Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Graduate School

Why did other students choose UBC?

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Hebah Hussaina

"I completed both my Bachelor's and Master's degrees at UBC, and throughout those experiences, I became embedded within the community here. It was an easy choice to continue studying at UBC because of the love that I have for my community. Through my research, I…"

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Tetiana Poliakova

"I was recruited to UBC by my supervisor, Dr. Cheryl Wellington, shortly after I evacuated the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia and was unable to continue my training back home. Cheryl recruited me via the Science For Ukraine NGO, run by volunteer…"

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Jamie Kwon

"The opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration at UBC were a key deciding factor. I was fortunate to work with a team of experts from a variety of seemingly disconnected fields such as engineering, pathology, and radiation oncology. Being part of a robust…"

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Genevieve Bonnor

"I completed my undergraduate degree at UBC and love the open research culture here, so I decided to pursue my graduate degree here as well. The faculty here are some of the best in the country and are always open to help with questions or ready to participate in…"

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Michael Sekatchev

"I was born in Vancouver, but I spent eight years living in southern France. I attended an international school there until 2018, when I returned to Vancouver to complete my final year of high school. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to grow up in…"

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Raha AtashPa

"I chose to study at the University of British Columbia (UBC) for its exceptional commitment to fostering interdisciplinary research and its globally recognized support for innovative art-based scholarship. UBC stands out as a leading institution that not only…"

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Monir Shahzeidi

"UBC is a well-known university with higher education options and world-class facilities. UBC provides educators with resources and undoubtedly with the most experienced mentors in each field. These opportunities help students expand their knowledge and collaborate…"

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Brook Hadwen

"UBC's Kinesiology department is ranked first in Canada and fourth globally, with esteemed faculty members to work with and learn from. After reading some of the top-notch research that the department conducted, I couldn’t wait to be a part of it."

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Ian Hill

"Vancouver has always been the city that I consider home, getting to both return to the place I love while studying at a world-class university was not an opportunity to pass up. I feel very fortunate that the supervisor I was interested in studying under works…"

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Ashley Gilliland

"I was fortunate as a child to grow up in the greater Vancouver area and was eager to return home to continue my academic endeavors. Luckily for me, UBC is one of the top microbiology research schools in Canada and is host to a wealth of world-class researchers.…"

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Becca Beutel

"I visited UBC campus for the first time when I was 12 and absolutely fell in love (you could even find UBC written with hearts around it in my middle school diary.. I was not popular). When the time came to choose a graduate school, UBC remained a top contender…"

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Mohit Pandey

"Prior to joining UBC for my Ph.D., I was working in deep learning applications in late-stage drug discovery - particularly with large clinical trials. I had a chance to talk with my supervisor before coming to UBC. He made me realize how even early-stage drug…"

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Jackson Moore

"UBC is a world-class university and a leader in genomics research. Having done my undergraduate here as well, I developed a love for the city and the lifestyle it offers."

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Betty Shea

"My experience as a non-degree student was really positive. I loved the way lectures, tutorials, labs, assignments and projects all complemented each other. I found the lectures stimulating and the professors and TAs encouraging. I also loved just being on the UBC…"

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Heather Baker

"A big part of what brought me to UBC was the research. Professor Thibault Mayor’s research interests in proteostasis, aging, and using proteomics tools to explore these topics were what drew me to the idea of a PhD at UBC. The Department of Biochemistry and…"

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Rane Simpson

"UBC is a fantastic institution in an amazing country. Add to this that it is home to the nations premier environment for nuclear physics experiments, and you will have a picture that describes why UBC was my number one destination for graduate studies."

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John Harvey O'Hara

"I decided to study here because the CENES department is a hub for queer German studies, and there are few places like it in the world. The mentorship and sense of community here have encouraged me greatly as I've developed my project further. I also selected UBC…"

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Ash Larnder

"Coming out of the pandemic, I wanted to stay closer to my family. And the mountains of course - it was too hard to leave them. UBC is a beautiful campus by the ocean. My program has a lot of great health scientists in the province, so it's a good opportunity to…"

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W. Austin Guild

"I had a very enjoyable time at the UBC Okanagan campus over the five years I was completing my undergraduate studies. I really wanted to continue my education at UBC, however, I also wanted to experience life in a new city; therefore, I chose to pursue continuing…"

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Kabir Bhalla

"I knew that pursuing a PhD would be an arduous and demanding journey, so when considering my options for graduate studies, finding a campus that felt like home was crucial to me. UBC stood out as the clear and natural choice. Having formed strong connections and…"

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Arash Mousemi

"The field of my interest is not studied in many labs around the world, and UBC is one of the few universities that offered conducting research on what I really like. Also, my supervisor is kind and supportive."

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Rocio Hollman

"Having done my undergrad at UBC I knew that not only were the labs stunning, but so is the campus! I wasn't ready to leave such a beautiful place just yet."

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Aysha Allard Brown

"UBC has consistently offered me an exceptional research environment with opportunities I could have never envisioned. Upon completing my Bachelor’s at UBC in Biology and Kinesiology, I knew that pursuing my graduate degree here would continue to promote my…"

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Bronwen Grocott

"I applied to UBC because I wanted to work with my present supervisor, Dr. Joelle LeMoult. I was especially interested in researching social stress and depression using a mixed-methods, experimental approach and working with Joelle has made this possible."

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Sharada Balaji

"My supervisors! Having done my undergraduate degree at UBC, I was looking for a change of scenery for my graduate work. Meeting with both of my (then potential) supervisors, seeing the work they did, and their enthusiasm and friendliness made me change my mind…"

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Rubaiya Rumman

"UBC is one of Canada's leading research-intensive universities, known for its high academic standards and reputation for producing top-notch research. UBC not only houses well-equipped laboratories, libraries, and research centers, but also consists of renowned…"

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Katelynn Kowalchuk

"UBC’s dedication to innovation and transforming ideas into action is what originally drew me to the university. Before deciding to attend my hometown university for my undergraduate degree, I was interested in applying to UBC’s architecture and urbanism program.…"

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Aaron Klymasz-Swartz

"My previous supervisor encouraged me to study at UBC under Dr. Colin Brauner as we both thought it would be a great fit for myself and my career aspirations."

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Juri Kim

"My decision to study at UBC was influenced by two compelling factors. Firstly, UBC's outstanding reputation for research excellence and world-class education, particularly in the field of Planning, drew me in as I sought a graduate program that could provide the…"

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Nicole Bison

"UBC is an awesome place to do ecological research! In addition to nearby mountain ranges that provide elevational temperature gradients, we have access to incredibly diverse plant collections at the UBC Botanical Garden only a short walk away from our laboratory.…"

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Xuyan Tang

"UBC boasts a prestigious reputation as a leading institution in academia and research, which aligns perfectly with my aspirations for a high-quality education. Additionally, the picturesque campus and well-equipped facilities provide an ideal environment for…"

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Stéphanie La France

"As one of the top universities in Canada, UBC offered depth and breadth of research explorations, as well as opportunities to connect with researchers at the cutting edge of the field of mathematics education and research methodologies in education."

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Talia Morstead

"My decision to study at UBC was driven in large part by my desire to work with Dr. Anita DeLongis, a foremost expert in the field of stress and coping. After coming across Dr. DeLongis’ work during my undergraduate studies and having the opportunity to volunteer…"

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Lorna Tu

"I attended UBC for my BSc and found the physics department to be very efficient and supportive. I had also recently returned from a long internship abroad and wanted to stay closer to home (and its mountains!) for a little bit longer."

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Bonnie Leung

"The UBC School of Nursing is Canada's top-ranked nursing program and is internationally renowned for their contributions to nursing and health research, nursing philosophy and health system leadership."

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Leah Alfred-Olmedo

"My choice to pursue my PhD at UBC was based on relationships, both within the university and without. I have a generative and supportive relationship with my supervisor, with other members of the English faculty, and with other graduate students at UBC. I feel…"

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Shalini Iyer

"I learned that UBC was one of the Canadian institutions at the forefront of neuroscience research with access to cutting-edge technology. UBC provides a collaborative, supportive environment, which is crucial for fostering scientific growth, networking…"

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Harris Wong

"I completed my B.A. in psychology at UBC and loved my time here. It is a world-renowned university for a reason and I was constantly in awe of the beauty and size of the campus. Furthermore, there were great resources for students and I felt well-supported…"

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Darren Blackburn

"I chose to study at UBC after an initial phone call with the program staff at the Interdisciplinary Studies Graduate Program (ISGP) office. I originally called with a long list of questions, expecting to be directed to the program website (an experience I had with…"

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Michael Yin

"I love Vancouver! It's the greatest city in the world. I love the integration of nature into the city; it has all of the mountains, forests, and oceans. In addition, the city is a melting pot of cultures, and that's definitely reflected at UBC. It feels like there…"

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Jennifer Cooper

"I originally decided to study at UBC for my undergraduate degree mostly due to proximity to my hometown. However, during my time in undergrad, I was able to gain a greater appreciation for UBC which encouraged me to want to stay at this institution for my graduate…"

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Katrin Steinthorsdottir

"I originally applied for my MSc at UBC because I had heard that living in Vancouver was a dream. Then I really liked the people, the city, the research topic and it was a perfect fit."

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Xiaocong Guo

"The University of British Columbia is a top tier university in Canada and across the world. I can leverage the exemplary training environment and its culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion. Choosing to study at UBC was easily the best decision I could have…"

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Hacina Gill

"I chose UBC for three main reasons: its reputation, its location, and its fit with my hopes of grad school. UBC is not only one of the best universities in Canada, but it also happens to be less than an hour away from my hometown. Even though the location was…"

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Shelby Marozoff

"UBC has a strong reputation for research excellence, and I believe that having my graduate degree from UBC will help me in my career afterwards. There are also a number of awards and fellowships which are available to graduate students throughout their degrees.…"

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Lulu Pei

"I chose UBC for its breadth of research, resources for professional development, and opportunities for collaborations across Canada and internationally as well. Within the department of Human Nutrition, I started working with my current supervisor Dr. Karakochuk…"

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Loulou Cai

"I grew up just outside of Vancouver, but went to McGill for my undergraduate studies. I decided to return to Vancouver for my graduate studies because of the scientific climate, the opportunities for knowledge translation and the beautiful nature that surrounds it."

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Ian Alexander

"I chose UBC because of three main reasons. The first is the Social Studies Education Centre in the Department of Curriculum and Pedagogy. My supervisor Dr. Penney Clark and other faculty have a world-class research program which provides me with ample GRA work and…"

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Quanhan Xi

"UBC is one of a few Canadian universities that has a dedicated statistics department, which means that we cover an impressive range of statistics-related research. The location and natural beauty was also a driving factor. Graduate school is a good time to try…"

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Raymond Wu

"UBC offers a lot of opportunity for interdisciplinary research at least in the context of my work. The Department of Psychology has ties with, for example, the Centre for Brain Health and Sauder School of Business. I really look forward to collaborating with folks…"

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