CellPhys Grad Program Admission

Division of Anatomy & Cell Biology

Admission to the Graduate Program in Anatomy & Cell Biology is done in the following three stages, in the order listed:

1. Acceptance by a supervisor
2. Formal application to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and acceptance by the Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Division of Anatomy & Cell Biology Graduate Studies Committee
3. Final approval and formal offer of admission from the UBC Faculty of Graduate Studies

Additional information is available from The Graduate Secretary, Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z3 (tel: 604-822-2494; fax: 604-822-2316; e-mail: alanj@interchange.ubc.ca).

1. Acceptance by a Supervisor. Acceptance into the Graduate Program is dependent upon the applicant identifying a Faculty member who is willing to act as their research supervisor. Applicants must contact prospective research supervisors to discuss their particular fields of interest before the submission of a formal application to the Faculty of Graduate Studies (see 2., below). The diversity of research interests of Faculty members in the Division of Anatomy & Cell Biology permits the prospective student a wide choice in developing a research thesis topic.

How to find a research supervisor:
Check the list of Faculty members for potential research supervisors in Anatomy & Cell Biology. Click to see a list of Faculty members and their research interests. Then contact the Faculty member(s) in whose work you are interested by telephone, e-mail or letter mail and discuss your prospects. If agreeable to both parties, set up an informal application procedure by submitting to the Faculty member the following:

a) a letter of intent outlining your research experience and proposed research project (or ideas).
b) up-to-date transcript(s) of marks from all post-secondary institutions attended (the transcript(s) can be unofficial at this stage).
c) three letters of reference, ideally from teachers who have supervised your studies and/or previous research directly.

Note that this informal procedure parallels the formal procedure outlined in 2., below, but involves no application fee. You can bypass the informal procedure and apply formally via the Faculty of Graduate Studies at any time - however, without a supervisor in place, it is extremely unlikely that you will receive an offer of admission.

2. Application to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and acceptance by the Anatomy & Cell Biology Graduate Studies Committee. If a Faculty member agrees to take you on as a graduate student, you can proceed with a formal application to the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

The Faculty of Graduate Studies application form can be completed electronically. Please follow the instructions carefully and note the supporting documents required: a) three 'Confidential Report on Applicant' forms; b) two official transcripts of academic record (these transcripts must be submitted in original sealed envelopes in order to be considered official by the University of British Columbia); and c) if required, TOEFL scores. Applications can be submitted at any time. Although the deadline for receipt of formal applications by the Faculty of Graduate Studies is April 1 (March 1 for applicants outside Canada or the US) for entry in September, earlier application (e.g. in the fall to enter the following September) is strongly recommended, especially in the case of those applicants who intend to apply for financial assistance.

On receipt of a completed application to the Faculty of Graduate Studies, the Anatomy & Cell Biology Graduate Studies Committee will carefully review the request for admission. Eligibility for acceptance into the Program is determined primarily on the basis of the availability of a suitable research supervisor, academic record and letters of reference.

3. Acceptance by The Faculty of Graduate Studies. Final approval and a formal offer of admission is made by The Faculty of Graduate Studies. The Faculty of Graduate Studies sets the minimum requirements for admission to any graduate program at UBC.

The general regulations and minimum criteria for admission of candidates to Graduate Programs at U.B.C. are available on the Faculty of Graduate Studies website. They are also listed in the University of British Columbia Calendar, which provides a full explanation of the official regulations for admission. Candidates may access a current U.B.C. calendar online. The Calendar may also be purchased from: Office of the Registrar, The University of British Columbia, Room 2016, 1874 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z1. The following are statements excerpted from the Calendar and are provided to answer questions most often asked by prospective students.

a) The minimum entrance requirements required by The Faculty of Graduate Studies for Canadian applicants are:

Applicants for a Master's degree (MSc) program must hold a Bachelor's degree or its academic equivalent with:
i) Honours in a field related to the proposed Master's program with at least 12 credits of third- and fourth-year courses in the A- grade range (at UBC, 80%) or higher in the field of study, OR
ii) A minimum overall average in the B+ range (at UBC, 76%) in third- and fourth-year courses prescribed by the Department concerned as prerequisite to the Master's program.

Applicants for the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) must have completed:
i) A Bachelor's degree with First Class Honours (or equivalent). These students may be granted direct admission to a doctoral degree program on recommendation of the admitting Department and approval of the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, OR
ii) A Bachelor's degree with one year of study in a Master's program with 18 credits of First Class average, of which normally 10 credits must be at the graduate-level or above and at least 10 credits must be of First Class standing, and clear evidence of research ability or potential. Note that transfer to a PhD program from an MSc program is not normally permitted after the end of the first year of study in the MSc program and will not be permitted after completion of the second year in a Master's program, OR
iii) A Master's degree (or equivalent) with clear evidence of research ability or potential.

b) For international students, the minimum entrance requirements required by The Faculty of Graduate Studies are available on a country-by-country basis on their website. Students are required to have an adequate facility in verbal and written English. Applicants from countries where English is not generally used must complete a TOEFL test; the minimum score required by the Anatomy & Cell Biology Graduate Program is 600 (250 computer-based). Further details about the TOEFL are available on the same web site.The web site also contains important information about 'Student Authorization' and other government regulations for entry into Canada.

4. If an applicant:
i) obtains formal agreement from a Faculty member to act as their research supervisor
ii) meets the minimum UBC entrance requirements laid down by the Faculty of Graduate Studies, and
iii) is accepted by the Anatomy & Cell Biology Graduate Studies Committee

then the Division will recommend the applicant's acceptance by the Faculty of Graduate Studies. The Faculty of Graduate Studies will then write to the applicant confirming acceptance into the Program. At this time, a formal agreement between the new graduate student and their research supervisor must be completed. This agreement, which is available at this site (see Documents and Forms), must confirm the sources of funding available to the prospective student.

For additional information, please contact:
Dr. Timothy O'Connor
Graduate Advisor
Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences
University of British Columbia
2350 Health Sciences Mall
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3 Canada
Telephone: (604) 822-9759
FAX: (604) 822-2316

Division of Physiology

Admission to both degree programs follows the regulations set forth by the Faculty of Graduate Studies which briefly are as follows:

(A) Applicants for the PhD degree must have completed:
— a Bachelor's Degree with First Class Honours or its equivalent, OR
— a Bachelor's degree with one year of study in the Master's Program with nine units of first class average, of which at least five units must be at the 500 level or above and at least five units must be of first class standing, together with clear evidence of research ability, OR
— a Master's degree or its equivalent.

(B) Applicant's for the Master's Degree must hold a Bachelor's Degree or its academic equivalent with:
— Honours in the field of the proposed Master's courses with first class standing in at least six units of third and fourth year course work in that field, OR
— first class standing in at least six units of the course work and at least second class standing in the remaining course work at the third and fourth year level as prescribed by the Department concerned.

Applications may be submitted at any time but it is normally expected that a student will begin his or her formal program not later than September. It is however possible to begin at any time during the year and in fact students are often encouraged to arrive at the beginning of the summer to obtain some research experience before formal course work commences in the autumn.

The academic requirements for admission to a UBC graduate program are outlined in the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FOGS) website. The following is a UBC calendar excerpt outlining the course requirements for transfer directly to the PhD program without completing the MSc degree:

"18 credits of First-Class average, of which, normally at least 10 credits must be at the 500 level or above and at least ten credits must be of First Class standing and clear evidence of research ability. Transfer directly into a Doctoral program is not normally permitted beyond the first year of study and will not be permitted after the completion of the second year in a Master's program."

Mandatory Physiology courses are PHYL 549 or 649 (thesis) and 511. (3 credits - seminar; 6 credits - seminar plus preparation of a grant proposal).

Specific courses to be taken by incoming graduate students are decided by consultation of the supervisor, the student and the committee Chair. Where possible, a brief committee meeting will be held before course registration. The first year course selection is critical if a transfer to a PhD program without completion of the MSc is anticipated. Selection will depend on the physiology background of the candidate and the research area of the supervisor's laboratory. In cases of minimal physiology background, the candidate may be required to take PHYL 301 or specific fourth year courses (PHYL 422, 423, 424, 426).

Upon acceptance to graduate studies in the Department of Physiology, the student has implicitly accepted the general rules of FOGS and in addition the specific requirements of the Department including:
1. attending all Departmental seminars during their graduate program.
2. Participate as a Teaching Assistant at least one year during their graduate program.

Deadlines: International Student Applications - March 1, 2006. Canadian and American Student Applications - April 3, 2006.

For a copy of the Formal Application Form please click HERE.

For additional information, please contact:

Dr. Ed Moore
Graduate Advisor
Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences
University of British Columbia
2350 Health Sciences Mall
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3 Canada
Telephone: (604) 822-3423
FAX: (604) 822-2316