The University of British Columbia continues to assist students ordered to cease studies at Canadian universities by the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
UBC has about 280 new and returning students with Saudi Arabian citizenship in English-language, undergraduate, postgraduate, and graduate programs. Of that number, about 80% are sponsored by the Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau.
Understandably, many of our students have questions about how the current dispute between Canada and Saudi Arabia will affect them now and in the future, and we are working hard to help them manage with the limited information that is available, and to provide individual support as they consider the next steps for their studies. Students in need of support are encouraged to contact an International Student Advisor at isa@students.ubc.ca or 604-822-5021. UBC Okanagan students can contact International Programs & Services at ips.ubco@ubc.ca or 250-807-8585.
I appreciate this is a time of stress and uncertainty for UBC’s Saudi Arabian student population and I want to reassure them that we are doing all we can to provide required supports during this evolving scenario.
This is a difficult time for all of our Saudi Arabian students, academics and their families. Our hope is that the dispute can be resolved to allow our students to continue their studies here at UBC and to remain an important part of our community.
Professor Santa J. Ono
President and Vice-Chancellor