Graduate Admission: Faculty of Graduate Studies

Minimum Academic Requirements for Graduate Studies

Further information on requirements for graduate students from other countries is available on the Faculty of Graduate Studies web site.

Graduate Admission: University Calendar
Information on requirements is also available on the University Calendar web site.

Grading systems differ widely between countries. We recommend that applicants have academic backgrounds within the general requirements listed below to ensure a reasonable chance of gaining admission to graduate studies at the Master's level.

Canada and USA: A four year Bachelor's degree with an overall B+ standing in third and fourth year level courses prescribed by the department concerned as prerequisite to the Master's program. From Quebec, a three year Bachelor's degree is acceptable provided the Diplome d'Etudes Collegiales has been previously awarded.

Denmark, Norway, and Sweden: The minimum qualification is the Candidatus, Sivilingenor or Hogskolexmen or equivalent.

France (and other schools modeled after the French system): Diplome or Maitrise; or title Ingenieur with at least overall "Bien" standing. Applicants should arrange for the submission of official releve de notes showing all courses and grades/mentions for each year of study to be sent directly by the home university to UBC.

Germany: Hauptdiplom, Magister Artium or Staatsexamen with at least overall "Gut" standing. Applicants should arrange for the submission of all examination records, Seminarscheine, and diplom certificates to be sent directly by the home university to UBC.

India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh: BEng., BSc (Eng), BTech, BSc (Nurs), BArch, or a Master's degree in a non-engineering field is required for eligibility to UBC's Masters' programs. All degrees must be awarded with First Class/Division standing. Applicants must arrange for the submission of certified copies of detailed mark sheets and degree certificates to be sent to UBC in envelopes sealed and endorsed by the issuing institution.

Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan: A four year Bachelor's degree with an overall B+ average.

Mexico: Licenciado/Licenciatura or Titulo (professional title) requiring at least four years of study with an overall 8/10 or "Bien" standing. Applicants must arrange for the submission of original language transcripts and degree certificates, and English translations of these, to be sent directly from the home university.

New Zealand and Australia: Honours or Bachelor's degree requiring four years of study with an overall minimum standing of Second Class, Upper Division.

People's Republic of China: A four year Bachelor's degree with an overall "B+" average (85% or better). Applicants must arrange for the submission of official transcripts in Chinese and certified (literal) translations to be sent directly from the home university to UBC. Official proof of degree conferral is required in the form of Chinese and certified English degree certificates.

Philippines: Must complete both Bachelor's and Master's degrees in all disciplines with First Class standing or 1.50 (reversed scale).

United Kingdom (and other Commonwealth countries whose system follow that of the UK): Honours Bachelor's degree with at least Upper Class standing. Official statements from the University Registrar indicating program of study, courses taken, and grades achieved are required. An attested copy of the degree certificate showing class and division of degree awarded must also be submitted.

Transcripts
You must arrange to send two official transcripts, sent directly to the Commerce Masters' Programs office by your home university. Transcripts must be submitted from all universities or colleges which you have attended. This requirement also applies to UBC graduates. Applicants who graduate from non-English speaking countries must arrange to have all academic records issued in the original language and accompanied by certified English language translations (English translation must be literal translation of the original document). To be considered official, two transcripts and two degree certificates, if applicable, must be received by our office in envelopes sealed and endorsed by your home university.

Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)/Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
All applicants are strongly encouraged to take the GMAT or GRE no later than January to ensure that positions are available in the MSc program.

The GMAT or GRE is mandatory for all applicants and files will not be evaluated before the official GMAT or GRE score has been received. We will not accept photocopies or faxed score reports. GMAT and GRE scores are valid if written within the last five years. You must arrange to have the official results sent directly from the Educational Testing Services to the Commerce Masters' Programs office at UBC (code 0965).

English Language Proficiency
All participants must be able to speak, comprehend, and write fluently in English. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), an IELTS (Academic), or a MELAB is required for all candidates whose degrees are from a country other than Canada, USA, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Kenya, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, and the English speaking countries of the West Indies.