Why did students choose UBC for graduate education?

Nikola Zlatanov Home Country: Macedonia Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) I wanted to continue my education in North America, and Canada was my preferred destination. My decision to come to UBC was due to the fact that Vancouver is one of the world's top cities to live in, and that UBC is one of the world's top ranking universities.	Ryan Germain Home Country: Canada Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) UBC seemed to offer the perfect combination of outstanding research in a vibrant city that was surrounded by stunning scenery. By the time my plane landed, I was sold.	Xin Huang Home Country: China Doctor of Philosophy in Women's and Gender Studies (PhD) I chose UBC for its outstanding reputation in Canada and in the world, excellent teaching and research, generous support for graduate students, and strong profile in Women's Studies and China Studies. I also like the diverse student population at UBC.	Roee Diamant Home Country: Israel Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) The advanced research that takes place in the Electrical Engineering department of UBC is very appealing to me. The atmosphere in the Communication group of the Electrical Engineering department is pleasant and encourages creativity. In addition, pursuing my Doctoral degree at UBC will enable me to study with some of the world's most famous researchers.	Iain Moyles Home Country: Canada Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics (PhD) I've always been attracted to the west coast of Canada and upon finishing my undergraduate degree in 2009, I knew that I would want to study Applied Mathematics, a topic for which UBC is world renowned. I knew that if I hoped to become the best, I'd need to study under the best.	Andrew Nelson Home Country: United States Master of Science in Geography (MSc) I was impressed by the beauty of the country, the reputation of the Geography program, and the intrigue of my particular research topic.
Ning Tu Home Country: China Doctor of Philosophy in Geophysics (PhD) Vancouver is a beautiful city and UBC is a good university.	Jason Barton Home Country: United States Doctor of Philosophy in Integrated Studies in Land and Food Systems (PhD) The Faculty of Land and Food Systems (LFS) offers a challenging and flexible learning environment within an amazing community of faculty, staff and students. Also, UBC and Vancouver are both known around the world for their efforts in healthy and environmentally sensitive communities. Being close to the mountains, ocean, wilderness, and a vibrant and diverse city are huge bonuses as well.	Leah Lim Home Country: Canada Master of Science in Microbiology and Immunology (MSc) I really liked the work Charles was doing and I was impressed with the lab facilities and opportunities for learning and scholarships that UBC offered.	Joshua Switzer Home Country: United States Master of Science in Forestry (MSc) The Belowground Ecosystem Group here at UBC has a great reputation among North American universities for conducting sound ecosystem-based research and having an amazing group of well-published professors. Opportunities for snowboarding at Whistler and mountain biking on the North Shore definately made my decision easier.	Mingbo Niu Home Country: China Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) The Faculty of Applied Science at the University of British Columbia (UBC) is considered one of the best in Canada, and offers exciting opportunities for further graduate studies. In addition, UBC is well known for its excellence in electrical engineering, and is complete with an accomplished faculty and modern research resources. These should help set a good stage for me to exercise my keen mental power and diligence. All of those greatly attract me.	Spencer Martin Home Country: Canada Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Oncology (PhD) My project involves next generation DNA sequencing, and the Genome Sciences Centre (GSC) at the BC Cancer Agency in Vancouver is one of the top sequencing facilities in the world. By attending grad school at UBC, I was able to work at the GSC under a co-supervior. UBC offered the flexibility to continue my research in Victoria at the DRC after my first year (and all of my classes) was finished.
Jan Luedert Home Country: Germany Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science (PhD) The choice to come to British Columbia was made easy as the city is situated nicely in and around the mountains, Pacific and great forests. UBC was the best place for my anticipated research especially in light of my supervisor Prof. Price who is one of the most important scholars in the field of normative international relations.	Nancy Hofer Home Country: Canada Master of Science in Planning (MSCP) I lived in Vancouver and did not want to move. Vancouver is a wonderful place to live and UBC is a beautiful campus. My program also had a strong reputation for sustainable community planning which was exactly what I wanted to do.	Hana Al-Bannay Home Country: Saudi Arabia Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Sciences (PhD) UBC is a very prestigious university and their graduate programs are well recognized internationally. I also found shared research interests between myself and my supervisor.	Jennifer Selgrath Home Country: United States Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD) I came to UBC because I wanted to work with Dr. Amanda Vincent and Project Seahorse. Project Seahorse is highly unusual in a university setting, because we advance marine conservation by blending academic rigor with applied management and policy work. This is what I wanted from my PhD—working on research that is valuable for real-world conservation needs.	Olena Morozova Home Country: Ukraine Doctor of Philosophy in Bioinformatics (PhD) I came to UBC to join the research group of Dr. Marco Marra, who is a leading expert in the field of DNA sequencing, and particularly in applications of DNA sequencing to the study of human cancers. I believe that sequencing-based approaches can shed light onto many enigmatic diseases, such as neuroblastoma, and ultimately help guide the development of novel therapies.	Jee Young Lee Home Country: Korea, South Master of Science in Experimental Medicine (MSc) UBC has a reputation for its research facilities and well respected faculty members. Well, if I really have to give a reason, I would say it’s the weather. I did my undergraduate studies in Guelph, Ontario. The cold weather doesn’t bother me much, but I figured it would be nicer if I don’t have to shovel snow every day just to get to school.
Siti Hazneza Abdul Hamid Home Country: Malaysia Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) When I was offered the Academic Staff Training Scheme, I was asked to choose another place than the USA, the UK, Australia and New Zealand. The program chairman then asked if I would have any problem to go to Canada, which, I didn’t. My supervisor then suggested UBC because British Columbia is rich with forest and forest products. She suggested that I contact Dr. Evans and emails after emails, here I am.	Adam Thomas Ford Home Country: Canada Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD) I choose UBC for access to world-class faculty that have worked with wildlife in East Africa. In this respect the University of British Columbia is has no peer within Canada. It would be extremely challenging for a graduate student to develop the contacts, study site, and research infrastructure necessary to do work overseas without the help of experienced faculty.	Sophia Woodman Home Country: United States Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology (PhD) UBC has a strong tradition of research on Asia in general and China in particular. I am affiliated with the Institute for Asian Research, and this provides opportunities for regular exchange with scholars in my field. I also appreciate the beautiful environment of the UBC campus and of Vancouver in general.	Lee Kalcsits Home Country: Canada Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) The Forestry program at UBC is a world-class program with a strong research record. Our lab has industry and government collaboration which increases the reach and applicability of our research. With lots of conference opportunities, an interdisciplinary faculty and encouraging researchers, grad school has been a rewarding experience so far.	Juan Diego Diaz Meneses Home Country: Colombia Doctor of Philosophy in Music (PhD) UBC was a relatively easy decision for me. I immigrated to Canada in 2008 and this is the warmest city of this country. Other major factors are: an important portion of my Canadian family lives here; UBC and its school of music is a prestigious institution within the North American context. It was a good decision, my professors and peers are worth gold.	Devon Greyson Home Country: United States Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies (PhD) UBC has the most established graduate program in interdisciplinary studies in the country, one of the few in Canada to offer a doctoral degree option, and one of the largest of its type in all of North America. UBC also has very strong programs and world-class expert faculty in multiple fields on which I will draw in my interdisciplinary research. Finally, I love Vancouver and am thrilled to be based here for my studies.
Julian Yates Home Country: United Kingdom Doctor of Philosophy in Geography (PhD) UBC's geography department is consistently ranked among the best in the world. My supervisor, Dr. Karen Bakker, is an expert on issues of water governance in Canada, the UK, and beyond. She was recently promoted to the Canada Chair position for Political Ecology, and was featured in the Globe and Mail's "top 40 under 40". Dr. Jamie Peck, who sits on my advisory committee, is the Canada Chair Professor of Urban and Economic Geography.	Yuanyuan Jiang Home Country: China Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD) UBC provides a combination of exposure to research-conducive resources, top-notch researchers, and a fitting lab, which is greatly conducive to designing and carrying out research.	Kathryn Proudfoot Home Country: United States Doctor of Philosophy in Animal Science (PhD) I feel very fortunate, and even a bit spoiled, to be a part of the Animal Welfare Program at UBC. This program is the only one of its kind in North America, and within it lies a world-class Dairy Education and Research Centre. The latter attracts visiting scholars from all corners of the globe.	Ehsan Mohammadi Zahrani Home Country: Iran Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Engineering (PhD) I had several opportunities around the world to continue my study toward a PhD, but I selected UBC as my final destination since the Corrosion Research Group of the Materials Engineering Department, led by professor Alfantazi, is one of the most prestigious and leading research groups in the world in the area of corrosion. It has been my golden opportunity to be able to find an outstanding professor in this world-class leading research group to support me in doing research in the area of my interest.	Sunday Ibobor Home Country: Nigeria Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work (PhD) University of British Columbia is one of the centres of excellence in social work education.	Anne Bjorkman Home Country: United States Doctor of Philosophy in Geography (PhD) I came to UBC originally to complete my Master's degree in the Botany department. My decision was based primarily on my interest in the research being conducted by my supervisor, and also somewhat on my desire to live close to the mountains and the ocean.
Nicolien van Luijk Home Country: New Zealand Doctor of Philosophy in Kinesiology (PhD) I once heard that Vancouver was one of the most livable cities in the world, so when I got the opportunity to come out here to study, I just had to check it out. I chose UBC because of its reputation and because of the people. When a potential supervisor whose work I had read and admired during my undergraduate degree agreed to work with me as a graduate student I was immediately on board. Now having completed my MA here at UBC I have decided to stay on and complete by PhD in the same program.	Samer Al-kiswany Home Country: Jordan Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) In addition to being one of the top schools in the world, UBC hosts top research groups in my research area. Add to that the fabulous location of the University in the beautiful city of Vancouver.	Sierra Curtis-McLane Home Country: United States Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) I was drawn to UBC by my keen and conscientious supervisor, as well as by the vibrancy of Vancouver and its proximity to mountains and oceans for recreation. I was lucky enough to meet my future husband here and we stay happy biking to our universities on weekdays and playing in the mountains on the weekends.	Andrés Varhola Home Country: Ecuador Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) UBC is one of the most prestigious universities in the world, especially in Forestry, while Vancouver offers a quality of life well known for being one of the best on the planet too.	Michael Gerzon Home Country: Israel Master of Science in Forestry (MSc) British Columbia has enormous amount of forests and the UBC Faculty of Forestry is considered one of the leading ones in the world.	Anika Stafford Home Country: Canada Doctor of Philosophy in Women's and Gender Studies (PhD) The Centre for Women's and Gender Studies (CWAGS) at UBC has a strong base of research affiliates with expertise in feminist, queer, and critical disability theory related to studies in education. As my work is rooted in Gender Studies as well as Educational Studies, this university was excellently situated to facilitate this research. CWAGS provides a welcoming and collegial environment in which to conduct graduate work.
Juliane Jones Home Country: United States Doctor of Philosophy in Music (PhD) I chose to study at UBC because of the strengths of the East Asian Studies and Ethnomusicology programs. Moreover, I decided to pursue graduate studies in the UBC ethnomusicology program because of its interdisciplinary approach to music studies.	Kevin Mehr Home Country: Canada Master of Science in Genome Science and Technology (MSc) I love living in BC. I was born here and I have grown up here, so I'll stay as long as they let me.	Leye Adeboye Home Country: Nigeria Master of Science in Geological Sciences (MSc) I chose to come to the University of British Columbia because it is a world class research university and also because the Earth and Ocean Sciences Department, which houses the Geological Science program, is the largest department of its kind in Canada and one of the largest in terms of research opportunities and industry collaboration in North America; furthermore, the chance to work with a world renowned research scientist in Dr. Marc Bustin made UBC my top choice for graduate studies.	Toufiqul Islam Home Country: Bangladesh Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) The communications research scope in the Electrical and Computer Engineering department at UBC is among the world's best.	Thomas Harrison Home Country: Canada Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD) UBC has arguably the strongest neuroscience faculty in Canada, and my supervisor is a leader in his field. The Brain Research Centre regularly hosts lectures by prominent neuroscientists from around the world, and I am surrounded by interesting people and ideas.	Alexander Dauth Home Country: Austria Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) Good reputation of UBC, great city to live in
John Shin Home Country: Korea, South Doctor of Philosophy in Cell and Developmental Biology (PhD) I was interested in research on fundamental mechanisms of how cells work using a powerful and robust model organism that did not entail any animal cruelty. I was also looking for a supervisor doing quality research who placed on emphasis on student learning. Dr. Loewen's lab at UBC met and surpassed all of these requirements. Moreover, the Cell and Developmental Biology graduate program I am in was very compelling because of its multidisciplinary focus.	Juliana Negreiros Home Country: Brazil Doctor of Philosophy in School Psychology (PhD) I chose to live in BC because of the climate and beautiful nature, and I decided to study at UBC because of the richness of the School Psychology program.	Ellen Arena Home Country: United States Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology (PhD) British Columbia has to be one of the most beautiful places on earth—it is an outdoors enthusiast's dream. Add world-renowned researchers to that scenario... that was all I needed to get me to cross the 49th!	Chelsey Hauge Home Country: United States Doctor of Philosophy in Cross-Faculty Inquiry in Education (PhD) I came to UBC for several reasons. Primarily, there a number of senior scholars and other students working in similar areas with whom I can collaborate and learn who have interests similar to my own. This has been key to developing my ideas and identifying my own interests. Also, as a native Californian who was living in New York City, I was excited about being back on the beautiful West Coast!	Sheng Liu Home Country: China Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Genetics (PhD) UBC has great scientists in epigenetic research.	Ryan Morin Home Country: Canada Doctor of Philosophy in Bioinformatics (PhD) I wanted to stay in Vancouver and UBC has a great reputation and a great training program for bioinformatics. The BCCA is an awesome place to do such research owing to the presence of the Genome Sciences Centre.
Arvind Saraswat Home Country: India Doctor of Philosophy in Resource Management and Environmental Studies (PhD) The Institute for Resources Environment and Sustainability at UBC is one of the very few interdisciplinary programs that allows students to work on issues in a holistic manner and not be bound by disciplines.	Keith Mewis Home Country: Canada Master of Science in Genome Science and Technology (MSc) UBC has many researchers that are leaders in their field. The Genome Science and Technology program gave me the opportunity to work in three very different labs and choose the one that suited me the best. I was fortunate to be able to work with Dr. Carl Hansen, a pioneer in the hugely promising field of microfluidics, Dr. Sam Aparicio, a world leader in breast oncology at the B.C. Cancer Agency, and Dr. Steven Hallam, a leading researcher in genomic studies.	Hannes Dempewolf Home Country: Germany Doctor of Philosophy in Botany (PhD) During my previous stay as an undergraduate exchange student at UBC , I realized how much I enjoyed living in British Columbia and the city of Vancouver. UBC's reputation as one of the leading research-oriented universities in the world is growing rapidly and this reputation certainly added to the appeal. In recent years, UBC has been able to attract more and more world-class scientists to join its faculty. The chance to work with such brilliant scientists was probably the primary reason I decided to come back to UBC for my PhD.	Emma Kate Loveday Home Country: United States Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology (PhD) The excellent opportunity to work in FINDER, Canada's largest level 3 facility within the microbiology department. I also take pride in the activities I participate in outside of grad school and all of those activities are available in Vancouver or British Columbia.	Shayna Plaut Home Country: United States Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Studies (PhD) UBC offers a wide range of support in interdisciplinary approaches to study and in creative approaches to both designing your research question and your methodology. In addition, the Canadian government recognizes and respects that higher education is an investment to their society and provides both the financial and institutional support to pursue ones studies.	Abdul Razique Home Country: Pakistan Doctor of Philosophy in Geological Sciences (PhD) British Columbia is a museum of economic mineral deposits with well advanced exploration and mining industry. I chose UBC for several good reasons. The high profile faculty members, analytical equipment and facilities, stimulating environment and more importantly, the flexibility and the facilitation in a system where things get done without obstacles were the main attractions for me. And yes, of course, UBC is one of the most beautiful and green campuses on earth, with great care for students, families and children.
Anirban Guha Home Country: India Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (PhD) British Columbia is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Vancouver not only has all the facilities of a world class city, but also has serene beautiful nature all around. Life as a grad student is very enjoyable here. Also, UBC is a top class institution and ranks very high in all the disciplines. So, choosing UBC for grad studies is an optimal choice, both for professional and personal reasons.	Janet Maclean Home Country: United Kingdom Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD) I fell in love with Canada during a year I spent in Ontario on an undergraduate exchange. At the end of my exchange I made a trip through BC, and knew I had to return here and spend more time in this beautiful province. I had heard many excellent things about the friendly and collaborative atmosphere of UBC, and was determined to apply here to grad school, especially when I discovered the fascinating research undertaken by my advisor. UBC has been every bit as welcoming and supportive as I had heard, and I feel extremely lucky to be a part of such a positive academic community.	Molly Malone Home Country: United States Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology (PhD) I chose to come here because this is the center of the universe in my field of study. I feel fortunate to be able to live and play in such an incredible place while simultaneously researching human interactions with the environment reaching back thousands of years. I also came on a whitewater kayaking trip to BC in 2006 and fell in love with the place. When I figured out that the UBC Anthropology department had the type of program I needed, it was a dream come true.	Blair Gage Home Country: Canada Doctor of Philosophy in Cell and Developmental Biology (PhD) I graduated from UBC/BCIT with my BSc in Biotechnology from the department of Microbiology and Immunology in 2008. During this time I realized that UBC is one of those rare universities which satisfies the old adage of "Location, Location, Location". Since I like to ski, fish for salmon, and enjoy the urban life, UBC and surrounding Vancouver’s mountains, oceans, and numerous venues make for a great University location.	Asato Ikeda Home Country: Japan Excellent faculty members, great Asia-related materials.	Dada Docot Home Country: Philippines Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology (PhD) The Ethnographic Film Unit that is hosted by our Department, the very strong Japanese Studies program at the Asian Center, and of course, the opportunity to work with my research supervisor, all encouraged me to come to UBC. I had also heard many positive things about the Department of Anthropology at UBC – for one, that it just beside the world-famous Museum of Anthropology.
Osamu Takai Home Country: Japan Doctor of Philosophy in Audiology and Speech Sciences (PhD) I looked for researchers and scholars whom I felt would best help me hone my skills. I found them at UBC, and now I am honoured to have them as my supervisors.	Ella Furness Home Country: United Kingdom Master of Science in Forestry (MSc) I googled forestry and it was the first place to come up! It looked great, had a massive range of courses, a great reputation for research, relatively affordable fees and Vancouver looked progressive, open and interesting.	Sarah Chow Home Country: Canada Doctor of Philosophy in Cell and Developmental Biology (PhD) I wanted to pursue a graduate degree studying the molecular mechanisms of the heart. Since UBC is home to one of the few Pacemaker protein experts in the world, Dr. Eric Accili, I decided to study at UBC.	Lara Rosenoff Home Country: Canada Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology (PhD) I decided on UBC because of the great reputation of its Anthropology Department, the associated Museum of Anthropology and the Liu Institute for Global Issues. Known for collaborative community research, policy engagement, and commitment to public communication and exhibition, I knew I had found a home that would foster my intellectual as well as my creative and advocacy development.	Martin van Leeuwen Home Country: Netherlands Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) UBC has an outstanding reputation in conducting research within the field of forestry and remote sensing related applications.	Trevor Jones Home Country: United States Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD) Because of the fantastic opportunity associated with being offered a chance to work in a world-class facility under the supervision of my academic advisor Nicholas Coops.
Costanza Casiraghi Home Country: Italy Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology (PhD) I always thought that international experiences are fundamental if your area of expertise is life sciences. After my bachelor degree in Italy, I considered the idea of pursuing a PhD degree in North America. I chose UBC because of its excellent reputation. When I first met my supervisor, I was impressed by both his publication record and the exciting research pursued by his lab. Moreover BC is a great place for outdoor activities that are one of my greatest passions and Vancouver has been ranked more than once as one of the most sustainable and livable cities.	Claudio Erratico Home Country: Italy Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD) I decided to look for Ph.D. positions in Canada (and especially in Vancouver) because here scientific research is considered a common interest and an investment both for the public health of people today as well as for the environment of tomorrow. Moreover, British Columbia has unlimited potential for great outdoor activities that I really love and for many others that I still have to explore. Ultimately, Canada is a great, multicultural, and open-minded country where personal enrichment is just an everyday experience.

The University of British Columbia

Why did students choose UBC for graduate education?