Join UBC's Course-Based Programs Application Week, October 19-23, 2026. Explore our wide range of over 90 course-based and professional graduate programs, live online. Meet program teams, ask your questions, and find the program that's right for you.

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Why UBC

Our course-based programs span across our faculties, from health and business to engineering, education, and the arts. Backed by UBC's research strength and connections across industry and government, you'll graduate with much more than a credential. You’ll gain a network, real-world experience, and graduate from a program built to take you to the next stage of your life and career.

UBC's Institutional Rankings

#41
THE Ranking (2025)
#53
ARWU Ranking (2025)
#5
QS Sustainability Rankings (2025)

The most established and influential global rankings all consistently place UBC in the top three per cent of universities in the world.

 

Career outcomes and industry connections

A UBC course-based master's degree pays off. Based on survey responses collected in August 2025 from graduates of our course-based master's programs between 2014 and 2023, we found:

  • 93% of alumni are employed or self-employed.
  • 89% of employed/self-employed alumni are working within Canada.
  • Careers span every sector: 32% for-profit, 34% education, 27% government/public service, 6% non-profit/NGO/international — showing just how many directions a course-based degree can take you.

Our course-based programs are built with industry input and include career-focused coursework, projects, and practicums — connecting students directly to employers through recruitment events, alumni networks, and capstone projects.

For example, our Master of Architecture and Master of Landscape Architecture students complete an eight-month co-op placement inside a professional firm as part of their degree. In our Master of Physical Therapy students complete five clinical placements across BC's health authorities before they graduate. Our Master of Data Science students complete a capstone project with an industry partner. In the past, teams have worked with organizations like the Insurance Corporation of BC, Boeing Digital Solutions and Vancouver Whitecaps FC. In our Master of Food and Resource Economics students spend their final four months working directly with an industry partner on a real business problem.  

These experiences show up in our graduate outcomes. For example, within a year of graduating, 95%+ of Master of Community and Regional Planning students are working in planning-related roles.  Many of our Master of Food and Resource Economics students go on to roles within the organizations they worked with in the program such as Farm Credit Canada, AlphaSense, and the Government of Canada. Our Master of Science in Occupational and Environmental Hygiene graduates report full employment within six months, while our Master of Health Administration alumni now number more than 400 leaders working in healthcare around the world. In our Master of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering, graduates have gone on to organizations like Vancouver Coastal Health and Neovasc, with some launching their own medtech companies. 

These are just a handful of examples. Read more about our programs and attend upcoming info sessions to hear more. 

What's the difference? Course-based vs. research-based programs

Not sure whether a course-based or research-based program is the right fit? Watch this short video to learn the difference and figure out which path matches your goals.

Facilities

Facilities

Outside view of the CIRS building

Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability

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View of the Beaty expansion project

Beaty Biodiversity Research Centre

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Outside view of the QMI building

Stewart Blusson Quantum Matter Institute

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Outside view of the Gordon B. Shrum Building

School of Biomedical Engineering

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Rendered view of the Gateway Building

Gateway Building

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Street view of the C.K. Choi building

C.K. Choi Building

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Fields on the UBC Farm

UBC Farm

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Inside view of auditorium in the Chan

Chan Centre

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Outside view of the MSL building

Michael Smith Laboratories

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View of great hall in the MoA

Museum of Anthropology

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Front facing view of the Pharamceutical Sciences building

Pharmaceutical Sciences

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EAB building

Earth Science Building

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Student and Alumni Quotes

Picture of Gray, Emily

Emily Gray

Master of Community and Regional Planning (MCRP)

"UBC has a great reputation in Canada and worldwide as a high quality institution. My favourite thing is the incredible amount of resources and opportunities that I have access to. I am continually impressed by the options available to me by virtue of being a UBC…"

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Candace Ho

Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT)

"The UBC MOT program offers a total of 5 different full-time placements (30 weeks total) which means there are a plethora of opportunities to apply knowledge and skills into the practice setting. They also have many more connections for fieldwork around the world (…"

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Kaitlin Gairdner

Master of Physical Therapy (MPT)

"Living in a community with such diversity, it’s important to me that I am gaining insight into culturally sensitive health care practices that will prepare me for a future career in the field of physical therapy."

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Mahta Amanian

Master of Management (MM)

"UBC is a world renowned institution that is dedicated to student learning, growth, and development. At UBC, I have learned from incredible professors and mentors, worked with inspirational colleagues, and gained new life experiences that have shaped me into who I…"

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Marian Orhierhor

Master of Public Health (MPH)

"Studying at SPPH gave me the opportunity to network with scholars from different fields of study, thereby extending my professional network and global reach. It also meant I would have a chance to network with professors who are critical players in public health…"

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Brent Peekeekoot

Master of Architecture (MARCH)

"I chose to attend the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture at UBC because the school and its staff believed in me from the beginning."

Picture of Akwiri, Dorine

Dorine Akwiri

Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs (MPPGA)

"UBC is one of the top-ranked universities in Canada and across the world. I chose UBC as it promised excellent resources for intellectual stimulation, diversity and professional advancement. The fact that UBC sits in Vancouver, which is considered warmer than most…"

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Trevor Arsenault

Master of Food Science (MFS)

"The Master of Food Science program concludes with a 3.5 month food processing practicum which will provide practical experience and networking opportunities. The combination of classroom and jobsite learning that this program offers will help me to feel confident…"

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Christina Luong

Master of Health Science (MHSc)

"The University of British Columbia is a world renown institution and the Master of Health Science is tailored to clinicians and other health professionals."

Picture of Mungwakuzwe, Charles

Charles Mungwakuzwe

Master of Land and Water Systems (MLWS)

"UBC is among the leading universities in the world. Both the standards of education and students' lifestyle make it an ideal place for studying; it provides unique programs such as land and water systems which can help me to achieve my goals."