New to LFS

Welcome to LFS!

Wondering what it’s like to be an LFS student? Excited to start your journey at UBC? There are lots of ways to meet new friends, current LFS students, staff and faculty in the lead up to September. Whether you are joining us directly from high school, transferring from another post-secondary institution, or joining us from another program at UBC, you are invited to connect with us.

Jump to:

UBC Admissions Next Steps & Updates

Dates: now – Sept, 2023

To keep on top of all things UBC admissions, including accepting your offer, applying for housing, and other next steps, be sure to:

  • Read through the information posted on you.ubc.ca about what to do “After you’ve been admitted” and mark important dates in your calendar
  • Keep your eye on the UBC Admissions Blog for updates so you’re on top of things and don’t miss out on opportunities to connect with UBC and have your questions answered

LFS ROOTSS (Reach Out, Orientation, Transition & Study Skills)

Dates: May 2023 – April 2024

The LFS ROOTSS (Reach Out, Orientation, Transition, & Study Skills) program is designed to support your orientation to the Faculty, help you prepare for the year ahead and support you throughout your first year in LFS. ROOTSS is an online program offered through Canvas, which is the platform most UBC classes use, so you’ll get the chance to practice with this tool before your classes start in September. All new-to-LFS students will be enrolled in ROOTSS starting in May 2023.

  • Prepare for and get registration support
  • Learn about and access academic and social resources
  • Get excited about student life on campus and in LFS
  • Engage directly with LFS students, staff and faculty
  • Join discussion boards and connect with your LFS peers

New modules will be released every Monday (#modulemonday) from May to September and then monthly when the academic year starts! Follow us on @lfsnewslettuce Instagram for exciting content and updates on all things #lfsrootss

Get Started in LFS:

Your first day in LFS is coming up fast! Once you’ve accepted your offer, you’re ready to start thinking about the orientation options available for you this summer. Together, they’re designed to help you meet your first friends, get familiar with your new campus, and feel confident in your academic readiness so you have more time to focus on what matters in September.

Check out the UBC Orientations webpage for more information.

Curious about what to expect in your first year? We’ve got you covered! ‘Get Started’ here!


Academic Essentials

Dates: July 4 – August 11, 2023

It is an online program that will prepare you for academic success as you transition to university. You’ll refresh and build your academic skills in math, reading, and writing; feel confident about your academic readiness; and have access to a library of learning and wellness resources to use in your first year. There are three courses you can choose, and each is self-paced and self-directed with new content released weekly. You’ll be guided by course facilitators who are current students from your campus, who know your UBC Vancouver curricula first-hand.

Check here for details.


Jump Start

Dates: August 27 – September 1, 2023

An integrated academic orientation designed to introduce you to the university, your professors, and your classmates. You’ll spend time with senior peers and professors in your Faculty, make your first friends, and learn more about the UBC services available to you before classes start. You will have the option of being in a commuter student cohort, or move in to residence early and participate in the residence stream.

Through Jump Start, you will have opportunities to:

  • Connect with professors (called Faculty Fellows)
  • Connect with upper year LFS students
  • Meet other new LFS students, just like you
  • Learn about UBC

Registration is now open and will close on Thursday, July 6th. Check out the UBC Jump Start website for more information on registering.

Imagine UBC Day

Date: September 5, 2023

Unable to attend Jump Start? Don’t worry, that’s okay! There are plenty of opportunities to get to know UBC, LFS and meet your classmates through Imagine UBC Day.

On Tuesday, September 5, 2023, your first day at UBC, we celebrate Imagine UBC Day. There are no classes this day; instead all new-to-LFS undergraduate students are matched with upper-year LFS students (called Orientation Leaders) who will connect you to other students and activities throughout the day. The day will include:

  • Meeting the LFS Dean
  • Meeting LFS faculty members and LFS staff
  • Meeting your fellow LFS students
  • Learning more about resources, support services and LFS student groups

Keep your eye on the Imagine UBC website for updates.

Hear advice from recent grads:

We interviewed a few of our recent grads about their LFS experience and plans for the future. Meet Julia, Meghan, Christopher, Sasha, Lian, Patricia and Yolanda and get inspired for what lies ahead for you! We’re so proud of our students, and can’t wait to see what impacts and experiences each of you have in LFS, at UBC and in your communities.

Still Have Questions?

Connect with Thilini Leitan, Student Engagement Officer at thilini.leitan@ubc.ca.