How do I apply to the program?
What are the minimum requirements?
When is the application deadline?
Should I have already contacted a supervisor before applying?
Are students accepted in January?
Are part-time studies allowed in the program?
What are the fees?
Does RMES have any TA or RAships?
Do you require the TOEFL exam?
Do you require the GRE?
Can you please provide further funding options?
How do I apply to the program?
There is an online application form on the Faculty of Graduate Studies website http://www.grad.ubc.ca/prospective-students/application-admission/apply-online. For Specialization, please choose Resource Management & Environmental Studies.
You are also required to submit 2 pdf files (a Thesis Proposal and a Writing Sample) through the IRES Admissions form, found here: http://www.ires.ubc.ca/admissions/admissions-form/
Official transcripts from all higher education institutions previously attended must be sent to the following address in signed, sealed envelopes sent directly from the awarding institution:
- Graduate Program Coordinator,
IRES, AERL 430-2202 Main Mall,
The University of British Columbia,
Vancouver, V6T 1Z4 Canada
Three letters of recommendation (no more, no less!) must be submitted as well. Please arrange for your referees to submit reference letters via the online application system at www.grad.ubc.ca/apply/online/. Instructions for inviting referees to the online reference form can be found at that site.
If it is not possible for the referee to use that system, paper references must be submitted in sealed individual envelopes sent directly by the referee to the RMES program to the address above. The envelope’s seal and the letter must be signed in ink by the referee.
All materials MUST be received by the application deadline of January 18th, 2012. Late applications will not be accepted. No exceptions!
What are the minimum requirements?
The minimum requirements for admission to IRES are slightly higher than stated by the UBC Faculty of Graduate Studies. We require a GPA weighted A- average, (3.7 GPA) or 80% minimum. For institutions using a different grading scheme, First-Class Honours status or the equivalent must have been obtained.
When is the application deadline?
Our departmental deadline is January 18th, 2012, for September admission the same year. We require all supporting documentation for your application to be into the office by that date. This does mean that it can be date stamped for January but it should be in the office at that time. This deadline is firm.
Should I have already contacted a supervisor before applying?
Applicants are strongly encouraged to view profiles of Faculty and identify a potential research supervisor. It is not necessary to have been in contact with faculty before applying, however it is not discouraged. When you fill out the online application, you will be asked to provide the names of 3 faculty members that you would like to work with (or have been in communication with). This will assist us in routing your application to the appropriate faculty member(s) for review. Please do not provide any more or less than 3 faculty names. Please note that admissions decisions are made solely by the Admissions committee, and that being in communication with a faculty member by no means guarantees an offer of admission.
Are students accepted in January?
We do not currently offer January admission.
Are part-time studies allowed in the program?
We do not have any students who are taking the program on a part-time basis and do not encourage it. UBC stipulates that all Master students must have one year residency, meaning they have to be on campus attending courses in their first year.
What are the fees?
Every student enrolled in a master’s program is required to maintain continuous registration by paying tuition installments. Tuition is paid in September, January and May. Failure to pay fees will result in a financial hold and an interest penalty. Tuition amounts depend upon whether you are a Canadian or International (US inclusive) student. For up-to-date tuition amounts please see the Faculty of Graduate Studies website
For PhD Students, tuition fees are usually covered by the University, their supervisors or the department in which they are registered.
Full-time graduate students can expect to pay approximately $850 per year in student fees. Most of these fees are mandatory, but some have opt-out provisions. For more information please see the fees section of the Faculty of Graduate Studies website.
Does RMES have any TA or RAships?
Since we are strictly a graduate program with no undergraduate courses, we do not offer Teaching Assistants in RMES (Resources Management Environmental Studies). Some graduate students have been able to find TA positions in other departments. Research Assistantships for Masters students are also limited in the Institute; however if you are accepted, you may be able to work something out with your supervisor. Departmental support is common for PhD students.
Do you require the TOEFL?
Yes we do require the TOEFL for all international students who do not have at least 1 degree from an English-speaking, accredited university. We require a minimum score of 100 on the internet-based test for entry into the RMES program. You may also take the paper-based TOEFL (a minimum score of 600 is required), computer-based (a minimum score of 250 is required) or the IELTS (a minimum score of 7 with no component less than 6.5 is required). The University code for UBC is 0965 and the department code for IRES and the RMES program is 46.
Do you require the GRE?
No we do not require applicants to send us their GRE scores for entrance into the program; however the GRE is encouraged. Our department code is 0110.
Can you please provide further funding options?
There are many funding options here at the University once you are accepted. There is an award competition each year in September where students, who are eligible, are encouraged to apply for NSERC, SSHRC and CIHR funding. We encourage prospective students to apply for these awards in the year prior to the intended program start date. The minimum grade average requirement for students to apply is A- (80 – 84% GPA) in each of their last two full years of academic study. Further information is provided to students in the program at the beginning of the September term. Please see the Faculty of Graduate Studies Scholarships, Awards and Funding pages for further funding options.
