Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Graduate School

Why did other students choose UBC?

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Wesley (Wes) Regan

"I feel so blessed to live in Vancouver where one of the best universities in the world is literally right in my backyard, but I was considering other universities too. It was ultimately a discussion with one of the faculty members at SCARP that made the difference…"

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Heather (Hezy) Anholt

"I came to UBC specifically to work with Dr. Chelsea Himsworth. Dr. Himsworth is known for her work with the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative and leads several impactful research projects on the epidemiology of zoonotic diseases, including the Vancouver Rat…"

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Charlotte Milne

"I chose to come to UBC thanks to its unique placement as a university that advocates for and prioritizes the inclusion of Indigenous sciences alongside Western practices. I came for my fantastic supervisors Prof. Stephanie Chang and Prof. Simon Donner, thanks to…"

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Michelle Kamigaki-Baron

"I read a paper a few years prior that was co-authored by my current supervisor Dr. Molly Babel which helped me imagine the research question of my current PhD project. Upon doing more research on UBC, it became clear that UBC was an ideal choice for me. The…"

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Almira Zhantuyakova

"I decided to study at UBC because it offers one of the few graduate programs in women's health globally. UBC shows commitment to advancing research and education in women's health research. Moreover, Canada is renowned for its excellence in research and medical…"

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Nicole Davies

"In my previous student experiences, I learned how transformative mentorship from an attentive Indigenous scholar can be to my academic development and success. My decision to study at UBC was strongly determined by Dr. Tabitha Robin’s scholarship and mentorship.…"

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Jonathan Beutler

"First and foremost, I was inspired by the scope of the dissertation project that I am proud to be working on at UBC. I believe that the advent portable sequencing platforms will play an important role in advancing global disease biology by helping us to deploy…"

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Vriti Bhagat

"UBC is internationally recognized for producing high quality and rigorous research, which made pursuing my graduate degree in the Faculty of Medicine at UBC an attractive option. I was also looking forward to collaborating with world-renowned faculty members…"

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Samuel Adeyanju

"I first heard about UBC during one of the classes I took with a professor during my second year of undergrad in Nigeria. The professor described how prestigious the university was, having had his sabbatical there in the early 2000s. After completing my…"

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Abisola Kehinde

"Researching clinical diseases has always been my passion but due to the lack of clinical research labs in my undergraduate department, I had to choose a different research area (which was largely self-funded). In pursuit of that goal, I came to Canada for graduate…"

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Ahmed Kabil

"UBC is a wonderful university with so much to offer! Its reputation for academic excellence is truly outstanding, and Vancouver is a stunning location to study in. The community at UBC is incredibly diverse and inclusive, providing so many opportunities for…"

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Meghna Mohandas

"Once I decided to pursue my PhD in urban planning, UBC was an obvious choice. The School of Community and Regional Planning (SCARP) is a world-renowned department in the discipline. My supervisors Dr. Leonora Angeles and Dr. Julia Harten have immense research…"

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Cara James

"I asked my masters supervisor for recommendations for PhD supervisors in Europe, and he replied with a list of 5 schools in the US and 2 in Canada. I had never considered moving to North America, but as soon as I started reading about Vancouver, UBC, and my…"

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Brandi Bird

"I only applied to UBC. I couldn’t justify upending my life with my partner and my cats for two years of schooling. I decided if I didn’t get in, I’d try again next year. But I was lucky! I just finished my undergraduate degree at UBC and so the familiarity of…"

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Jade LaFontaine

"I chose UBC because I did my undergrad here, and I really enjoyed the Indigenous community at UBC. Most universities in Canada don’t have the presence and physical spaces dedicated to Indigenous gathering and representation that I found at UBC. UBC is also close…"

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Yas Oloumi Yazdi

"I had completed my undergraduate degree at UBC. I was familiar with the campus and the city. My family also lives in Vancouver and being able to stay close to them while studying at one of the top engineering schools in the world with such a beautiful campus…"

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V. Pauahi Souza

"My interest to study at UBC was and is due to the Social Justice Institute and the faculty within the program. I specifically wanted a degree geared towards Social Justice. In 2018, at the time I was thinking of PhD studies, UBC was the only school in North…"

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Holly Reid

"I completed a Master of Occupational Therapy degree (2017-2019) at UBC and had an immensely positive experience. Time and time again, UBC has shown up willing to listen, learn and change when called upon by students, faculty and the community. It is important to…"

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Madison Chapel

"UBC was my top choice for graduate studies. It offers a dedicated bioinformatics degree program and is a top university both in Canada and worldwide. On top of this, living in Vancouver is a great way to escape the Manitoba winters for a few years, which is a…"

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Olivia Maracle

"I have a BA in Psychology and Sociology from the U of A, but that was many years ago. As I no longer live in Alberta, the communities I know now are situated in Vancouver, so it made sense to complete my BSN and MSN at UBC. This is the University I personally feel…"

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Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson, KC

"I am Indigenous to this Province. I live in Haida Gwaii and on the territory of the Semiahmoo Nation. UBC is ideal for the location, and because it facilitates ongoing connections with my nation and homeland of Haida Gwaii."

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Alana Cook

"I was originally hired in the Fall of 2022 as an adjunct professor at UBC in the department of Kinesiology! I taught several semesters of the course KIN 368: Indigenous Sport and Physical Culture in Settler Canada. I was very impressed by the support I received…"

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Brent Peekeekoot

"Ultimately Vancouver opened it's arms to me as soon as I realized it was a possible place to attend university. The support systems are very special. When I was in my undergraduate degree I was put into contact with UBC and U of M to talk to student counsellors to…"

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Rachel Dickens

"My Ph.D. studies at UBC in Integrated Studies in Land and Food Systems has allowed me to work with Dr. Tabitha Robin (Martens), an Indigenous scholar whose practice and research is embedded in love and care for the land. Working alongside Dr. Robin has allowed me…"

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Grady Thompson

"I went through the University Transition Program, which is an academically accelerated high school, where students go from grade 7 directly into grade 11. UBC offers support for the program that includes special admissions process for the students. This led me to…"

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Kaitlin Gairdner

"For me, my education has always been based on a sense of connection to and a means of giving back to my community and it was important for me to continue honouring that into my graduate degree. Being born and raised in Vancouver, studying at UBC really highlighted…"

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Gracie Crafts

"I decided to study at UBC because of the reputation of the UBC Faculty of Forestry. I heard about some really neat research that was happening at UBC. I also was able to find two women supervisors at UBC, one being Indigenous. It was important to me to be able to…"

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Emma Stirling-Cameron

"The Faculty of Medicine at UBC is internationally-renowned and has a significant emphasis on sexual and reproductive health which is extended by its connections to the BC Centre for Disease Control and BC Centre on Substance Use. I have been lucky enough to work…"

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Alexis Bahl

"My decision to study for my PhD at the University of British Columbia (UBC) was based on a combination of factors. Firstly, UBC has an outstanding reputation for research excellence and innovation, particularly in the field of Oceanography. The university has…"

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Aria Malhotra

"I grew up here and I love living in Vancouver. I was very excited to be returning back here to begin the grad school adventure, especially after the Montreal winters I experienced during my undergrad at McGill!"

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Musanna Galib

"UBC has a strong applied science community, and I am excited to become a part of that. I was offered a 4-year fellowship and got the opportunity in the field I am interested in, which helped me decide to study at UBC."

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Kiarah O'Kane

"Firstly, I completed my undergraduate degree at UBC, and it has always felt like home to me. It was hard to imagine myself feeling so at home at any other institution. Secondly, my research supervisors Dr. Samantha Dawson and Dr. Katrina Bouchard are two amazing…"

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Rachel Vivian Helmer

"UBC is one of the most well-respected universities in Canada and the research/collaboration options here are amazing! The professors in my department were recommended to me as potential supervisors when I was an undergraduate participating in the Canadian Summer…"

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Kaitlyn Zinn

"I grew up in British Columbia, and the fish populations in this province are close to my heart. I wanted to work directly with the species I grew up with, and the Hinch lab at UBC is the perfect place to do so. Dr. Hinch works on many salmonid species with a range…"

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Shiva Zargar

"I chose UBC to conduct both my second master’s degree and Ph.D. research as it is one of the most prestigious universities in the world. I wanted to conduct my research at a university that is known worldwide for its high level of education and UBC was that one.…"

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Jerry Achar

"Joining UBC was a great deal for me because the University has high academic standards and a global reputation for producing cutting-edge research, competent graduate students and world leaders, and providing a conducive environment for personal and professional…"

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Braden Russell

"UBC's CENES department has excellent faculty and resources that made it the best choice for me and my research. After discussing options with my MA supervisor, she recommended UBC."

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Dante Prado

"UBC houses one of the most thriving and exciting programs in my field, but also, Vancouver made sense for my partner's career. I should also note that many recommendations highlighted the campus's beauty (and size!)."

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Eunice Bawafaa

"I am drawn to the University of British Columbia’s Nursing program because of Faculty’s research expertise in areas of international nurse education, primary care areas, health leadership, community health, and health equity. In particular, my research interests…"

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Ajibola Fabusuyi

"UBC looms large as a reputable academic institution and given its high-ranking position among Canadian universities, it was easy to choose it over others. More so, the university is located in a beautiful landscape, close to nature, and boasts good traffic…"

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Pinhao Xiang

"I really like the campus academic environment. Here, I have an opportunity to learn about cutting-edge knowledge in many medical fields and discover my passions. I also really like the libraries at UBC. The library is very resourceful and supports my research by…"

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Davi de Ferreyro Monticelli

"After my exchange experience as an undergrad at the University of Auckland - New Zealand, and during my master's degree in Brazil, I knew that I wanted to pursue a Ph.D. internationally. In my search for a supervisor that could help me develop my professional…"

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Elise Legarth

"Choosing a university that wasn’t in my home country was a key priority for me as I wanted to explore other perspectives, and gain knowledge in techniques and models not regularly used in New Zealand. I’m so pleased I made this decision, as already I have learnt…"

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David Black

"I have lived in several places in Europe, USA, and Canada, and have traveled widely elsewhere, and I am convinced that Vancouver is the best place on Earth. Studying at one of the top universities in the world while having an untracked wilderness of spectacular…"

Martina Zago

"I really wanted to pursue my doctoral studies in Canada, where my Dad was born. I applied to UBC specifically because of the work of Professor Barbara Arneil. I had encountered her writings during my master’s degree and read her pathbreaking books on the history…"

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Paul Herringer

"I get excited about all kinds of physics, not just my field of specialization, so I wanted to find a department with a wide variety of research topics. I was also able to find a supervisor whom I work well with in a field that suits my research interests. Last but…"

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Kevin Jeffers

"Ultimately, it came down to location. My choices were between the University of Toronto’s Molecular Genetics and UBC’s Medical Genetics programs. Both schools had a lot to offer and were home to wonderful supervisors with exciting projects. However, Vancouver was…"

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Holly Bergeron-Dumaine

"UBC offers a rich interdisciplinary environment. At UBC, I am able to learn from conversations and courses taken not only with experts in my field, but also from experts in critical theory and educational research. This contact has been invaluable to shaping my…"

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Christopher Lee

"I decided to study at UBC because it has a strong standing in research output, and so far that impression has not changed. In addition to the research, Vancouver provides a lot to keep a strong work-life-balance for individuals like me that enjoy any sort of…"

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Rabia Mir

"I did my Master's at UBC so continuing on for my PhD seemed like a natural next step. Also, my supervisors are at UBC and especially for doctoral programs, your supervisors and their expertise is critical to your research journey."

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