Frequently Asked Questions

Gowns can also be rented on-site on the day of your ceremony. Please arrive a minimum of 45-60 minutes prior to the ceremony to ensure you leave adequate time to pick up your regalia from the Bookstore staff at the Robing Room. You can pay cash, credit, debit or with your Open Account Worktag (UBC Bookstore account).

On-site registration locations are: 

Vancouver – The Robing Room for faculty is located in the Royal Bank Cinema at the Chan Centre. Access via the Royal Bank Cinema entrance off of Crescent Road.

Okanagan – The UBC Okanagan Bookstore

Click here to read our return policy.

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.

Submit a support request with the UBC Learning Technology Hub.

Yes! Please contact our Custom Imprint Buyer to discuss consignment opportunities through the UBC Bookstore.

We cannot allow students to return gowns later than 1 hour after your ceremony is over. Gowns are packed up and shipped back to Winnipeg at the end of each day. Any unreturned gowns and hoods will be charged to students at their full replacement cost so please be sure to return the gown after you have finished taking pictures with your friends and family.

Don't worry! You can also rent a gown and hood on the day of your ceremony at the gown pick up area for an additional fee. We have enough regalia of all sizes and colours to allow anyone who missed the deadline to attend. The cost for day-of rental is $75.00 and we will accept Credit or Debit (Visa, Mastercard, Visa Debit). Please arrive at the gown pick up area 1.5 hours before your ceremony start time to allow enough time to rent your gown on-site. There is no need to provide us with your information in advance once the online rental website has closed.

Vancouver Pickup Location: Buchanan Building Block B (1866 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1)

Okanagan Pickup Location: Upper Fitz Hall of the Commons Building (3297 University Way, Kelowna BC)

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.

Yes, users are able to purchase office supplies from the Bookstore and pay with a credit card or their Bookstore open account using the new Workday “Worktags” (formerly “speed chart #”). JV have been discontinued as of November 2, 2020.

Unfortunately, we do not! To help us prepare for the next semester, we return all overstock to the publishers. This allows us to have shelf space ready for next terms books. If you need textbooks, it is advisable to purchase them at the beginning of the semester.

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.”

Yes, all individuals participating in the graduation ceremonies at the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses are required to wear academic regalia. This includes graduating students, faculty, administration and invited guests who will be seated on stage as well as volunteers. Academic regalia includes a gown, hood and headwear appropriate to the degree being granted. The mortarboard hats for bachelors and masters students are optional, but a gown and hood must be worn by all students wishing to attend. Any form of attire (formal, uniform, business, traditional, or casual) may be worn underneath the gown, but footwear must always be worn.
For more information, please see the UBC Graduation website: UBC Academic Regalia Guidelines
If you have any questions, please contact ceremonies.graduation@ubc.ca (Vancouver campus) or okanagan.ceremonies@ubc.ca (Okanagan campus).

STUDENTS
Gowns must be returned to the gowns drop off location no later than 1 hour after your ceremony concludes.
Vancouver – Drop off is located at the UBC Bookstore (6200 University Blvd).
Okanagan – Drop off is located in the Campus Administration Building foyer outside the UBCO Bookstore.

FACULTY
Gowns must be returned to the Faculty Robing Room no later than 1 hour after your ceremony concludes.
Vancouver – The Robing Room for faculty is the Royal Bank Cinema at the Chan Centre. Access via the Royal Bank Cinema entrance off of Crescent Road.
Okanagan – Drop off for faculty is the foyer of the Campus Administration Building (outside the UBCO Bookstore).

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.

Please send us an email at gown.rentals@ubc.ca.