Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Many of our students come to our graduate programs with a degree in a related discipline—including but not limited to—medicine, biotechnology, basic and biomedical sciences (e.g., chemistry, biology, biochemistry, microbiology, genetics), engineering (e.g., biomedical, chemical), economics, statistics, and epidemiology. To enhance chances of admission, it is vital for applicants who hold a degree in a field other than pharmaceutical sciences or pharmacy to explain in their statement of interest how their prior education and/or any relevant work experience have prepared them for the area of research they wish to pursue.

To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the minimum admission criteria established by the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Applications that do not meet the minimum entrance requirements will not be considered. 

Please also note that admission to our graduate programs is highly competitive and selective. Due to limited space, funding, and available supervisors, meeting the minimum academic requirements does not guarantee admission.

No, all applicants must satisfy the minimum English language proficiency requirements to be considered for admission. If you do not have a TOEFL/IELTS score that meets our minimum requirements, you are encouraged to work on improving your language skills, retake the test and submit the new score before the document deadline. Please note that applications without the required English language test scores will be considered incomplete and will not be considered for admission.

No, a GRE score is not required and will not be considered during the application review process. 

Applicants are not required to secure a supervisor prior to applying. However, to make a strong application, you are encouraged to learn more about the area of expertise of each faculty and initiate contact with faculty members you desire to work with to express why you are interested in graduate studies and highlight how your research interests align with theirs. Here you will find advice from UBC faculty members on what makes them consider someone who has contacted them (under “Reaching Out to Supervisors” section).

A statement of interest is your opportunity to showcase to the admissions committee why you are a great fit for the Pharm Sci graduate program.

Ideally, you may wish to address the following questions:

• What fuels your decision to pursue graduate studies?
• In particular, why do you wish to study at UBC Pharm Sci? Please indicate the specific area of research within Pharm Sci graduate programs you are interested in (e.g., nanomedicine); and the reason why you wish to pursue graduate studies in a particular research lab (including the particular faculty member you would like to work with).
• How has your previous academic (e.g., research/lab experiences) and/or professional experience prepared you for the area of interest you wish to pursue?
• How a graduate degree at Pharm Sci might contribute to your personal and professional development?

You can read more tips on how to write an effective, strong statement of interest here. 

You may browse through our faculty’s profiles and learn about their research here.

As part of the application, applicants are required to provide a minimum of three reference letters, preferably at least two of which are academic references from those who are familiar with your work (e.g., someone who has taught or supervised your research) and can attest to your academic abilities and suitability for the program. Your third reference can either be an academic or professional reference (such as from your co-op/internship supervisor).

For applicants with significant work experience, two of your reference letters can come from professional contacts (e.g., recent employers) who can comment on the relevant skill set and experience you possess. Your third reference needs to be an academic reference.

Get insider tips on what the admissions committee looks for in a reference letter here.