. Visit library.ubc.ca for more information.

Other UBC Library branches across the Vancouver campus will remain closed until further notice.

(updated as of September 3, at 1:00 p.m.)

Unfortunately, no. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, and in-line with the direction of health authorities in Canada and British Columbia to limit travel to and in Canada, the University has made the decision to cancel all upcoming international programs for students until further notice.

The School of Information is not currently accepting applications for the Visiting International Research Students (VIRS) program.