Why did other students choose UBC? | Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

Blair MacDonald

"I'm fortunate in that almost all my friends and family are around Vancouver and UBC had a program that was a great fit for my research interests. This made for a very easy choice."

Ayodele Oloko

"The University of British Columbia (UBC) was selected as my academic destination due to its distinction as a premier institution that actively encourages the integration of various academic fields. This environment provides an ideal setting for the exploratory and…"

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Kimberly Tsz Ching Wong

"At first, I was drawn to UBC for its beautiful campus and top-notch facilities. But as I explored the programs and research opportunities, I realized it was the right place for me. The biochemistry department has incredible faculty, a strong research community,…"

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Aleria McKay

"UBC was one of the only schools that offered the program I wanted while also offering distance learning opportunities. I wasn't in a place to relocate for my schooling for a number of reasons, and the what the program offered combined with the distance education…"

Katherine Herperger

"I initially came to UBC as a master's student. The pandemic travel restrictions had just been lifted and I was ready to live in a new city. UBC’s strong research reputation and excellent physics facilities made it an easy choice. I decided to stay for my current…"

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Tiffany Price

"I was fortunate to be accepted into PhD programs at both McGill University and the University of British Columbia, but ultimately chose UBC because it offered the strongest alignment with my academic goals, research interests, and long-term career aspirations. UBC…"

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Regan Thompson

"It certainly helps that UBC is a beautiful, world-class research institution, and being based at the Vancouver campus allows me to stay close to my family. But the primary reason I chose UBC was the opportunity to work with my supervisor, Dr. Erica Bennett. We…"

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Jordan Seider

"The University of British Columbia is an incredible school with an international reputation for quality teaching and high impact research. I liked the idea of working alongside other students and professors working on impactful research and solving some of the…"

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Marie Johns

"Besides UBC having an incredible reputation for biomedical research, I really fell in love with Vancouver during my undergrad and couldn't really see myself studying anywhere else! I love the proximity to beaches and mountains, it really helps with your mental…"

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Lucas Kuhn

"I chose to study at UBC for my graduate studies as I had previously attended UBC for my undergraduate degree. While I normally would not recommend this sort of continuation, in my case, my supervisor, whom I had worked with in undergrad, offered me the opportunity…"

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Adam Sunavsky

"UBC offers the best of all worlds. It is a world-renowned university surrounded by sublime natural beauty that offers an incredible range of activities. Having studied in both Ontario and Nova Scotia, I can say that UBC's strengths across so many fronts are what…"

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Maude Larivière

"I spent all my life in Québec and I was ready for an adventure. So when I applied to graduate schools, I chose to apply to places that combined great astrophysics programs and a change of scenery. In the end, it was the first one to send an answer so I took it as…"

Asad Hasan

"I decided to study at UBC because I was keen to work with my supervisor, Mike, and to experience the west coast. Mike has done a lot of really fundamental work in theoretical population genetics, and has been an exceptional mentor. I also had friends from…"

Yuveshen Mooroogen

"During my undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto I was lucky to get to know several of my professors quite well. They knew what kind of work I was most interested in doing and strongly recommended the research group at UBC."

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Graeme Francolini

"UBC is a university that I had heard about even before I started my undergraduate degree, but I didn't truly look at it until I started my graduate studies. The breath of the programs offered at the university and the quality of research that is going on here…"

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Kay Anderson

"I chose to study at UBC due to the remarkable research produced by Dr. Mark Beauchamp and the Psychology of Exercise, Health, and Physical Activity (PEHPA) Laboratory within the School of Kinesiology. During my master's thesis, I was introduced to one of Dr.…"

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Daniel Barker-Rothschild

"After completing my Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Chemical Engineering at the University of Alberta, I wanted to continue with my research and pursue a PhD. However, I decided it would be best to diversify my experiences and move to a new city and a new…"

Kayla McIntyre

"Having done half of my undergrad here, I felt there was still so much to learn. I adored all of the classes that I wanted to take more! I felt that I needed more perspective concerning the production side of theatre, there were a plethora of opportunities that…"

Razieh Sadat Banijamali

"I chose UBC for its world-class research environment, cutting-edge facilities, and strong focus on cancer research. The opportunity to collaborate with leading experts makes it the ideal place to advance my studies in this field."

Jonas Olsen

"UBC's research program has a terrific reputation, so it was automatically on my radar when I was considering graduate studies. Upon looking further into potential supervisors, I found Brent Page, who's area of research in medicinal chemistry was exactly what I was…"

Meera Sharma

"UBC is a beautiful place to study. I had the good fortune of doing some postgraduate coursework here after my undergraduate degree, and fell in love with the beauty of the campus. Being based out of Vancouver for a few years now, it only made sense to begin my…"

Muhammad Adnan

"I believe the Computer and Software Systems Research Group at ECE is comprised of great professors working at the intersection of computer and systems architecture and working on some very interesting problems that align with my research interests. Apart from the…"

Andrea Kellaway

"The joke has been that I collect degrees and diplomas from BC universities. My undergrad and teaching diploma are from the University of Victoria, and my graduate diploma is from Simon Fraser University. UBC was the school I had not yet graduated from with…"

Nicholas Bartlett

"Having completed both a BA and MA here at UBC, I already knew from experience that the calibre of instruction and scholarship at UBC is top-tier, so the idea of pursuing my doctoral studies here just made good sense! My department had also undergone some major…"

Sabrina Cao

"My decision to study at UBC can be attributed to my supervisor, for the most part. Dr. Kristin Campbell is a leader in the field of exercise oncology with an extensive network to be accessed. Her expertise in my areas of interest and the quality of her work were…"

Alejandra Gaviria-Serna

"I decided to pursue my doctoral studies at UBC because the Social Justice Institute provides a stimulating interdisciplinary academic environment and a theoretical and methodological foundation to advance my studies. The approach of the Institute of Social Justice…"

Eric Lee

"It's incredibly fulfilling to make a meaningful difference in the world, starting right from your hometown. I have lived across the world in many major cities, and nothing compares to Vancouver — the food, the lifestyle and the vibrant colours of nature. With…"

Olivier Hinse

"UBC offers a fantastic research environment led by exceptional research mentors. Also, the technical facilities housed at UBC are outstanding and promote collaborative innovation."

Magnus Chan

"UBC has been a natural extension of my academic journey. I completed my undergraduate degree here, and it was in a fourth-year pharmacology course that I was first introduced to electrophysiology by Dr. David Fedida. He taught us about the intricate processes…"

Kidus Achalu

"When I began searching for MSc opportunities, several priorities guided my decision. Having completed my undergraduate degree at UBC Okanagan, I thrived in the supportive and intellectually stimulating environment I found there. I wanted to continue my graduate…"

Brittany Pousett

"UBC is a fantastic institution with a diverse array of opportunities. Limb loss research is a unique field, and UBC has researchers with expertise in this area. In addition, I have lived in the Lower Mainland all of my life and wanted to pursue a graduate degree…"

Saif Dababneh

"Aside from the beautiful campus and nature around, I picked UBC because I felt that the research here was truly pushing the edge of medicine and what we can achieve through scientific research. There is complete harmony between the clinicians and scientists, who…"

Duncan Murray

"Several things came together to make the decision to study at UBC a fairly easy one. Above all, I felt the program was a great fit for the work I wanted to do. The mild winters and proximity to the ocean and the mountains, with all the opportunity for outdoor…"

Charu Gupta

"I was really looking forward to working with the professors who are now my supervisors, as well as many others in the department whom I've had the opportunity to get to know better during my time at UBC. Furthermore, I appreciated the university's approaches…"

Emma Friesen

"UBC is an incredible school, specifically the medical school and their associated graduate programs. I contacted a variety of professors with projects that interested me and was drawn to radiopharmaceutical development for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.…"

Errol Bowman

"I love exploring, skiing, rock climbing and many other sports, and British Columbia is a great place to do all those things. Luckily, UBC also exists in British Columbia and has a strong academic reputation, so it seemed like a good choice for my interests."

Bronte Johnston

"I chose to study at UBC because, during my master's, I read about some of the amazing work that different faculty were studying with respect to pregnancy and reproductive healthcare research. Specifically, I was intrigued by the diversity of topics explored in the…"

Stephen Johnston

"My supervisor is a world-renowned salmon ecologist with a focus on fisheries conservation, which was the exact topic I was most interested in. UBC itself also has a well-established reputation for fisheries research and practical solutions to conservation issues."

Jay Hilsden

"UBC has some of the best archaeology facilities in Canada, providing lots of opportunities to learn new skills, expand on old ones and be involved in all kinds of research projects."

Johanna Bock

"I came to UBC for a research internship and fell in love with the university and the city. The structured program and interdisciplinary nature of the faculty together with UBC’s great reputation were added bonuses. As I became more certain that my future research…"

Milos Simovic

"It has been my dream to study at UBC since at least 2017. I remember discussing UBC with my MSc advisor at the time, and a few years later, this dream came true. The primary reason I wanted to study at UBC was to work with my now-graduate advisor, Dr. Sean…"

Sadie Lye

"I did my undergraduate degree at UBC and I really enjoyed it. I already had a strong relationship with my supervisor and Vancouver is one of the best places in the world to study the Urban Ocean."

Valerie Zimmermann

"I decided to study at the University of British Columbia because it is a premier research institute in Canada. I wanted to learn from and learn with some of the brightest minds and hardest workers in the country."

Grace Melchers

"I studied at UBC during my undergraduate degree in the Faculty of Forestry and had an incredible experience. UBC Vancouver enticed me from Ontario for my first degree due to it's excellent reputation and proximity to world-class skiing and hiking. For my second…"

Serena Trang

"UBC has an exceptional Kinesiology department and an acclaimed faculty. I knew it would be such an incredible opportunity and privilege to be able to work alongside such renowned researchers. My supervisor, Dr. David C. Wright, has made strides in the fields of…"

AnnaMaria Zubieta

"Having grown up and completed my bachelor's in Eastern Canada, I was eager to experience a new city during my graduate degree. Aside from UBC being one of the top universities in the world with lots of industrial connections, I was also drawn to the incredible…"

Stef Atkinson

"I decided to study at UBC for a few different reasons. During my application process, I was drawn to Dr. McEwan's research and his areas of interest. Of course, there were other supervisors I considered who were also conducting research of interest to me. However…"

Cariad Knight

"I did my undergraduate degree in Biophysics at UBC and decided to stay because my experience here was so positive, particularly with the Honours project I started during my BSc, which I’ve been able to continue into my graduate studies. I’ve been very fortunate…"

Nicolas Viens

"A combination of outstanding international standing, great sociology department and very attractive funding. Overall, I felt highly supported in coming here for my PhD. The quality of the campus and being in Vancouver were also great perks!"

Katherine Marchant

"I completed my Bachelor's of Arts at UBC so I was already familiar with the campus and the Department of French, Hispanic and Italian Studies (FHIS). I chose UBC because of its proximity to my family and its many green spaces. My maternal grandfather Donald Blake…"