Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Graduate School

Why did other students choose UBC?

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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…"

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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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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…"

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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…"

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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…"

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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…"

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Christina Howard

"I completed my BSc in Natural Resources Conservation in 2017 and went on to defend my MSc in Forestry thesis in December 2020, obtaining both degrees within UBC’s Faculty of Forestry. During both previous degrees I had the opportunity to complete co-op work…"

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Atul Aravindakshan

"Apart from being one of the top universities in Canada, UBC offers a rich research environment which was important to me. Another important point while choosing UBC was that my research interests are closely aligned with the research my supervisors conduct, and it…"

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Ryoga Hojo

"My research interest and the connection I felt with my supervisor were the most significant factors in coming to UBC. Of course, Vancouver being one of the best cities in Canada and UBC being a world-class university made the decision quite easy."

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Isra Ibrahim

"My decision to join UBC was mainly because I found a wonderful supervisor with a project that is very interesting. This also of course comes with the great plus of living in beautiful BC."

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Emma Betz

"I completed my undergrad at UBC and what attracted me was how interdisciplinary the research done on campus was. I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted to pursue, because I had so many interests, I just couldn't choose. I was able to double major in Earth and Ocean…"

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Aisha Ghani

"I decided to study at UBC as it is a world-renowned university that recruits many highly accomplished and diverse professors and students. I completed my undergraduate degree at UBC and had a positive experience engaging with the UBC community and learning from…"

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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."

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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…"

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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…"

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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…"

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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."

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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…"

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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…"

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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…"

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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."

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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…"

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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."

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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…"

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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…"

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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…"

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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…"

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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…"

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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…"

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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…"

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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."

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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…"

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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…"

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Annie Lalande

"I initially came to UBC for my general surgery training, drawn to a program that values surgical excellence, and supports diverse types of research and transformation projects. When I decided to undertake graduate studies, the Institute for Resources, Environment…"

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Alysha Deslippe

"My initial decision to study at UBC started back in my undergraduate. I chose UBC largely for its access to numerous outdoor activities year-round. I am an avid runner, hiker, skier and beach volleyball player. Being in Vancouver means I can pursue these…"

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Ace Chan

"The West Coast has always been my home and I was not ready to part with it quite yet. The choice to pursue my doctoral studies at UBC was simple as UBC is a high-ranking university both in Canada and internationally. I wanted to earn a degree from an institution…"

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Aram Bajakian

"I had been discussing my research over the years with my current advisor, ethnomusicology professor Dr. Nathan Hesselink. His attentiveness and interest was of course, an important factor. In addition the Armenian community in greater Vancouver reflects the…"

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Erik Post

"The UBC Department of Geography has great faculty that pursue and support exciting, engaged, and critical research. I also cherish the opportunity to work under the supervision of Professor Le Billon, whose work has long been an influence on how I think about the…"

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Sammy Iammarino

"I chose UBC because of its reputation for high quality education and proximity to harm reduction environments that allow me to stay connected to my nursing practice. Studying at UBC has made it possible for me to be a PhD student, nursing leader in public health,…"

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Tetiana Povshedna

"UBC is uniquely positioned to offer incoming students not only world-class education opportunities but also, quite possibly, the best views in the world. This rare chance to experience high-quality academic and lifestyle environments made it easy to choose UBC."

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Olivia Dreisinger

"I grew up an hour outside of Vancouver and completed my undergraduate degree at UBC. It was a wonderful experience and I am thankful to return to this university and to remain close to my family. The English faculty is also one of the few departments to have…"

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Anna Santo

"I decided to study at UBC for several professional and personal reasons. The Institute for Resources, Environment, and Sustainability at UBC is a highly interdisciplinary environment with a commitment to applied and problem-oriented research, and it is important…"

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Tanzoom Ahmed

"UBC’s Asian Studies Department is one of the largest and most diverse Asian studies programs in the entire world. The diversity of languages, courses and topics offered at the department can provide one of the strongest academic foundations in Asian studies. I was…"

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Sydney Lines

"I had been to Vancouver once before and loved the weather (I'm allergic to the sun). I was impressed by the UBC Arts PhD Co-op Program. My department often ranks among the top 20 in the world. But the truth is I did not believe I’d get into UBC, and I only applied…"

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