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

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…"

Yao Zhang

"It was trivial for me to pursue graduate studies at UBC. Not only is UBC a renowned university for research excellence, but it is also a central hub for lipid nanoparticle research. Notably, the use of lipid nanoparticles for gene delivery was pioneered at UBC…"

Isabella DiBerardino

"I decided to study at UBC because I wanted to have both a great educational and life experience. I always knew that I wanted to pursue further studies after my undergrad, which is one of the reasons I attended my hometown university first before moving away. I…"

Stephanie Xie

"I chose to study at UBC because I love the vibrant city and appreciate having my family nearby. The opportunity to work with a fantastic supervisor, Dr. Joy Richman, one of the world’s leading experts in craniofacial development — particularly in clefting — aligns…"

Christina Kouvousis

"I had a wonderful experience completing my undergraduate degree in Kinesiology at UBC. I was confident that continuing my studies at the graduate level at UBC would help me grow personally and professionally."

Erica Qureshi

"There are many reasons why UBC was the best school for me to pursue my MD/PhD. One of the biggest is getting to learn from my supervisor Dr. Quynh Doan. I was, and continue to be, inspired by her mentorship and commitment to complete high-quality health systems…"

Mitchell Demchuk

"I was looking to join a synthetic organic materials group to perform research in, and UBC was one of of my top choices. After I met with my supervisor for the first time, I could tell being a part of their group would be the right choice for me. Additionally,…"

Louise Ramos

"Growing up in Canada, you always hear about how amazing UBC is and how innovative and progressive the research environment is. And after being here, I can attest to the incredible research being conducted around me and all the cool equipment/facilities that we…"

Michelle Chang

"Since I did my undergrad at UBC, I had an incredibly strong network of both professors and peers. I knew that because a lot of their research focuses aligned with my own, I could collaborate with them in meaningful and helpful ways. Overall, UBC's passionate…"

Viviana Shiffman

"My supervisor, Dr. Bill Sheel was the main reason I wanted to continue my studies at UBC. I was interested in his research, specifically how the pulmonary system may differ with age and sex. I believed his lab offered many opportunities in terms of my development…"

Max Abercrombie

"I originally came to UBC for my undergrad in Kinesiology and to play on the rugby team. As UBC has been my home for the past four years, I was eager to stay. Additionally, I had been lucky enough to gain experience with research in my undergrad and knew it was…"

Carraugh Brouwer

"Having grown up and lived in Ontario for most of my life, I wanted to experience life in a different part of Canada. I had always heard great things about Vancouver, and after coming to UBC for a campus visit, I knew I wanted to study here. UBC has a great…"

Jacquelina DaSilva

"UBC was my top institution choice for pursuing graduate studies due to its advancements in science education excellence. Due to this institution's role as the primary institutional hub for the Canadian Consortium of Science Equity Scholars (CCSES) and its past…"

Jenevieve (Jen) Hyslop

"Having completed my undergraduate degree at UBC Okanagan, I was ready for a new adventure. But, I was not quite ready to give up British Columbia! From my first conversations with my supervisor, Dr. Mikami, I felt inspired and was certain that if I came here, I…"

Tamara Mihic

"Not only is UBC a top-ranked University globally with excellence in research and teaching, but the campus is beautiful, the student body is diverse and there are so many opportunities for learning and growth even outside of the classroom. BC is also a leader in…"

Ana Mucalica

"I chose the University of British Columbia because of the strong interdisciplinary research within my two supervisors' groups, which aligns perfectly with my interests. UBC's reputation for high-calibre research and the diverse opportunities it offers for…"

Maggie Chong

"Growing up in Vancouver, I often heard about UBC from friends and family, and it quickly became a university I admired. During high school, I attended several Girls in Engineering workshops hosted by the Faculty of Applied Science and Women in Engineering where we…"

Emily Yeh

"UBC is a great school overall! First, UBC is a prestigious institution with a reputation for cutting-edge research and a diverse range of programs that will be able to support my future research interests and provide me with opportunities to advance in my career.…"

Jess Tran

"I started to get involved with engineering education projects during my last two years of undergrad and through those experiences, found my amazing co-supervisors, Dr. Agnes d’Entremont and Dr. Robyn Newell. Also, having completed my undergrad here, I feel that…"

Cassi Sauer

"I am from the Lower Mainland so studying at UBC was an easy choice. My goal was to choose a local university to save on costs and then conduct my research abroad. On top of that fact, I knew UBC was at the forefront of cutting-edge advancements, being ranked as a…"

Sangeetha Kasturi

"Picking UBC for my graduate studies was an obvious choice for me. I did my undergraduate degree at UBC, but having grown up in BC, I also spent time interacting with the research community in high school. The research community at UBC is one that is very welcoming…"

Jake Felker

"I chose to study at UBC because of its strong reputation in microbiology and immunology research combined with an environment that fosters collaboration and innovation. The opportunity to work with leading experts, along with state-of-the-art facilities, was a big…"

Cal Rosete

"What initially drew me to UBC was its proximity to my hometown, Calgary, Alberta, but it was the nature and research topics that convinced me to stay for graduate school. Nothing beats evenings at the beach, or being a short ferry away from a weekend on the Gulf…"

Samadhee Kaluarachchi

"I completed my undergraduate degree at UBC, which further persuaded me to continue graduate studies here. I took courses across several faculties during my previous degree, all of which showcased UBC’s high calibre-research and the diversity in its environmental…"

Antonia Soldovieri

"I completed my undergraduate degree in Psychology at the University of Toronto, which is where I grew up as well. I was eager to live somewhere new and experience the Pacific Northwest. Our school psychology program at UBC is also one of few accredited programs in…"

Connor Thompson

"I was born and raised in Vancouver and even lived on campus in family housing as a teenager while my mom was a student here, so I was very familiar with UBC and comfortable attending school here. All of the resources that I need are here to do high-quality…"

Ariana Shivji

"I fell in love with the city of Vancouver at an early age! I knew that it would be important to me to enjoy the city that I was attending school in, so UBC quickly became one of my top choices for graduate school. Additionally, having the opportunity to complete…"

Zelyn Lee

"My top two priorities in choosing a graduate program were finding a strong research mentor and conducting clinical research in pediatrics. I found the perfect fit with Dr. Quynh Doan, a pediatric emergency physician-scientist and senior research director at BC…"

Brianna Bristow

"I chose to wait until after the COVID-19 pandemic had calmed down before pursuing grad school. During this time, I was fortunate to secure a position as a research technician in Dr. Mark Cembrowski’s lab. I enjoyed the multidisciplinary environment and the…"

Wole Olayinka

"I knew that if I was going to pursue an MFA, it had to be at a top university with a well-regarded program. I wasn’t just after a degree; I wanted to join a community that would push my limits and expand my storytelling. So finding a program with a strong…"

Caroline Stampliaka

"Continuing advanced studies at UBC was my primary choice and an obvious decision, as I had incredibly positive experiences during my bachelor's degree here. I also decided to continue my studies at UBC because of the significant opportunity to work under an…"

Edward Sun

"I really enjoyed my time as an undergraduate student in UBC's Biology Program and decided that I wasn't ready to leave in my final year before graduating. UBC has one of the best botany departments in the world and I was eager to continue my research in the Graham…"

Michelle Lu

"I chose to pursue graduate studies at UBC because of the extremely supportive faculty at the School of Population and Public Health, the innovative research that is being done in the field of occupational and environmental health and the beautiful campus!"

Christina Whang

"Given the clinical focus of my research, UBC's affiliated hospital campuses, such as Vancouver General Hospital, offer a professional research environment with essential testing equipment and resources for my projects. Being based in a hospital setting also…"

Andrew David Gunter

"It's hard to go wrong with a university surrounded by the most beautiful parts of Canada that also has plentiful resources for conducting top-quality research. Before applying to UBC, I visited Vancouver and the UBC campus; I could see myself staying here for at…"

Alexandria Shaw

"I really enjoyed both the research topic(s) and techniques I was researching/using in the Burke lab. Dr. Burke had recently become an adjunct professor in UBC’s Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and was recruiting a joint graduate student with Dr.…"

Alyssa Izatt

"I wanted to pursue my grad studies in a place where I would have the chance to grow as an academic and researcher, and I felt like UBC would provide me the opportunities to accomplish these goals. Being at UBC also allowed me to do some interdisciplinary work with…"

Gina McNeill

"I came to UBC to work with my current supervisor Dr. Beristain at the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute. After my undergraduate degree at Western University, I was interested in studying developmental biology with a more specific focus on reproductive…"

Samuel Tobias

"As someone born and raised in British Columbia, the drug poisoning crisis is deeply personal. I chose UBC not only because of its reputation for excellence in public health research, but also because of the university’s commitment to tackling urgent local issues,…"

Amie Orsetti

"UBC offers a lot of potential to graduate students, and I was really drawn to the immense opportunities I knew would come with being a student here. The faculty experience, emphasis on research excellence, and reputation of the counselling psychology program were…"

Johnathan Wong

"I chose to study at UBC because I had the opportunity to work under my research supervisor as a research programmer and really enjoyed the collaborative and innovative lab environment he cultivated. The positive experience I had in this setting inspired me to…"

Lauren Maier

"Growing up in Kelowna and starting my undergraduate degree at UBCO, I was exposed to all the program opportunities and supports that UBC has to offer. Even after moving to the University of Alberta, I continued to collaborate with many researchers from UBC. It…"

Sarah Ravoth

"I decided on UBC because it checked all my personal and academic boxes. I wanted to live somewhere with easy access to mountains and the outdoors, so I could make the most of my time outside of work. Academically, UBC has one of the best programs for ecology, but…"

Oliver Tong

"Throughout my undergraduate degree, I had the privilege of working with many amazing professors at UBC. Going to graduate school here allows me to continue doing that. UBC is also located in an amazing location. There are not many places where there is a world-…"

Marsha Masseau

"I met MFA alumna Natalie Morrill, the award-winning author of The Ghost Keeper. She spoke highly of her UBC experience, adding that many of her cohort went on to win awards in their respective genres. From that conversation, I was hooked and started plotting my…"

Yu Tong (Emily) Tang

"I decided to study at UBC because of the dedicated faculty and staff. The community is vibrant, and many resources are available to help students succeed. UBC also offers many workshops and career development opportunities, all free for students. My supervisor has…"

Lauren Grant

"UBC's School of Creative Writing is world-renowned and requires writers to work in various forms. The optional residency stream allows me to learn from incredible writers and professors without relocating to Vancouver when I have work and a family in Toronto."

Alexandra Rousseau

"In all honesty, I picked UBC because there was a professor that I really wanted to work with, but once I got here, their lab was not what I had expected. I ended up changing research groups a year and a half into my degree for something better suited to me. It was…"

Sahi Hajirawala

"Having been born and raised in Richmond, BC, I thoroughly enjoyed my undergraduate experience at UBC, which inspired my decision to continue my studies here. I was eager to work alongside renowned experts in addiction research, and UBC offers an array of exemplary…"