UBC's academic activity is organized into "faculties" and "schools".UBC has twelve faculties at its Vancouver campus and seven at its Okanagan campus.UBC Vancouver has two academic colleges: Interdisciplinary Studies and Health Disciplines, while UBC Okanagan has a College of Graduate Studies. At the Vancouver campus, the Faculty of Arts, which dates back to the 1915 Fairview Campus, is the largest faculty with twenty departments and schools. With the split of the Faculty of Arts and Science in 1964, the Faculty of Science is the second largest faculty with nine departments. 

The Sauder School of Business is UBC's Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration. The School of Architecture offers a program accredited by the Canadian Architectural Certification Board at the bachelor level (B.Arch.) and the master's level (M.Arch.).As of December 2012, a new school was created: UBC Vancouver School of Economics in conjunction with the Sauder School of Business.

In 2014, UBC created a new "International Programs" designation separate from the traditional definition of a faculty. To accompany this designation, the university created Vantage College to allow international students who do not meet the English language requirements for general admission to enter the university's transition program.

UBC stands out among the top universities in the world for making a global impact.

The Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings assess universities’ social and economic contributions through their success in delivering on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs address global challenges related to poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity and peace, and justice. UBC is the only institution to rank number one globally for two different SDGs: Climate Action and Life Below Water.

For 2020, UBC ranks first in Canada overall and seventh globally out of more than 850 participating institutions from 89 countries, based on its contributions through research, outreach, and stewardship.

1st in Climate Action

UBC ranks number one in the world for taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. UBC’s research on climate change, the use of energy, and preparations for dealing with the consequences of climate change are world-leading.

1st in Life Below Water

UBC ranks first in the world for generating new knowledge and informing solutions that can help to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources. More than three billion people depend on marine and coastal biodiversity.

3rd in Life On Land

UBC is tied for third place globally and ranks number one in Canada for this SDG. It recognizes UBC’s contribution to sustainably managing forests, combating desertification, halting and reversing land degradation, and halting biodiversity loss. Good stewardship is vital to maintaining fragile habitats and ecosystems.

1st in Canada for Responsible Consumption and Production

UBC tops the rankings in Canada for its role in promoting resource and energy efficiency, sustainable infrastructure, and providing access to basic services, green and decent jobs and a better quality of life for all.

1st in Canada for Affordable and Clean Energy

UBC ranks number one in Canada for its work around ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy.