The role of the Faculty is to support graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and the entire UBC graduate community in pursuit of a personal, professional and academic experience second to none. Among other responsibilities, G+PS seeks to ensure a transparent, consistent and equitable administration of graduate programs and awards, evaluation and quality assurance of graduate programs, advocacy for graduate and postdoctoral needs within the larger academic community, assistance with individual student and postdoctoral problems, and the provision of outstanding opportunities for professional development of graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty in their role as supervisors.
At G+PS, we have been defining graduate education as 'the formation of scholars* who make a difference for good in the world'. Here, 'formation' entails learning, but also cultivating habits of heart and mind, and developing a professional identity and sense of purpose. The scholarship pursued refers to the broad activities that bring knowledge, rigour, and creativity to the extension and transformation of knowledge, whether that is inside the academy, outside its walls, or crossing between.
At the Vancouver campus, there are close to 3600 doctoral students and 6200 master's students, the fourth largest graduate student population among Canadian universities. About 30% of master’s students, and 44% of doctoral students at UBC are international.
G+PS plays a central role in the strategic direction of graduate education at UBC. It facilitates discussion on campus about the future of graduate education, provides an information hub for all topics related to graduate education, celebrates the achievement of graduate students and alumni, and provides advocacy for graduate students & Postdoctoral Fellow needs.
In its administrative capacity it provides services to units and graduate students across all academic faculties on the Vancouver campus – from recruitment of new students along the entire lifecycle to graduation and beyond. Services include: orientation, health and well-being, professional development, program administration, and thesis/dissertation support among other things.
G+PS is the home of the Interdisciplinary Studies Graduate Program (ISGP), a unique graduate program that allows scholars to design their own curriculum under supervision of supervisors from any unit.
The university also hosts 850 postdoctoral fellows. UBC-appointed postdoctoral fellows can be found in over 90 departments and at affiliated sites including BC Cancer Agency, BC Centre for Disease Control, BC Children’s and Women’s Hospital, the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, St. Paul’s Hospital, and Vancouver General Hospital.
* term taken from Walker et al (2008), The Formation of Scholars. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
Research Highlights
UBC offers over 300 Graduate Degree Programs in nearly every academic field imaginable, and opportunities to pursue cutting-edge transdisciplinary study that crosses traditional boundaries. There is sure to be a program offered that aligns with your interests.
UBC attracts $580 million per year in research funding from government, non-profit organizations and industry through 8,800 projects and UBC researchers file over 230 patents a year. Many programs have state-of-art new buildings and facilities. At UBC you will work side by side with passionate scholars as you delve into the most meaningful questions of our world.
Graduate Degree Programs
Graduate Student Stories
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Recent Publications
This is an incomplete sample of recent publications in chronological order by UBC faculty members with a primary appointment in the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
Recent Thesis Submissions
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Ruin conversions : violence, architecture and commemoration in post-1944 Warsaw (Interdisciplinary Studies - PHD)
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Statue, bear or rogue : ecological objects in Shakespeare and Jonson (Interdisciplinary Studies - PHD)
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Disruptive stories and cautionary tales : an anti-oppressive autoethnography on digital storytelling (Interdisciplinary Studies - PHD)
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Digital diaries and documenting queer lives in social isolation during covid-19 (Interdisciplinary Studies - MSC)
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Exploring the experience and impact of incarceration for women living with HIV in Metro Vancouver, Canada (Interdisciplinary Studies - PHD)
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A co(s)mic guide to getting bent : shifting perspectives between science and literature in twentieth-century England (Interdisciplinary Studies - PHD)
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Medications for opioid use disorder among young people : evidence to improve treatment experiences and outcomes in Vancouver, Canada (Interdisciplinary Studies - PHD)
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Silent adhan : exploring the muslim call to prayer in metro Vancouver : [supplementary material] (Interdisciplinary Studies - MA)
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Silent adhan : exploring the muslim call to prayer in metro Vancouver (Interdisciplinary Studies - MA)
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Pampa and Pallay : the paradox of culture and economy in the Andean mountains (Interdisciplinary Studies - PHD)
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Ritual as praxis : the responsibility of activists in the face of genocide; or, between ethics and politics (Interdisciplinary Studies - PHD)
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A critical ethnographic study of overdose prevention sites as a community-based response to overdose deaths (Interdisciplinary Studies - PHD)
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Becoming child-friendly : a participatory and post-qualitative study of a child and youth friendly community strategy (Interdisciplinary Studies - PHD)
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Thought-activism and the poiesis of that which is not (Interdisciplinary Studies - PHD)
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When sheepdogs become wolves: radicalization of veterans (Interdisciplinary Studies - MA)
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Nonpublication and publication bias in clinical trials in Canada : a qualitative interview study (Interdisciplinary Studies - PHD)
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Lived justice : women’s senses of justice, reparations and decision-making after wartime sexual violence in northern Uganda (Interdisciplinary Studies - PHD)
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Indigenous women's reproductive (in)justice(s) and self-determination : envisioning futures through a collaborative research project (Interdisciplinary Studies - PHD)
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Realist evaluation of violence prevention education in British Columbia healthcare : how does it make a difference? (Interdisciplinary Studies - PHD)
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Livable neighbourhoods in multicultural cities : immigrant women’s experiences and preferences (Interdisciplinary Studies - PHD)
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The influence of higher education on immigration policy in Canada (Interdisciplinary Studies - PHD)
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When public health goes wrong : the history and ethics of public health errors (Interdisciplinary Studies - PHD)
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Deframing techno-coloniality : Sikh spirituality in the age of the technocene (Interdisciplinary Studies - PHD)
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Geopolitical coercion : implications for global health (Interdisciplinary Studies - PHD)
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Traditional Nisga'a leadership : the challenges through change (Interdisciplinary Studies - PHD)
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Ashaninka spirituality and forest conservation : [supplementary material] (Interdisciplinary Studies - MA)
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Exploring the transformative potential of public sector innovation labs : assembling a cabinet of curiousities (Interdisciplinary Studies - PHD)
Doctoral Citations
Year | Citation | Program |
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2020 | Dr. Barker examined the impact of the child welfare system on health and substance use outcomes among young people who use drugs in Vancouver. Her research identifies policy opportunities to improve the health and wellbeing of marginalized youth in care, and suggests extending services to facilitate successful transitions among those who age out. | Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies (PhD) |
2020 | Dr. Atkins developed a new type of practical display to simulate the visual sensation provided by a window overlooking a distant space. This research will help inform the design of indoor environments such as shopping malls, working spaces, and living spaces, especially in underground and confined locations. | Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies (PhD) |
2020 | Dr. Hippman built a feminist, woman-centered, theoretical model of decision making from women's stories, and showed that there is not yet enough evidence for genetic testing to guide antidepressant prescribing during pregnancy. Her work can be used to support women making decisions about how to care for their mental health during pregnancy. | Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies (PhD) |
2020 | Dr. Maharaj explored the meaning of pets for people with cancer. Inspired by her bulldog, Dally, she highlights the importance of meaning-making for the human-pet relationship. Her findings can support patients in reflecting on their experiences, as well as bring new understandings for health care providers to better address the needs of patients. | Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies (PhD) |
2020 | Dr. David developed epidemic models of indirect transmission to study the role of heterogeneity, human mobility, and diffusion in the spread of infection. She investigated the co-interaction of HIV and syphilis infections among men who have sex with men, and looked at how different interventions could be combined to eliminate both infections in BC. | Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies (PhD) |
2020 | Dr. Byram studied how families and physicians make life-or-death decisions for patients in intensive care. He proposed standardizing decision-making via a value-centric protocol focused on patients' individual best interests. His novel approach may improve quality of care and relieve families of some of the burdens of these difficult decisions. | Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies (PhD) |
2020 | Dr. McKenzie facilitated a project with urban Indigenous women on the homelands of the Métis and Treaty One, Treaty Four, and Treaty Six territories. This project highlighted the centrality of self-determination to Indigenous women's reproductive and sexual justice, as well as the need for transformative change. | Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies (PhD) |
2019 | Dr. Argento examined the interplay between drug use, violence and suicidality among a community-based cohort of women sex workers and explored the therapeutic potential of psychedelics. Her research found that increased social cohesion and psychedelic use were protective against suicidality, underscoring the importance of connectedness. | Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies (PhD) |
2019 | Dr. Greer qualitatively examined the work and pay conditions for people who use drugs engaged in harm reduction settings. Her findings point to various economic, social, and political systems that impact these conditions. Her research advances participatory methods that promote equity for marginalized groups engaged in harm reduction work. | Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies (PhD) |
2019 | Dr. Franke conducted a study on the mobility experiences of active older adults with low income in Metro Vancouver. She developed a framework that advances our understanding of how low income older adults overcome disparities and maintain their mobility. Her research will help inform decision making to improve the health and mobility of older adults. | Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies (PhD) |