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Make the most of the financial resources available to you as a UBC graduate student.

Fees and tuition

All master’s students have automatically assessed fees under the payment Schedule A. Part-time tuition payments known as Schedule B, are only available by application to and approval by the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

Applications for Schedule B must be submitted prior to beginning your program. Students are prohibited from switching tuition payment schedules during their program.

Note: Part-time students are ineligible for the majority of awards offered by the School of Information and the university.

Continuous registration

Every candidate enrolled in a graduate program is required to maintain continuous registration by paying tuition installments according to schedule A or B plus authorized student fees, as listed below. Tuition fees are payable in three (3) installments per year according to the following schedules (plus authorized student fees). These fees are due regardless of course registrations for the term.

School of Information fees

The School of Information Services and Supplies Fee covers all program costs associated with lab costs (equipment, licenses, etc.); course costs (photocopying, special materials, etc.); Peer advisor positions. All first-year students at the beginning of their program are assessed a one-time iSchool fee as follows:

Continuing students who apply for and are accepted for transfer into the dual degree program must pay the outstanding balance. The School of Information student fee also covers a one-time student society fee assessed by Library and Archival Studies Students Association (LASSA).

UBC student fees and other expenses

In addition to the tuition and fees listed above, students should expect to pay approximately $1,000 a year for ancillary UBC student fees. These fees are outlined in the UBC calendar student fees section.

Students should also allocate funds for any books, software, field trips and other related expenses.

PhD funding

UBC provides all full-time PhD students with a funding package for the first four years of their degree. The funding package may consist of internal or external awards, teaching-related work, research assistantships, and graduate academic assistantships.

The school strives to support doctoral students in applying for external funding opportunities. Therefore, all students must apply for external funding through UBC Affiliated Awards and the Canadian Tri-Council Agencies during their eligibility period (usually 36 months).

Doctoral students can also apply for paid positions as teaching assistants in master’s classes and as paid research assistants for professors who have funded research projects.

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Make the most of the financial resources available to you.

Prospective applicants who are Canadian citizens/Permanent residents are strongly advised to apply for Tri-Agency awards by the award application deadline. Students who are successful at obtaining a fellowship for graduate studies from agencies such as NSERC, CIHR, or SSHRC greatly increase their chance of admission.

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

Graduate students in the Department of Psychology receive financial support at levels comparable to those at other major universities. Students receive a minimum guaranteed level of support for the first two years of the MA ($23,000 per year for two years) and the first four years of the PhD ($23,000 per year for four years), unless other arrangements are made at the time of admission. Funding packages are generally comprised of a combination of Fellowship, Teaching Assistantship (TA) and/or Research Assistantship (RA).

Support is available to both domestic and international graduate students and is comprised of some combination of fellowships, awards, teaching assistantship, and research assistantship. Students are expected to apply for scholarships and financial awards during their studies here. Financial support is contingent on maintaining high academic standing and making satisfactory progress toward degree completion.

All applicants and continuing students who have applied for fellowships (Tri-Council doctoral and master’s awards, UBC Affiliated Fellowships) will be adjudicated and ranked by the Fellowships Committee. These applications and rankings are the basis for awarding university and department fellowships. The Associate Head for Graduate Affairs combines these rankings to determine allocations of funding including UBC’s Graduate Support Initiative (GSI) and 4-Year Doctoral Fellowship (4YF) awards. All eligible students must apply for funding (e.g., external fellowship or UBC affiliated fellowship) in the fall if they want to be considered for any university or department funding for the following academic year.

Other funding opportunities include Research Assistantship (RA), Teaching Assistantship (TA), and Travel Awards for both MA and PhD students. Refer to the Awards Opportunities page to learn more about other internal and external funding opportunities.

Graduate Entrance Scholarship (GES) Entering MA students are automatically considered for a Graduate Entrance Scholarship (GES); no separate application is required. The Graduate Admissions Committee adjudicates these nominations based on all information available in the application for graduate studies, including academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, and research productivity.

Successful applicants will receive a GES worth $17,500 for the first year of their MA studies. Applicants who have successfully secured both the CGSM (see below) and GES will receive their CGSM award during the first year, and the GES will be deferred to the second year of MA study.

Tri-Council Canadian Graduate Scholarships - Master’s Awards (CGSM) The major external granting agencies for Canadian graduate students are within the Tri-Council group: the Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) , the Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) , and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) . These awards are open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents; international students are not eligible.

Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to apply for the Tri-Agency CGSM award by the December 1 deadline as students who are successful at obtaining a fellowship for graduate studies from agencies such as NSERC, CIHR, or SSHRC greatly increase their chance of admission. Fellowships at the master’s level are worth $17,500 or more. For information and instructions on submitting an application for a CGSM awards, please review the Harmonized Tri-Council Awards website. The application deadline for CGSM is December 1, and applications are submitted directly via Research Portal .

Tri-Council CGSM applications are adjudicated by the department’s Fellowships Committee, comprised of six faculty members plus a faculty member Chair. The committee forms two-member subcommittees that independently rank each application on the basis of scholarly record, research productivity, leadership, and letters of reference. The top candidates will be nominated to compete at the University level (adjudicated by G+PS). Applicants who have successfully secured both the CGSM and GES will receive their CGSM award during the first year, and the GES will be deferred to the second year of the MA study.

UBC-Affiliated Fellowships The Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (G+PS) offers approximately 50 UBC-Affiliated Fellowships each year to meritorious students for full-time study leading to a graduate degree. Awards are made on the basis of academic excellence, with applications open to current and prospective full-time UBC graduate students regardless of citizenship or visa status.  The application deadline for UBC-Affiliated Fellowships is December 1.

UBC-Affiliated Fellowship applications are adjudicated by the department’s Fellowships Committee, comprised of six faculty members plus a faculty member Chair. The committee forms two-member subcommittees that independently rank each application on the basis of scholarly record, research productivity, leadership, and letters of reference. The top candidates will be nominated to compete at the university level (adjudicated by G+PS).

UBC-Affiliated Fellowship values range from $175 to $30,000, but most are in the range of $16,000. Additional Information can be found on the Affiliated Fellowship Master’s Program page.

University Fellowships The Department of Psychology receives funds from the university to support one-year fellowships for master’s level study. This funding comes from the UBC Graduate Support Initiative , a program for funding graduate students through entrance scholarships, multi-year funding packages, tuition awards and scholarship top-ups. The department allocates these fellowships based on the Fellowships Committee rankings of applications; no separate application is required.

International Tuition Awards (ITA) UBC automatically offers a tuition scholarship of up to $3,200, which is applied to tuition paid by non-Canadian students who are registered full-time in a master’s or doctoral program that assesses International tuition fees per year. Visit the International tuition award page for more information.

Funding and Awards for PhD Program Applicants

Tri-Council Doctoral Fellowships The major external granting agencies for Canadian graduate students are within the Tri-Council group: the Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) , the Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) , and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) . At the doctoral level, the agencies offer a range of multi-year fellowships with varying amounts of support. These awards are open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents; international students are not eligible. Visit the specific agency websites for more information about applying. The department application deadline is generally in mid to late-September.

Prospective applicants who intend to apply for admission to the PhD program and are Canadian citizens/Permanent residents are strongly encouraged to apply for the Tri-Agency Doctoral level award by the award application deadline.

Tri-Council doctoral scholarship applications are adjudicated by the department’s Fellowships Committee, comprised of six faculty members plus a faculty member Chair. The committee forms two-member subcommittees that independently rank each application on the basis of scholarly record, research productivity, leadership, and letters of reference. The top candidates will be nominated to compete at the university level (adjudicated by G+PS).

NSERC doctoral fellowships provide support to the most promising researchers at a pivotal time in their careers. The fellowships are also intended to secure a supply of highly qualified Canadians with leading-edge scientific and research skills for Canadian industry, government, and universities.

SSHRC provides financial support for post-secondary research training and knowledge mobilization activities for students pursuing doctoral studies in social sciences or humanities.

CIHR is Canada’s federal funding agency for health research and provides funding opportunities for four themes of health research: biomedical, clinical, health systems services, and social, cultural, environmental and population health.

Qualified Aboriginal and Indigenous students are encouraged to apply.

UBC-Affiliated Fellowships The Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (G+PS) offers approximately 50 UBC-Affiliated Fellowships each year to meritorious students for full-time study leading to a graduate degree. Awards are made on the basis of academic excellence, with applications open to current and prospective full-time UBC graduate students regardless of citizenship or visa status.

UBC-Affiliated Fellowship values range from $175 to $30,000, but most are in the range of $16,000. The department application deadline is generally in mid to late September.  Additional information can be found on the Affiliated Fellowships Doctoral Program page.

Four-Year Fellowships (4YF) Each year, the department awards several Four-Year Doctoral Fellowships (4YF). The 4YF provides funding for up to four years of doctoral study, beginning in either the first or the second year of the PhD and contingent on satisfactory academic progress. Fellows receive a minimum stipend of $18,200 per year plus tuition.  Both Canadian and International students are eligible for the 4YF.

Students holding a Tri-Council doctoral award automatically become 4YF designates and may be eligible for tuition support and a 4YF stipend, depending on the value and duration of the Tri-Council award.  There is no separate application for the 4YF; allocation decisions are made at the department’s discretion based on Fellowships Committee ranking of applications.

For more information, please refer to the 4YF guidelines .

University Fellowships The department receives funds from the university to support one-year fellowships for doctoral level study. This funding comes from the UBC Graduate Support Initiative , a program for funding graduate students through entrance scholarships, multi-year funding packages, tuition awards and scholarship top-ups. The department allocates these fellowships based on the Fellowships Committee rankings of applications; no separate application is required.

President's Academic Excellence Initiative PhD Award (PAEIPA) UBC automatically offers the PAEIPA awards to all new and continuing PhD students. Award values per student vary depending on student type and year standing. For more information, please refer to the PAEIPA award page.

Assistantships

Please note that unlike Fellowship & Awards, payments for RA and TA are made following the payroll schedule.

Research Assistantships (RA) Faculty in our department attract over $5 million each year in grant funding. Most have very active labs with opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate research assistantships. These RA appointments are desirable because they involve students directly in work that is relevant to their research interests. RAs are arranged directly with the faculty member who is usually, but not always, the student’s research supervisor. Note RA funding amount varies depending on individual research supervisor.

Teaching Assistantships (TA) Teaching assistantships are available to all psychology graduate students. Note that TA appointments are not automatic, students must submit a TA application by the deadline. FOr more information, refer to the TA resources page . Non-Canadians should obtain a social insurance number as soon as possible. The department has an annual budget of approximately $1 million for such appointments. In 2022, the stipend for a full-time TA appointment (average of 12 hours/week for 8 months) is $14,410 for MA students and $14,971 for PhD students (amount subjects to change based on CUPE 2278 collective agreements). Students admitted to the program are contacted in late spring concerning these positions. Additional information can be found on the Research & Teaching Assistantships at UBC  page.

Travel Awards

The department of psychology also has funding available from the estate of a distinguished alumnus, Dr. Michael J. Quinn. The Quinn Exchange Fellowships have been established for students pursuing a graduate degree in Psychology at UBC through short-term exchanges with graduate students in universities outside of British Columbia. In addition to enhancing research opportunities, this program fosters new ties with foreign academics, creates opportunities for innovative research collaborations, and broadens job prospects for our graduates. Visit  The Quinn Memorial Endowment  website for more information.

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Scholarships and awards for international students

UBC recognizes the academic achievement of outstanding students from around the world by devoting more than $30 million annually to awards, scholarships, and other forms of financial support for international undergraduate students.

Finding your university path

Jakarta, indonesia | microbiology and immunology | bachelor + master of management.

Outstanding International Student Award-winner Angela Sunario was drawn to UBC because of its vast opportunities. When she got here, she was quick to get involved, push her limits, and find meaningful work that tied into her studies.

UBC alumnus Daniel Mundeva explains how the International Scholars program helped him achieve his goals

International Scholars Program

Earn a globally recognized degree at a top university.

A UBC degree opens doors and connects you to a vast alumni network across the globe.

Study with the brightest students in the world

You’ll join a community of engaged and supportive young leaders and study among the best and the brightest. You and your fellow Scholars will enrich UBC and the global community with your diverse perspectives, committed involvement, and innovative initiatives.

Take advantage of unique learning opportunities

You’ll have access to numerous opportunities inside and outside the classroom that will enrich your university experience.

Access dedicated advising and support

You’ll be supported by a team of dedicated International Scholars Program advisors throughout your undergraduate degree, plus a network of staff from across UBC’s faculties and services who will encourage your academic, personal, and career development.

UBC Vantage One scholarships and awards

UBC’s Vantage One program is for academically strong international students whose English language proficiency does not yet meet the requirements for direct admission into UBC.

If you are a new UBC Vantage One student, you’re eligible for UBC Vantage One awards. These scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, intellectual promise, and extracurricular or community involvement. Some of the scholarships also consider financial need. UBC Vantage One awards include:

• International Major Entrance Scholarship for Vantage One
• Vantage One Entrance Award
• Vantage One Excellence Award

Timelines, application processes, and eligibility criteria vary for the different UBC Vantage One awards.

University is a significant financial investment that will pay returns for the rest of your life.

To get a full picture of what your first year at UBC will cost – including tuition and books, meals and living costs, transportation expenses, and more – enter your details into the UBC cost calculator. You can try as many different calculations as you’d like to help get a breakdown of your first-year costs.

Scholarships and awards for current international students

UBC continues to support international students through a variety of in-program scholarships and awards. Scholarship and award amounts will vary, as will their renewability.

For students registering for courses starting in September 2024, UBC has switched to a new system, Workday . Please check your email for setup instructions. Summer Session students should continue using SSC .

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UBC has switched to a new student system called Workday for the 2024/25 academic year starting September. Please check your email for setup instructions.

If you’re registered in Summer Session courses, keep using the Student Service Centre (SSC) for the Summer Session.

For 2024/25 Winter Session course registration, use the new Workday system. Follow online tutorials for how to use Workday.

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Affiliated Fellowships Master's Program

Annual value, citizenship, degree level.

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies offers approximately 50 Affiliated Fellowships each year to meritorious students for full-time study and/or research leading to a graduate degree. Awards are made on the basis of academic excellence, with applications open to current and prospective full-time UBC graduate students. Fellowship values range from $175 to $16,000.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet all eligibility requirements.

Academic Standing

Students with a minimum first class standing in each of the last two years of full-time study are eligible to apply. GPA is calculated using all courses taken in a given year. For UBC courses, first class standing is 80% and higher. At other universities, first class standing is determined from marking keys that accompany transcripts. For transcripts that are not accompanied by marking keys, applicants should consult with their UBC graduate program staff.

All students regardless of citizenship are eligible to apply. However, Canadian citizens and permanent residents are required to apply for Canada Graduate Scholarships-Master's (CGS M) (or doctoral funding from CIHR , NSERC , or SSHRC ), if they are eligible to do so, to additionally be considered for Affiliated funding.

Fields of Study / program of study

Students must be enrolled in, have applied for, or will apply for full-time admission to an eligible graduate program. Eligible graduate program must have a significant research component . A significant research component is considered to be original, autonomous research that leads to the completion of a thesis, major research project, dissertation, scholarly publication, performance, recital and/or exhibit that is merit/expert-reviewed at the institutional level as a requirement for completion of the program.

With the exception of those program listed below, students in all fields of graduate study are eligible to apply. Exceptions:

• Programs that are not administered by the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (such as MBA, MM, MDS)
• Programs that do not include a significant research component (ie. coursework-based programs such as MPPGA, MOT, MPH, MPT, and MKIN)
• Doctor of Pharmacy

Student Status

Applicants who will be registered full-time graduate students at UBC's Vancouver campus as of September 2024 are eligible to apply (current and prospective UBC students are both eligible to apply).

Months of Graduate Funding

Master’s-level funding.

To be eligible, applicants must have completed, as of December 31, 2023, between 0 and 12 months of full-time (or full-time equivalent) graduate-level studies .

Please note that:

• All previous studies at the graduate level, regardless of institution and discipline, will be included in determining eligibility*.  For example, a previous period of Master’s or PhD study (either completed or incomplete) at another institution would be counted as part of the total graduate-level months of study.
• Successful applicants for Master's-level funding who plan to hold that funding as a Master's student will not receive funding past the end of their 24th month of Master's-level study.
• Students in this category would be fast-track program (accelerated from a Master’s program into a doctoral program without obtaining the Master’s degree) or a direct-entry doctoral program (no Masters-level studies) who have completed between 0 and 12 months of graduate-level studies by December 31, 2023.
• Students who will have completed more than 12 months of Master’s-level studies by December 31, 2023 should apply to the doctoral-level funding competition instead, if they are eligible to do so (ex. If they are planning to transfer to a PhD).

Other funding

• While award recipients will be selected based on the evaluation criteria, priority will be given to eligible candidates who do not hold significant scholarship funding (i.e., $16,000 or higher) for the 2024/25 academic year (September 2024 to August 2025).  If a student is offered Affiliated funding and later receives other scholarship funding for the same period, the Affiliated funding offer will normally be rescinded.
• Students are normally permitted to hold GSI, department-recommended donor-funded awards (i.e., not 4YF), and RA/TA positions at the same time that they hold Affiliated funding.
• Some of the Affiliated awards have very niche award descriptions (eligibility requirements).  If an Affiliated award receives a very low number of eligible applications, it may be awarded to a student who already has significant scholarship funding.  This exception only typically only applies to 1 to 2 awards in the competition.

* All previous months of master's will be counted in assessing eligibility, except in cases where the previous master’s study was required by the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies as a basis of admission to the applicant's UBC graduate program. This exception may affect a small number of students from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and the Philippines. This exception does not apply in cases where the previous master’s study was required by the applicant’s graduate program, but not by the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

Evaluation Criteria

The evaluation of Affiliated Fellowship applications for Master’s funding - for all disciplines - is based on the following criteria:

Academic excellence - 50%

As demonstrated by past academic results, transcripts, awards and distinctions. Indicators of academic excellence:

• Academic record
• Scholarships and awards held
• Duration of previous studies
• Type of program and courses pursued
• Course load
• Relative standing (if available)

Research potential - 30%

As demonstrated by the applicant’s research history, their interest in discovery, the proposed research, its potential contribution to the advancement of knowledge in the field, and any anticipated outcomes. Indicators of research potential:

• Quality and originality of contributions to research and development
• Relevance of work experience and academic training to field of proposed research
• Significance, feasibility and merit of proposed research
• Judgment and ability to think critically
• Ability to apply skills and knowledge
• Initiative and autonomy
• Research experience and achievements relative to expectations of someone with the candidate’s academic experience

Personal characteristics and interpersonal skills - 20%

As demonstrated by the applicant’s past professional and relevant extracurricular interactions and collaborations. Indicators of personal characteristics and interpersonal skills:

• Work experience
• Leadership experience
• Project management including organizing conferences and meetings
• The ability or potential to communicate theoretical, technical and/or scientific concepts clearly and logically in written and oral formats
• Involvement in academic life
• Volunteerism/community outreach

Application Procedures

Affiliated Fellowship applicants (such as international students) must submit their application materials to their UBC graduate program . The deadline by which applications for Master's-level funding must be submitted to the applicant's UBC graduate program is 1 December 2023 before 5:00 pm PT .

Many of the Affiliated Fellowships have no specific criteria (open/unrestricted), while many others have some affiliation or special research focus as part of their criteria (restricted/criteria-based). All graduate students in the Affiliated Fellowships competition are automatically considered for unrestricted awards. In order to additionally be considered for any criteria-based awards, students are asked to:

• review the list of criteria-based affiliated awards at the end of the application to determine if they meet any of these awards' criteria
• check in their Affiliated Fellowships application the award numbers of any and all criteria-based affiliated awards for which they are eligible

application materials

• application form and instructions
• reference form

Note: Students who are eligible for the Canada Graduate Scholarships-Master’s (CGS M) (such as Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada) are required to apply for CGS M in order to additionally be considered for the Affiliated Fellowships-Master’s awards. Students who submit a CGS M application to UBC are also automatically considered for ‘unrestricted/open’  Affiliated Fellowship funding, and do not need to submit a separate Affiliated Fellowship application.  However, to be considered for 'restricted/criteria-based' Affiliated funding, CGSM applicants must submit the  list of criteria-based affiliated fellowships  to their graduate program by the application deadline.

Nomination Procedures

Applications for master's-level funding.

Graduate programs review and rank the applications they receive, and forward their top applicants to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies by 24 January 2024 at 4:00 pm PT.   Gradauet program resources will be posted on the Awards Administration webpage .

Adjudication Procedures

Affiliated Fellowships are adjudicated at both departmental and university levels. Rankings reached at each of these levels are independent, thus applicants' rankings at the departmental level may be different from their rankings at the university level.

Department Ranking

Graduate programs conduct their own internal Affiliated Fellowships review process, after which they recommend only their highest ranked candidates to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

University-Wide Ranking

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies co-ordinates the university-wide ranking which is carried out by six sub-committees comprising faculty members representing various disciplines.

Meet Award Holders

Mollie Holmberg

Doctor of Philosophy in Geography (PhD)

Finance goes viral? Investigating the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness and Innovation’s novel strategies for mending vaccine markets and preventing emerging infectious disease outbreak

Elise Ng-Cordell

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)

The development and impact of co-occurring anxiety and ADHD in autism

Starr Sandoval

Doctor of Philosophy in Linguistics (PhD)

Expressive meaning in Ktunaxa

Michael Rowley

Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD)

Development of small-molecule inhibitors against Protein Arginine N-methyltransferase 2

Sophie Smit

Moderators and mediators of behavioural parent training outcomes for children with ADHD: Evaluating the importance of addressing parent psychopathology and treatment process factors

Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Genetics (PhD)

Regulation of endosomal protein sorting by Vrl1 and the VINE complex

Ahmed Kabil

Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering (PhD)

Development and functional diversity of innate lymphoid cells

Susanna Cassisa

Master of Arts in Germanic Studies (MA)

Moral panic and anti-gay rhetoric in East German print media (1950-1955)

Daniel Lipshutz Forrest

Doctor of Philosophy in Resources, Environment and Sustainability (PhD)

Co-constructing a mutualistic city: Envisioning future scenarios to support people and nature in urban landscapes

Planning to do a research degree? Use our expert search to find a potential supervisor!

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Application FAQs

General questions.

MFA (all degrees except MFA in Film Production & Screenwriting):

Applications open mid-October. Deadline: early January.

MFA in Film Production & Screenwriting:

Deadline: mid-January deadline for September start.

How do I apply?

Applications are submitted through the UBC Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies online application system. An application includes transcripts, a portfolio of original writing, a statement of intent and a CV.

Can I apply to both the on-campus and optional-residency MFA?

Yes. You have to apply twice online and pay two application fees to do so. If you do apply twice and we make an admission offer you will have to choose which program to attend before accepting the offer.

How much does the MFA cost?

Tuition fees change over time. To find out the current tuition, see the links below to the UBC Calendar.

Optional-Residency MFA Tuition:

Visit the UBC Academic Calendar Master's Tuition Page and scroll until you see Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (Distance Education) . Fees are per-credit.

The MFA degree is awarded on the completion of 36 credits. Students are considered to be full-time if they are taking 12 credits in the fall/winter term (6 credits per term). Tuition is only charged when students are registered in courses.

On-Campus MFA Tuition:

Visit the UBC Academic Calendar Master's Tuition Page for Standard Programs . Tuition is paid per term on an instalment basis. Students in the on-campus program study full-time and are expected to take two years to complete (6 instalments).

After the second year, if a student remains on continuing status to finish a thesis, domestic fees drop to the continuing fee, which is listed in the fees table.

Please note: tuition does not include student fees; these are listed on the UBC website for on-campus students. Student fees are substantially lower for Optional-Residency MFA students as they do not use campus resources and are exempt from many fees.

Do you have funding for students?

Our MFA students are eligible for Graduate Support Initiative awards, SSHRC funding for Canadian students and affiliated scholarships for international students. There are also additional award possibilities for Indigenous and Black scholars.

We also have internal scholarships, multiple Teaching Assistant positions and several work/learn job opportunities.

Students are fully eligible for Canadian federal and provincial loans and any applicable US educational loans (please note that part-time students may not be eligible for all loans; please also note that US Stafford Loans are NOT awarded to students studying in a non-US institution by telecommunications – so Optional-Residency students cannot receive these loans).

Are there teaching assistant (TA) positions available to graduate students?

What are the academic requirements?

Applicants should have a four-year bachelor’s degree or recognized equivalent, with a B+ average in the last two years.

Do I need to have an undergraduate degree in English or Creative Writing to apply?

No, the undergraduate degree may be in any discipline. Many of our successful applicants have had degrees in areas unrelated to writing; some have not taken writing courses before.

What if I have not yet finished my undergraduate degree?

If you expect to finish in the spring or summer immediately following the application deadline, you are eligible to apply. Transcripts showing marks for courses completed or in progress are acceptable. If accepted to the program and to UBC, Graduate Studies will grant an acceptance conditional on the successful completion of your undergraduate degree.

Do you accept transfer credit from other optional-residency or residential MFA programs?

No, we cannot accept credits earned at another institution.

What if I don't meet the academic requirements?

In some cases, applicants without a four-year bachelor’s degree but with significant formal training or relevant professional experience may be granted admission on the recommendation of Creative Writing and the approval of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

In these cases, if our faculty recommend admission based on the portfolio submission, we will work with Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies to request a waiver of the requirements.

What is the significance of stating your main genre in the application process? Will this affect my chances of acceptance if I’m mainly working in a popular genre such as fiction?

Knowing an applicant’s main genre helps us with the initial reading of the portfolio – we assume this is your strongest genre, though we do read all genres submitted. Your choice of portfolio genres will not affect your chances of acceptance.

Is UBC an Accredited University?

The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a member of Universities Canada . Incorporated in 1908 by an act of the provincial legislature, it operates under the authority of the University Act of the Province of British Columbia. Membership in Universities Canada and operation under the authority of the University Act is equivalent to accreditation in the US system.

UBC is ranked as one of the top 50 public universities in the world and regularly places in the top 5 universities in Canada as ranked by Times Higher Education World University Rankings, Shanghai Ranking Academic Ranking of World Universities, and QS World University Rankings . More rankings here .

Students with degrees from UBC go on to further study and employment at universities across North America and around the world.

Is the MFA accepted as a qualification for teaching the US?

As stated above, a UBC degree will be acceptable as an academic qualification at any reputable university in the world. Although we cannot guarantee that any graduate will receive a teaching position as a result of gaining their MFA here, the reputation of UBC’s Creative Writing program is widely known in Canada, the US and abroad. We believe that this reputation, our cross-genre philosophy and our workshop focus will serve prospective teachers of creative writing well.

I'm primarily interested in poetry. Do I have to take courses in other areas?

Yes. Students are required to write in three separate genre areas during the course of their degree. This doesn’t mean you can’t focus on your primary genre – and indeed you only write a thesis in one genre – but our philosophy is that students will discover a fuller understanding of their capacities as writers in the “cross-training” component of the Program.

This is one of the features of this degree which makes UBC’s program unique – some of our best-known graduates have ended up excelling in genres they had not previously worked in before coming to the program.

Optional-Residency MFA Specific Questions

It is a type of low-residency MFA in which the residency component is optional. As the name suggests, low-residency MFAs allow writers to complete an MFA degree without having to spend the academic year in residence at the university campus. Most other low-residency MFAs require attendance at two 10-day residencies each year and require full-time study.

What is different about UBC's optional-residency MFA?

In addition to our unique cross-genre focus, we are much more flexible than other low-residency programs: we have one 10-day residency each year, which is optional. Students can maintain full-time status by taking as little as 12 credits a year. Students who require more time to complete their degrees may wish to study part-time, but will be ineligible for financial support.

Why does the optional-residency MFA have higher tuition than the on-campus MFA?

This is related to our special status at UBC as a professional program, which enables students to work part-time and to pay reduced student fees. Tuition is charged per-credit registered, not per academic term.

This expense is, however, offset by the absence of many of the hidden costs of taking an on-campus program, such as relocating to Vancouver. Optional-Residency students who study part-time are often able to continue to work during the course of their degree.

My computer is old / I have a slow Internet connection. Will I be able to take part in the online courses?

Yes. If you can read this page on your computer, you can participate in the workshops online. Our technical requirements are modest. The majority of courses will only require a word processor (MS Word is our standard) and access to the Internet. Students with newer computers and high-speed connections do report that these make participating more convenient, and we would recommend these, but they are not a requirement. There is also no requirement for a particular operating system.

Is the Optional-Residency MFA the same as the on-campus MFA?

The optional-residency MFA has separate fees, however, the degree granted is exactly the same as the residential MFA. Application standards and thesis requirements are the same. Most faculty members teach in both the on-campus and online programs.

How do online classes work?

Classes are offered as online workshops. Students submit and discuss their work as part of a small group, using a web-based discussion forum and written commentary. Classes do not meet in ‘real time’ but rather students have a period of just over a day each week in which class discussion is open, and may take part on their own schedule.

The thesis project is carried out using direct one-to-one correspondence between students and faculty members. We also hosting visiting virtual writers in residence and regularly present audio recordings of lectures and readings from the On-Campus MFA program.

How much time does an online workshop take?

We estimate that each online workshop takes a student roughly four to six hours per week in reading and participating in online discussion (depending to some degree on individual reading and typing speed). This does not include personal writing time, which varies from student to student.

What happens during the residency period(s)?

The residencies are held at the Vancouver campus of UBC each summer for approximately ten days. They consist primarily of writing workshops, supplemented by seminars and lectures on aspects of writing craft and business. Residencies are designed to foster creative and social links between students as well as to educate. Residencies are 3 credit courses, and cost the standard 3 credit course rate. There will not be any additional costs, other than applicable UBC student fees, the cost of transportation, meals and accommodation, which each student is responsible for.

I'm an international student: do I need a student visa for the online program?

You will require a study permit in order to attend the residencies in Canada (you do not require one to take any other courses, as they are by distance education). Please see the  Citizenship and Immigration Canada  website for details. We will provide assistance and appropriate documentation where necessary. The process is usually quite straightforward.

How important are the residency periods?

The residencies are an important part of the optional-residency MFA. We understand, however, that for some students, work, location or family issues make it very difficult or impossible to attend residencies. Therefore, though strongly recommended, we do not make residencies mandatory.

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Funding for living cost during PhD

Canadian PhD students in animal/life sciences or other fields, how do you access external funding to support your living expenses? I'm currently partially funded through a graduate research assistantship, but I need additional financial support to cover my living costs. While I can apply for competitive teaching assistantships or part-time jobs, I'm seeking organizations that provide funding for living expenses. Although I'm aware of research grants, they often prioritize funding for research-related expenses over living costs. What strategies do you use to secure external funding for your living expenses while pursuing your PhD?

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Peter A Allard School of Law

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"Gathering Good Stories": An Afternoon with Antonio Oposa Jr.

Centre for the Law and the Environment Assistant

Jul 29, 2024

On June 21, 2024, the Centre for Law & the Environment, in collaboration with UBC's Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability , hosted a memorable gathering featuring the illustrious Philippine environmental lawyer and storyteller, Antonio (Tony) Oposa Jr . 

Who is Tony Oposa?

Tony Oposa is renowned for launching the landmark 1993 Minors Oposa case . In this case, the Philippine Supreme Court ruled that old-growth logging violated the constitutional rights of children and future generations, setting a precedent for environmental law worldwide. Tony’s dedication to environmental justice didn’t stop there. He also successfully sued multiple government entities to clean up Manila Bay , a victory that underscored his relentless pursuit of a healthier and more sustainable environment for all.

Tony has dedicated his life to championing environmental sustainability through groundbreaking legal battles, creative activism, and compelling storytelling. 

The event at UBC, hosted by Professor Stepan Wood of the Centre for Law & the Environment, and Professor David Boyd of the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, took place in the serene setting of the Yurt at the UBC Farm . This informal gathering offered a unique platform for Tony to discuss one of his latest initiatives, the "Good Stories Project." This global project encourages individuals to share narratives of progress toward a more sustainable world, emphasizing the power of positive storytelling to inspire and drive change. 

Tony’s commitment to environmental protection has not been without peril. He has faced death threats, and tragically, his law partner and fellow environmental defender Jojo de la Victoria was assassinated . Despite these dangers, Tony continues to blend law, activism, education, art, storytelling, and humor to advocate for a sustainable future. His ability to connect with people through his stories makes his message resonate even more profoundly. 

Good Food and Good Company

The gathering at the Yurt was a testament to Tony’s influence and the universal appeal of his mission. The event, which began with a delicious lunch catered by 'The Delly' at UBC, was scheduled to continue with collective conversation at 1:30 PM and conclude by 3:00 PM. However, the engaging stories and the lively atmosphere extended the event until 3:55 PM, just five minutes before the Yurt rental ended. Attendees included members of the UBC community and beyond, all eager to share their own stories of progress and sustainability. The presence of world-renowned environmentalist David Suzuki added to the event's significance, highlighting the importance of Tony’s work and the global relevance of his message. The event was also attended by Maxwell A. Cameron , UBC professor, book author and editor, who specializes in comparative politics (Latin America), constitutionalism, democracy, and political ethics. Allard Law adjunct professor Victoria Shroff , K.C., who has practiced animal law for over 20 years was also in attendance.

The "Good Stories Project" that Tony introduced exists as a mechanism for optimism and hope in a time often overwhelmed by negative news about environmental degradation. 

By focusing on positive stories of change, Tony's project aims to shift the narrative toward what is being done right, encouraging more people to take action. Tony invited audience members to share their stories orally or through writing, creating an atmosphere of collaboration and inspiration. These stories of local and global efforts towards sustainability showcased the diverse ways people are contributing to a healthier planet. Participants shared not only their successes but also the challenges they faced in their efforts to promote sustainability. This open dialogue fostered a sense of community and collective purpose, reminding everyone present that they are part of a larger movement working towards a common goal. 

Of course, some participants were reluctant to grab the microphone and share their stories in front of a room of environmental experts. 

However, this was not a problem as Tony's engaging presentation included group efforts and collaboration as we sang familiar songs together. These songs were sung, and discussions flourished, illustrating the power of storytelling and the arts in promoting environmental awareness and action. The event underscored the importance of creativity and collaboration in the fight for a sustainable future. Further, Tony’s ability to weave humor and art into his advocacy made the afternoon not only educational but also deeply enjoyable.

The Power of a Good Story

As the event drew to a close, there was a palpable sense of optimism and determination among the attendees. The success of the gathering at the Yurt was a reminder of the impact that passionate individuals can have when they come together to share their stories and ideas. It highlighted the importance of community, dialogue, and the collective effort required to address the environmental challenges we face.

The gathering with Antonio Oposa Jr. at the UBC Farm truly felt like more than just an event; it was a celebration of the power of stories to inspire change. Tony’s visit left an indelible mark on all who attended, reinforcing the belief that a sustainable future is possible through collaboration, creativity, and unwavering commitment to the environment. 

• Centre for Law and the Environment

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The Centre for the Law and the Environment is an internationally recognized hub for creating and spreading knowledge, ideas and practices at the Allard School of Law, across UBC and with wider communities about the role of law in securing a healthy environment and a sustainable society.

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