Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics (PhD)
Overview
Mathematicians use theoretical and computational methods to solve a wide range of problems from the most abstract to the very applied. UBC's mathematics graduate students work in many branches of pure and applied mathematics. The PhD program trains students to operate as research mathematicians. The focus of the program is on substantial mathematical research leading to the PhD dissertation. Students also develop their skills in presenting and teaching mathematics and its applications.
What makes the program unique?
UBC has one of the largest and most vigorous departments of mathematics in Canada. Our faculty routinely win national and international awards for their research and teaching achievements. We have an engaged and sociable cohort of graduate students who are essential members of a broad selection of active research groups. Each group holds a variety of seminars and events that allow graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, visitors and faculty to enjoy regular interaction.
UBC is the headquarters for the Pacific Institute of Mathematical Sciences (PIMS). PIMS hosts a plethora of mathematical events such as conferences and summer schools, greatly enriching the scientific environment in the quantitative sciences at UBC. Our mathematics students are also regular participants at the nearby Banff International Research Station for Mathematical Innovation and Discovery. Finally, our Institute for Applied Mathematics provides options for interdisciplinary studies for PhD students who wish to work in applied and computational mathematics.
Quick Facts
Meet a UBC representative
Q&A with UBC Graduate Student Ambassadors
webinarDate: Thursday, 26 July 2018
Time: 12:30 to 13:30
Join our Graduate Student Ambassadors Samuel Adenyanju (MSc Forestry, Nigeria), Federico Andrade (PhD Public Health, Colombia), Maria Angélica Guerrero (MA Educational Studies, Colombia), Xining (Linda) Yang (PhD Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, China) and Dorine Akwiri (Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs, Kenya) who will be available to answer questions about their experiences at UBC, including topics such as accommodation, moving to a new city/province/country and settling in, making friends, being an international student, and more. This session is open to participants interested in different programs across all faculties at UBC. Please note that we will not be able to provide answers to questions regarding application or admissions policies or any that involve specific personal information.
Requirements
TOEFL (ibT) Overall Score Requirement
IELTS Overall Score Requirement
Funding Sources
All full-time students who begin a UBC-Vancouver PhD Mathematics program in September 2018 or later will be provided with a funding package of at least $24,256 for each of the first four years of their PhD. The funding package may consist of any combination of internal or external awards, teaching-related work, research assistantships, and graduate academic assistantships.
Career Outcomes
88 students graduated between 2005 and 2013: 1 is in a non-salaried situation; for 19 we have no data (based on research conducted between Feb-May 2016). For the remaining 68 graduates:
RI (Research-Intensive) Faculty: typically tenure-track faculty positions (equivalent of the North American Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor positions) in PhD-granting institutions
TI (Teaching-Intensive) Faculty: typically full-time faculty positions in colleges or in institutions not granting PhDs, and teaching faculty at PhD-granting institutions
Term Faculty: faculty in term appointments (e.g. sessional lecturers, visiting assistant professors, etc.)
Sample Employers in Higher Education
University of Oregon (3)University of British Columbia (2)
University of Notre Dame (2)
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor (2)
University of Manitoba (2)
University of Kansas (2)
Harvard University (2)
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (2)
Autonomous University of Yucatan
King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
Sample Employers Outside Higher Education
Google (3)Sanoma B.V.
Centre for Human Drug Research
Futurice GmbH
Contact Energy Ltd.
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB)
Contextual Genomics
MDA Corp.
Amazon
Sample Job Titles Outside Higher Education
Data Scientist (3)Software Engineer (2)
Actuarial Analyst
Lead Software Creator
Quantitative Analyst
Senior Analyst
Applied Research Mathematician
Education Specialist
Programmer
Senior Software Engineer
PhD Career Outcome Survey
You may view the full report on career outcomes of UBC PhD graduates on outcomes.grad.ubc.ca.Disclaimer
These data represent historical employment information and do not guarantee future employment prospects for graduates of this program. They are for informational purposes only. Data were collected through either alumni surveys or internet research.Tuition / Program Costs
| Fees | Canadian Citizen / Permanent Resident / Refugee / Diplomat | International |
|---|---|---|
| Application Fee | $102.00 | $165.00 |
| Tuition * | ||
| Installments per year | 3 | 3 |
| Tuition per installment | $1,632.61 | $2,868.22 |
| Tuition per year | $4,897.83 | $8,604.66 |
| Int. Tuition Award (ITA) per year (if eligible) | $3,200.00 (-) | |
| Other Fees and Costs | ||
| Student Fees (yearly) | $923.38 (approx.) | |
| Costs of living (yearly) | starting at $16,884.10 (check cost calculator) | |
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. In case of a discrepancy between this webpage and the UBC Calendar, the UBC Calendar entry will be held to be correct.
Statistical Data
Enrolment Data
| 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applications | 138 | 110 | 93 | 102 | 103 |
| Offers | 20 | 15 | 21 | 22 | 28 |
| New registrations | 14 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 16 |
| Total enrolment | 72 | 73 | 70 | 78 | 77 |
Completion Rates & Times
Disclaimer
Research Supervisors
This list shows faculty members with full supervisory privileges who are affiliated with this program. It is not a comprehensive list of all potential supervisors as faculty from other programs or faculty members without full supervisory privileges can request approvals to supervise graduate students in this program.
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Adem, Alejandro (Cohomology of finite groups, orbifolds, stringy topology, algebra, sporadic simple group, group actions, arithmetic groups, K-theory, homotopy theory, spaces of homomorphisms)
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Angel, Omer (Probability theory, percolation, random graphs, random walks, particle processes, scaling limits)
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Anstee, Richard (Discrete Mathematics, Extremal Set Theory, Graph Theory, Matching Theory)
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Bachmann, Sven (Mathematical Analysis, Quantum Phenomena, Mathematical physics, Quantum statistical physics, Topological states of matter)
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Balmforth, Neil (Fluid mechanics, nonlinear dynamics and applied partial differential equations)
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Barlow, Martin (Graphs, interacting particle systems, diffusions, heat kernel estimates)
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Behrend, Kai (Moduli spaces, Gromov-Witten invariants, string theory, Donaldson-Thomas invariants, Euler characteristics, categorification)
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Bennett, Michael (Number Theory, Diophantine Approximation and Classical Analysis)
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Bryan, Jim (Quantum invariants)
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Cautis, Sabin (Geometry)
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Chau, Albert (Differential Geometry and Partial Differential Equations)
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Chen, Jingyi (Differential geometry , partial differential equations)
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Colliander, James (hamiltonian dynamical systems; partial differential equations; harmonic analysis)
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Coombs, Daniel (Cell Signaling and Infectious and Immune Diseases, Mathematics, Epidemiology, Mathematical biology, Cell biophysics, Immune cell signalling, Disease models)
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Cytrynbaum, Eric (Bacterial cell division, Microtubule and cellular organization, Wave propagation in excitable media)
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Doebeli, Michael Walter (Mathematical ecology and evolution, evolution of diversity, adaptive speciation, evolution of cooperation, game theory, experimental evolution in microorganisms)
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Feldman, Joel (Mathematical Analysis, Constructive Quantum Field Theory)
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Feng, James Jingtao (Fluid Mechanics, Complex fluids, Biophysics, Mathematical biology)
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Fraser, Ailana (Differential Geometry, Geometric Analysis)
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Friedlander, Michael (numerical optimization, numerical linear algebra, scientific computing, Scientific computing)
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Friedman, Joel (Computer Science Theory, Algebraic Graph Theory, Combinatorics)
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Frigaard, Ian (Fluid mechanics (visco-plastic fluids))
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Froese, Richard Gerd (Mathematics, Mathematical Physics, quantum mechanics, spectral theory, scattering theory)
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Ghioca, Dragos (Drinfeld modules, isotrivial semiabelian varieties, Lehmer inequality)
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Ghoussoub, Nassif (Mathematical sciences, R&Ed policies, developing science in Africa, Non-linear analysis and partial differential equations)
Pages
Recent Doctoral Citations
- Dr. Robert Fraser
"Dr. Fraser studied harmonic analysis and geometric measure theory. He considered questions involving packing families of surfaces into zero-volume sets and locating patterns of points in these sets. This research connects the study of fractal sets in Euclidean spaces with the study of fractal sets in other spaces." (May 2018) - Dr. Xinyu Liu
"Dr. Liu develped a theory of intertwining distributions on algebraic groups. He applied the theory to study intertwining operators between smooth parabolic inductions of real reductive algebraic groups. His study also gives explicit decription of local behaviour of intertwining operators." (May 2018) - Dr. Shirin Boroushaki
"Dr. Boroushaki developed new methods for constructing solutions to stochastic differential equations. These equations are used to model population dynamics in biology, demonstrate evolution of a fluid velocity and turbulence in physics, and model stock prices and risky assets in finance." (May 2018) - Dr. Niki Myrto Mavraki
"Dr. Mavraki studied Diophantine Geometry, a subject with a rich history. Her work uses insights from the young field of arithmetic dynamics, which studies number-theoretic questions arising from the iteration of self-maps. Findings involve small points in families of elliptic curves and generalize earlier results in the literature." (May 2018) - Dr. Alessandro Marinelli
"Dr. Marinelli completed the first proof of strong (p,p)-unboundedness for the maximal directional Hilbert transform operator in all dimensions and for the range 1
Sample Thesis Submissions
Further Program Information
Program Website
Faculty Overview
Academic Unit
Program Identifier
September 2019 Intake
Program Information
Application Enquiries
- Roseann Kinsey, admiss@math.ubc.ca
Departments/Programs may update graduate degree program details through the Faculty & Staff portal. To update the application inquiries contact details please use this form.