Just outside the heart of Vancouver, The University of British Columbia  (UBC) is located at the western tip of the Point Grey Peninsula, where the mountains meet the ocean. Well known for research and highly regarded for its undergraduate and graduate programs, the University of British Columbia is informally known as one the “Canadian Ivies.” In 2006, Newsweek magazine ranked the UBC second in Canada and 27th in the world. Its international prestige attracts students from around the world.  Visitors to this unique campus can take in culture at the Belkin Gallery or the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, enjoy nature at the Botanical Gardens, hike the trails of Pacific Spirit Park or simply enjoy the sun at nearby Wreck Beach.