Admission Requirements

Applications for the PhD program open on November 15th, 2024. The deadline for receipt of applications is January 5th, 2025. The deadline for receipt of references is January 13th, 2025. The Admissions Committee will not consider your application unless all documents have been received by the deadline. There is only one admission cycle per year, and all new students begin the program in September.

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SPPH is committed to addressing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Calls to Action, including work that supports the implementation of the UBC Indigenous Strategic Plan and the UBC Faculty of Medicine Response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Calls to Action. SPPH values equity, diversity, and inclusion.

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.

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. The PhD program also reserves departmental funding to support indigenous student(s) in their first four years of PhD study. 

Indigenous applicants are encouraged to contact the program before submitting an application for more information about supports for Indigenous students and applicants at UBC, such as the SAGE Program.

We accept applicants from many diverse backgrounds and countries, and we do not have a limit to out-of-province or international students. We rank all completed applications and applicants are offered admission based on merit. If you will complete your master’s degree before the entry date in September, we encourage you to apply.

Applicants must meet both the minimum academic requirements and relevant experience requirements set out by the PhD Program and the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Meeting the minimum criteria does not ensure acceptance into the program – most successful applicants present academic credentials and test scores that are above the minimum.

Supervisor support is required for all PhD applications. We are not able to review applications without supervisor support. The best way to connect with a potential supervisor is to investigate Faculty profiles (including research interests and recent publications) and then contact the faculty member you are interested in working with to inquire whether they are willing to serve as your supervisor. Use the G+PS Supervisor Tool to assist you in your investigation. The PhD Supervisor Support form should be submitted directly to the PhD Program by the potential supervisor.

Contact us with questions about the admission requirements or admissions process: spph.graduate-programs@ubc.ca. You should also review the information on how to apply.

Minimum Academic Requirements

Master’s degrees from Canada or USA

Degree and GPA:

  • A degree academically equivalent to a UBC master’s degree.
  • A GPA of B+ or higher, calculated from all coursework taken for the master’s degree.
  • Find more information about academically equivalent degrees and GPAs here.

Quantitative Skills:

  • A short Quantitative Statement (150 words or less) is required for all applicants. Quantitative 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.

English Language Proficiency:

  • Applicants do not need to submit an English Language test.

International Master’s degrees

Degree and GPA:

  • 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).
  • A GPA of B+ or higher, calculated from all coursework taken as part of the degree.
  • Please note that we do not accept transcript evaluations from WES or similar agencies.

Quantitative Skills:

  • A short Quantitative Statement (150 words or less) is required for all applicants. Quantitative 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.

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. Please note that it is not sufficient for the program or department to use English as the language of instruction. The institution as a whole must use English as the language of instruction.
  • The test must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.
  • TOEFL minimum – 100 or higher (internet-based exam)
  • IELTS minimum –  7.0 or higher and component scores of 6.5 or higher (IELTS Academic Test, IELTS general is not accepted).
  • Find more information on acceptable tests here.

Relevant Work Experience

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

A detailed and up-to-date CV that highlights your academic, research, and professional experience. Please include (if relevant): academic history, publications, conference presentations, awards, fellowships, teaching experience, workshops, volunteer work, or employment. We recommend sharing your CV with your potential supervisor.

Find more resources to assist in preparing your CV from UBC Student Services or G+PS.

Letter of intent (LOI)

A letter of intent that describes your career objectives, your research interests, and how the PhD program will meet your career goals. The LOI should be about 700 words.

Additional instructions and suggestions can be found in our LOI Guide. You can find even more tips on writing your LOI from G+PS.

Three letters of reference

Three reference letters are required for each application. We prefer that two of these references be from former professors, but we will accept professional references if you do not have academic references. Please ask your references highlight your academic skills, research skills, and your ability to excel in an academic environment. This might include:

  • Potential to succeed as a doctoral student
  • Academic ability and initiative
  • Critical thinking and complex problem solving skills
  • Ability to interpret and communicate data clearly and effectively
  • Demonstrated compassion, professionalism, and integrity

Please ask your referees to provide information on the context in which they’ve known you (e.g., work environment, your role and responsibilities, or the educational/course setting).

For additional information, including information for people writing reference letters, see our Reference Guide.