Tuition and Cost of Living
Tuition fees and student fees are set by the University (not by the School), and are subject to change. As of May 1, 2014, tuition for a Master’s degree program is $4,524.85 per year for Canadian citizens and permanent residents, and $7,949.37 per year for international students.
International students are eligible for an International Partial Tuition Scholarship of up to $3,200 which is applied to their tuition. Students are eligible as long as they are not recipients of external funding that pays their tuition. Note that the University reserves the right to change the value of this scholarship without notice. For more information, please refer to the Faculty of Graduate Studies funding website.
In addition to the tuition fee, graduate students are assessed student fees of approximately $650 for access to facilities, such as the Student Recreation Centre, the public transit program, and student-run activities, and approximately $200 for mandatory extended health and dental benefits. All fees are subject to change without notice. For the most current information on fees, please consult the UBC Calendar or the UBC website.
The cost of living in Vancouver can vary substantially depending on many factors. The following is a very rough estimate for living costs for a 12 month period:
- housing and utilities (based on $600 – $950 per month): $7,200 – $11,400
- groceries and food: $3,000
- British Columbia Medical Services Plan basic health insurance: $650
- books and supplies: $1,200
- clothing, personal care, and miscellaneous expenses: $3,000
- temporary accommodation (e.g. hotel) upon arrival to Vancouver: $500
These cost sum to approximately $15,550 – $19,750 per 12 month period, not including the cost of tuition, student fees, and the extended health and dental plan.
Financial Aid
Financial aid for M.A. students is awarded on a competitive basis. All applicants to the program are considered for financial aid; a separate application is not required.
Financial aid is provided through the Faculty of Graduate Studies in the form of scholarships, tuition awards, and scholarship top-ups. Funding is awarded on the basis of academic excellence, and are open to all domestic and international graduate students.
Teaching assistantships (TAships) may also be available, and are governed by the collective agreement between the University and the Teaching Assistants’ Union. TAships are carried out under the direction of a faculty member and include conducting undergraduate seminars, the marking of assignments and exams, and being available for student consultations. The total hours per week spent on these duties will not exceed twelve. For the 2014-15 year, the salary of a full-time Teaching Assistantship is $11,356 for M.A. students.
An overview of the various types of financial support available to graduate students at UBC may be found at the Faculty of Graduate Studies website. We strongly encourage all applicants to seek external (non-UBC) sources of support. The following is a partial listing of major funding agencies:
- Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council of Canada
- Association of Universities & Colleges of Canada
- International Council for Canadian Studies
- Canadian Bureau for International Education
- Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council of Canada
- International Development Research Centre
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research
- Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research
- The Canada-U.S. Fulbright Programme (Canadian Applicants)
- Institute for International Education (Fulbright Program)
A database of information of additional external awards is available at this Faculty of Graduate Studies’ website.