ubc phd application deadline 2023

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Are you interested in applying to the PhD program but unsure where to start? Use the below guide to navigate the application process.

Applications open: November 15, 2023

Application deadline: january 7, 2024, reference deadline: january 14, 2024, 1. explore your options for graduate school at ubc.

• Learn more about the Doctor of Philosophy in Population and Public Health Program
• Consider graduate programs from other departments at UBC
• G+PS Info Sessions: https://www.grad.ubc.ca/prospective-students/info-sessions
• Reach out and connect with potential faculty supervisors at SPPH

2. Review the admission requirements and funding information

• Review the Admission Requirements for the PhD
• Review the information on funding for the PhD program here .
• SPPH Entrance Scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis to the top applicants. Consider applying for funding though the Canada Graduate Scholarships – Doctoral Competition or the Affiliated Fellowships Competition . Ask your potential supervisor about other funding opportunities before you apply.
• More information about tuition fees for the PhD program can be found here.

3. Prepare the documents you will need for your application

Applicants should submit supporting documents electronically through the online application system. We recommend that you prepare your documents in advance of beginning the online application form.

Official Transcripts

All applicants must upload scans of official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended, including front and back pages. If the official transcript does not indicate the degree name and the degree conferral date, official copies of the degree certificate must be uploaded as well. If the official transcript is in a language other than English, certified translations are required. We prefer that uploaded copies be in PDF format. Please note there are different requirements for Canadian & US transcripts and international transcripts . Copies of transcripts from UBC are not required, they will be added to your application when it is received. Paper transcripts are not required at this stage of the application, they are only required if offered admission.

Curriculum Vitae (CV) 

Review the CV requirements here . Please upload your CV in PDF format.

Letter of Intent (LOI)

Review the LOI requirements here . Download the LOI Guide here . Please upload your LOI in PDF format.

Reference Letters

We encourage applicants to communicate with potential references early, and recommend sharing your CV and LOI with them. We also recommend reviewing and sharing the Reference Guide . We require applicants to enter the contact information, including an email address, for each of their references in the online application. Referees can submit a reference form , reference letter, or both. We accept two basic types of references:

• Electronic references submitted via the online application system. References will be asked to either fill out a reference form in the online system, or upload their document (letter or previously completed form). In order to use the online system, referees must have an institutional email account (university, organization, professional business, etc). Referees cannot use the system if they have a have a personal email account (Hotmail, Yahoo, Gmail, MSN, etc). The online system automatically verifies all email addresses. We prefer electronic references.
• Paper letters of reference or paper reference forms mailed directly to the MSc program office. Paper reference letters should be on the referee’s official letterhead and must be mailed directly to the office in a sealed and endorsed envelope.

Instructions will be provided to referees once the online application has been submitted. Please note that referees will only be notified about submitting references once the application has been submitted. We encourage you to submit your application early to allow plenty of time for your references to submit their documents.

Your referees will receive automatic reminders 10 days prior to the earliest referee deadline. You will also receive automatically generated emails about the status of your references, (e.g. when the reference is submitted, a referee declines, or the referee address has failed). You also have the option to change a referee in your online application after you’ve submitted your application and before the deadline. We cannot accept reference letters emailed directly to the program.

Quantitative Statement

All applications must include a Quantitative Statement. This is a mandatory question in the application. Please include your Quantitative Statement in the space provided in the application – do not upload a separate document.

Quantitative Statements must be 150 words or less. Statements should describe past quantitative experience, including, but not limited to: coursework in math, statistics, or research methods; experience with statistical software; and/or research experiences. Further information and example Quantitative Statements can be found here .

Supervisor Support Form

Supervisor support is mandatory. Please ask the faculty member supporting your application to fill out the PhD Supervisor Support Form and email it directly to the program office: [email protected] .

Statement on Truth and Reconciliation, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion (optional)

You are invited to submit a short statement about how your research interests, lived experience, and/or career aspirations meaningfully engage with truth and reconciliation and/or equity, diversity and inclusion. Statements should be about 250 words. The admissions committee will consider your statement when they evaluate your potential for excellence in research and your contribution to scholarly communities. Some suggested topics are:

• How you have incorporated attention to truth and reconciliation or equity, diversity and inclusion into your past research or how you plan to incorporate these topics into your research at SPPH (e.g. through research topic, research design, methodology, research respectfully engaging indigenous communities, or application of research);
• An experience where you were challenged by or had to challenge systemic bias, stereotypes, or lack of diversity;
• Your career aspirations as they relate to truth and reconciliation and/or challenging systemic bias and/or inequities;

Other relevant thoughts or perspectives on these topics.

Please include your statement in the space provided in the application – do not upload a separate document.

TOFEL or IELTS (if required)

TOEFL or IELTS  test scores must be  submitted electronically through the testing agency. The UBC institution code is 0965. We must receive the scores by the application deadline. We encourage applicants to book a date early if you need to take the TOEFL or IELTS.

Please note that the online application asks you to self-report your TOEFL or IELTS scores, and allows you to upload a copy of your test report form. We encourage you to self-report scores, but we are not able to accept either of these as official scores. We require that the scores be submitted directly to UBC via the testing agency.

GRE/GMAT or Other Test Scores (optional)

Test scores, including GRE or GMAT, are not required. If you would like to submit test scores, you can, and they will be reviewed as part of your application.

GRE scores (or other test scores) must be submitted electronically through the testing agency. The UBC institution code is 0965. We must receive the score by the application deadline, or it will not be considered in the application.

Please note that the online application asks you to self-report your GRE scores, and allows you to upload a copy of your test report form. We encourage you to self-report scores, but we are not able to accept either of these as official scores. We require that the scores be submitted directly to UBC via the testing agency if you would like them reviewed as part of your application.

4. Apply online

Complete the online application . It takes about 45-60 minutes to complete the online application and a credit card is required. The application fee for Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents is $112.00 CAD and the fee for international applicants is $168.25 CAD. The application is a mix of text entry questions and document uploads. If you experience any technical issues with your online application, please email [email protected] . You may save your progress and return to your application later up until the application deadline.

The PhD program recognizes that SPPH and UBC are situated on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam). In partial recognition of the past, present, and future benefits that all members of the SPPH community receive from the use of this land, the PhD Program will pay the application fee for any Indigenous applicant. Applicants must contact the program in advance to receive a coupon code.  Email us at [email protected] .

5. Check your application status

Applicants can check their application status through the online application system by logging into My Applications and reviewing their Submitted Applications . Before the application deadline, the online application system will allow you to upload updated documents, change a reference, and/or see if your reference has submitted their document.

Our Admissions Committee meets after the application deadline has been reached and all applications have been received. The committee reviews all applications which have met the application and admission requirements. They make their decisions based on the strength of your total application package. All applicants will be notified of decisions by email in March or early April.

6. Follow up if you are offered admission

If you are a successful applicant, you will receive an offer letter notification by email. You must accept the offer before the deadline noted on the offer letter. Accept your offer through the online application system . Further instructions will also be listed in the offer letter. Send official copies (paper copies) of your transcript(s) and any other requested documentation to Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies at: 170-6371 Crescent Road Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 1Z2

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Application & Supporting Documents Deadline: December 15, 2023 (for September 2024 / January 2025)

Steps to Application

• Check out our graduate programs .
• Visit Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies  for information and overviews of our programs.
• Read through the eligibility criteria before submitting an application.

Read our application components for detailed information about how to submit an online application, deadlines and a list of required documents to provide. 

Online application will be available in late September/early October. Apply early so that your referees can submit their references by the deadline.

• Complete and submit your application with supporting documents.  We strongly recommend that you upload them online to avoid delays.   
• Wait for the decision.  

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MSc program

PhD program

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Applicants for both the MA and PhD programs are required to meet admission and application requirements for both Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies at UBC and the Department of Psychology.

Our department is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion, and these are considered in all admission and funding decision.

Admission to the graduate program is similar to other research-intensive psychology departments in North America. We do not conduct pre-assessments of applicants’ credentials. Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to review all information posted on this website. In addition, they are advised to review individual research area websites for area-specific requirements, and to identify potential supervisors, and to review their websites.

Application Deadline

Prospective applicants must refer to the faculty supervisors’ websites to confirm if the faculty supervisor is admitting graduate students in the coming admission cycle. Applications without an intended supervisor and/or research interest will not be considered ; applicants will not be admitted without identifying a faculty member as their intended supervisor.

When seeking a research supervisor, ensure the research supervisors you plan to list in your application are (a) intending to admit student(s) that year and (b) a good fit for you in terms of research interests.

Admission decisions are made by prospective research supervisors. Some faculty supervisors have detailed admission-related information and requirements posted on their personal and/or lab websites. We encourage all prospective applicants to review the information and reach out to prospective research supervisors for further information.

All applications are first evaluated by the prospective research supervisor(s). If a research supervisor is interested in supervising the applicant, then the program area (e.g., health, clinical) must approve the application, as must the Admissions Committee and the Associate Head for Graduate Affairs.

Applications will be reviewed starting in early December with early decisions made by mid-January. In the first weekend of February, we typically hold a recruitment event. We invite a select number of applicants to this event, which includes meetings with faculty members, extensive conversations with members of research labs, and social events with current graduate students. Invitations to this event are extended directly by the prospective research supervisors.

Evaluations continue throughout December – March; all offers of admission will be made by April 1 . As we receive a high volume of applications each year, applicants will be notified via email only if there are updates in the status of their application. All applicants have until April 15 to decide whether to accept or decline the offer of admission.

Program Requirements

You should apply for the MA program if you will have completed a BA/BSc program by September of the year you wish to start the MA program (i.e., you must complete your undergraduate degree by September 2024 if you are applying for the September 2024 intake). Applicants who apply for the PhD program with only a BA/BSc degree will automatically be considered for the MA program instead.

You should apply to the PhD program directly only if you will have completed a thesis-based MA/MSc degree in Psychology or related disciplines (such as Neuroscience and Cognitive Science) before starting our program. If you are uncertain whether your MA/MSc degree meets our requirement, please consult directly with the intended research supervisor.

The MA program is a 24-month program, which is typically followed by an average of four-five years to complete the PhD program. There is one intake per year (September) and our department accepts 10-15 graduate students out of over 600 applicants each year.   Sometimes strong applicants are not successful; this is often due to (but not limited to) match in research interests with intended supervisors or funding availability. 

Only applicants having the intention and potential to complete the PhD program will be considered; we do not admit applicants who intend to complete only the MA degree.

Typically, a four-year BA/BSc degree in psychology and research experience in psychology is required for admission to our graduate program. In some cases, a three-year degree from certain countries can be accepted. Click on the links below to review minimum requirements for both domestic and country-specific credentials.

Although some faculty may prefer applicants with an honours degree, this is not a requirement for admission.

Applicants who did not major in psychology should either do a second undergraduate degree in psychology or take sufficient psychology courses as an unclassified student to have the equivalent knowledge background of a psychology major (normally between 42-60 credits). There are no specific prerequisite courses, but successful applicants will demonstrate broad knowledge in psychology and research experience.

As we do not conduct pre-assessments, please do not send us your transcripts and CVs.

Note: GPA calculations are conducted based on grades from the degree used as a basis of admission.  While non-degree course grades will be put into consideration during departmental admission review, they will not be used for calculating minimum GPA requirements set forth by UBC's Graduate & Post-doctoral Studies.

A thesis-based MA/MSc degree in psychology is a prerequisite for direct admission to the PhD program.

Applicants who have a master’s degree in psychology from a recognized university are normally admitted fully to the PhD program. Upon being admitted to the PhD program, review of the student’s previous MA/MSc degree will be conducted to determine if it is comparable to the MA program in terms of requiring a written thesis, statistics, and other coursework.

Students with a non-psychology MA/MSc degree may be eligible for provisional status at the department’s discretion. Please reach out to intended supervisors for further inquiries after reviewing the information online.

Application Procedures

December 1 - deadline for all required documents, excluding letters of reference December 15 - deadline for letters of reference only

Uploaded documents cannot be removed , changed, or updated; we do not follow up on missing documents or upload documents on behalf of the applicants. It is therefore important for applicants to ensure that all documents are properly uploaded only once and are submitted by the application deadline. Once the deadline has passed, updated or additional documents, including updated transcripts or CVs, will not be accepted. Please note we do not confirm receipts of documents (including test score reports). It is the applicants' responsibility to ensure all required documents are submitted properly prior to the application deadline.

Official Transcripts

Scans of unofficial transcripts, print-outs of student advising/grade records or transcripts without grading keys will not be accepted. Please do not upload unofficial documents as a placeholder as you will not be able to remove uploaded documents. 

Scans of official transcripts with their grading keys (usually located on the back side of the transcript) of all post-secondary institutions attended (including exchange and non-degree programs) must be uploaded as part of the online application.

Please review the Graduate & Postdoctoral (G+PS) transcripts requirements page for more details. Incomplete or incorrect transcript submissions will result in delay in review of your application. Note that evaluation of admission applications will be conducted using official transcripts submitted at the time of application. Updated transcripts after December 1 will not be accepted or reviewed.

Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume

Applicants must provide an up-to-date CV or resume detailing their academic and work history, noting any additional relevant experiences such as courses, presentations, publications or volunteer work.

Reference Letters

Letters of reference from three previous instructors or research supervisors are required. Applicants should choose referees who are most familiar with their abilities and research experience and who are able to comment on their ability to undertake graduate studies. Referees with non-institutional email addresses (such as Gmail or Hotmail) will not be able to complete the reference online and will instead received a paper reference form that must be submitted via mail in time to meet the December 15 deadline. For more tips on reference letter, visit the letter of reference page .

Please note we do not confirm receipts of documents.

Graduate Records Examination (GRE)

GRE requirements will vary depending on the area of research and/or intended research supervisor. Please visit the respective Research Stream and individual faculty supervisor page for area-specific GRE requirements.

For those applicants submitting GRE scores, please note that GRE tests must have been taken within the last five years. Official GRE score reports may be submitted after the application deadline, but the review of admissions applications begins in early December.  Applicants should take the GRE test at an early date to ensure score reports are received by the December 1 deadline. Our institution code is 0965 and department code is 2016.   Test scores are matched automatically via the online system and the department does not have direct access to retrieve score reports; we are therefore unable to confirm receipt of test scores . To avoid delays, applicants must provide the correct institution and department codes when requesting test scores.

Proof of English Language Proficiency

Applicants for whom a) the native language is not English and b) the language of instruction in their bachelor’s or master’s degree program was not English, must complete an English proficiency test such as TOEFL or IELTS. English proficiency test scores may be submitted after the application deadline, but as review of applications beings in early December, test scores should be submitted no later than late December. Test scores are matched automatically via the online system and the department does not have direct access to retrieve score reports; we are therefore unable to confirm receipt of test scores . Refer to the English Proficiency Requirements page for more details.

• Statement of Interest

All applicants must provide a detailed statement (1-2 pages) of their past research experiences as well as their current interests and objectives for graduate studies in Psychology at UBC. This statement will be read by prospective supervisors that you specify in your application and is an important factor in determining admissibility. Please be specific about your past experiences, including the research questions you pursued, the methods utilized and skills developed, and your takeaways from the project(s). Please also note the research questions you wish to pursue during your degree, and how these fit with the research being done in the prospective supervisor’s lab.

Applicants are strongly encouraged, if applicable, to include an additional brief section (max 0.5 pages), describing challenges or barriers they experienced in their professional and/or personal life that may have affected their academic record (e.g., family responsibilities, working full-time, adverse childhood experiences, disability). This information will be used to provide valuable context when evaluating applications for admission.

There is no specific format required for the statement; for more tips, visit the Statement of Interest page .

Writing Sample

Applicants may choose one example of their scholarly writing, such as a term paper or a substantial scholarship paper, to include with the application. Please note this is optional and not a required component of the application.

Application Package

Uploaded copies of documents cannot be removed or deleted; all versions of submitted documents will be included in the application package. Applicants are advised to carefully proofread their documents before uploading. To present the most attractive application package, we recommend uploading each document only once.

A complete application package contains the following:

• Application form (online)
• All post-secondary official transcripts (with English translation if necessary) including institution’s grading keys
• 3 letters of reference
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) or resume
• GRE test scores for some research areas
• English proficiency test scores, if necessary
• Writing sample (optional)

It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all documents relevant to the application are uploaded in the proper format and received by the application deadline. We are unable to notify individuals when documents are missing, incomplete, or inaccurate. Once the deadline has passed, updated or additional documents will not be accepted.

For graduate program information on admissions, registration, grades and scholarships,  contact us online .

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• Graduate (MSc/PhD)

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Department of Statistics

THE APPLICATION AND DOCUMENT DEADLINE FOR THE PhD PROGRAM IS DECEMBER 1ST, 2023, FOR THE MSc PROGRAM IS JANUARY 7TH, 2024

For application to either the MSc or PhD program for admission in September 2024, please read the following information carefully.  

• We will begin accepting applications on Monday, October 1st, 2023.
• The deadline to submit your application and all documents for the PhD Program, is  December 1st, 2023 .  This deadline is firm. Applications that are incomplete at that time will not be considered.
• The deadline to submit your application and all documents (including reference letters) for the MSc Program, is  January 7th, 2024 .  This deadline is firm. Applications that are incomplete at that time will not be considered.
• Please read the minimum requirements for admission to a UBC graduate program, as set by the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
• Please read the information posted on the Statistics Department site, including the additional requirements , as set by the Statistics Department, described below.  
• Successful applicants must show evidence of their genuine interest in our discipline and have excellent grades in relevant courses and strong reference letters.  We receive over 350 applications each year and can only admit a small proportion of these.
• Please make sure your referees have enough time to submit their reference letter. They should not leave it to the last day to submit the reference letter incase they should encounter any technical difficulties.

Please also note that we only admit students for September enrollment. We do not offer a January start date, nor do we offer part-time programs.

After reading the information on this page, and the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies information, if you have questions please contact the admiss [at] stat.ubc.ca (subject: Query%20re%20program%3A%20%20MSc%20or%20PhD%20%20(specify%20one)) (Graduate Admissions Officer) .   

MSc Applicants

Our MSc in Statistics program has two distinct options or areas of concentration, Statistics and Biostatistics, each with its own set of program requirements. In your on-line application, please clearly indicate  if you are applying to the Statistics option or to the Biostatistics option. If admitted, you will not be able to switch between options.

Academic Background for the MSc

In addition to the minimum admission requirements enforced by the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, the department's Admissions Committee has outlined the following requirements, along with other desired courses and skills. Note that meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. Note also that an applicant missing a course or two but with other strong attributes, such as work experience as a statistician, will be seriously considered.

MATHEMATICS COURSES

• required: calculus (differentiation, integration, multivariable calculus) as obtained in UBC MATH 100, 200, 253
• required:  linear algebra, as obtained in UBC MATH 221.

In addition, the student should have some ability in constructing proofs, for instance concerning continuity and limits, such as acquired in UBC MATH 200.  

PROBABILITY COURSES

• required: an introductory course including axioms of probability, various common distributions, multivariate distributions and some limit theorems, as obtained through UBC MATH/STAT 302 or via the text Introduction to Probability and Its Applications , 2nd edition, by R.L. Scheaffer.
• recommended but not required: stochastic processes, as obtained through UBC MATH 303.

COMPUTING SKILLS

• required:  familiarity with R
• recommended but not required: experience in coding such as C/C+ or Python.

STATISTICS COURSES

• required: an introductory course in statistical methods, such as UBC STAT 200 or via the text Statistics Data and Models , Pearson Canada, 2015, by De Veaux Velleman and Bock
• required: a course in statistical inference/mathematical statistics: theory of estimation and hypothesis testing, such as UBC STAT 305 or via the text Mathematical Statistics and Data Analysis , Wadsworth & Brooks/Cole, 1988, by John Rice
• required: either a course in regression analysis or a course in the design of experiments/ANOVA.  The regression course should cover the material in UBC STAT 306, with text Applied Linear Regression , Wiley, by S. Weisberg. The design/ANOVA course should cover the material in UBC STAT 404, with text Design and Analysis of Experiments , Wiley, latest edition, by D. Montgomery.

PhD Applicants

Background for the phd.

Successful PhD applicants typically have an MSc in Statistics or an MSc or PhD in Mathematics with strong evidence of interest in statistics.  A student with only a Bachelor's degree cannot usually be admitted to our PhD program, but rather must first enter the MSc program, either first completing the MSc or applying for transfer to the PhD after one year.  If you have only had a few courses in statistics, your application to the PhD program will not be successful.

For admission to the PhD program, the Admissions committee requires the following, in addition to the requirements for admission to the MSc program.

• a course in advanced statistical inference
• courses in rigorous mathematics
• at least 3 of the following courses at the graduate level: stochastic processes, advanced probability, mathematical statistics, linear models.

The above requirements are in addition to the minimum admission requirements of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Please note that meeting our admission requirements does not guarantee admission.

The following background will strengthen the application:

• courses in real analysis, and possibly measure theory, advanced probability (limit theorems, sigma fields);
• a broad range of courses in statistical methods (e.g., some topics among statistical computing, Bayesian statistics, generalized linear models, time series, multivariate statistics);
• undergraduate or graduate computer science courses;
• research or work experience relevant to statistics;
• solid programming experience (e.g., C, C++, Fortran, Python, R, SAS, Matlab).

Application Procedures

The application deadline for the PhD program is December 1st, 2023. The application deadline for the MSc program is January 7th, 2024.

Before you begin your application: Please read all instructions and procedures thoroughly and carefully. If your application is incomplete or incorrect at the time of the deadline, you will not be considered for admission. Extensions to the deadline will not be granted for any reason, and failure to follow instructions or submit material on time will result in your application being disqualified. 1. Detailed application instructions can be found on the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies webpage . Please consult their webpage, and read our Frequently Asked Questions , before beginning your application. 2. Fill out and submit the online application form (interactive application, pay by credit card). 3. References: Ask three referees to upload reference letters through the online application system. We are not always able to receive reference letters in the mail.  Detailed information regarding reference requirements and instructions can be found on the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies webpage .    4.Transcripts: Scan and upload copies of all post-secondary transcripts to the online system. Note that these must be scans of an official transcript. Transcripts downloaded from your university's student portal are not acceptable. These uploaded copies of your documents will be used for initial evaluation of the applicant. Conditional admission offers may be made based on documents uploaded to the application system. You are not required to submit hard copies of your transcripts unless you are made an offer of admission. Admission offers will not be finalized and applicants will not be allowed to register in a graduate program until one set of all required official academic records are received and validated by the University.

            If you are a domestic applicant, read and follow the instructions supplied by the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies .             If you are an International applicant, read and follow the instructions supplied by the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

5. Request an English Proficiency Test score to be sent to UBC if applicable. Do not have your score sent directly to the Department. Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. You can find a great deal of information regarding whether you need to submit a score by visiting our FAQ page. Please note that scores expire two years after the test date. We are unable to accept expired scores.     TOEFL : minimum score of 600 (paper version), 250 (computer version), or 100 (internet version). Institution code: 0965     IELTS : minimum overall band score of 7.5 with no component score less than 6.5.

When ordering your score, please specify the following details: Name of institution: University of British Columbia Institution code: 0965 Name of person/department: Graduate School Admissions Address: 170-6371 Crescent Road, Vancouver, B.C.  V6T 1Z2   6. Upload your CV and research proposal/personal statement onto the application system. Your statement may be a maximum one page for MSc. applicants, two pages for PhD applicants, minimum 9 point font . Please put your name on your statement. Your personal statement may include information on your areas of interest in the field, career goals, academic motivation, and any relevant information that is not covered in the online application or your CV. 7. Please do not send or upload any bank or financial documents. We do not require a GRE score . Please note that we are unable to print any extra material (e.g., writing samples, certificates) for your file, however you may supply a link to such documents in your CV. There is no additional application for funding. All applicants are considered for funding . The mailing address for the Department is:

Graduate Admissions Officer

3182 Earth Sciences Building, 2207 Main Mall

University of British Columbia

Vancouver, BC, Canada  V6T 1Z4

Applications cannot be processed until all the required documentation has been received. 

Please direct any questions to the Graduate Admissions Officer: admiss [at] stat.ubc.ca .

Application Tips

• Please note that we are unable to provide pre-application evaluations/screening, either in person or via email or phone. Applicants are responsible for determining their eligibility.
• From our experience, it can take up to six weeks from the time you order for your TOEFL score to arrive from ETS. Your score must be received by the deadliine, so make sure you order it as soon as possible.
• Make sure you give your referees plenty of warning and time to supply you with a reference. Referees need time in order to supply you with a detailed and effective letter. And remember that they are probably writing reference letters for many other students! We won't accept late reference letters, so make sure that you follow up with your letter writers as the deadline approaches. This is your responsibility!
• You can monitor the status of your application and documents online. Because of the volume of applications we receive, we are not able to monitor each application for completeness, and doing so is the responsibility of the applicant. The earlier you submit your application and materials, the more favorably it reflects upon you as a potential graduate student.
• The Graduate Committee occasionally begins reviewing applications before the deadline, so completing your application early is in your best interest. We are unable to provide updates as to the status of your application. We will make every effort to inform applicants about the results of the evaluation as soon as possible, but please allow several weeks for the evaluation process to take place.

More questions?

Check out our Graduate Admissions Frequently Asked Questions .

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Applicants for both the MA and PhD programs are required to meet admission and application requirements for both the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies at UBC and the Department of English Language and Literatures.

Application Deadline

The Graduate Program encourages applicants to our PhD program with research interests that overlap with “Visual Storytelling and Graphic Art in Genocide and Human Rights Education,” a SSHRC Partnership Grant (2022-29) led by the University of Victoria with co-applicants at the University of British Columbia. This project proposes new ways of gathering and commemorating the experiences of genocide and mass atrocity survivors through the co-creation of graphic narratives by artists and survivors of/in five genocidal contexts: the Holocaust; Rwanda; Bosnia and Kosovo; Iraq and Syria; and Indigenous genocides in Canada.

Applicants working in one or more of the following areas may be eligible for funding associated with this grant: genocide, the history of human rights, graphic narratives. If accepted, the student may be offered a Graduate Academic Assistantship and/or coop position to work with the Public Humanities Hub on this project. For more information, visit the Public Humanities Hub .

The Graduate Program welcomes applicants to our PhD program with research interests that connect with “Improvising Futures,” a SSHRC Partnership Grant (2022-27) led by the University of Guelph with researchers, artists, and scholars at the University of British Columbia (among a network of global institutions and community organizations). This work investigates improvisation—in literature and in performing arts—as an innovative model for forging new paths within and between communities, to foster new cultural and social formations and modes of knowledge keyed to creative, just, and empowering human futures.

Applicants working in any the following areas may be eligible for funding associated with this grant: Contemporary Drama and Theatre, Performance Studies, Social Justice, Poetry and Poetics, Cultural Studies, Media Studies, Black Studies, Literature and Music, Indigenous Studies, Popular Culture. Graduate Academic Assistantships associated with this grant are aimed at fostering and supporting graduate students’ own critical and creative practices. For further information about the global reach of this multi-faceted interdisciplinary project, please visit the website of the International Institute for Critical Studies in Improvisation (IICSI)

Application Procedures

We will require official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions you have attended, whether or not you completed the program or degree.

If you participated in a university exchange program, you must provide an official transcript from the exchange institution, even if the exchange study is confirmed on the transcript of your home institution.

Statement of intent

Please provide a statement that describes the specific nature of the research you propose to conduct during your MA or PhD studies.

Masters of Arts Statement of Intent

Your statement of intent should be no more than 500 words in length, single-spaced, Times New Roman 12 pt font.

• For the MA through coursework option, you should describe your research interests and objectives and the nature of the studies you hope to pursue.
• If you plan to write an MA thesis, specify your research question and its context, objectives, methodology, and anticipated contribution to the advancement of knowledge. Identify potential faculty supervisors and indicate if you have already been in touch with them regarding your project.

For both the MA thesis or the MA coursework option, indicate whether there are specific resources, e.g. faculty, library collections, research groups, and other programs, that make UBC a perfect fit for you and your proposed research.

Your statement provides a basis from which the admissions committee can assess your readiness for graduate study. Should you be admitted, your statement may also form the groundwork for grant applications you should complete in the fall semester of your first year. The application project proposal can certainly be hypothetical, describing an area of interest rather than a definite future.

Note: students can change their option to do coursework or the thesis once they begin the UBC program.

PhD Statement of Intent

Your statement of intent should be no more than 1000 words in length, single-spaced, Times New Roman 12 pt font.

In your statement of intent, you should:

• Specify your research question and its context, objectives, methodology, and anticipated contribution to the advancement of knowledge.
• Identify potential faculty supervisors and indicate if you have already been in touch with them regarding your project.
• Indicate whether there are particular resources, e.g. faculty, library collections, research groups, and other programs, that make UBC a good fit for you and your proposed research.

Your statement provides a basis from which the admissions committee can assess your readiness for independent research. Should you be admitted, this research statement will also form the groundwork for grant applications you should complete in the fall of your program's first year.

Writing sample

Include a recent academic essay or writing sample, maximum 20 pages, double-spaced, Times New Roman 12 pt font.

You may upload more than one essay/writing sample as long as the total number of pages does not exceed 20.

Letters of reference

Submit three academic letters of reference. The Department of English Language and Literatures accepts academic references only; professional references cannot be accepted. References may be submitted electronically via the online application system or Interfolio. Paper letters of reference may be mailed directly to the department (to the graduate program's attention).

Entrance Requirements

When applying to the MA or PhD programs, you should fulfil the following entrance requirements. Please note that these include both the university’s and the English department’s requirements and standards.

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies sets out minimum grade requirements for admission to UBC graduate programs. Students should note, however, that these are minimum standards only. The MA and PhD's competitive English requirements are higher, and we have set them out by degree program.

International students

UBC welcomes applications for admission from outstanding students from all countries. Students from most English-language universities may apply directly to the PhD program after completing an MA in their own country. However, because of differences in language and university instruction, it is UBC's policy that students from some universities will be considered only for MA studies at UBC after completing an honours BA and MA in their own country, both with first-class standing.

Applicants to either the MA or the PhD programs from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide English language proficiency examination results as part of the application. This requirement is in place to provide evidence of English abilities to the admission committee and be competitive in our program. You require near-native fluency for admittance to our program.

Acceptable tests:

• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) – The graduate program in English requires a minimum test score of 104 (web-based).
• IELTS (International English Language Testing Service) – The graduate program in English requires applicants to achieve a minimum, overall score of 7.5 with no component less than 7.0 (academic test only).

Master’s Entrance Requirements

Applicants to the MA program in literature will typically hold a bachelor's or honours degree in English or a related discipline with a minimum average of A- (80%), or 3.5 on a four-point scale, based upon all academic courses taken during the last two senior undergraduate years.

Typically most accepted applicants maintain upper-year averages above 83%. Most students accepted into our program are in the top 15% of their undergraduate cohort.

Language stream

Applicants to the MA program in language will generally have at least 24 credits of senior undergraduate courses in the English language distributed as follows: one course from area 1, one course from area 2, and at least one course from two of areas 3 to 7:

• History of the English language (e.g. ENGL 320 at UBC)
• The linguistic structure of modern English (e.g. ENGL 330/331)
• The history or and theory of rhetoric (e.g. ENGL 310/311)
• Old or middle English (e.g. ENGL 340/341, 344, 346)
• Linguistic variation (dialectology, sociolinguistics, world englishes) (e.g. ENGL 323)
• Stylistics (ENGL 322), discourse studies (e.g. ENGL 312), or writing studies
• Cognitive linguistics (e.g. ENGL 328)

Applicants to the MA program in language must have taken at least six English literature credits. Students in the language program who have not taken the required courses as part of their undergraduate degree must rectify the deficiency by taking an appropriate graduate seminar or senior undergraduate course (up to a maximum of six credits) as part of their MA program.

PhD Entrance Requirements

When applying to the PhD program, the Department of English Language and Literatures expects you to hold a first-class MA degree in English language or literature. If you hold an advanced degree in a closely related discipline (for example, other literatures), it may, when combined with an undergraduate English degree, constitute sufficient preparation for the PhD.

We urge all applicants to seek advising on the suitability of their backgrounds and project for the PhD in English.

In exceptional cases, if you are an MA program student with a first-class honours BA, you may apply to transfer into the PhD program at the end of your first year. You must have completed at least 18 credits of the MA program with a first-class average, and you must be able to supply two letters of support giving evidence of research ability. The Graduate Committee will determine the additional number of credits you must complete.

In extraordinary cases, you may be allowed to enter the PhD program following a first-class honours BA. The Graduate Committee will determine if you require extra coursework on a case-by-case basis.

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The PhD program in the Department of Philosophy provides students with intense philosophical training, and can help them transition to careers in philosophical research and teaching.

Those admitted will work with award-winning faculty members who engage in research in the philosophy of science, philosophy of mind, metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of language, aesthetics, ethics, social/political philosophy, logic, Asian philosophy and the history of philosophy, just to name a few.

Program Overview

PhD students will take courses in the first years to provide them with expertise in a broad range of philosophical topics, including value theory, the history of philosophy, the core areas of metaphysics and epistemology as well as their own personal research interests. After the coursework comes the comprehensive exam, followed by prospectus and dissertation.

Students interested in a PhD in philosophy must be aware of these degree requirements.

• Two years’ residency at UBC,
• Eight one-term courses at or above the 500 level,
• During the first year, five one-term courses including four at the 500 level or above and four with a minimum average of 80% (A- or 3.7 GPA),
• During the second year, complete the PhD coursework requirement with an overall average of 80%.

For students who have not obtained a master’s degree

• Three years’ residency at UBC,
• Ten one-term courses, including eight at the 500 level or above,
• A minimum average of 80% (A- or 3.7 GPA) in six one-term courses,

For all doctoral candidates

• One presentation to the Philosophy Graduate Colloquium during the first two years
• Complete the Comprehensive Exam
• Complete a dissertation prospectus and oral presentation
• Complete a dissertation of approximately 60,000 words and public dissertation defence

Graduate Resources

As part of the program, graduate students will have access to a number of resources that support each individual’s work and research.

Graduate Regulations (revised September 2023)

This document contains full details on MA and PhD procedures and requirements, including information on the following topics: the MA course-only and thesis options; transferring from the MA to the PhD program; residency requirements; the course distribution and formal methods requirements; the proseminar; the comprehensive examination; the PhD prospectus; leaves of absence; and PhD thesis preparation. For details on these and other topics, please consult the table of contents.

Graduate students are crucial to the life of the department. They are expected to regularly attend colloquia, to elect a representative for faculty meetings, and to organize periodic social events. There are also work in progress seminars where graduates and faculty are invited to share and discuss their developing research projects. In addition, there is currently an active Graduate Student Colloquium for graduate student presenters only.

Reading groups are also a nice way to explore philosophy in a more informal setting, and students have access to a reading room in addition to having space in the graduate lounge. Lastly, graduate students have the opportunity to hone their teaching skills as TAs or instructors.

Science and Technology Studies (STS)

Several philosophy department faculty are members of the Science and Technology Studies program in cooperation with faculty from History, English, and other departments. The STS program offers an MA program and a PhD stream within the philosophy PhD. Philosophy PhD students enrolled in the PhD stream take three STS seminars as part of their graduate coursework. STS seminars are frequently cross-listed with philosophy seminars and are open to other graduate students.

Centre for Applied Ethics

Supervision in applied ethics, including biomedical ethics, environmental ethics, and business and professional ethics, is available in conjunction with the Maurice Young Centre for Applied Ethics . The Centre for Applied Ethics is an independent academic unit with resources for graduate education in applied ethics. Graduate students in the philosophy department can seek research supervision from Centre faculty.

Philosophy PhD Co-op Option

The Arts Co-op Program offers students enriched educational experiences for personal and professional growth. Co-op is a high-impact educational program that allows you to alternate dissertation-writing terms with work terms, during which you gain meaningful paid work experience. We work with a diverse range of community partners and sectors to provide transformative workplace learning for co-op students. The Arts PhD Co-op Program allows you to explore different career options, while gaining paid, professional work experience and a network of contacts. Some students are able to secure work terms that are relevant to their dissertation research, while others choose to pursue work experience that diversify their expertise and give them range. Students complete three work terms of 4 months each over the two to three years after achieving candidacy. The PhD Co-op option is currently being piloted for Philosophy students. Philosophy PhD Co-op option

Co-operative agreement with Simon Fraser University

Philosophy graduate students at UBC may take courses in the Philosophy Department at Simon Fraser University without paying additional fees. Supervisory committees may include members from both departments.

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In This Section

Application procedure, supporting documentation, funding opportunities.

• Application Deadlines
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Applications

Apply via UBC Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Online Application Form

Applications to the Chemistry Department are made through the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Online Application Form .

On the online application form, prospective students may list any potential faculty member they may be interested in working with. Listing faculty names is only intended for identifying fields of research of interest and can potentially facilitate connections with the faculty member once a prospective student has received their letter of admission.

Effective October 1, 2022, international applicants will be charged an application fee of $60 CDN; for domestic applicants, the fee is paid for by the department.

The Department welcomes applications from students with undergraduate or Master's degrees with high standing. In most cases, students enter graduate study with chemistry degrees but applicants with other backgrounds, such as physics, biology, or mathematics, are also given consideration. Please review the Minimum Academic Requirements: CANADIAN or U.S. Credentials or Minimum Academic Requirements: INTERNATIONAL Credentials . Applications which do not meet these minimum requirements will not be accepted.

For direct entry to the PhD program:

UBC Chemistry strongly encourages all international applicants to apply for direct entry into our PhD program , as the number of admissions offered to international MSc applicants is very limited.

Applicants who meet the academic requirements (see below) and demonstrate advanced research ability, may apply for direct admission to the PhD program. Students entering directly from a bachelor's degree must, within the first 24 months of study, complete 12 credits with a first class average, of which at least 9 credits must be at the 500 level or above and at least 9 credits must be of first class standing, to maintain registration as a doctoral student.

For direct entry to the PhD program, an overall average of B+ (from all courses taken in their Bachelor’s degree) is required for all applicants.

For entry to the PhD program by students with an MSc:

For applicants who hold a credential/degree from a Canadian or USA post-secondary institution, a B+ average in senior undergraduate level courses is required, along with a successfully defended Master thesis.

For applicants who hold an international credential/degree, an overall average of B+ (from all courses taken in their Bachelor’s degree) is required, along with a successfully defended Master thesis.

For entry to the MSc program:

For applicants who hold a credential/degree from a Canadian or USA post-secondary institution, a B+ average in senior undergraduate level courses is required.

For applicants who hold an international credential/degree, an overall average of B+ (from all courses taken in their Bachelor’s degree) is required.

Please allow at least 45 to 60 minutes to complete the online application. Be prepared to provide information and answer questions about personal and contact details, academic history, test scores, funding information, experience and interests and reference contact information and answer questions related to your specific program of study. You will be able to save your application and continue it at a later date. For security reasons, you'll be automatically logged out of the application if you do not save your page data within 60 minutes.

You will be required to scan and upload documents such as transcripts ( including your ranking within your own department ), degree certificates, award and/or scholarship documentation, related test scores (if required), statement of intent, Curriculum Vitae, etc.

If you are unable to upload supporting documentation, paper documents may be sent directly to the Chemistry Department.

For Applicants from a university outside Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom:

English Language Proficiency : Applicants from a university outside Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.  The minimum overall TOEFL score for graduate admission to the Department of Chemistry is 92 on the internet-based test with minimum component scores of 23, 22, 23 and 22 for reading, writing, listening and speaking, respectively. For IELTS, a minimum overall band score of 6.5 is required with a minimum score of 6.0 in each component of the academic IELTS test. Self-reported test scores on applications are considered unofficial. Applicants must also contact the testing agency (TOEFL or IELTS) and request the official test scores be sent to UBC electronically as part of their application.

Note: English language proficiency scores are not required if the language of instruction in your country is English at the post-secondary level. Please include an institutional document indicating as such with your application.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General and Subject (Chemistry or another applicable subject) test scores are not mandatory. While it is advantageous to submit GRE test scores, it is not a requirement.

Letters of Reference

Three references are required for an application to Chemistry. References should be requested from individuals who are prepared to provide a report on your academic ability and qualifications.

There are three possible formats for references:

1) Electronic references.  In the online application system, applicants are asked to provide an email address for each referee. (Please note, that we are unable to accept e-mails from Hotmail, Yahoo, GMail, MSN or other free e-mail accounts for referees.)  A unique link will be emailed to each referee, allowing them to log in to a secure site and submit an online reference or upload a reference document as an attachment.

2) Paper letters of reference.  Your referee may wish to send a paper letter. Paper letters of reference should be on referee's official letterhead and must be mailed directly to Chemistry in a sealed and endorsed envelope.

3) Paper reference forms. UBC provides a general reference form . Your referee may fill out this form and mail it directly to Chemistry in a sealed and endorsed envelope.

Please visit:  https://www.grad.ubc.ca/scholarships-awards-funding/award-opportunities

All PhD applicants (Domestic or International), will be considered for the  University Four Year Fellowship (4YF)

For NSERC awards and deadlines, please visit: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Students-Etudiants/PG-CS/index_eng.asp

Funding for graduate stipends otherwise comes from individual professors and their grants. Available positions in research groups are therefore dependent on available grants held by each professor at the time of recruitment.

Application Deadlines- NEW

For September applications, the online session will open on October 1. 

For all applicants, applications must be submitted by February 15 and all supporting documentation* received by March 15. International students are strongly encouraged to apply as early as possible to allow sufficient time for the study permit application process.  

*Includes receipt of official English language test results sent directly from the testing center (if applicable)

Note:  To be eligible for our top scholarships, domestic and international applications must be submitted by January 5th.  Top applicants based in Canada or the U.S. may also be eligible for an in-person visit of our department if they submit their application by January 5th.

Admission Offers

Admission offers: After receiving an admission offer, prospective students are encouraged to directly contact faculty members in order to discuss research possibilities and the availability of positions for new graduate students within their groups. Students who have been accepted are strongly encouraged to pre-arrange a position with a faculty member whose group they wish to join, or may submit a list of preferred choices upon their arrival on campus.

Conditional admission offers: The Department also issues conditional offers to students who meet the entry requirements but need to secure funding for their position. These students are encouraged to attend our annual GatherTown event for an info session and opportunities to meet with faculty who have available funds. The details of this info session will be communicated in the offer letter.

For further questions regarding graduate admissions, please contact  [email protected]

Graduate Admissions Department of Chemistry 2036 Main Mall University of British Columbia Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z1

Frequently Asked Questions

Please visit the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Frequently Asked Questions for further information.

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Upcoming Awards

Below are G+PS notices for upcoming opportunities. View more award posts here .

• CIHR, NSERC + SSHRC CGS Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplements – Apply by May 17 (4pm)
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Call for Applications: British Columbia Graduate Scholarship – Deadline: Jun 30, 2023

June 5, 2023

British Columbia Graduate Scholarship (BCGS) – MASc & PhD

The province of British Columbia has funded graduate scholarships in any field of study, with emphasis on research in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, and support for Indigenous students. ( https://www.grad.ubc.ca/awards/british-columbia-graduate-scholarship )

Scholarship Value : $15,000 for one year

Eligibility:

• Must be Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents
• Must be a full-time registered student in a research-based Mechanical Engineering graduate program throughout Sept 2023 – Aug 2024 academic year

Application components:

• BCGS application form ( Word Document )
• If you’ve submitted them to G+PS to clear your admission condition, we should have the documents in file. In this case, you don’t need to re-submit them. Please send an email to [email protected] for confirmation.
• You do not need to submit UBC transcripts
• Two reference letters (Please have your referees send the letters to [email protected] directly)

Mech Deadlines for the BC Graduate Scholarship :

• Deadline for complete application to [email protected] : 8AM on Friday, June 30, 2023

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You are reading the 2024/25 Academic Calendar. The 2023/24 version remains in effect until August 31, 2024 and is available here .

Undergraduate Application and Document Deadlines

Application deadlines for undergraduate degree and diploma programs.

The following deadlines pertain to new-to-UBC applicants to undergraduate programs, applicants applying to change undergraduate programs and/or campuses within UBC, and applicants applying for readmission to a UBC undergraduate program in which they have previously been enrolled but have discontinued their studies for any reason. If a deadline falls on the weekend or a statutory holiday, it will be extended to the next working day. For other important University dates, see Dates and Deadlines .

Application and document submission deadlines for graduate degrees vary by degree program. For deadlines for individual graduate programs, see degree programs in the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies .

Summer Session (May start) application deadline: January 15

Please note, not all degree and diploma programs accept applications to the Summer Session.

Winter Session (September start) application deadline: January 15

Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by the application deadline as some programs will stop accepting applications on this date. Applications received after the deadline may be considered by some programs but will not be evaluated on the same basis or with the same priority as those received by the deadline.

See table below for exceptions and important notes relating to Winter Session application deadlines:

Document Deadlines for Undergraduate Degree and Diploma Programs

In addition to submitting an application for undergraduate admission, applicants are required to submit documentation in order to satisfy admission requirements.

• English Language Admission Standard All applicants are required to meet the English Language Admission Standard . Applicants are notified by email, and via the Student Service Centre under Application Status, of the documentation that is required and the dates by which it must be submitted in order to be considered in an admission decision.
• Competitive Academic Requirements All applicants are required to meet university minimum academic standards as well as competitive academic requirements that differ by program. Applicants are notified by email, and via the Student Service Centre under Application Status, of the transcripts that are required and the dates by which they must be submitted in order to be considered in an admission decision.
• Broad-Based Admission Criteria Many UBC programs require additional information for consideration in admission decisions. This may include a portfolio, audition, manuscript, essay, list of extracurricular activities, interview, or other information. Applicants are notified by email, and via the Student Service Centre under Application Status, of any additional documentation that may be required or optional and the dates by which this information must be submitted in order to be considered in an admission decision.

Deadlines for the submission of supporting documentation vary depending on an applicant's academic history. While these deadlines will be communicated to applicants once they apply, applicants should be prepared to submit required documents such as transcripts, as early as possible following the submission of an application as admission decisions are generally made in the spring.

Applicants who are offered admission based on academic work in progress are required to submit final documentation showing successful completion of all admission requirements prior to beginning their studies at UBC.

Application and Document Deadlines for Non-Degree Entry

The following deadlines pertain to Visiting Students, Access Study applicants, Concurrent Study applicants, Unclassified Studies, and all others applying to enrol in UBC courses through Non-Degree Studies. The application as well as all required and supporting documentation must be submitted by these dates. For more information, visit the Non-Degree Studies website.

Summer Session Terms 1 and 2 (May start) deadline: March 15

Winter Session Term 1 (September start) deadline: July 15

Winter Session Term 2 (January start) deadline: October 15 *

* excluding Visiting students who must apply by July 15 for the winter session.

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