Admissions Requirements

Applications for the MHSc program will be accepted from December 1, 2024 to January 31, 2025 for our September 2025 start date.

SPPH values equity, diversity, and inclusion. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented. The MHSc Program believes a diverse student body results in better learning outcomes for all students. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous persons.

We welcome applications from medical residents, fellows, and international medical graduates. Applicants must meet both the minimum academic requirements and relevant experience set out by both the MHSc program and the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Contact us with questions about the admission requirements or admissions process: mhsc@spph.ubc.ca.

Minimum Academic Requirements

Meeting the minimum criteria does not ensure acceptance into the program – most successful applicants present requirements that are more than the minimum.

Undergraduate degrees from Canada or USA

Degree and GPA:

  • An MD or equivalent (e.g. dentistry or veterinary medicine)
  • At least one degree equivalent to a UBC 4-year Bachelor’s degree (could be MD degree)
  • A GPA of B+ or higher, calculated from all third and fourth-year level coursework
  • Find more information about degrees and GPAs for Canadian and US institutions from Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

Quantitative Skills (applicants must meet one of the following):

  • A B+ or higher grade in an approved undergraduate statistics or mathematics course. The course must appear on the transcript and have been taken within the past ten years. A list of courses approved by the MHSc program can be found here. Applicants can also send a syllabus to mhsc@spph.ubc.ca to request approval of their course.

OR

  • A Graduate Record Exam (GRE) score in the 50th percentile or above in both the verbal and quantitative components. The test must have been taken within the past five years. An equivalent, standardized test may also be accepted, but applicants must contact us for approval.

English Language Proficiency:

  • Applicants do not need to submit an English Language test

International undergraduate degrees

Degree and GPA:

  • An MD or equivalent (e.g. dentistry or veterinary medicine)
  • Applicants with international credentials must have academic backgrounds that meet the minimum requirements outlined by Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies for the country of origin of the credential(s). The GPA is calculated on all courses taken for the degree. Please note that we do not accept transcript evaluations from WES or similar agencies.

Quantitative Skills (applicants must meet one of the following):

  • A B+ or higher grade in an approved undergraduate statistics or mathematics course. The course must appear on the transcript and have been taken within the past ten years. A list of courses approved by the MHSc program can be found here. Applicants can also send a syllabus to mhsc@spph.ubc.ca to request approval of their course.

OR

  • A Graduate Record Exam (GRE) score in the 50th percentile or above in both the verbal and quantitative components. The test must have been taken within the past five years. An equivalent, standardized test may also be accepted, but applicants must contact us for approval.

English Language Proficiency:

  • An English Language test is required for all applicants with an undergraduate degree from a university where English is not the primary language of instruction for the entire university.
  • Minimum scores are: a score of 100 or higher on the TOEFL OR a score of 7.0 or higher (and component scores of 6.5 or higher) on the IELTS. The test must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.

Relevant Experience Requirements

Applicants must present demonstrated experience or skills in a health-related field. This information should be noted in the following required documents.

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

A detailed and up-to-date CV that highlights your academic, research, and professional experience. Please include (if relevant) publications, awards, memberships in scholarly or professional organizations, fellowships, teaching experience, course development experience, workshops, or conference presentations.

Letter of intent (LOI)

A letter of intent that explains why you are applying to the MHSc Program. Please include details about your educational and professional goals, your research interests and objectives, and how the MHSc fits into these goals, interests, and objectives. The LOI should be about 700 words.

Reference Letters

Three reference letters are required for each application. We prefer at least two academic reference letters. The letters should explain your past academic and research achievements, your potential for success in a graduate program, and any outstanding personal characteristics.