Advance your career, develop your craft, and explore your interests with flexible courses from expert instructors at the UBC Faculty of Arts.

UBC Arts Professional and Continuing Education (Arts PACE) connects you to world-renowned scholars and thought leaders whose teaching and research influence conversations across the world. Our courses give you direct access to their expertise, no matter where you are in your learning journey.

Why Arts Professional & Continuing Education?
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Build practical skills and advance your career

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Explore your passions and creative potential

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Learn from world-class UBC experts, on your own schedule

Course Spotlight: Mental Health and Substance Use

Course Spotlight: Mental Health and Substance Use

Before doing the course I had a manuscript that I had worked on for years, it had no structure and I had paid to have it edited, yet it was going nowhere. It was a disaster and an expensive one at that! After the three courses I found myself with a decent manuscript that was well edited and elicited a publishing offer.
Jane Ryan, Author of Forty-Seven Seconds
Student of How to Write a Novel
I'm used to writing for business, so diving into creative writing felt like sneaking out the back door of logic and stumbling into a world entirely my own. Letting go of structure to explore imagination was both liberating and unexpectedly joyful.
Lyn
Student of Writing the Romantic Comedy

Browse Our Courses

Course Name
DepartmentFormatDate

Micro-Certificate in Mental Health and Substance Use



Gain the foundational knowledge and core skills to effectively and ethically engage in frontline service provision to individuals experiencing mental health and substance use challenges.



School of Social WorkOnline, asynchronous0001-01-01New sessions start each month

How to Write a Novel Course 1 - Structure and Outline



Learn the fundamentals of story structure and complete a detailed, scene-by-scene routine of your novel idea in this course designed by award-winning professors Annabel Lyon and Nancy Lee.



School of Creative WritingOnline, asynchronous2027-01-11January 11 2027

How to Write a Novel Course 2 - Writing the Draft



Move from outline to draft writing with crucial craft lessons on scene design, dialogue, character development, and plot in this online course designed by award-winning professors Annabel Lyon and Nancy Lee.



School of Creative WritingOnline, asynchronous2026-11-02November 2, 2026

How to Write a Novel Course 3 - Edit and Revise



Discover story analysis strategies and rewriting tools in this online course designed by award-winning professors Annabel Lyon and Nancy Lee.



School of Creative WritingOnline, asynchronous2027-04-01April, 2027

Professional Certificate in Writing for Video Games



Self-paced six course certificate. Learn the learn the tools and techniques of writing for video games in a program designed by working game writers and writing teachers.



School of Creative WritingOnline, asynchronous0001-01-02Self-paced, enrol any time

Comics Class for Writers



Join award-winning writer and UBC professor Sarah Leavitt as she teaches the primary building blocks of comics, suitable for all writers (art skills not required).



School of Creative WritingOnline2027-03-06TBA

Sanskrit for the Yoga Studio



This course focuses on appreciating the Sanskrit language in an accessible and fun way, offers non-denominational ideas, phrases, pronunciation, and chanting techniques that you can integrate directly into modern yoga practice.



Department of Asian StudiesOnline2026-12-01Fall/winter, 2026

Creative Writing Instructor-Led Courses



These instructor-led Creative Writing courses provide a student-centred writing education that values thorough feedback, supportive community and a deep knowledge of craft.



School of Creative WritingOnline, synchronous0001-01-01New sessions regularly

Kierkegaard’s Legacy in 20th Century Thought



Philosophy instructor Anders Kraal explores Kierkegaard's influence on many of the major philosophers of the 20th century.



Department of PhilosophyOnline, synchronous2027-01-07January 7, 2027

Chinese Thought: Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Science



How does one live a good life? In this two course series, Professor Edward Slingerland explores how ancient Chinese thinkers answered that question two thousand years before the birth of modern science.



Department of PhilosophyOnline, asynchronous0001-01-03Self paced

The Philosophy of Time Travel and Science Fiction



Is it possible to change the past? Could you meet your younger self? This course uses time travel and science fiction to explore philosophy's deepest questions.



Department of PhilosophyOnline, asynchronous2026-10-02November 2, 2026

Writing the Romantic Comedy



Created by experienced screenwriter and UBC instructor Zac Hug, these two online courses will help you tell your own romantic comedy story. You will learn how to outline and write a script that brings your rom-com vision to life.



School of Creative WritingOnline, asynchronous2026-07-01Summer, 2026

France in a Glass



A beginner-friendly blend of wine education, French language, and cultural storytelling to help you deepen your appreciation of wine and French culture. Perfect for planning a trip to France, or simply to your favourite French Bistro.



Department of French, Hispanic and Italian StudiesOnline, asynchronous2026-10-10November 10, 2026