Navigating UBC: Taking Advantage of Campus Resources

Whether you are a first-year student or a seasoned academic embarking on post-graduate studies, UBC has a lot to offer.  Our world-class campus boasts countless club activities, music and art, stunning nature, museums, and some of the best coffee in the city.  With so much packed into one campus, it can be difficult to appreciate its beauty while wandering through crowds of 60,000 people and desperately trying to figure out which Buchanan building you’re in.  Stay with us – we’ve been there; we’re here to help.

The Club of Ice and Fire serves Game of Thrones enthusiasts, while the UBC Triathlon Club offers six coached swim, bike, and run workouts per week.  Many UBC student clubs, such as the UBC Best Buddies Organization and the Agape Street Missions, offer students the opportunity to serve the community.  Clubs are a great way to connect with the UBC student population and meet like-minded individuals from different faculties. If you could not withstand the torrential downpour that greeted us on the first day of school during Imagine Day, not to worry.  Check out the AMS website for information on UBC clubs here!

Although we’re only into the third week of school, many of us are already cracking open our shiny textbooks. The Irving K Learning Centre provides private study rooms with huge windows that offer a beautiful view of the campus.  These are located on the third and fourth floor and can be booked online for groups of three or more students using your SSC login identification and password.  Also in the IKB is the fantastic Ridington Room, affectionately dubbed the “Harry Potter Room” due to its large portraits and magical-looking staircase. 

The Koerner Library features a quieter atmosphere. Wander up to the third floor café or down to the basement for a relaxing spot to study.  You can find an extensive list of all the UBC libraries here.

Coffee is easy to come by on a campus full of overworked professors and students, but if you’re in the mood for a treat, check out the Great Dane Coffee Bar near the Walter Gage towers.  This little cafe has an outdoor fire pit and provides views of the spectacular Theology building. For a quick bite, the Student Union Building has everything one could need to fuel that brainpower.  After a hard day, however, it’s lovely to unwind at Mercantes restaurant with some wood-fired pizza.  This is located in the brand-new Ponderosa Commons at Maple House.  The tiramisu tastes as if it is truly out of Italy!

After all that coffee and studying, it is necessary for us West Coast kids to unwind by trekking through nature.  The Nitobe Memorial Garden is free with a student card and provides a beautiful Japanese inspired sanctuary for an autumn stroll.  If you’re feeling adventurous, the Greenheart Canopy Walkway in the UBC Botanical Gardens is 310 metres long and 20 metres above ground.  For a less-structured place to play, check out Wreck and Tower Beaches, both at the bottom of the longest staircase you can imagine.  Just don’t think about going back up while you’re heading down.  

University can be an arduous and often tumultuous time.  It’s important to remember, however, it is a period of growth, perseverance, and unbelievable reward.  During your time here at UBC, take some quiet moments to enjoy the little things. When it feels tough to navigate through everything that is offered, do not hesitate to ask.  We are all lugging heavy backpacks, spilling our coffee and fretting with a campus map at some point or another.