Canada · 2027 major entry; application opens in February
UBC International Relations major statement of interest
UBC's International Relations major is a competitive application at the end of second year, not a first-year supplement. Applicants anticipating a cumulative average below 80% are advised to submit optional supplemental materials. The statement answers one of two published choices: why the applicant wants the IR major, or how a lived experience will contribute to their success.
Writing format
Optional 500-word statement of interest and one- or two-page résumé
What to prepare
- 1Choose one of the two published questions and answer it directly; do not try to compress both into the same statement.
- 2For the motivation option, connect an international question you have studied to why this interdisciplinary major fits your next two years.
- 3For the lived-experience option, explain the experience and what it taught you that you would bring to IR coursework, rather than repeating your résumé.
How to approach the writing
- Keep the statement within 500 words and use the separate one- or two-page résumé for roles, dates and skills.
- Check the 54-credit, Arts enrolment and prerequisite conditions before preparing the supplement. UBC says applicants need not justify their academic performance, though a final comment field permits context.
Before you submit
UBC says applications for 2027 entry open in February, but parts of its admissions page still describe 2026 decisions. Confirm the 2027 application window, form and submission instructions when they appear; transfer applicants must apply to UBC separately before seeking third-year IR entry.
Read UBC International Relations major admissions ↗Official source checked 2026-09-25.