Join UBC's Course-Based Programs Application Week, October 19-23, 2026. Explore our wide range of more than 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 Elashry, Ahmed

Ahmed Elashry

LLM - Master of Laws (Common Law) (LLMCL)

"I decided to study at UBC because of its reputation and world rank, which I believe will contribute towards my future success. Besides that, UBC campus is so beautiful, and Vancouver is a wonderful place to live for anyone who enjoys the great outdoors!"

Picture of Wu, Yinghong (Amy)

Yinghong (Amy) Wu

Master of Public Health (MPH)

"The MPH program within the School of Population and Public Health is a reputable program with highly skilled faculty who are leaders in their field of practice. [It] offers many options in areas of study from data-heavy focus to health promotion and program…"

Picture of Yang, Yaning

Yaning Yang

Master of Public Health (MPH)

"My program offers courses on a variety of subject matters in the public health arena. The core requirements, such as statistics and epidemiology are foundational, and I have learned a lot about academic research from them. I also have a lot of freedom in terms of…"

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."

Picture of Wang, Huanwen

Huanwen Wang

Master of Education in Adult Learning and Education (MEd)

"I chose UBC because of its high quality educational resources and its world-renowned academic reputation. Our department of education is also ranked highly all over the world. Another big factor was that one of my friends had earned her master's degree here,…"

Picture of Ohene Gyan, Isaac

Isaac Ohene Gyan

Master of Education in Higher Education (MEd)

"I came to UBC because it offers several programs and facilities to support students throughout their studies and it's one of the best universities in Canada. I was attracted by the program because it prepares you to have a critical lens to ensure equity and…"

Picture of Lam, Cynthia

Cynthia Lam

Master of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering (MEng)

"UBC boasts amazing research labs, an inclusive community, and of course a beautiful campus. I was especially drawn to the Engineers in Scrubs program that UBC offered, which gave me hands on experience with medical device prototyping."

Picture of Gross, Elisabeth

Elisabeth Gross

Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT)

"UBC's MOT program has the smallest cohort per year, which means the students can build a great community and you're more likely to build relationships with professors. I also knew that UBC's MOT program had more hours of fieldwork placements than…"

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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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Cail Smith

Master of Community and Regional Planning (MCRP)

"I decided to study at UBC because Vancouver has become my home. I moved to the city around five years ago after completing my undergraduate degree, and the city has stoked my passion to become a planner. Everyone in Vancouver is working to improve the city in…"