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Application Procedures:

• Deadlines

• Process

• Components of an Application

• International Applicants

• Submitting an Application

• PhD application information

Deadlines

Application deadlines vary by program/concentration. Please note below the program or concentration you are interested in, the possible start dates and the corresponding application deadline.

The dates listed are final deadlines for receiving all components of the application (application form, application fee, letters of reference, official transcripts, statement of intent, writing sample, etc.). It is your responsibility to ensure that all materials reach the Graduate Secretary in the Department of Educational Studies in time to be considered for your desired beginning date. Application materials will be accepted after these deadlines only in very exceptional circumstances.

2008/09 Academic Year

Process

The number of graduate students who can be accommodated is limited and only the best qualified applicants can hope to secure places. To ensure that all applicants are treated equitably, your application will go through several stages before a decision is made on acceptance or rejection. Once your transcripts have been reviewed to determine if you are eligible for admission to graduate study at UBC, several faculty members in scholarly areas related to your area of interest will read your application and individually assess your suitability for admission. As well as evaluating all components of your application, we must be convinced by the statement of intent that your academic interests are congruent with those of the department, that your background is adequate for graduate work in your area of interest, and that the department and university possess the necessary resources for you to complete the degree. An Educational Studies faculty member in your area of interest must be willing to become your advisor.

You will be informed of the department's decision as soon as possible. If you are admitted conditionally, subject to completing a degree in progress or courses, these conditions will be included in the offer of admission.  Successful applicants are asked to inform the department as soon as possible whether or not they are accepting a place in the Department of Educational Studies. If you decide to accept our offer, you should contact your advisor and together plan out a program of study.

Components of an Application

Application should be submitted on-line at http://www.grad.ubc.ca/apply/online/. All of the following components of an application must be received by the department's Graduate Secretary before the file can be reviewed by the appropriate admissions committee.

Online UBC application form. When you submit an online application at http://www.grad.ubc.ca/apply/online/, the completed form is automatically forwarded to the Graduate Secretary.

Non-refundable processing fee payable to UBC. See the cover of the official UBC application form for the exact amount. If applying on-line, you can pay this fee by credit card.

TWO original, official copies of transcripts from each and every college or university that you have previously attended or are currently attending. These must be sent directly from the issuing institution to the Department of Educational Studies. Photocopies are not acceptable. All transcripts from non-English speaking countries must be accompanied by official certified English translations. Applicants sending transcripts from an institution in the People's Republic of China must also send an official degree certificate in both Chinese and English. Without complete documentation, the application review process cannot begin.

The Faculty of Graduate Studies stipulates the documentation required

Three references, preferably but not absolutely necessarily submitted on the official forms in Word or PDF. The references can, alternatively, be in the form of letters but must be in English. If the original letter is in another language, the letter must be accompanied by a certified English translation. Original recommendation letters signed in ink by the referee are acceptable along with reference letters generated through the on-line e-reference; fax copies and e-mail letters are not acceptable. Letters of recommendation sent by regular mail must be received by the graduate department in sealed, endorsed envelopes. The purpose of the references is to give as complete an idea as possible of your relevant background and capacity to complete the degree. One, two if at all possible, of the references must be from a course instructor or other person able to assess your academic ability. Other suitable referees include a supervisor, principal or other person to whom you are, or have been, accountable in employment or as a volunteer.

Statement of intent.You need to describe in one to two pages your specific interests in pursuing a graduate degree and precisely why you are applying to the Department of Educational Studies and to the program or concentration you have selected. This statement should relate your academic background, work experience and other relevant considerations to the course work and research that you propose to pursue toward a graduate degree. Some applicants will have more precise academic goals or intellectual passions than others, but anyone applying to the department is doing so for some purpose, and these reasons need to be made explicit in your statement of intent. 

Applicants to doctoral programs must also include an example, or examples, of scholarly writing, preferably a chapter from a master's thesis, the thesis itself, a scholarly or professional publication, or substantial paper(s) written for a university course. In the latter case, it is useful to include the instructor's comments or other assessment. The sample of writing should demonstrate your ability to think clearly about complex issues and to communicate in an organized and readable manner.  Please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you wish to have submissions returned.

To applicants to all M.Ed. and M.A. programs except Educational Administration and Leadership: In addition to the above you should also submit a sample of written work (published or unpublished). The writing sample you submit should demonstrate your ability to think critically and write clearly. Writing samples typically take the form of academic or scholarly papers from previous studies. They can, however, take various forms, such as professional documents, reports, workshop materials, or journalistic pieces. If you have questions about your writing sample, please contact the Coordinator of the Program to which you are applying.

To applicants to the M.Ed.  and M.A. programs in Educational Administration and Leadership: In addition to the above, you should also submit an up-to-date professional resume. The three letters of reference should be from administrators.

Applicants to M. Ed. and M.A in Adult Education are normally expected to have at least two years of paid or volunteer work experience (teaching, training, coordinating, planning, counseling, etc.) in adult education, broadly defined.

Where your previous degree is from a university in a non-English speaking country, you must arrange to have an official, original copy of your TOEFL/IELTS/MELAB score sent by the testing service directly to the Graduate Secretary, Department of Educational Studies at the address below. Photocopies are not acceptable. 

In assessing applications, the Department considers a variety of factors in addition to the minimum UBC requirements. Academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, statements of intent, and writing ability are assessed carefully in admissions decisions, so you want to take special care that your application is complete. To find out whether all materials have arrived safely, you may want to contact the department's Graduate Secretary at (604) 822-6647; e-mail: grad.edst@ubc.ca.