How to apply
There are three stages to admission to the Zoology Graduate Program at UBC:
- acceptance by a supervisor
- review by the Zoology Graduate Committee
- final approval and offer of admission from the UBC Faculty of Graduate Studies (FOGS)
The Faculty of Graduate Studies sets the minimum requirements for admission to any graduate program at UBC.
Given that a student meets these minimum requirements, then the biggest hurdle to acceptance is finding a supervisor.
How to find a supervisor
Check the Potential Supervisors list for supervisors in Zoology, then contact the faculty member(s) in whose work you are interested. If agreeable to both parties, set up an informal application by submitting the following:
- a strong and convincing letter of intent outlining your research experience, proposed research project (or ideas), and explaining why the faculty member is your number one choice.
- an up-to-date transcript of marks from all post-secondary institutions attended (this can be unofficial at this stage)
- three letters of reference, ideally from faculty members who have supervised your studies and/or research directly.
All of the above should be submitted to the Zoology Graduate Office well ahead of the formal application deadlines.
If a faculty member agrees to take you on as a grad student, then you can proceed with a formal application as outlined below:
Formal Application Procedure
Complete an online application form. Arrange for two official transcripts from each post-secondary institution you have attended, or are presently attending, to be sent to the Department of Zoology. These transcripts must be submitted in original sealed envelopes in order to be considered official by the University of B.C.
Ensure that we have received three references, a letter of intent, and a resume. Most international students must also submit original TOEFL scores.
Note: A supervisor has to be in place before an offer of admission can be processed.
Applications are reviewed as soon as they are complete, and applicants are encouraged to apply early. The formal application deadline for September 2010 admission is 1 February 2010. To be considered for various awards, all application materials must be received by February 1st.
Please visit:
http://www.zoology.ubc.ca/graduate-studies/awards-deadlines
If an applicant has found a potential supervisor, late applications may be considered, but please check with the department first.
For further information contact the zoology graduate secretary:
Telephone: (604) 822-5807
Fax: (604) 822-2416
Email:
Department of Zoology
University of British Columbia
Biological Sciences Building
6270 University Boulevard
Vancouver, BC
V6T 1Z4 Canada