Frequently Asked Questions

No, for security reasons, orders will not be delivered to residential addresses. Only special exceptions will be permitted as determined and approved by Workday approvers.

Staples Business Advantage (SBA) is the commercial division of Staples providing a higher level of business solutions, like Workday integration to EWAY, custom reporting and customized delivery solutions, for large complex accounts like UBC. Staples retail and Staples.Ca are not part of the UBC agreement.

All purchases are verified and connected to your CWL account for access, which requires you to purchase the materials through the UBC Bookstore in order to get a receipt that provides the redemption codes. Enter the order number (without the dash) listed on the receipt. See the text highlighted in yellow in the above seciton "Did you Purchase your Canvas Course Materials In-Store". If you purchased your textbook secondhand from another student, there is no way for you to activate your course materials in Canvas.

Student gown rentals can be done online: 

Vancouver – www.buildagrad.ca/UBC 

Okanagan – www.buildagrad.ca/UBCO

If you have missed the online rental deadline, you can also rent a gown on-site on the day of your ceremony for an additional charge. We have enough regalia of all sizes and colours to allow anyone who misses the advance registration deadline to attend. The cost for day-of rental is $70.00 and we will accept Cash, Credit, or Debit. There is no need to provide us with your information in advance once the online rental website has closed. Please arrive at the gown pick-up area 1.5 hours before your ceremony start time to rent on the day of your ceremony.

Canvas refers to materials that are integrated into your course site. If a course material includes “Canvas” in the name, this indicates that there is a digital component accessible within Canvas that is included with your purchase. Your instructor will give you more instructions in class.

UBC Bookstore works with Books for Africa, a non-profit organization that ships textbooks to Africa. You can donate unwanted books to this program at our front cashiers or to the bin near the upper lobby elevator and we’ll ensure they continue to be of use to students in developing nations.

No, a credit card or UBC Bookstore Gift Card is required to place an online order. We currently accept Visa and Mastercard online.

As an ethical buyer, the Bookstore responds to any reports of labour rights violations as follows:

• If we receive a report, that we consider credible (examples might include reports from a non-governmental organization, labour organization or media source), that a vendor or subcontractor has violated the Vendor Code of Conduct contained in this policy, the Bookstore will inform the vendor of the specific complaint. The vendor will have 30 days from the date of the notice to respond to the allegation on behalf of itself and its subcontractors. If the vendor acknowledges the allegation is wholly or partially correct, it must provide a detailed rectification plan acceptable to us outlining a program of  how it will rectify the problems within a year
• We can request an inspection of a vendor’s facilities by a third party to determine if a violation occurred or to establish whether the violation has been addressed. The cost of this inspection is borne by the vendor
• In the event that violations are found, whether they are acknowledged by the vendor or verified in an inquiry by an independent inspector, remedial action by the vendor must include, as a minimum, the reinstatement of any worker found to have been unlawfully dismissed, as well as compensation for lost wages
• If the vendor does not respond to the report of a violation, fails to cooperate with an inspection or fails to provide a rectification plan acceptable to us, we will terminate without notice or penalty any contract and will not conduct any future business with the vendor.

Access codes are sometimes sold individually and are also often sold packaged along with an e-text, print book or both. All digital materials classified in our system as "ETEXT + ACCESS CODE" include the eBook plus the publishers' digital homework aids. Digital Materials that are sold as an access code only are classified in our system as “ACCESS CODE.”

All office supplies that were ordered from Staples in the past will be available through the Workday catalogue.

You are welcome to come and shop in person or you can order your books online using our Sponsored Students Order Form: https://bookstore.ubc.ca/sponsored-students/

Please contact the UBC Integrated Services Centre with the Service Now link https://authentication.ubc.ca/idp/profile/SAML2/Redirect/SSO?execution=e3s1  They will update your Location ID, but you will also need to change your CWL Profile address detail to show correct room # and street #.

The average cost for Term 1 Arts or Commerce textbooks is $400.00 and for Science $700.00. If you choose used digital, the cost will be much lower. 

UBC Bookstore accepts Canadian currency (in-store only), Visa, Mastercard, American Express (in-store only, WeChat (in-store only), AliPay (in-store only) and Interac (debit cards, in store only). You may use a parent’s credit card, however you must be able to demonstrate you have their authorization.

Yes. All digital materials that are classified in our system as "ETEXT + ACCESS CODE" include the ebook as well as the publishers digital homework aids.

Our textbooks area is located in the back of the UBC Bookstore. Go to one of our book list terminals and print off your alphabetical book list. Circle the items you would like to purchase and give the list to one of our helpful staff who will be happy to find your book(s) for you.