Applicants to the Doctor of Philosophy at the School of Population and Public Health must hold a Masters degree or equivalent in epidemiology, biostatistics, public health, environmental health, occupational hygiene, or other health discipline, or in another field with evidence of research experience relevant to the proposed field of doctoral study, from an accredited university-level institution. Applicants should have achieved a minimum B plus average or equivalent in all of their Master's degree courses,

Applicants should have proof of quantitative ability, either through achieving 76% or higher in a mathematics or statistics undergraduate or higher level course, taken within the last 10 years, via the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), taken within the last five years, or a similar standardized test such as GMAT or MCAT, taken within the last two years.

An up-to-date curriculum vitae or resume detailing academic and work history, relevant research or related experience (in courses, employment, volunteer work, etc), and any publications. The letter of intent should describe your career objectives, your research interests, and how the PhD program will meet your career goals. Applicants are required to ensure that three confidential references are submitted in support of their application. At least two references should be submitted by former professors. Professional references may be acceptable in the event of unavailability of academic references, however, you should make every effort to obtain referees who can provide an assessment of your potential for success in an academic graduate program.


The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies establishes the minimum admission requirements common to all applicants, usually a minimum overall average in the B plus range (76% at UBC).

IELTS - A minimum overall band score of 7.0 is required with a minimum score of 6.5 in each component.
TOEFL IBT - 100 for the internet-based exam with minimum component scores of 22 (reading, listening) and 21 (writing, speaking).