Admissions & finance

Minimum required

• Two years of full-time work experience gained after graduation from your Bachelor’s degree.

For a competitive edge

• 5+ years of full-time work experience.
• Two references are required for all UBC MBA applicants. You will provide us with their email addresses through the application, and we will contact them by email. 
• Professional references from supervisors are preferred, and must fill out the reference form online. Separate letters are not accepted.

*If you have applied to our programs within the last two years, it is not necessary to submit new letters of reference and new transcripts unless you have undertaken further academic studies, as we retain all documentation for a two-year period.

• Three or four-year Bachelor's degree with a B+ average, or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution*.
• Mail transcripts, degree certificates and translations
  Applicants who have completed their degrees at UBC will not need to send transcripts in.

 *Three-year degrees are accepted for the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe. If your country or region is not listed here, email us for clarification. 

Applicants who have previously completed an MBA program will not be able to apply to the UBC MBA. For further inquiries, please email us before starting an application.

Learn more about submitting official documents

One of the following are required:

• 550 GMAT with at least a 50th percentile in the quantitative and verbal sections of the test
• 155 GRE score on both the verbal and quantitative sections.

For a competitive edge

• 650 GMAT OR 320+ GRE score on combined verbal and quantitative section.

Applicants must arrange to have your scores (either GMAT or GRE) sent to us directly from the testing service organization, using the following codes.

GMAT: LQS-CP-02
GRE: 0965 (UBC) or 4201 (Department)

Scores are only accepted within the last five years. They are not considered official until we receive them from the GMAC or GRE office.

Waiver eligibility information

Applicants must be able to speak, comprehend, and write fluently in English. An English proficiency exam is required for all applicants whose degrees are from a university outside Canada or the U.S.A. in which English was not the official language of instruction.

At the latest, scores will take up to 6 weeks – ensure you provide yourself with ample time from the deadline to write the test. You must arrange to have your scores sent to us directly from the testing service organization. 

During COVID-19, students may demonstrate proficiency by submitting scores from IELTS (the International English Language Testing System) and their IELTS Indicator test.

One of the following are required:

• Test of English as a Foreign language (TOEFL): 100, Test Code: 0965
  Scores valid if written within last two years. We accept all valid TOEFL scores, including MyBestScore. If you are submitting MyBestScore, the score needs to be on the official report. 
• TOEFL Home Edition: Test Code: 0965
  This option is available for applicants who are unable to take the TOEFL iBT test at a test center due to public health concerns. The test is offered everywhere that TOEFL iBT testing is normally available, except Mainland China and Iran.
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS): Academic: 7.0 overall band
  Admission based on Academic Reading & Writing modules, not General Training. Scores valid if written within last two years. 
• IELTS Indicator: 7.0 overall band
  The institution requires an overall IELTS Indicator band score of 7.0 and no IELTS Indicator score lower than 7.0. Our institution name is UBC Sauder School of Business. Scores valid if written within last two years.
• Pearson Test of English (PTE) - Academic: 70
  Admission based on Academic test only. Scores valid if written within last two years. Forward results to us at pmba@sauder.ubc.ca.
• Pearson Test of English Online (PTE Online) - Academic: 70
  Admission based on Academic test only. Scores valid if written within last two years. Forward results to us at mm@sauder.ubc.ca.
• Canadian Academic English Language Test (CAEL): 70 overall band
• Online Canadian Academic English Language Test (CAEL Online): 70 overall band
  The minimum overall band score (70 overall band) accepted by us will be the same as the CAEL CE test format. 

At the latest, scores will take up to 6 weeks – ensure you provide yourself with ample time from the deadline to write the test. You must arrange to have your scores sent to us directly from the testing service organization. 

We assess your managerial and leadership potential, maturity, ambition and drive, through your Essay Questions, resume, professional references and interview.

The fast pace of the UBC MBA program necessitates that all students have a foundational proficiency in Quantitative Methods and familiarity with Statistics and Economics. To aid in ensuring that you have adequate knowledge in the above subjects, as well as relevant skills in Microsoft Excel and professional writing, a variety of online tutorials and resources to review has been compiled for admitted students.