Welcome to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (G+PS) at the University of British Columbia (UBC) Vancouver campus, located on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam). UBC is a premier and globally-recognized leader in research and innovation, and graduate students and postdoctoral fellows are at the very heart of this endeavour. With more than 350 graduate program options, spanning a wide range of disciplinary and interdisciplinary fields, this diverse and vibrant community is asking critical questions and advancing knowledge to address society's biggest challenges and opportunities.
At G+PS, our mission is to provide exceptional, holistic support to meet the unique needs of more than 11,000 graduate students and 1,300 postdoctoral fellows, and to champion graduate education and postdoctoral scholarship in its myriad and evolving forms across campus. From research-intensive degrees to professional programs, graduate certificates, and innovative new pathways, it is a privilege to support students and academic units. By working collaboratively with faculties, graduate programs, and partners, G+PS cultivates scholarly excellence and social impact, and empowers the next generation of leaders and changemakers as they advance new ideas for a more sustainable, just, and equitable world.
Critical thinking, integrity, respectful discourse, and curiosity, all hallmarks of graduate and postdoctoral studies, have never felt more vital than in this moment of profound social, political, and technological transformation. Graduate education is also transforming, including in response to the needs and aspirations of students and society more broadly. We are known for trailblazing leadership in forward-thinking initiatives such as the Public Scholars Initiative (PSI), collaborative research programs (Collab PhD), innovative dissertation outputs and exceptional professional development programming (through Graduate Pathways to Success and the Postdoctoral Fellows Office). Recognizing the importance of wellbeing to the success of all members of the UBC academic community, key areas of focus in G+PS include: strengthening financial support, enhancing wellbeing services, increasing supports for Indigenous students and advancing access to housing, to name a few.
To current and prospective graduate students: pursuing a graduate degree is a transformative journey. We are here to support you—academically, professionally, and as individuals. Whatever your field of study, you are part of a supportive and inclusive G+PS community. We are here to help you thrive in every dimension of your experience at UBC. To our faculty and staff colleagues, alumni, community partners, and all who share in the work of graduate education: we welcome your collaboration, insights and engagement.
It is an honour to lead this vital unit at UBC and to build upon its exceptional legacy. As we look forward in an evolving world, we are guided by a deep commitment to the values that underpin our collective work at UBC: excellence, integrity, inclusion, respect, and the strong belief that creative collaboration and dialogue are essential in all that we do. I look forward to what we will accomplish together.
Dr. Shannon Hagerman
Dean and Vice-Provost pro tem
UBC Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies