How to Apply

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

• 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.

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:

1. 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.
2. 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: spph.graduate-programs@ubc.ca.

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);

OR

• An experience where you were challenged by or had to challenge systemic bias, stereotypes, or lack of diversity;

OR

• Your career aspirations as they relate to truth and reconciliation and/or challenging systemic bias and/or inequities;

OR

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.

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 graduate.apply@ubc.ca. 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 spph.graduate-programs@ubc.ca.

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.

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