Coming to UBC Sauder on Exchange

The UBC Sauder School of Business exchange program is administered through UBC’s exchange program, Go Global. The UBC Go Global website has all the information you need about coming to UBC.

To apply, you need to be at the academic level required for third and fourth year BCom courses. In general, you should have taken most of the following courses: micro and macro economics, calculus, statistics, managerial accounting, managerial economics, managerial finance, organizational behaviour, introduction to finance, and introduction to marketing.

Check the Student Service Centre Vancouver campus course schedule to find out if the courses you want to take are offered in the semester you plan to come. Term 1 means the fall semester, Term 2 means the spring semester, and business courses are labeled COMM and COHR.

Exchange students can take business courses along with a wide variety of other courses at UBC. Be sure to check the prerequisites required for each as it is important that you have the appropriate academic background to be successful. If you don't have required prerequisites and still want to take the course, you will need to seek the instructor’s permission at the first class. Note that Economics courses at UBC are offered through the Faculty of Arts and space in courses may be limited.

COMM 101, COMM 105, COMM 196, COMM 202, COMM 220, COMM 271, COMM 311, COMM 320, COMM 321, COMM 420, COMM 421, COMM 466, COMM 483, COMM 489, graduate (500 and 600-level) courses, COEC, and BUSI courses are not available. Space in second year business courses and other courses may be limited. Taking COMM 390/396 and COMM 395 requires permission from the instructor.

You can check the UBC Calendar for brief course descriptions, including prerequisites required. More comprehensive Commerce course descriptions are available on our website.

Students usually take 12 to 15 credits in a semester which typically means four or five courses. If you are taking 15 credits, it’s recommended that you take a maximum of 12 credits of business courses. Taking more is considered a heavy course load, and by combining business courses with electives you will have a more balanced workload and be able to explore other disciplines at UBC. If you are on exchange with UBC Sauder through a university that doesn’t have a business school partnership, you may be limited to six business course credits. You can take more as long as there is space available.

If there is space available and you have the prerequisites, you can request to take business courses. COMR 100, COMR 329, COMR 398, COMR 458, COMR 465, COMR 473, and COMR 493 are typically taken by non-business majors.