Resources

Postdoctoral Fellows may be eligible for health benefits, which include BC Medical Services Plan, Extended Health, Dental and the Employee and Family Assistance Program. If you have any questions about your benefits eligibility or your enrollment, please contact your department administrator.

Information about Benefits, including eligibility and coverage, is available on the UBC Human Resources website. Specific Benefits information includes:

• Benefits Eligibility
• Benefits Available to Postdoctoral Fellows
  • Click on headers for Postdoctoral fellows (award recipients) or Postdoctoral fellows (employees) based on postdoc appointment type.
• Insurance During MSP Waiting Period

Please contact the Benefits team directly for questions regarding benefits for Postdoctoral Fellows.

PDF Employees and PDF award recipients meeting requirements are eligible for the following types of leaves: sick leave; maternity, parental, and adoption leave; general leave (without salary); bereavement leave; and compassionate care leave.

Details regarding these leaves are available for PDF Employees and PDF Award Recipients on the Central Human Resources website.

Quick links to specific leave types include:

• Compassionate Care Leave 
  • Postdoctoral Fellows (Award Recipients and Employees)
• Maternity, Parental and Adoption Leave
  • Postdoctoral Fellow Employees
  • Postdoctoral Fellow Award Recipients
• Paid Sick Leave
  • Postdoctoral Fellows (Award Recipients and Employees)

The Housing, Immigration & Relocation Services helps with the smooth transition of new faculty, postdocs, staff and their families who are relocating to UBC. The office is an excellent first point of contact for those moving or who have recently moved, providing resources, support and events to help situate you in your new surroundings. Please contact the Housing, Immigration and Relocation Services office for assistance with your relocation.

On-campus housing for UBC-appointed Postdoctoral Fellows may be available through the following providers:

• Green College
• St. John's College
• Village Gate Homes

The Postdoctoral Fellows Office offers free professional development events that are available to all UBC-appointed Postdoctoral Fellows. Any questions about PDFO events can be directed to postdoctoral.fellows@ubc.ca. 

In addition to the PDFO's professional development events, UBC-appointed postdoctoral fellows may also be eligible to access the following professional development resources:

• Free, high-quality digital tutorials and courses through LinkedIn Learning. Please contact support.wpl@ubc.ca for information about LinkedIn Learning at UBC.
• Individual coaching through the Coaching @ UBC Program. Please contact coaching@hr.ubc.ca for information about the Coaching @ UBC Program. 

In addition to the professional development opportunities offered through UBC, the following free Individual Development Plan (IDP) tools may be of interest:

• For postdocs in Health: Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) IDP Tools
• For postdocs in the Humanities and Social Sciences: ImaginePhD (www.imaginephd.com)
• For postdocs in the Sciences: myIDP (myidp.sciencecareers.org)
• For all postdocs: Verastile PhD (https://versatilephd.com/)

The University recognizes the right of staff to work in an environment free from harassment and discrimination. The Equity and Inclusion Office works with campus partners to ensure adherence with Employment Equity (Policy HR10), Discrimination (Policy SC7), and the UBC Statement on the Respectful Environment.

The University’s policy on discrimination and harassment addresses problems arising from grounds prohibited from discrimination under the Human Rights Code of British Columbia.

The University’s statement on Respectful Environment for Students, Faculty and Staff addresses concerns an employee may have about personal harassment that does not involve prohibited grounds of discrimination covered under the Human Rights Code of British Columbia. Again, these concerns should be brought to the attention of the supervising faculty member or Head of Academic Unit for investigation and resolution in a timely manner.

The Investigations Office was created in 2018 to ensure that investigations into sexual violence, discrimination and harassment are guided by the principles of procedural fairness, confidentiality, respect and a trauma-informed approach. This office investigates complaints under Policy SC17 (Sexual Misconduct) and Policy SC7 (Discrimination). Reports and complaints may be submitted to this office via their website.

The IO serves both UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan campuses, and can be reached by telephone at 604 827 2060 or via email at investigations.office@ubc.ca.

UBC’s Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office (SVPRO) is a safe and confidential place for students, faculty, staff, and postdoctoral fellows who have experienced sexual violence, regardless of where or when it took place. This includes any attempt or act of a sexual nature without consent. All gender identities, expressions and sexualities are welcome. This office can help find a place to stay, coordinate workplace accommodation, explain reporting options, and go with you to the hospital, police, or court. You do not need to go to the hospital or make a police report to access their services.

• The Vancouver office is open from 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM Monday through Friday, and can be reached by telephone at 604-822-1588 or via email at svpro.vancouver@ubc.ca.
• The Okanagan office can be reached at 250-807-9640 or via email at svpro.okanagan@ubc.ca.

Postdocs who are enrolled in benefits have access to free, confidential counselling support through the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP). Provided by GreenShield Health, you will be matched with a counsellor based on your specific needs and preferences across more than 50 search criteria, including culture, language, religions, and specialty areas such as LGBTQ2S+ issues or Indigenous health professionals. You can access these and many other services through the GreenShield+ (GS+) platform or by phone at 1-866-424-0770, where a personalized matching service ensures you receive the right level of care.

If you are experiencing a crisis and require immediate counselling services, call 1-866-424-0770 and select the emergency option to speak with a crisis-trained counsellor who will provide immediate support. You can also access crisis support on the GreenShield+ platform.

For additional information about this benefit, contact Human Resources at hr.info@ubc.ca.

The UBC community offers a number of opportunities to learn mindfulness and practice meditation. Visit the UBC Human Resources website for information and meditation resources.

Since 2015, UBC has been an active participant of the Canadian Mental Health Association's Not Myself Today (NMT) Initiative. NMT includes digital toolkits and activities, online learning tools, and resources.

For more information, visit the UBC NMT website.

UBC Human Resources offers a series of free health and wellbeing events and resources. For more information and to register, visit the Central HR website and the Healthy UBC Newsletter online or subscribe to the emailed Healthy UBC newsletter.

The BC Crisis Centre provides confidential, non-judgmental, free emotional support, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair. Their Distress Services are a resource where youth and adults in distress can:

• GET HELP by having a real-time online chat with a trained volunteer, or by getting email support from the Crisis Centre’s professional staff
• LEARN MORE about common issues and concerns such as bullying, disordered eating, depression and self-harm
• FIND RESOURCES by connecting to our online library of useful websites and community resources

Phone Support

The Crisis Centre's Phone Distress Services are available if you are worried about something, feel upset or confused, or you just want to talk to someone.  The phone lines below are available in over 140 languages using a language service. 

• Greater Vancouver: 604-872-3311
• Toll Free: 1-866-661-3311
• 1-800-SUICIDE: 1-800-784-2433
• TTY: 1-866-872-0113
• Senior’s Distress: 604-872-1234
• 1-800-SUICIDE: 1-800-784-2433

Web Support

CrisisCentreChat.ca is a web-based hotline for adults (25+) in distress where they can access free, confidential, non-judgmental support (noon – 1am, 7 days a week) from dedicated volunteers, supported by a small team of professional staff.

Crisis Services Canada provides a safe place to talk - any time, in your own way. If you are having thoughts of suicide, you don’t have to face them alone. This service is available if you need a safe and judgement free place to talk. Our responders are here to listen to you, support you, and keep you safe. Crisis Services Canada can help you understand your thoughts and feelings, and connect you with local support resources, but are ultimately here to listen and share this difficult moment with you.

• Phone: 1.833.456.4566 - available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
• Text Message: Send a text to 45645 - available 4:00 PM - 12:00 AM Eastern Time. Standard text messaging rates apply.

The Access & Assessment Centre (AAC) is available to help individuals, their family members, and/or their friends during a non-life threatening mental health and/or substance use issue. AAC staff includes registered nurses, registered psychiatric nurses, and social workers, psychiatrists and reception staff who are here to help. We provide pathways for people and families to access VCH mental health and/or substance use services in Vancouver and offer an alternative to the Emergency department for people having a non-life threatening mental health and/or substance use issue.

Call (604) 675-3700 or walk in between 7:30 a.m. - 9:30 pm. 

Joseph & Rosalie Segal & Family Health Centre
803 West 12th Avenue
Level 1 East Entrance
Vancouver, BC V5Z 1N1
Entrance located at the back of health centre building; access through laneway/service road.

Phone: (604) 675-3700
Fax: (604) 675-3705

The Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions is the Government of British Columbia's pathway for mental health and substance use supports across BC. Visit http://wellbeing.gov.bc.ca for a collection of resources on a wide variety of subjects including alcohol and drug information referral services.

The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) offers a number of free online mental health support programs. These programs include:

• BounceBack: Offers weekly calls and homework with a personal coach to combat depression, anxiety, stress, and worry.
• Living Life to the Full: An interactive, 8-week online course based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy delivered in 90-minute sessions. Available for adults and for youth ages 13-18.

The CMHA is regularly adding support resources to their website. Please visit the CMHA website for more information and to access these supports.

The Hope for Wellness Help Line offers immediate mental health counselling and crisis intervention to all Indigenous peoples across Canada.

Call the toll-free Help Line at 1-855-242-3310, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or use their chat box below to connect with a counsellor on-line

Experienced and culturally competent Help Line counsellors can help if you:

• want to talk
• are distressed
• have strong emotional reactions
• are triggered by painful memories

If asked, counsellors can also work with you to find other wellness supports that are available near you

Phone and chat counselling is available in English and French. On request, phone counselling is also available in:

• Cree
• Ojibway
• Inuktitut

HealthLink BC's health service navigators can help you find health information or health services, or connect you with a nurse, dietitian, exercise professional, or pharmacist. Translation services are available in over 130 languages. To get service in another language, simply state the language you are looking for (example say “Punjabi”), and an interpreter will join the call.

Call 8-1-1 to speak with a navigator anytime of the day or night. If your telephone service provider is not able to support the 8-1-1 number, the service can be accessed by calling 604-215-8110.

Medimap.ca is Canada's largest and fastest growing online resource for connecting patients with same-day access to care. Currently, over 900 medical clinics in 5 provinces update their wait times to Medimap.ca in order to improve access to care for their patients.

The following community resources are available to provide substance use and addiction support:

• HealthLink BC: Mental health and substance use information
• Toward the Heart (BC Centre for Disease Control): Harm reduction and overdose response
• Here to Help: Mental health and alcohol and other drug use information

Postdoctoral Fellows at UBC fall under UBC Policy AP10, Postdoctoral Fellows. The official University of British Columbia Postdoctoral Policy can be found on the Office of the University Counsel website.

Information about recruiting Postdoctoral Fellows can be found on the Human Resources website.

Each department/unit is responsible for covering the cost of benefits for eligible Postdoctoral Fellows. Generally, benefits are paid out of the Supervisor/PI's project grant. The Benefits Cost Calculator provided by Payroll can assist you in estimating the cost of a Postdoctoral Fellow's benefits and statutory deductions.

Detailed information about benefits for eligible Postdoctoral Fellows can be found on the Human Resources website.

Detailed information about the immigration process for foreign Postdoctoral Fellows is available on the Human Resources website.

All Postdoctoral Fellows must hold a formal appointment at UBC. The appointment process is followed regardless of funding source. Initial PDF appointments are typically made one year at a time, and are renewable up to 3 years (appointments may be renewable up to 5 years in total with the Dean’s written approval). 

Appointments are done at the departmental level, and information about the appointment process and requirements is available on the Human Resources website.

Offer letters are required for Postdoctoral Fellows. The following offer letter templates are available: 

• Postdoctoral Fellows - Regular Earnings (REG) (.doc)
• Postdoctoral Fellows - Fellowship Earnings (PFL, formerly FEL) (.doc)
• Honorary Postdoctoral Fellows (including NUF/Non-University Fund Earnings) (.doc)
• Postdoctoral Teaching Fellows (.doc)

In May of 2026, the PDFO introduced a new onboarding program to help introduce postdocs to some of the resources available to them at UBC. 

Upon hire, a series of three onboarding documents are now included as part of the onboarding process in Workday. New Postdoctoral Fellows will receive these documents through My Tasks; they will need to verify receipt, and once they do so, the documents will be held in the Documents section of their workday profile for ongoing access. these new resources will be deployed to postdocs with New Hire Business Processes that are initiated Workday on or after Friday, May 22. 

The onboarding documents include: 

• Welcome to UBC: Provides an introduction to the PDFO and a brief overview of some of the other important contacts postdocs may connect with during their postdoctoral experience.
• Taking Care of Your Health and Wellbeing at UBC: Provides an overview of health and wellbeing resources available to UBC-appointed postdocs including Benefits and the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP), as well as some external health and wellbeing resources.  
• Making the Most of Your Postdoc Experience: Provides an overview of some of the professional development opportunities that are available to UBC postdocs, including PDFO programming, other UBC-run professional development providers, and some external professional development sources.

Faculty and staff can download these onboarding documents on the Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies Faculty and Staff Page (CWL login required).

In addition to the offer letter required by Faculty Relations, the PDFO requests that all units provide each incoming postdoc with a copy of the Welcome Letter provided by the PDFO. This Welcome Letter includes important information about Benefits, Housing and Relocation, Faculty Relations, and Orientation for new postdocs, as well as information about the PDFO and the UBC Postdoctoral Association.

• PDFO Welcome Letter (.PDF)

Please contact the PDFO with any questions about the Welcome Letter.

The PDFO and Faculty Relations offer a joint workshop for Administrators. The workshop will cover a variety of topics related to postdocs which will include: the appointment process, benefits, immigration, onboarding and resources.