Go Global Office of Global Engagement

Science Program Restrictions for Exchange Students

Including Computer Science courses at UBC

Programs with Restrictions

Some courses in the Faculty of Science are similar enough to other courses in the faculty that students can only obtain credit from one. Review the Credit Exclusion List to determine which courses count towards the same credit. Please do not list more than one of these courses in your selections.

Science courses with laboratory components may have restricted enrolment because they are requirements for UBC students. Other courses such as Honours Seminar, Directed Studies, and Student-Directed Seminar courses usually have separate application and approval processes. Connect with the relevant department if you're interested in taking any of these courses.

Co-op courses are not available to exchange and visiting students.

Biology
  • Following courses are not available: BIOL 306, 326, 331, 340, 341, 342, 351, 352, 363, 402, 403, 404 and 437.
  • Other 3rd (300+) and 4th year (400+) Biology Laboratory courses may be available for exchange and visiting students; pre-requisites requirements should be completed before registration, and the department may ask students to provide updated transcripts to prove prerequisites are met.
Biotechnology

BIOT courses are restricted to students enrolled in the Joint Degree Honours Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology and not open to exchange or visiting students. They are taught at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT).

Chemistry
  • CHEM 300, 319, 329 are not open to exchange and visiting students, no exceptions. 
  • CHEM 449 is only available for First-Class Standing, exchange students should take CHEM 445 RLE instead. 
  • Other course requests are subject to seating availability. Pre-requisites must be completed prior to enrolment.
Computer Science
  • CPSC courses are in high demand, and space is very limited. Registration in undergraduate CPSC courses 200-level and up is limited to students majoring in computer science in their home universities. Students from other disciplines who have the necessary prerequisites may be considered if space is available.
  • Students should expect to be waitlisted for CPSC courses before being moved into full registration, usually closer to the term start when space becomes available.
  • Students may take a maximum of 3 CPSC courses per term. Additional courses may be considered if space is available.
  • Students wishing to take CPSC courses must prove they have the necessary prerequisites by providing an updated home university transcript and detailed course syllabi for all the prerequisite courses listed. Students will be contacted separately to provide this information prior to course registration.
  • CPSC 310 is not open to exchange and visiting students.
  • CPSC 311, 410, 416, 418, 427, and 430 are not available. 

  • Students wishing to take CPSC courses for 2024/2025 must be nominated by their home universities during the Round 1 nomination period (Jan 15 to Mar 15, 2024).

For details about CPSC course registration, please visit the UBC Department of Computer Science website

Data Science

Graduate-level Data Science courses (DSCI 500+) are not available to exchange and visiting students. 

Marine Science

MRNE courses are taught at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre (BMSC) located on Vancouver Island. Students wishing to attend these courses must submit a separate application to BMSC. Additional fees will apply.

Please note that the MRNE courses through BMSC are only offered during UBC's Term 1. It is not possible to do the BMSC program concurrently with other courses at UBC Vancouver.

Microbiology
  • The following courses are available for exchange students: MICB 211 (replaces MICB 201), MICB 212 (replaces MICB 202), MICB 203, MICB 301, MICB 302, MICB 306, MICB 308, MICB 402, MICB 405, MICB 408, MICB 418 and MICB 425.
  • The other courses are lab or seminar courses that are restricted to students in MBIM program due to limited seats.
Physics
  • Limited space in PHYS 210, 219, 229, 309, 319, 348, 408, 409A, 409B, 420C (Lab or seminar type of courses i.e. 348, 420, and 490)
  • PHYS 401, 402, 473, 474 are honours courses restricted to Engineering Physics and our honours students. Available if space permits. Exchange students with strong academic standing can be considered. After being registered, students need to speak to the instructors at the start of classes to  ensure they truly meet the prerequisites for the courses.
  • PHYS 349/447 are directed research courses. Department approval is needed.
  • PHYS/ASTR 449 (Honours Thesis) are not open to exchange and visiting students.