ubc creative writing masters online

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You are reading the 2024/25 Academic Calendar. The 2023/24 version remains in effect until August 31, 2024 and is available here .

Creative Writing

Degree Offered: M.F.A.

N. Hopkinson, A. Lyon, K. Maillard, A. Ohlin, L. Svendsen.

Associate Professors

N. Lee, S. McGowan, M. Medved, T. Taylor.

Assistant Professors

B-R. Belcourt, A. Irani, F. Koncan, S. Leavitt, A. Marzano-Lesnevich, C. Nicholson, E. Pohl-Weary.

Associate Professor Emerita

R. Tregebov.

Program Overview

The School of Creative Writing offers two streams of study leading to the Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.). The first is a two-year resident program. The second is an online distance program with part-time and residency options. See Creative Writing for more information. See also Film Production/Creative Writing and Creative Writing/Theatre .

The School of Creative Writing publishes www.prismmagazine.ca ; resident graduate students participate in the editing and production of the magazine.

Master of Fine Arts

Admission requirements.

Applicants must satisfy the general requirements set by the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and should submit work in two or more of the genres listed in the Creative Writing handbook on our website, specifying which is their major area of interest. Short and long fiction are considered one genre. Screen, TV, and web series are considered one genre. Applicants who intend to focus on translation should submit translated material in any of the above genres and a sample of their own original creative writing. Consult the School of Creative Writing website or email for more information.

The deadline for receiving manuscripts for both MFA programs is in January, whether this be for the following July entrance date for students in the optional residency online stream, or for the following September entrance date for students in the on-campus stream. Late manuscripts will not be considered. Length of the manuscripts accompanying the application depends on choice of genres. Guidelines are available from Creative Writing .

Program Requirements

During the two years of the program, 36 credits of coursework must be completed 1 , including an overall minimum of 24 credits at the graduate level and a 6-credit thesis. The School of Creative Writing consists of work in three genres, chosen in consultation with the Graduate Advisor, as described in the program handbook on the Creative Writing website. The thesis consisting of a full-length work in the area(s) of their special interest will be completed in the second year. The thesis may be a substantial revision and extension of work done during the first year. A work of translation may be used to fulfill the thesis requirement by students with the required ability and linguistic knowledge.

Students may be required to take advanced creative writing undergraduate courses as part of their programs.

1 A maximum of 6 credits is permitted from CRWR_V 420, CRWR_V 521

Contact Information

School of Creative Writing Buchanan E462, 1866 Main Mall Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z1 Tel: 604.822.0699 Fax: 604.822.3616 Email: [email protected] Web: www.creativewriting.ubc.ca Alexandra Tsardidis , Graduate Support

UBC Academic Calendar

2016 1874 East Mall Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 1Z1

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Find details about every creative writing competition—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, grants for translators, and more—that we’ve published in the Grants & Awards section of Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it in the Writing Contests database, the most trusted resource for legitimate writing contests available anywhere.

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University of British Columbia (Distance MFA)

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MFA Program

Poetry : Susan Musgrave, Cecily Nicholson, Bronwen Tate Fiction : Anosh Irani, Nancy Lee, Annabel Lyon, Maureen Medved, Alix Ohlin, A. E. Osworth, Linda Svendsen, Timothy Taylor, John Vigna Children/YA : Emily Pohl-Weary, Jordan Scott, Tanya Kyi Nonfiction : Mandy Catron, Alex Marzano-Lesnevich Graphic Novel : Sarah Leavitt Screenwriting : Sara Graefe Playwriting: Frances Koncan Writing for Television : Zac Hug Speculative Fiction : Nalo Hopkinson Indigenous Writing : Billy-Ray Belcourt New Media: Jen Moss

The program offers partial funding. The program offers teaching assistantships, graduate supportive initiative scholarships, and endowed scholarships.

This Optional-Residency (Distance) MFA program was the first distance education MFA program in Canada and remains the only full MFA which can be taken completely online. The program offers courses in graphic novel writing, playwriting, writing for television, screenwriting, and writing for children. Students are required to take coursework in three genres during the degree.

Most students attend an optional ten-day residency that is offered each July at the University of British Columbia campus in Vancouver.

Paulette Bourgeois, Amy Jones, Ellen Keith, Amy Stuart, Sarah Selecky, Shyam Selvadurai, Shauna Singh Baldwin, Katherena Vermette

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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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Your degree in Creative Writing

• Skills you’ll develop

While studying Creative Writing , you’ll learn the craft and process of writing through workshops led by experienced, working writers that make up the faculty. You’ll develop important skills while writing in multiple genres.

These skills may include:

• Creating original works such as fiction, non-fiction, poetry, plays, screenplays, lyric and graphic forms, and translations
• Using effective planning, time management, problem solving, and leadership skills on various creative projects
• Working knowledge and application of the professional standards and expectations for your chosen genres
• Researching, understanding, and assessing various types of creative works
• Analyzing artistic works clearly and concisely
• Adapting content to a variety of forms or mediums
• Providing and receiving constructive feedback on opinions and works
• Crafting and telling compelling and creative stories
• Explore career possibilities

Career opportunities vary across a range of fields including publishing, communications, marketing, public relations, social media, non-profit, government, tourism, education, and others.

There are many career paths that can combine your academics, skills, and experience with your different interests. Read through the job titles below for ideas. Some career options may require further education or training.

Visit the National Occupational Classification website to research basic requirements and responsibilities of jobs in your field.

• Arts administrator
• Book publishing manager
• Communications manager
• Communications policy researcher
• Community centre coordinator
• Community organizer
• Festival/Event planner
• Fiction/Non-fiction writer
• Film/TV editor
• Fundraiser/Grant writer
• Human resources specialist
• Literacy program coordinator
• Literary agent
• Literary editor
• Literary translator
• Magazine editor
• Market researcher
• Marketing specialist
• Media relations coordinator
• News analyst
• Non-profit administrator
• Project manager
• Public relations specialist
• Recreation programs manager
• Screen writer
• Social media community manager
• Social policy advisor/analyst
• Special education assistant
• Speech writer
• Teacher/Professor
• Technical writer
• Tourism development officer
• Travel writer
• Web communications manager
• Make the most of your program

Your experiences will open doors to new opportunities and help you understand your values and interests.

• UBC Creative Writing Program events Meet other students at readings, info sessions, and other programs. 
• Creative Writing BFA group Join fellow creative writers for various events and make new friends.
• Departmental research opportunities Reach out directly to faculty members to ask about potential research positions.
• Preparation for a Career in Writing Check out UBC courses on how to build a career in writing, such as CRWR 430 or CRWR 530.
• Creative Writing co-op success stories Learn about the experiences of past and present co-op students from your program and others.
• Nineteen Questions online magazine Read or contribute profiles about the career trajectories, challenges, and the writing lives of established writers.
• PRISM international Inquire about volunteer opportunities to support an online magazine focused on modern and contemporary literature.
• Brave New Play Rites Festival Attend the festival in Term 2 or collaborate with theatre students for an opportunity to produce your short play.
• The Garden Statuary Showcase your essays, poetry, photographs, and other work in UBC’s English Undergraduate Journal.
• The Ubyssey Volunteer to write articles for this weekly student paper. No previous experience required.
• Vancouver Writers Fest Check out the works of local and international writers or volunteer at a literary event.
• Growing Room Festival Celebrate diverse Canadian writers and artists in Term 2 at this feminist literary festival.
• Writers’ Exchange Volunteer to support literacy programs for kids in Vancouver.
• Resources for writers Find local writing groups, contests, festivals and other resources for writers.
• BC Alliance for Arts + Culture job board Search for part-time and full-time opportunities in BC across a variety of fields in the arts.
• Build your network

Employers often hire people they know, so help them get to know you. You can  build your network through clubs, classes, informational interviews, and more. There are so many ways to make connections and find mentors.

The professional associations below are also great resources for meeting people, learning about specific industries, and accessing job and volunteer opportunities. Most have reduced membership rates for students and new grads.

• Access Copyright
• Association of Book Publishers of British Columbia
• Association of Canadian Publishers
• Canada Council for the Arts
• Canadian Association for Commonwealth Literature and Language Studies
• Canadian Association of Broadcasters
• Canadian Association of Journalists
• Canadian Communication Association
• Canadian Media Producers Association
• Canadian Public Relations Society
• Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators, and Performers
• Children’s Writers and Illustrators of BC Society
• Crime Writers of Canada
• Editors Canada
• Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences
• Federation of BC Writers
• First Peoples’ Cultural Council
• League of Canadian Poets
• Magazines Canada
• Modern Language Association
• Playwrights Guild of Canada
• Canadian Freelance Guild
• Society for Technical Communication
• Speculative Fiction Canada
• WorkInCulture
• Writers Guild of Canada
• Writers’ Union of Canada
• Connect with alumni on LinkedIn

Find UBC Creative Writing graduates on LinkedIn  to learn about where they’re working, and their career and academic paths.

• More information

From your Arts degree, you’ll develop skills and experiences that can translate into many career paths. Check out other things you can do with your Arts degree .

On this page

• About the Program & MACL Community
• Supporting Units
• Share News and Events (Form)
• Program Overview
• Degree Requirements
• Application Procedures for Creative Writing Courses
• Funding, Employment, and Other Resources
• Young Adulting Review
• Affiliate Awards
• Emeritus Faculty
• iSchool Staff
• Application Process
• Admission Requirements
• Funding and Work Opportunities
• Frequently Asked Questions
• MACL Annual Graduate Student Conference
• Past Conferences
• Register for the Conference

Creative Writing Courses Application Procedures

Macl students interested in creative writing.

UBC’s Creative Writing Program (CRWR) invites MACL students who want to take Writing for Children and Young Adults to participate in specific classes related to their degree.

Please note that students applying to the MACL Program who wish to take CRWR courses can choose one of the following options:

• Apply to do a hybrid CRWR thesis which includes writing an entire early chapter book, middle-grade or young adult novel, or
• Take some creative writing classes.

Applying for a Hybrid MACL/CRWR Thesis

CRWR/MACL faculty member Emily Pohl-Weary supervises MACL students who undertake creative writing theses. To satisfy the requirements for your Master’s Degree, you will write and revise an entire manuscript for an original early chapter book, middle grade novel, or young adult novel. It is an intensive process that includes significant revision. You are expected to participate in advanced classes at or around the same level as CRWR graduate students.

When preparing your application to MACL: In order to assess your suitability for this specialized MACL stream, please include a creative writing portfolio of approximately 20 pages along with your application. Your portfolio should include some work in your intended genre: early chapter book, middle-grade, or young adult novel. It is also recommended that you briefly describe previous creative writing experience in your statement of intent.

Hybrid CRWR/MACL Thesis Stream Students Taking CW Classes

Once you are accepted into the Hybrid CRWR/MACL Thesis Stream, you will be granted access to CW’s advanced Writing for Children and Young Adults classes.

Advanced CW classes meet for two hours weekly but include a significant amount of preparation. They are workshops with very little theoretical or lecture content, and are designed so that students generate original writing for children, which is peer workshopped by class members, as well as the instructor.

You may take up to 12 credits of advanced Writing for Children and Young Adults classes throughout your degree with a range of different instructors (see the CW faculty list for more information).

If you have questions related to registration, please contact Heather Miller ([email protected]).

Other MACL Students Taking Creative Writing Classes

Other MACL students who are interested in taking CRWR classes in Writing for Children and Young Adults must send a portfolio of at least 10 pages of writing for young readers to Heather Miller ([email protected]) by May 1 . Also include a brief statement about your previous creative writing experience.

CRWR will assess your portfolio. It is likely you will be placed at an intermediate level, but may have the opportunity to advance. You can take up to 12 credits of CW classes throughout your degree with a range of different instructors (see the CW faculty list for more information).

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Continuing Education

Further your writing skills, career opportunities and personal development through our flexible, accessible and inclusive online courses.

Take your novel from concept to completion with this series of non-credit online courses created by our fiction professors Nancy Lee and Annabel Lyon.

Hosted on Harvard and MIT’s innovative edX learning platform , these non-credit courses are open to anyone and run several times per year.

Professional Certificate in Writing For Video Games

Learn how to write for video games and advance your career in one of the world’s most exciting creative industries.

In this Professional Certificate Program you’ll learn the tools and techniques of writing for video games in a comprehensive program designed by successful, working game writers and teachers. From story and character development to worldbuilding and interactive narrative, this Certificate will help you excel in a creative field that requires creative, flexible team players.

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Film Production & Creative Writing

The Master of Fine Arts in Film Production and Creative Writing is a unique program offering an intensive, diverse and collaborative environment for crafting literary excellence in films and television.

Program Overview

Our master’s program is primarily a film production degree with an emphasis on screen writing. The final thesis for this joint MFA is a completed film that is written, directed and produced by the student.

The degree is designed for students who have a comprehensive background in filmmaking and screenwriting who wish to pursue a specific vision that combines both disciplines.

Students interested in the joint MFA degree must be experienced filmmakers and have completed films on which they were a principal creator to submit as part of their portfolio.

Degree Requirements

The MFA in Film Production and Creative Writing requires students to complete 36 total credits following these guidelines:

• FIPR_V 533: Advanced Problems in Directing (6 credits)
• CRWR_V 506: Advanced Writing for Television (6 credits)
• CRWR_V 514: Advanced Writing for the Screen (6 credits)
• The 12-credit thesis requirement can normally be met with the completion of a professionally finished film 20 minutes long (shorter works to be considered on a case-by-case basis) and full written documentation and evaluation of the process
• Productions longer than 40 minutes may be eligible for 15 or 18 credits on a case-by-case basis
• FIPR_V 534 (6) Producing for Film and Television
• FIPR_V 535 (6) Alternative Cinema Production
• FIPR_V 536 (6) Documentary Development and Production
• CINE_V 534A (3) Seminar in Cinema Studies
• CINE_V 534B (3) Seminar in Cinema Studies
• Alternate courses to fulfill the 0 to 6 credits of electives must be chosen in consultation with the MFA Advisor.

The application portal is currently closed and will reopen in late September, 2025 for entry to UBC in the fall of 2026.

The MFA in Film Production and Creative Writing is a joint program with UBC’s Creative Writing Department. Applicants must apply to the MFA in Film Production & Creative Writing, and completed applications will be sent directly to the Film Production program. Once accepted, the film program will arrange for the application and materials to be sent to the Department of Creative Writing for consideration into the joint degree program.

• Submit your UBC Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies application
• Include a resume of your film and related experience
• Attach a copy of official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended and are currently enrolled in. If your transcripts are in a language other than English you must also provide a certified translation
• Include a portfolio of completed films where you were a primary creator. These must be shared via accessible links, otherwise your application may be rejected.
• A description of each film you have submitted (title, length, production company) and your role on each project.
• A proposal for a thesis film. If your thesis is a feature-length film, you must also submit an alternate proposal for a shorter film. This proposal must include a description of the film, an outline, treatment or draft script and a proposed one-page budget.
• A statement of intent describing your reasons for wanting to complete the MFA Program.
• Applicants must also submit a portfolio of original screenwriting of at least 50 pages. This writing can be from a single screenplay or several different screenplays.
• Three letters of recommendation via UBC’s eReference system

Quick Links

• Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (MFA)
• Graduate School
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Go to programs search

Creative Writers are at the heart of our cultural industries. Poets, novelists, screenwriters, playwrights, graphic novelists, magazine writers: they entertain, inform and inspire. For more than 50 years, UBC’s Creative Writing program has been producing writers who’ve shaped Canadian and international culture. A studio program with the writing workshop at its heart, the MFA focuses on the work created by students as the primary text. Through intensive peer critique and craft discussion, faculty and students work together with the same goal: literary excellence. 

For specific program requirements, please refer to the departmental program website

What makes the program unique?

UBC’s Creative Writing program was the first writing program in Canada, and is the largest and most comprehensive in the country. It is highly ranked internationally, and draws students from around the world for its multi-genre approach to writing instruction. Students are required to work in multiple genres during the course of the degree. As a fine arts program rather than an English program, students focus on the practice of writing rather than the study of literature.

Small, intensive workshops characterize the program, as does our breadth of offerings: with 12 genres of writing available for study there are more opportunities for learning than at any other writing program in the world.

Faculty are distinguished, working writers. We have 12 professors, an additional 9 permanent instructors and regularly bring in a wide variety of writers in residence and adjunct instructors from the writing community.

The School of Creative Writing’s quality of professors was the biggest draw for me. I also want the teaching experience TA’ing for undergraduate students can bring me. I want to ultimately teach creative writing at a post-secondary level and learning how to do so at UBC will be rigorous and rewarding.

Brandi Bird

Quick Facts

Program enquiries, admission information & requirements, program instructions.

The residency MFA program only has a September intake.

1) Check Eligibility

Minimum academic requirements.

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies establishes the minimum admission requirements common to all applicants, usually a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC). The graduate program that you are applying to may have additional requirements. Please review the specific requirements for applicants with credentials from institutions in:

• Canada or the United States
• International countries other than the United States

Each program may set higher academic minimum requirements. Please review the program website carefully to understand the program requirements. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission as it is a competitive process.

English Language Test

Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.

Minimum requirements for the two most common English language proficiency tests to apply to this program are listed below:

TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language - internet-based

Overall score requirement : 90

IELTS: International English Language Testing System

Overall score requirement : 6.5

Other Test Scores

Some programs require additional test scores such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Test (GMAT). The requirements for this program are:

The GRE is not required.

2) Meet Deadlines

3) prepare application, transcripts.

All applicants have to submit transcripts from all past post-secondary study. Document submission requirements depend on whether your institution of study is within Canada or outside of Canada.

Letters of Reference

A minimum of three references are required for application to graduate programs at UBC. References should be requested from individuals who are prepared to provide a report on your academic ability and qualifications.

Statement of Interest

Many programs require a statement of interest , sometimes called a "statement of intent", "description of research interests" or something similar.

• Supervision

Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their thesis supervisor. Please follow the instructions provided by each program whether applicants should contact faculty members.

Instructions regarding thesis supervisor contact for Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (MFA)

Citizenship verification.

Permanent Residents of Canada must provide a clear photocopy of both sides of the Permanent Resident card.

4) Apply Online

All applicants must complete an online application form and pay the application fee to be considered for admission to UBC.

Tuition & Financial Support

Financial Support

Applicants to UBC have access to a variety of funding options, including merit-based (i.e. based on your academic performance) and need-based (i.e. based on your financial situation) opportunities.

Scholarships & awards (merit-based funding)

All applicants are encouraged to review the awards listing to identify potential opportunities to fund their graduate education. The database lists merit-based scholarships and awards and allows for filtering by various criteria, such as domestic vs. international or degree level.

Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA)

Many professors are able to provide Research Assistantships (GRA) from their research grants to support full-time graduate students studying under their supervision. The duties constitute part of the student's graduate degree requirements. A Graduate Research Assistantship is considered a form of fellowship for a period of graduate study and is therefore not covered by a collective agreement. Stipends vary widely, and are dependent on the field of study and the type of research grant from which the assistantship is being funded.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)

Graduate programs may have Teaching Assistantships available for registered full-time graduate students. Full teaching assistantships involve 12 hours work per week in preparation, lecturing, or laboratory instruction although many graduate programs offer partial TA appointments at less than 12 hours per week. Teaching assistantship rates are set by collective bargaining between the University and the Teaching Assistants' Union .

Graduate Academic Assistantships (GAA)

Academic Assistantships are employment opportunities to perform work that is relevant to the university or to an individual faculty member, but not to support the student’s graduate research and thesis. Wages are considered regular earnings and when paid monthly, include vacation pay.

Financial aid (need-based funding)

Canadian and US applicants may qualify for governmental loans to finance their studies. Please review eligibility and types of loans .

All students may be able to access private sector or bank loans.

Foreign government scholarships

Many foreign governments provide support to their citizens in pursuing education abroad. International applicants should check the various governmental resources in their home country, such as the Department of Education, for available scholarships.

Working while studying

The possibility to pursue work to supplement income may depend on the demands the program has on students. It should be carefully weighed if work leads to prolonged program durations or whether work placements can be meaningfully embedded into a program.

International students enrolled as full-time students with a valid study permit can work on campus for unlimited hours and work off-campus for no more than 20 hours a week.

A good starting point to explore student jobs is the UBC Work Learn program or a Co-Op placement .

Tax credits and RRSP withdrawals

Students with taxable income in Canada may be able to claim federal or provincial tax credits.

Canadian residents with RRSP accounts may be able to use the Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) which allows students to withdraw amounts from their registered retirement savings plan (RRSPs) to finance full-time training or education for themselves or their partner.

Please review Filing taxes in Canada on the student services website for more information.

Cost Estimator

Applicants have access to the cost estimator to develop a financial plan that takes into account various income sources and expenses.

Career Options

Graduates of the MFA program have found success in varied fields related to writing and communication. The MFA qualifies graduates for teaching at the university level and many graduates have gone on to teach at colleges and universities in Canada, the United States and overseas as well as holding writing residencies. Many publish books and win literary awards. Others go on to work in publishing, and graduates have become book and magazine editors.

Although the MFA is a terminal degree, some graduates go on to further study in PhD programs in the US, UK and Australia. 

Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats

These statistics show data for the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (MFA). Data are separated for each degree program combination. You may view data for other degree options in the respective program profile.

ENROLMENT DATA

Completion Rates & Times

• Research Supervisors

This list shows faculty members with full supervisory privileges who are affiliated with this program. It is not a comprehensive list of all potential supervisors as faculty from other programs or faculty members without full supervisory privileges can request approvals to supervise graduate students in this program.

• Belcourt, Billy-Ray (Fiction; Nonfiction; Poetry)
• French, Whitney (memory, loss, technology, and nature)
• Hopkinson, Nalo (Creative writing, n.e.c.; Humanities and the arts; Creative Writing: Speculative Ficton, Fantasy, Science Fiction, especially Other Voices)
• Irani, Anosh
• Koncan, Frances
• Leavitt, Sarah (Autobiographical comics; Formal experimentation in comics; Comics pedagogy)
• Lee, Nancy (Fiction; Creative Writing)
• Lyon, Annabel (Novels, stories and news)
• Maillard, Keith (Fiction, poetry)
• Marzano-Lesnevich, Alex (Nonfiction)
• McGowan, Sharon (Planning of film productions from concept to completion)
• Medved, Maureen (Fiction, writing for screen)
• Nicholson, Cecily (Languages and literature; Poetry)
• Ohlin, Alix (Fiction; Screenwriting; Environmental writing)
• Pohl-Weary, Emily (Fiction; Writing for Youth)
• Svendsen, Linda (Script development; Novels, stories and news; Writing for Television; Fiction)
• Taylor, Timothy (fiction and nonfiction)
• Vigna, John (Novels, stories and news; Fiction, Literary Non-Fiction, Creative Writing)

Related Programs

Same specialization.

• Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (Distance) (MFA)

Same Academic Unit

• Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and Theatre (MFA)
• Master of Fine Arts in Film Production and Creative Writing (MFA)

At the UBC Okanagan Campus

• Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

Further Information

Specialization.

Creative Writing combines the best of traditional workshop and leading-edge pedagogy. Literary cross-training offers opportunities in a broad range of genres including fiction, poetry, screenplay, podcasting, video game writing and graphic novel.

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Vivian (Xiao Wen) Li

I really liked what the program would be offering, and I love the mountains as well as nature—I find a lot of peace and inspiration from water, wind, and clouds. While I was at an Explore Program for a month at the University of Victoria (I wanted to explore the West Coast), I managed to visit UBC...

Fiona Revill

I have studied abroad in Australia, and at several local post-secondary institutions, but UBC has always felt like my academic home. The Creative Writing program is one of the best programs in the country, and I was really honoured to be accepted, as the competition is rigorous.

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• UBC Master of Data Science /

The UBC Master of Data Science (MDS) helps you take your career to the next level, giving you the technical foundation and real-world data experience to effectively translate data into knowledge, communicate its stories and aid decision-makers to make the right choices.

We’re looking for students who have a passion for learning and for data science, a strong work ethic, a burning intellectual curiosity and good communication and technical writing skills.

The MDS program is offered at both the UBC Vancouver and Okanagan campuses, or you can specialize with the MDS in Computational Linguistics.

Note that MDS is an intense professional graduate degree program. It is mandatory that you attend classes, labs, and events. As such, we do not recommend that you work while taking this program.

Admission Deadlines

Applications for September 2024 closed on January 31, 2024 . Applicants can expect an admission decision within 8-12 weeks of the application deadline.

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Admission Requirements

To be eligible to apply for any of the UBC Master of Data Science programs, you must meet the academic, prerequisite, English proficiency and professional requirements below.

Academic Requirements

At the minimum hold the equivalent of a four-year bachelor’s degree from UBC with a minimum B+ (76% at UBC) average in your third and fourth-year courses.  To determine if your 3-year degree is accepted, please refer to this website: https://www.grad.ubc.ca/countries .

Prerequisite Courses

At the time of application, you must have proof of completion or enrolment in the following prerequisite courses:

• one course in Programming (3 credits) :
• one course in Probability and/or Statistics (3 credits):
• one course in Calculus (3 credits) OR Linear Algebra (3 credits):

​NOTE: Completion of a course in both calculus AND linear algebra is strongly recommended. For students interested in the  MDS in Computational Linguistics ,  there is, in addition to the technical background required for all MDS students, the expectation that candidates will have a degree and/or other significant experience relevant to language (i.e. a major or minor in linguistics). Candidates should outline this language background in their letter of intent.

Learn More About Prerequisites  

Self-assessment Test

If you are not sure about your core knowledge in the areas of programming, statistics, probability or calculus, you can try our self-assessment test . You should be able to answer all of the questions in 1-3 hours (including referring to textbooks or online resources if you haven't encountered a topic recently). If you cannot do these questions with limited effort, you will likely struggle in the program without additional preparation. The test is for your own reference only and is not intended to represent the level of MDS content (which will be much higher!). You can download the self-assessment test answers here .

Professional Experience

The MDS program is designed for working professionals who are interested in taking their career to the next level. Hence, we encourage applicants with professional work experience to apply. Please note that work experience does not necessarily have to be relevant experience in data science and new graduates with limited work experience, especially those with Linguistics and language-related academic backgrounds (for the MDS Computational Linguistics program), will also be a good fit.

English Proficiency

If your last (undergraduate or graduate) degree was not completed at an English-speaking university, proof of English-language proficiency is required as this program involves a significant amount of reading, writing and oral communication. See the International Students page for more information.

Recorded Virtual Interview

For the Master of Data Science - Vancouver program ONLY and NEW for this yea r - After you submit your application form, you will be emailed an invitation with a link to record and submit a virtual interview in which we will ask you several questions about your experience, motivation, communication skills, etc. You will be emailed detailed instructions and deadlines in early February.

No Standardized Tests

The UBC Master of Data Science program does not require a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or any other academic test score for admission.

Applicants who do not meet the admission requirements stated above, but who have had other significant formal training, relevant professional experience, and/or otherwise possess demonstrable knowledge or expertise that would prepare them adequately for successful study in the graduate program, may be granted admission on the recommendation of the Program Director and the approval of the Dean.

Laptop Requirements

Students in the UBC Master of Data Science program are required to use their own laptops. In particular, students will need to have a machine that:

• Click here to download Windows 11 for free from UBC . (if it is not available you can download Windows 10 and update it to Windows 11)
• When installing Ubuntu, checking the box “Install third party…” will (among other things) install proprietary drivers, which can be helpful for wifi and graphics cards.
• Can connect to networks via a wireless connection for on campus work
• Has access to an internet connection that is fast and stable enough for video calling and conducting online quizzes
• Has at least 50 GB disk space available
• Has a minimum 8 GB of RAM
• Uses a 64-bit CPU
• Is at most 6 years old at the start of the program (4 years old or newer is recommended)
• Uses English as the default language
• Student user has full administrative access to the computer  

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