Although UBC has shifted to online delivery, most UBC undergraduate courses continue to amount to three hours of class time per week. Courses are offered in various formats.
Lectures
Most courses are offered as lectures. Lectures are 50 - 80 minutes each and may consist of 30 to 200 students. When you are unsure of classroom etiquette, you can always ask your professor through email or during office hours.
Web-oriented courses
Due to COVID-19, all 2020 Winter Term 1 in-person courses are now delivered online as Web Oriented courses. A Web Oriented course will be shown in place of a lecture on the Course Schedule. You may also have to select a workshop, discussion, tutorial, or lab component for certain courses.
Distance Education courses
Distance learning courses offer high-quality, flexible options for students who prefer learning online, want scheduling flexibility, or are unable to come to campus. These courses, offered entirely online, span over 30 different subject areas. Find more information about distance education courses.
Tutorials
Typically held weekly, tutorials are common for lecture courses, providing an opportunity for smaller group discussions or learning. All students are expected to participate in tutorials. In some cases, grades are given for attendance and active participation.
Labs
Many science, math, and engineering courses have laboratory (lab) work, which involves practical projects done in small groups under the direction of a Teaching Assistant (TA). You must pass the lab in order to pass the course.
Seminars
Seminar courses offer smaller classes that are less formal than lectures. They encourage discussions and sometimes involve presentation work. Students are graded on presentations and participation.