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

Li Qing Wang

"I decided to study at UBC, because I found a very positive research environment in my field of study (i.e. pregnancy complications), as well as supervisors who are kind and supportive."

Alexander Garner

"World class research and an amazing city. UBC has the benefit of having cutting edge researchers who allow me to participate in landmark research. On top of this, the UBC campus and Vancouver are surrounded by parks and the mountains providing the opportunities of…"

Kaitlin Sullivan

"I was drawn to UBC for my graduate studies because I was really interested in the research done by my supervisor Dr. Mark Cembrowski. The study of memory has always interested me and his multidisciplinary approach merging molecular, cellular, circuit, and…"

Nancy Lin

"I also obtained my Bachelor and Master degrees at UBC. UBC is internationally recognized as an institution that values academic excellence, innovation in research, and transformative learning. The rigour of the education that I received and the lasting academic…"

Isaiah Betinol

"UBC is a world-class university and the campus is one of the most scenic in the world. The city of Vancouver is also one-of-a-kind with access to mountains and the ocean only a short distance away."

Brandon McNabb

"I always wanted to study somewhere close to the ocean, and its hard to beat living on the west coast. UBC also has such a fantastic diversity in both research programs and people. I knew I could easily find collaborative opportunities and develop a rich, valuable…"

Annie Borch

"I decided to study at UBC because I have a lot of family on the West Coast, and was already attending UBC as a non-degree student in order to pick up a few more undergraduate courses for professional designation. I appreciated the quality of instruction in my…"

Melanie McPhail

"Growing up in the Vancouver area, I was thrilled at the opportunity of continuing my graduate studies close to home after spending over a decade in Ontario. Additionally, studying at UBC provides me with the opportunity to work with Dr. Cristie Ford, a leading…"

Ina Na

"After becoming interested in protistology, I dug around to learn more about the available opportunities for conducting research in this topic and spent some time as an undergraduate student assisting on projects in my current supervisor's lab. From this I learned…"

Zhen Lin

"For me, The University of British Columbia is one of the most prestigious and high-caliber post-secondary institutions globally. I am deeply fascinated by the beautiful campus landscape and impressed by the well-equipped instructional, research, and learning…"

Luke Polson

"When applying to PhD programs, I knew that I wanted to engage in research that applied artificial intelligence in the medical imaging world. It was while exploring various options that I discovered my (now) current research group, Qurit, here at UBC. Their strong…"

Mia Frier

"I came to UBC because I wanted access to state-of-the-art research facilities and to join UBC's network of excellent molecular biology researchers. I was also choosing a graduate program in early 2020, when the future was full of uncertainty, and I made the…"

Adrienne Kinman

"UBC offered a wonderful combination of an extremely supportive advisor, stimulating research environment and collaborative community to enhance my skills and network."

Faeze Keshavarz

"I strongly believe that UBC provides a lot of resources and opportunities to students. The most valuable resource to me has undoubtedly been the chance to learn from some of the best and most experienced researchers and scientists in my field. The opportunity to…"

Ariene Cabantog

"I spent my childhood in various parts of the world but ultimately made British Columbia my home. When deciding where to pursue my undergraduate degree, I knew that staying in BC was important to me - I loved the proximity to the ocean and the mountains, and I…"

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…"

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…"

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…"

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…"

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."

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…"

Amy Forsythe

"It sounds cliché, but I've always dreamed of studying at UBC! The West Coast is so beautiful, yet it was always a bit too far from home to justify. When I started looking at applying to a PhD, my Master's supervisor strongly recommended Sally Otto, not only for…"

Cassandra Hesse

"I chose to study at UBC because of its incredible reputation for supporting diverse perspectives. As it is one of the top universities worldwide, I loved that I could be at an award-winning university and conduct my research with some of the top people in my field…"

Joshua MacEachern

"In my undergrad, I really got great insight to how incredible the researchers in our physics/astronomy department (and the rest of UBC) are. Two of the cosmology faculty on the team that I joined at UBC (including my supervisor) won a Fundamental Breakthrough…"

Kate Huang

"UBC is a leading institute in the field of regenerative medicine and stem cell-based disease modeling. There are only a handful of researchers in the world who are conducting similar work as my co-supervisors Dr. Liam Brunham and Dr. Zachary Laksman. When I was…"

Sabina Staempfli

"I came to UBC because of my two co-supervisors and mentors, Dr. Maura MacPhee and Dr. Farinaz Havaei. I looked all across the country for nurse researchers who had done groundbreaking work in health research in my area of interest, and after only one phone call, I…"

Haley Hrymak

"Many of the academics I admire and look up to are at UBC. UBC is the ideal place for my work given my focus on BC, my supervisors’ skillsets, and my connection to the legal community and anti-violence sector across BC. I am also very thankful for the funding UBC…"

Katrina Bergmann

"Vancouver and the UBC campus are absolutely beautiful places to live and work. I've always wanted to move to the west coast to be closer to the mountains, and so far Vancouver does not disappoint. UBC is also one of the top universities in the world, and I feel…"

Julia Nakamura

"I was very interested in the work of my prospective supervisor at UBC, as well as the research focus of our Health Psychology Area more broadly which has a lot of overlapping (yet original and distinct) work that creates opportunities for collaboration and…"

Omar Bashth

"UBC has a very strong stem cell community that fosters great collaborations between labs and institutes. I am excited and privileged to be close to this community to learn and contribute to the science."

Katherine Baillie

"UBC provides the best combination of location, program, and opportunities. I have always loved living in the Pacific Northwest, and UBC’s MD/PhD program offers a world-class education in both research and medicine. Working in the BC Cancer Research Institute also…"

Kerry Marshall

"I've been curious about living in Vancouver for as long as I can remember. Graduate studies is an excellent opportunity to try living somewhere else, and the nursing program at UBC is highly regarded."

Jen Baron

"I was attracted to the well-earned reputation and high standard of forestry research at UBC. I believed that, by learning from and collaborating with leaders in my field, my expertise and the quality and impact of my work would benefit greatly. Having connections…"

Alex Lukey

"I grew up in the interior of BC, so I suppose I've been spoiled to live in BC most of my life. When I began thinking about a PhD, the fact that UBC is a world-class institution in medicine and health sciences made it an easy choice. I was also working with one of…"

Alan Knee

"UBC engages in a very wide range of research and is home to several incredible facilities and world-renowned researchers, so I knew I'd find something that interested me."

Naomi Potter

"UBC's wide-array of research programs and laboratories meant that I was able to find one well-suited to my research area of interest. As one of the top institutions in Canada, the various funding opportunities available to support my graduate studies also led me…"

Elise Ng-Cordell

"I decided to apply to UBC for a number of reasons. UBC's Psychology department has a strong research focus, and I knew that I wanted to develop as a scientist and a clinician. I also really wanted to work with and learn from my supervisor, Dr. Connor Kerns, as our…"

Fabiola Bazo

"I decided to study at UBC because it provides the exact combination of knowledge and expertise that I need for my dissertation research: from gender, to music, to Latin American studies. And I am lucky enough to live in this beautiful campus located on the…"

Romina Tantalean-Castaneda

"I came to UBC as a master's student and am now a doctoral student because I consider the Social Justice Institute's (Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Social Justice) interdisciplinary doctoral program the most suitable environment for re-imagining and advancing my…"

Lisa Ritland

"It was a clear choice for me to apply to UBC. The School of Population and Public Health and the Human Early Learning Partnership at UBC offer an ideal training environment for me to pursue population health research in collaboration with local communities that…"

Cheyanne Connell

"My research project lends to UBC's core values of and commitment to Indigenous reconciliation. Indigenous folks in Canada and elsewhere are looking for more expansive representation and greater inclusion in school and public, and UBC feels like a place where this…"

Winy Vasquez

"When I was in elementary school, my family relocated to Vancouver so that my dad could pursue his own doctoral degree and so I grew up in and around the UBC campus. Throughout my elementary and secondary education in Vancouver, I was able to see UBC grew and…"

Khadija Anjum

"I chose UBC because of the wide diversity of Schools and Departments at the UBC was highly attractive for a student of community and regional planning like myself, since planning is essentially a multi-disciplinary field benefiting greatly from specialized…"

Zitao Chen

"UBC is a vibrant research community and provides numerous support to ensure the students can succeed in their pursuit of knowledge. At UBC, I also have the opportunity to work with a group of excellent researchers and gain tremendous mentorship from my advisor (…"

Leilani Forby

"Before I decided to pursue a graduate degree, I worked in the film industry and was required to do a lot of international travel. The business trips to Canada were always my favorite --- I fell in love with the cities and the people. When I decided that I would…"

Dana Johnson

"While applying to PhD programs, I sought to conduct research that incorporates multiple values into urban decision-making. I found a perfect fit with Dr. Kai Chan and his lab group (the CHANS lab) at the University of British Columbia’s Institute for Resources,…"

Daniel Lipshutz Forrest

"I saw that, while both of my advisors, Drs. Kai Chan and Matthew Mitchell, are trained ecologists, they have training beyond ecology, experience working in interdisciplinary teams, and a demonstrated commitment to innovative and impactful applied research. More…"

Rachel Ramsden

"I grew up locally in Richmond, BC and had the opportunity to attend UBC for my undergraduate degree and Masters degree. As an undergraduate student, I was a member of the UBC women’s varsity soccer team and I was grateful to experience a supportive community and…"

Parboti Roy

"While researching for the graduate studies program in Canada, I found out UBC is one of the top universities that supports research innovation, and the Asian Studies program is one of the leading programs in the world. So, I changed my academic track from Women…"

Younus Mushtaq Ahmed

"My primary reason for choosing UBC's Anthropology graduate studies program was my adviser, Vinay Kamat, whose research expertise and background in my research topic were phenomenal. He also responded positively to my initial inquiry and provided feedback on my…"