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Overview
Backed by an unparalleled reputation for expertise and innovation in mineral extraction, mineral processing and environmental protection, the graduate program in Mining Engineering has two types of students in mind:
- Those from industry who wish to improve their workplace skills; and
- Those who wish to pursue research leading to advances in state-of-the-art or state-of-the-practice mining and mineral process engineering.
In order to best meet the needs of these two groups, the program encourages interaction between universities in North America and other countries. In many cases, this collaborative outlook leads to joint research projects and student exchanges.
What makes the program unique?
In keeping with the collaborative approach of the NBK Institute of Mining Engineering, one of the Department’s greatest strengths lies in its ties with Canada’s mining industry.
Most of our students have opportunities for industry employment and participation in research activity at working mines. This hands-on approach helps our students develop practical skills and gain exposure to valuable case histories. Also, many of our faculty members are active within industry through consulting activities and involvement in professional societies relating to mining.
The department provides opportunities for interdisciplinary work on social, economic as well as engineering research. Other advantages are international research and travel opportunities and connections to CIRDI. Vancouver is a centre for Mining Activity in Canada with its abundance of junior mining companies, finance for mining companies, and law for mining companies.
The end result is an innovative, industry-responsive and internationally recognized graduate program of the highest caliber.
Quick Facts
Program Enquiries
Contact the program
Admission Information & Requirements
1) Check Eligibility
Minimum Academic Requirements
The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies establishes the minimum admission requirements common to all applicants, usually a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC). The graduate program that you are applying to may have additional requirements. Please review the specific requirements for applicants with credentials from institutions in:
Each program may set higher academic minimum requirements. Please review the program website carefully to understand the program requirements. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission as it is a competitive process.
English Language Test
Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.
Minimum requirements for the two most common English language proficiency tests to apply to this program are listed below:
TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language - internet-based
Overall score requirement: 90
Reading
22
Writing
21
Speaking
21
Listening
22
IELTS: International English Language Testing System
Overall score requirement: 6.5
Reading
6.0
Writing
6.0
Speaking
6.0
Listening
6.0
Other Test Scores
Some programs require additional test scores such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Test (GMAT). The requirements for this program are:
The GRE is not required.
2) Meet Deadlines
September 2025 Intake
Application Open Date
01 September 2024Canadian Applicants
International Applicants
January 2026 Intake
Application Open Date
01 January 2025Canadian Applicants
International Applicants
May 2026 Intake
Application Open Date
01 May 2025Canadian Applicants
International Applicants
September 2026 Intake
Application Open Date
01 September 2025Canadian Applicants
International Applicants
3) Prepare Application
Transcripts
All applicants have to submit transcripts from all past post-secondary study. Document submission requirements depend on whether your institution of study is within Canada or outside of Canada.
Letters of Reference
A minimum of three references are required for application to graduate programs at UBC. References should be requested from individuals who are prepared to provide a report on your academic ability and qualifications.
Statement of Interest
Many programs require a statement of interest, sometimes called a "statement of intent", "description of research interests" or something similar.
Supervision
Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their thesis supervisor. Please follow the instructions provided by each program whether applicants should contact faculty members.
Instructions regarding thesis supervisor contact for Doctor of Philosophy in Mining Engineering (PhD)
Citizenship Verification
Permanent Residents of Canada must provide a clear photocopy of both sides of the Permanent Resident card.
4) Apply Online
All applicants must complete an online application form and pay the application fee to be considered for admission to UBC.
Research Information
Research Focus
1. Mining (mine ventilation and mine services, simulation and optimization, mining operations research, rock mechanics and geotechnics, mine valuation and production economics) 2. Mineral Processing (process control, modelling, simulation and optimization, fine particle technology, surface chemistry of flotation, plant design and economics, coal preparation technology) 3. Social-economic aspects and sustainability (mine waste management, environmental aspects of mining)
Research Facilities
Our facilities are specifically designed to ensure that our faculty, staff and students are prepared to meet the demands on the mining industry. Our instructional building, the Frank Forward building and our research facility, the Coal & Mineral Processing Laboratory, are fully equipped to provide a positive research and educational framework. Much of the equipment has been obtained through the generosity of donors and the initiative of faculty who seek out and obtain research grants. As a result, the UBC Department of Mining Engineering is able to maintain its’ reputation for producing first rate mining engineers and research. In 2003 we underwent a major renovation that gave us a state-of-the-art classroom, a larger conference room, and a redesigned main office that includes more work space, quiet nooks, and a coffee room.
Tuition & Financial Support
Tuition
| Fees | Canadian Citizen / Permanent Resident / Refugee / Diplomat | International |
|---|---|---|
| Application Fee | $116.25 | $168.25 |
| Tuition * | ||
| Installments per year | 3 | 3 |
| Tuition per installment | $1,875.34 | $3,294.66 |
| Tuition per year (plus annual increase, usually 2%-5%) | $5,626.02 | $9,883.98 |
| Int. Tuition Award (ITA) per year (if eligible) | $3,200.00 (-) | |
| Other Fees and Costs | ||
| Student Fees (yearly) | $1,144.10 (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. | |
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
Some types of financial assistance are available for the winter session and may be supplemented by summer research and/or teaching assistantships to the registered students.
Financial support for non-Canadian students is limited and high academic standings are required to obtain support [Grade Point Averages exceeding 3.7 (maximum 4)].
We suggest that you have financial support to finance at least the first year of studies. In the event that a sponsor is willing to provide you with financial support, we will require a letter from him/her noting the amount of financial aid available and its duration.
We regret that we cannot process your application without this document. The department will not be responsible for foreign students’ financial.
The University of British Columbia may offer a Partial Tuition Scholarship up to $3,200 each year.
From September 2024 all full-time students in UBC-Vancouver PhD programs will be provided with a funding package of at least $24,000 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. Please note that many graduate programs provide funding packages that are substantially greater than $24,000 per year. Please check with your prospective graduate program for specific details of the funding provided to its PhD students.
Funding Statistics
This results in a net balance (any funding provided to the student minus tuition and fees) mean of $34,485 and median of $34,150.
- 9 students received Teaching Assistantships. Median TA funding based on 9 students was $2,668.
- 8 students received Research Assistantships. Median RA funding based on 8 students was $28,500.
- 5 students received Academic Assistantships. Median AA funding based on 5 students was $6,902.
- 14 students received internal awards. Median internal award funding based on 14 students was $3,997.
- 3 students received external awards. Median external award funding based on 3 students was $21,000.
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.
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.
Career Outcomes
31 students graduated between 2005 and 2013: 1 is in a non-salaried situation; for 6 we have no data (based on research conducted between Feb-May 2016). For the remaining 24 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 ConcepcionUniversidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri
University Adolfo Ibañez
Technical University of Machala
University of Alberta
Curtin University
University of British Columbia
University of Nevada - Reno
Sample Employers Outside Higher Education
Golder Associates (2)Fluor Canada Ltd.
New Gold Inc.
Amec Foster Wheeler
Cytec-Solvay Group
Rio Tinto
Mosaic Company
SGS Canada
Dr. Jillian Roberts Psychology Corp.
Hatch
Sample Job Titles Outside Higher Education
OwnerAssociate, Senior Geotechnical Engineer
Principle Process Specialist
Principal
Research Engineer
Senior Advisor (Natural Resources & Finance)
Senior Metallurgist
Senior Geochemist
Founding Director
Senior Manager
PhD Career Outcome Survey
You may view the full report on career outcomes of UBC PhD graduates on outcomes.grad.ubc.ca.Disclaimer
This program underwent a name or structural change in the study time frame, and all alumni from the previous program were included in these summaries. 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.Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats
These statistics show data for the Doctor of Philosophy in Mining Engineering (PhD). Data are separated for each degree program combination. You may view data for other degree options in the respective program profile.
ENROLMENT DATA
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applications | 11 | 13 | 17 | 11 | 22 |
| Offers | 5 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 10 |
| New Enrolment | 3 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 10 |
| Total Enrolment | 35 | 41 | 39 | 39 | 40 |
Completion Rates & Times
Disclaimer
Research Supervisors
Supervision
Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their thesis supervisor. Please follow the instructions provided by each program whether applicants should contact faculty members.
Instructions regarding thesis supervisor contact for Doctor of Philosophy in Mining Engineering (PhD)
Advice and insights from UBC Faculty on reaching out to supervisors
These videos contain some general advice from faculty across UBC on finding and reaching out to a supervisor. They are not program specific.
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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Dunbar, W Scott (Industrial biotechnology; Economics and business administration; biotechnology applications in mineral resources; mining industry business model innovation)
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Elmo, Davide (philosophy of engineering; rock engineering; geosciences; Numerical modelling; Machine Learning)
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Holuszko, Maria (minerals characterization as it applies to mineral processing; recovery of metals from industrial and municipal waste streams)
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Klein, Bern (Mineral processing and beneficiation; Mineral Processing; rheology of mineral suspensions; comminution; sensor based sorting)
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Kunz, Nadja (Mining engineering; Public administration; Public policy; Public security policy; Decision Analysis; Environmental engineering; Hydrology; Risk management; Systems engineering; water resources management)
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Madiseh, Ali (Mining engineering; Numerical modelling and mechanical characterisation; Heat and mass transfer operations; energy systems; Renewable energy systems; Energy storage; Energy decarbonization; Computational Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer)
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Miskovic, Sanja (Mining engineering; Mineral Processing; multiphase systems; Production and Process Optimization; Optimization, Control and Operations Research; Prefeasibility and Pilot Scale; R&D and Innovation; Technological Innovations; Sensors and Devices; Computational Fluid Dynamics; Critical Elements Extraction; Embedded Sensors; Experimental Fluid Dynamics; High performance computing; IIoT; Industrial Big Data; Minerals Processing; Multiphase Flows)
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Miskovic, Ilija (Multi-physics of Geo-materials, Big Data)
-
Pawlik, Marek (Surface chemistry, Adsorption of polymers and surfactants, Process water and reagent chemistry, rheology of mineral suspensions, interparticle and interfacial phenomena)
-
Steen, John Thomas (Strategy; Innovation; Network analysis; Projects; Mining industry)
-
Torres Cruz, Luis Alberto (Geotechnical engineering; Mining engineering; Geotechnical stability of Tailings Storage Facilities; Tailings management; Remote sensing of tailings facilities; In situ and laboratory geotechnical testing)
Doctoral Citations
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Dr. Pokhrel studied the role of geothermal energy for global decarbonization potential. He developed numerical models to understand the physical behavior of complex subsurface reservoirs for extracting geothermal energy. |
| 2024 | Dr. Purevjav examined current water use practices in two mining regions in Mongolia. Her findings identified processes that help to improve access to water and water quality for local communities. The findings contribute to the discussion of water sustainability in mining regions. |
| 2024 | Dr. Cetin studied the ore sorting potential of a block cave mine. He developed an evaluation method applicable to other cave mining operations, exploring sensor-based pre-concentration. His findings contribute to reducing the environmental impact of the mining industry and facilitating its digital transformation. |
| 2024 | Dr. Baidya's research explored the potential of flue gas injection in mine wastes for large-scale carbon capture. His innovative approach optimized energy usage and proposed a cost-effective solution, advancing sustainable practices in the mining industry. |
| 2024 | Dr. Innis investigated the role of mining stakeholders in mitigating tailings storage facility failures through interdisciplinary research approaches. She developed a high-level empirical tailings flow model to improve transparency, risk communication and the state of mine tailings management at a global scale. |
| 2023 | Dr. Li studied the overall segregation and settling behavior of mine tailings suspension, illustrating various settling modes and revealing the mechanisms behind particle segregation in the sedimentation process. His findings can assist mining industries in developing advanced techniques for tailings dewatering. |
| 2023 | Dr. Kalantari proposed a heat recovery system for mine intake air heating. Conducting experimental and numerical studies he has proven that implementation of the proposed heat recovery system results in significant carbon footprint reduction and energy cost savings. |
| 2023 | Dr. Torkaman studied eco-conscious gold extraction for artisanal mining, aiming for cleaner, more efficient methods and a mercury-free future. Her work offers site-specific, cost-effective alternatives that can reshape the industry, benefit miners, and safeguard the environment. |
| 2023 | Dr. Kuppusamy developed a process of extracting rare earth elements from waste material. These elements are essential for the manufacturing of EV motors & wind turbines and are critical for the transition to green energy-economy. Because of Dr. Kuppusamy's work, these elements can be co-produced from BC coal deposits in a sustainable manner. |
| 2023 | Dr. Seiler developed novel flotation conditions for the selective separation of a nickel mineral, named awaruite, from ultramafic rocks. Awaruite deposits are a promising nickel feedstock to support the transformation to clean low carbon technologies. His research contributes to the development of awaruite deposits into nickel mines. |
Pages
Sample Thesis Submissions
Further Information
Specialization
Mining Engineering offers opportunity for study in the fields of mining and mineral processing, including mine environment and coal preparation. Areas of research interest are:
- Mining: Mine economics and valuation, mine design, drilling and blasting methods, rock mechanics and slope stability, optimization and simulation of mining operations, advanced mining methods, mine services (particularly mine ventilation), and climatic control.
- Mineral processing: Unit operations, comminution, process modelling and optimization, expert systems, instrumentation and computer control. Flotation, surface chemistry, fines recovery, coal recovery, treatment of fine and oxidized coal, and precious metals recovery.
- Mining and Environment: Acid rock drainage, environmental protection, effluent control and treatment. Social and legal aspects of sustainable mining practices, small-scale mining in developing countries.
Program Website
Faculty Overview
Academic Unit
Program Identifier
Classification
September 2025 Intake
January 2026 Intake
May 2026 Intake
September 2026 Intake
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