Research Degrees - Introduction

The University

The University of British Columbia (UBC), established in 1908, is one of the largest English language universities in Canada, with a faculty and staff of almost 5,500 and an enrollment of about 27,000 full-time students. There are nearly 6,500 graduate students currently registered; nearly one-quarter of them are international students, coming from 98 countries.

Tuum est, 'it's up to you', the University motto, stresses the role of the student in taking advantage of the many facilities and opportunities offered by the University of British Columbia. A wide range of academic and professional degree programs available through 12 Faculties, 10 Schools, and a host of Departments, Institutes and Centres, have helped establish UBC as one of the foremost institutions in Canada, a status confirmed by the university's share of funding awards and scholarships in various national competitions. Annually, faculty members receive more than $120 million in research grants and contracts. In many fields, UBC is internationally recognized as one of the leading universities in the world.

Location

The UBC campus occupies about 400 hectares at the western tip of Vancouver, overlooking the Strait of Georgia. Although adjacent to a wilderness park and extensive public beaches, the University is only a 20-minute drive from the centre of downtown Vancouver.

Renowned for its spectacular natural setting, the City of Vancouver lies alongside a magnificent harbour, bounded on the north by mountains which are snow-capped much of the year and provide excellent skiing. Miles of sandy beaches suitable for swimming, volleyball and walking are easily accessible. Vancouver enjoys a temperate climate. The coldest month (January) has an average minimum temperature only slightly below freezing. Summers are pleasantly warm, with the average July maximum temperature about 23C.