We acknowledge that the UBC Vancouver campus is situated on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam).
Admissions FAQs General
MPH Program
When does the first term start? Do you have a January intake?
The program starts in September. We do not have a January intake.
How long does it take to complete the MPH?
It will take two years to complete the program, including the practicum. All UBC graduate programs must be completed within 5 years.
Is a thesis required?
The MPH program is a practicum-based degree. No thesis is required.
Do I need to find an Academic Supervisor?
No. As the program is practicum-based and not thesis-based, no Supervisor is required. The MPH Program has a community of core faculty members who can assist with academic and professional advising.
Can I transfer between programs before starting? (eg: MHSc to MPH, MPH to MSc)?
All students must complete 1 full term in the program they were admitted to before requesting a transfer. This will only be considered as an exceptional case and all transfers need to be approved by the relevant program Admissions Committee, as well as the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Please contact your Program Manager for further information.
Can I apply to more than one Master’s degree program at SPPH?
Yes, and should an applicant be successful in applying to both programs, we ask that they inform both programs as to their decision.
Admission Process
Does the MPH program have rolling admissions?
No, the program has one intake per year, in September. An opening and closing date for the admissions period will be posted on the website well in advance. The Admissions Committee meets after the deadline to review all complete and eligible applications.
How many people apply to the program and are accepted?
The MPH program is very competitive. We aim for a cohort for 40 students and expect between 400 to 500 applications each year.
Do you give preference to local applicants?
The School of Population and Public Health does not have a limit to out-of-province or international students. We rank all completed applications and applicants are admitted based on merit.
Is there an interview during the application process?
There is no interview component to the MPH application.
If I applied last year to the MPH, can I use the same documents?
Previous applicants may indicate on the appropriate place on the application form which specific files they would like pulled from our archive. We can pull transcripts that have not changed. We can also pull references from the previous year if necessary, although current, updated reference letters are recommended. All other documents should be updated and uploaded through the application portal. An updated Letter of Intent is required in the online application.
I am an Indigenous applicant - is there anything I should do to inform you of this?
The online application includes a "Citizenship Information" section to note if an applicant is of Canadian Indigenous Ancestry if they so choose. Please note that the MPH program reserves seats in the program for Indigenous applicants. Please review this resource.
Tuition and Fees
Can my application fee be refunded?
UBC application fees are non-refundable. Please see the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies application fee policy for further information, as individual programs do not manage fees.
How much is tuition?
This information can be found on the MPH website or the UBC Calendar. Tuition fees are subject to change.
Are any scholarships offered for applicants? Where do I find more information?
Students are automatically considered for GSI funding upon admission into the program, though unfortunately there is limited funding available. Students are encouraged to investigate and apply for other external sources of funding. Please see the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies website for a list of awards and financial aid: http://www.grad.ubc.ca/awards