Loans for UBC Vancouver faculty members to help in the purchase of a primary residence in Metro Vancouver.
The Prescribed Interest Rate Loan (PIRL) program is a merit-based program that offers interest-payment-only loans to full-time tenure-stream faculty members for the purchase or refinance of a primary residence in Metro Vancouver. Applicants are assessed on academic merit and strategic importance to faculty and university-wide recruitment and retention priorities through an adjudication process overseen by the Office of the Provost. As the program is highly competitive, not all applications can be approved.
Effective April 1, 2025, annual funding for the program has been increased to $20M, up from $15M, as part of the 10-year review of the UBC Housing Action Plan.
Eligibility
Full-time tenure-stream UBC Vancouver faculty members and strategic senior executive staff hires supported by the VP Human Resources are eligible for consideration. There is a recruitment stream for candidates still in the hiring process and a retention stream for current faculty.
The loan can be used to purchase or refinance residential property in Metro Vancouver to be used as the only and principal residence of the borrower as defined by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) The borrower cannot own any other property in Metro Vancouver while the PIRL remains outstanding.
UBC requires the borrower to have a minimum of 5% of their own funds as equity in the property. Any borrowed funds, including UBC Down Payment Assistance program funding, cannot be used towards this 5% equity requirement.
The borrower will need to qualify for a mortgage loan through a participating financial institution unless they have sufficient funds to complete the purchase without one.
Program details
The PIRL is a UBC-funded 15-year interest-payment-only repayable loan. Loan amounts range from $100,000 to $300,000, although loans in the upper limit are rare. If approved under the retention stream, the loan must be activated within 10 years of approval. If approved under the recruitment stream, the loan must be activated within 10 years of appointment or six months prior to the start date. Once the loan is activated, the borrower will make monthly interest payments to UBC through regular payroll deductions. No principal payments are made throughout the loan period.
UBC charges the borrower the CRA prescribed interest rate, which is the lowest interest rate UBC is able to charge without the loan being considered a taxable benefit. The CRA announces this interest rate on a quarterly basis. The prescribed annual interest rate for the third quarter of 2025 is 3%.
The interest rate is set for five-year periods throughout the 15-year term of the loan (the “Period Rate”). The initial annual interest rate for the first five years of the term is set at the time the loan is advanced and resets at the start of each subsequent five-year period to the then applicable CRA Prescribed Interest Rate. During each five-year period, PIRL interest rates are adjusted (either decreased or increased) in alignment with changes in the CRA Prescribed Interest Rate, subject to a maximum ceiling of the Period Rate for that specific five-year period. This means that:
- If the CRA Prescribed Interest Rate decreases, UBC will adjust the interest rate on the loan down.
- If the CRA Prescribed Interest Rate increases, UBC will adjust the interest rate on the loan up, but ensuring it does not exceed the Period Rate for the specific 5-year period.
Loans in excess of $125,000 will be secured by a mortgage registered on title. Where there is a first mortgage, the PIRL will be secured as a second mortgage subject to the consent of the primary lender. Borrowers will not be entitled to refinance their home unless it is for the purpose of repaying the PIRL in full or to refinance or renew their first mortgage where the mortgage amount is less than or equal to the then outstanding first mortgage balance. Any other financing related to the property is subject to UBC approval.
The loan must be repaid in full to UBC upon the sale of the home or at the end of the 15-year loan period, whichever is earlier. The borrower may also make repayments throughout the loan period without any penalty. The minimum repayment amount is $5000.
UBC can demand repayment of the loan in certain circumstances, including if the borrower ceases to be a UBC employee or eligible faculty member, or if the property ceases to be the borrower's primary and only residence in Metro Vancouver. Tenants in UBC Faculty Staff Rental housing on the UBC Vancouver campus are not permitted to have an active Down Payment Assistance (DPA) loan and/or a Prescribed Interest Rate Loan (PIRL) loan.
For more information on loan terms and conditions and the process to activate the loan once you have been approved, please refer to the PIRL Instruction Booklet.
Application and review process
Applicants are assessed on academic merit and strategic importance to faculty and university-wide recruitment and retention priorities through an adjudication process overseen by the Office of the Provost. Department heads, directors, and deans are engaged to review applications and make recommendations to the Office of the Provost. Decision-making authority rests with the Office of the Provost. Decisions are final with no appeals allowed, but unsuccessful applicants may reapply in a subsequent fiscal year.
The PIRL program is highly competitive with finite funding, so not all applications can be approved. Faculty members should speak to their department head, director or dean before applying to understand how their application may be assessed.
It is important to plan ahead. Processing times can vary based on priority, application volume, and funding availability. Priority is currently being given to recruitment applications and retention applications of the highest strategic importance. Once approved, applicants must submit the full set of documents outlined in the PIRL Instruction Booklet at least 4 weeks prior to the closing date to allow sufficient time for loan documentation to be prepared and funds to be released on time.
Recruitment Applications
Department heads, directors, or deans may apply on behalf of prospective or new recruits still in the hiring process through the recruitment application portal. Be prepared to respond to a series of questions and upload documents including a candidate curriculum vitae and recommendation letters from the sponsoring faculty and department or school.
In dual career cases, only one PIRL will be allocated per household and it is awarded solely to the primary hire. A single application is to be submitted for the household and the abovementioned information will be required for each faculty member.
Retention Applications
Current faculty members who have been in an eligible position for at least one full year can apply through the retention application portal. In spousal cases, both faculty members must apply jointly on a single application as only one PIRL will be allocated per household.
Faculty members are strongly encouraged to speak to their department head, director, or dean before applying to understand how their application may be assessed. Applications are reviewed by the Office of the Provost on a quarterly basis (March, June, September and December).
Be prepared to respond to a series of questions and upload documents including your UBC curriculum vitae, a scholarship statement, and any other information you consider relevant to your application. You will also be required to acknowledge key terms of the PIRL program.
Contact Housing, Immigration and Relocations Services at employeehousing.help@ubc.ca if you have questions about the PIRL program and application process.