Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Oncology (PhD)

Overview

The Interdisciplinary Oncology program (IOP) is a graduate program designed to appeal to a broad range of students interested in cancer research. IOP offers advanced study and research in a variety of fields relating to oncology. Those fields include: molecular and cellular biology, genetics, biophysics, bioinformatics, pharmaceutical sciences, radiological sciences, immunology, molecular pathology, sociobehavioral studies, epidemiology and health economics. The goal of the program is to provide graduate students from diverse backgrounds, with an education in a number of disciplines relating to oncology, and to provide training opportunities for intensive training in specialized aspects of cancer research. For more than ten years, the program has been training the next generation of cancer research leaders.

For specific program requirements, please refer to the departmental program website

$40,000

Minimum funding per year^*

Average years to completion

What makes the program unique?

IOP integrates the diverse areas of oncology by offering two required courses which provide an interdisciplinary perspective on oncology in a form that is accessible to students from diverse backgrounds. The elective courses provide intensive training in one or more subjects specific to the student's research, and also gives the student an opportunity to gain expertise in other disciplines that have potential for synergy with their primary specialization. Students have access to clinicians and university faculty through the world-renowned BC Cancer Agency, to get a practical perspective on oncology treatments and outcomes. An innovative rotation course is a unique option for students to gain hands-on experience by rotating through specialty laboratories and by shadowing clinicians.

What drew me to the IOP was its commitment to comprehensive study, collaboration, and innovation, which offers the flexibility to tailor my education to align with my specific research goals.

Ariene Cabantog

Quick Facts

Faculty Faculty of Medicine

Academic Unit Division of Medical Oncology

Specialization Interdisciplinary Oncology

Mode of delivery In person at UBC Vancouver

Program Components Dissertation

Tuition (First Year) Domestic: 5,738.52 | International: 10,081.65

Minimum Funding All full-time PhD students receive $40,000 or more funding in each of the first four years.

Research Information

Tuition & Financial Support

Tuition

Fees	Canadian Citizen / Permanent Resident / Refugee / Diplomat	International
Application Fee	$118.50	$168.25
Tuition *
Installments per year	3	3
Tuition per installment	$1,912.84	$3,360.55
Tuition per year (plus annual increase, usually 2%-5%)	$5,738.52	$10,081.65
Int. Tuition Award (ITA) per year (for eligible individuals)		$3,200.00 (-)
Other Fees and Costs
Student Fees (yearly)	$1,169.35 (approx.)
Costs of living	Estimate your costs of living with our interactive tool in order to start developing a financial plan for your graduate studies.

* Regular, full-time tuition. For on-leave, extension, continuing or part time (if applicable) fees see UBC Calendar.
All fees for the year are subject to adjustment and UBC reserves the right to change any fees without notice at any time, including tuition and student fees. Tuition fees are reviewed annually by the UBC Board of Governors. In recent years, tuition increases have been 2% for continuing domestic students and between 2% and 5% for continuing international students. New students may see higher increases in tuition. Admitted students who defer their admission are subject to the potentially higher tuition fees for incoming students effective at the later program start date. In case of a discrepancy between this webpage and the UBC Calendar, the UBC Calendar entry will be held to be correct.

Financial Support

Applicants to UBC have access to a variety of funding options, including merit-based (i.e. based on your academic performance) and need-based (i.e. based on your financial situation) opportunities.

Program Funding Packages

All PhD students are guaranteed a total funding package of $40,000 per year for the first 4 years of their PhD program, from all funding sources (including external awards, UBC-based awards, tuition awards, and operating grant funding). If the student has not completed their program requirements within the funded period, continued support is at the supervisor’s discretion.

Funding Statistics

Please note that effective September 2026, UBC’s guaranteed funding for full-time PhD students in years 1-4 was raised significantly, to a minimum of $40,000 per year. These historical statistics do not account for this change, i.e., the funding landscape for incoming students is not necessarily comparable to the historical values.

Based on the criteria outlined below, 49 students within this program were included in this study because they received funding through UBC in the form of teaching, research, academic assistantships or internal or external awards with a mean of $26,208 and a median of $31,250.

This results in a net balance (any funding provided to the student minus tuition and fees) mean of $18,467 and median of $23,361.

8 students received Teaching Assistantships. Median TA funding based on 8 students was $4,598.
21 students received Research Assistantships. Median RA funding based on 21 students was $30,000.
49 students received internal awards. Median internal award funding based on 49 students was $1,470.
10 students received external awards. Median external award funding based on 10 students was $31,000.

Study Period: Sep 2024 to Aug 2025 - funding for full-time PhD students enrolled in three terms per academic year in this program across years 1-4, the period covered by UBC's Minimum Funding Guarantee. Mean and median values might mask variability in sources and amounts of funding received by individual students. Beyond year 4, funding packages become even more individualized.
Review methodology

Scholarships & awards (merit-based funding)

All applicants are encouraged to review the awards listing to identify potential opportunities to fund their graduate education. The database lists merit-based scholarships and awards and allows for filtering by various criteria, such as domestic vs. international or degree level.

Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA)

Many professors are able to provide Research Assistantships (GRA) from their research grants to support full-time graduate students studying under their supervision. The duties constitute part of the student's graduate degree requirements. A Graduate Research Assistantship is considered a form of fellowship for a period of graduate study and is therefore not covered by a collective agreement. Stipends vary widely, and are dependent on the field of study and the type of research grant from which the assistantship is being funded.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)

Graduate programs may have Teaching Assistantships available for registered full-time graduate students. Full teaching assistantships involve 12 hours work per week in preparation, lecturing, or laboratory instruction although many graduate programs offer partial TA appointments at less than 12 hours per week. Teaching assistantship rates are set by collective bargaining between the University and the Teaching Assistants' Union.

Graduate Academic Assistantships (GAA)

Academic Assistantships are employment opportunities to perform work that is relevant to the university or to an individual faculty member, but not to support the student’s graduate research and thesis. Wages are considered regular earnings and when paid monthly, include vacation pay.

Financial aid (need-based funding)

Canadian and US applicants may qualify for governmental loans to finance their studies. Please review eligibility and types of loans.

All students may be able to access private sector or bank loans.

UBC has working agreements with MPower Financing - an organization providing international students with no-cosigner, no-collateral education loans to study in Canada - and Windmill Microlending - an organization providing loans to skilled immigrants.

Foreign government scholarships

Many foreign governments provide support to their citizens in pursuing education abroad. International applicants should check the various governmental resources in their home country, such as the Department of Education, for available scholarships.

Working while studying

The possibility to pursue work to supplement income may depend on the demands the program has on students. It should be carefully weighed if work leads to prolonged program durations or whether work placements can be meaningfully embedded into a program.

International students enrolled as full-time students with a valid study permit can work on campus for unlimited hours and work off-campus for no more than 24 hours a week during academic sessions.

A good starting point to explore student jobs is the UBC Work Learn program or a Co-Op placement.

Tax credits and RRSP withdrawals

Students with taxable income in Canada may be able to claim federal or provincial tax credits.

Canadian residents with RRSP accounts may be able to use the Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) which allows students to withdraw amounts from their registered retirement savings plan (RRSPs) to finance full-time training or education for themselves or their partner.

Please review Filing taxes in Canada on the student services website for more information.

Cost Estimator

Applicants have access to the cost estimator to develop a financial plan that takes into account various income sources and expenses.

Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats

These statistics show data for the Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Oncology (PhD). Data are separated for each degree program combination. You may view data for other degree options in the respective program profile.

ENROLMENT DATA

	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020
Applications	9	18	16	20	14
Offers	4	15	6	9	7
New Registrations	4	15	5	6	6
Total Enrolment	68	66	56	51	42

Completion Rates and Times

This program has a graduation rate of 91.7% based on 24 students admitted between 2012 - 2015. Based on 22 graduating students from the 2012 - 2015 admissions cohort the minimum time to completion is 4 years and the maximum time is 6.7 years with an average of 5.5 years of study. All calculations exclude leave times.

Disclaimer

Admissions data refer to all UBC Vancouver applications, offers, new registrants for each registration year, May to April, e.g. data for 2022 refers to programs starting in 2022 Summer and 2022 Winter session, i.e. May 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023. Data on total enrolment reflects enrolment in Winter Session Term 1 and are based on snapshots taken on November 1 of each registration year. Program completion data are only provided for datasets comprised of more than 4 individuals. Graduation rates exclude students who transfer out of their programs. Rates and times of completion depend on a number of variables (e.g. curriculum requirements, student funding), some of which may have changed in recent years for some programs.

Doctoral Citations

A doctoral citation summarizes the nature of the independent research, provides a high-level overview of the study, states the significance of the work and says who will benefit from the findings in clear, non-specialized language, so that members of a lay audience will understand it.

Year	Citation
2025	Dr. Shenasa studied immune cells surrounding tumors to identify markers linked to patients’ responses to cancer treatments. She compared methods for detecting these immune markers, from standard tests to novel, cutting-edge techniques. Her work can help researchers optimize treatment options for cancer patients.
2025	Dr. Panahi investigated the molecular drivers of high-risk multiple myeloma, a challenging and currently incurable blood cancer. She developed a novel risk classification approach to better identify aggressive cases and support the development of more effective targeted therapies.
2025	Dr. Monjaras studies focused on tissue engineering to improve treatment for bladder cancer patients. He developed a tumor model as a tool for drug efficacy testing and transformed stem cells into cells that could potentially be used in organ regeneration. These findings he hopes lead to the improved quality life and outcomes for patients.
2025	Dr. Wang transformed the understanding of prostate cancer by identifying lineage-specific transcription factors and a three-phase progression model. Highlighting NFIX as a key regulator of tumor dormancy, this work paves the way for early intervention to control cancer within a patient’s lifespan—bringing a cancer no-fear world closer.
2025	Dr. Kotapalli studied the function of an epigenetic modulator in luminal muscle invasive bladder cancer. Her research provided a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms critical for development of luminal MIBC. The findings of the research will guide development of new therapies for bladder cancer.
2025	Dr. Wang’s research has been focused on developing new radioactive drugs to help detect and treat cancer by targeting a protein called GRPR. These drugs are designed to reduce normal organ accumulations and to improve stability for better tumor detection and treatment. The best candidate from her study is now being tested in a clinical trial.
2025	Dr. Im studies a deadly form of leukemia carrying the EVI1 protein, which makes cells highly resistant to treatment. He discovered a target that boosts the release of death signals from mitochondria during treatment, nullifying this resistance. His findings present a vulnerability that could further be developed into a novel treatment approach.
2024	Dr. Banville studied B cells in the context of the immune response to ovarian cancer. She defined tumour-associated B cell reactivity patterns and discovered novel target antigens. Her findings suggest multi-faceted roles for B cells in anti-tumour immunity which will ultimately guide the development of more effective cancer immunotherapies.
2024	Dr. Wang investigated the effect of DNA-PK inhibition when combined with Chemotherapy or Radiotherapy for solid tumor treatment. His findings revealed DNA-PK as a therapeutic target to enhance the potency of conventional cancer therapies and suggested a selective tumor-targeting strategy is needed to exploit the full potential of DNA-PK inhibitors.
2024	Dr. Gopal studied how different signals are altered in blood cells and surrounding cells within the bone marrow of Myelodysplastic syndrome and Acute myeloid leukemia patients. The findings from this research lead to the identification of a potential new biomarker to predict therapy response.

Yu-Chi (Serena) Chuang

Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Oncology (PhD)

Investigating the Role of SHPRH in Lung Adenocarcinoma Initiation and Development

Person with long dark hair and blue shirt

Gillian Savage

Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Oncology (PhD)

Engineering tissue-resident memory CAR T cells for treatment of extranodal B cell lymphomas

Ariene Cabantog

Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Oncology (PhD)

An improved culture protocol for primary multiple myeloma cells

Program Website

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September 2026 Intake

Application Open Date1 April 2025

Canadian Applicant Deadline15 May 2026

International Applicant Deadline15 April 2026

January 2027 Intake

Application Open Date1 March 2026

Canadian Applicant Deadline15 October 2026

International Applicant Deadline15 August 2026

May 2027 Intake

Application Open Date31 March 2026

Canadian Applicant Deadline15 January 2027

International Applicant Deadline15 December 2026

Supervisor Search

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Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Oncology (PhD)

Overview

What makes the program unique?

Quick Facts

Admission Information & Requirements

Program Instructions

1) Check Eligibility

Minimum Academic Requirements

English Language Test

TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language - internet-based

IELTS: International English Language Testing System

Other Test Scores

Prior degree, course and other requirements

2) Meet Deadlines

3) Prepare Application

Transcripts

Letters of reference

Statement of Interest

Supervision

Instructions regarding thesis supervisor contact for this program

Citizenship Verification

4) Apply Online

Research Information

Research Focus

Program Components

Facilities

Tuition & Financial Support

Tuition

Financial Support

Program Funding Packages

Funding Statistics

Scholarships & awards (merit-based funding)

Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA)

Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)

Graduate Academic Assistantships (GAA)

Financial aid (need-based funding)

Foreign government scholarships

Working while studying

Tax credits and RRSP withdrawals

Cost Estimator

Career Outcomes

Sample Employers in Higher Education

Sample Employers Outside Higher Education

Sample Job Titles Outside Higher Education

PhD Career Outcome Survey

Disclaimer

Career Options

Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats

ENROLMENT DATA

Completion Rates and Times

Disclaimer

Research Supervisors

Supervision

Instructions regarding thesis supervisor contact for this program

Advice and insights from UBC Faculty on reaching out to supervisors

Sample Thesis Submissions

Doctoral Citations

Related Programs

Same specialization

Further Information

Specialization

UBC Calendar

Program Website

Faculty

Academic Unit

Program Identifier

Classification

Yu-Chi (Serena) Chuang

Gillian Savage

Ariene Cabantog

Apply Now

September 2026 Intake

January 2027 Intake

May 2027 Intake

Supervisor Search

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