Undergraduates

Undergraduate students study Botany through UBC’s Biology Program, which is the shared teaching program of the Departments of Botany and Zoology. Options include one Major, two Combined Majors, eight Honours, and three Combined Honours options.

Biology program
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UBC’s Biology Program is the undergraduate teaching program of the Departments of Botany and Zoology. Options include one Major, two Combined Majors, eight Honours, and three Combined Honours options.

Advising
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  • Review the Biology website to connect directly with the Biology office team
  • For Biology Course Registration Information please click here!
  • Applications for Third-Year Admission: Applications for 3rd-year admissions are now closed until May 2024!  The results of the August application period have been communicated.  If you have any issues with your application please email tammy.tromba@ubc.ca.
  • You can also connect with Science Advising.
Botany-focused Biology courses
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Undergraduate Plant/Biodiversity Courses

Undergraduate Plant Courses – please check the UBC Calendar for course availability:

Course NumberCourse NameSyllabus
BIOL 203Eukaryotic Microbiology
BIOL 209Non-vascular plants.
BIOL 210Vascular plants.
BIOL 317Weed Science (AGRO 328).
BIOL 320Survey of Algae.
BIOL 321Structure and Evolution of Bryophyta.
BIOL 322Structure and Evolution of Ferns and Fern-allies. 
BIOL 323Structure and Reproduction of Fungi.
BIOL 324Introduction to seed plant taxonomy.
BIOL 343Plants and People.
BIOL 351Plant Physiology I
BIOL 352Plant Physiology II
BIOL 406Plant Ecology I.
BIOL 407Plant Ecology II.
BIOL 412Phytogeography.
BIOL 415Plant evolution.
BIOL 421/APBI 426Plant-Microbe Interactions.
BIOL 423Plant Stress Ecophysiology.
BIOL 433Plant Genetics.
BIOL 443Plant Breeding and Biotechnology.
BIOL 444Techniques in Plant Molecular Biology.
BIOL 448Directed Studies.
BIOL 462Ecological Plant Biochemistry.
MRNE 420Marine Phycology.
MRNE 430Marine Ecology.
BIOL/APBI 440Plant Genomics (to be taught Jan 2010)

To complete a Plant Biology Major, please see the necessary courses on
the Biology Program Worksheet

Undergraduate Research Opportunities
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Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Undergraduate Research Awards

NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Awards (NSERC USRAs)
Application deadline:  February 21, 2024
How to apply:

  • Double check you meet the eligibility criteria 
  • Contact professors directly
  • Apply directly online via the NSERC website and send a PDF copy of Part I and Part II of your application, as well as transcript(s) of any non-UBC post-secondary institutions that you have attended or are currently attending to the USRA Coordinator at alice.liou@botany.ubc.ca.

Visit the UBC NSERC USRA page for information
PDF: Information for Students Handout
PDF: FAQ for Students and Supervisors

 
Science Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) Awards
Application deadline:  February 20, 2024
Application form

  • Available in summer sessions only
  • Students must be UBC-V B.Sc./BCS students, and may be either domestic or international
  • Award holders must be appointed for at least 8 weeks
  • Supervisor must be eligible to supervise students

How to apply: 

  • Contact professors directly
  • Complete application form above with supervisor
  • Send application form to alice.liou@ubc.ca

 
Work-Learn International Undergraduate Research Awards (WL IURA)
Application deadline: January 27, 2024 (if applying with supervisor)
Otherwise, available projects will be posted on UBC CareersOnline for all eligible students to apply during the Spring (likely March)
Visit this page for more information

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Important Notes:

  • If you’ve already applied/are applying for NSERC USRA you will automatically be considered for a SURE (provided you meet eligibility requirements). Please do not submit a separate SURE application.
  • A student may hold only one of these three undergraduate research awards per year.

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Please contact alice.liou@ubc.ca if you have any questions about these awards.