Frequently Asked Questions

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

What are the admission requirements for graduate studies at UBC?

The Faculty of Graduate Studies (FoGS) oversees the general admission requirements for all prospective graduate students to UBC.

What courses are specifically required to make one eligible for the Medical Genetics Graduate Program?

Upper level genetics, biochemistry and statistics (biometrics).  Your grades should be first-class.

What other requirements would improve one’s eligibility for the Medical Genetics Graduate Program?

Independent research experience (for example, a Directed Studies course or summer research project) is a definite asset. Lab work in an area related to your proposed research interests is preferable.

What are the advantages of getting an Honours Bachelor Degree versus a regular Bachelor Degree?
The definition of Honours degrees differs from university to university.  Admission to graduate studies at UBC requires a four-year undergraduate degree. 

Do I need to secure a research supervisor before I apply?  Will you find a supervisor for me?

Applicants do not need to secure the commitment of a Research Supervisor before applying to the Medical Genetics Graduate Program.  However, applicants are encouraged to begin the process of securing a supervisor prior to, or at the same time, that they make their application to the Program.  And no, the Department of Medical Genetics does not find research supervisors for prospective students.

Make initial contact with prospective supervisors via email.  Faculty in this department get enquiries from many students and so can be slow to reply, or even find it impossible to reply to every enquiry.  This is why we encourage prospective students to contact only those supervisors with whom they are interested in working.  'Broadcast' emails tend to get poorer responses than personalized ones.  

Can I send you my résumé and transcripts attached to an email?

It is departmental policy not to assess a prospective student's eligibility until a completed application is submitted.

At the time I apply to the Medical Genetics program, should I send official transcripts even though my courses are still in progress and I have therefore not yet received all my grades?

Yes.  It is understood that students who are currently enrolled in the last year of their degree will not have yet received their final grades at the time of application, but should arrange to send their transcripts after they receive their first term grades. If your transcript does not list the courses that you are currently taking, please list these courses on the application form.  Should the Admissions Committee determine that you meet the Program’s admissions requirements, it will then ask you to provide final transcripts when these are available.

Who should I choose as my referees for my application?
The Admissions Committee will assess both your academic qualifications and research skills and aptitude.  Specifically, a referee is asked to evaluate the prospective graduate student for their academic preparation, originality, skill at research, industry, intellectual capacity, teaching ability (if known) and all-round ability.  Therefore, as referees often may only have experience with some of these areas of a student’s profile, it is best to choose three referees who will corporately provide a full picture of what the Admissions Committee needs to know about you in order to ascertain your potential as a graduate student/research scientist.  Preferred references are from academic research supervisors and research employers.  It is advisable to have at least two of your letters from academics at universities who have had the opportunity to observe many students of equivalent rank.  Please note that references from post-doctoral fellows and personal physicians are not good choices for referees.  

If my application is not accepted, will you return my reference letters and/or my transcripts to me?

No.  All application documents become the property of UBC.

What awards and funding are available for Canadian/Permanent Residents of Canada?

Canadians and Permanent Residents of Canada, who have a first class standing in each of the last two years of full time studies in a degree program, are eligible to apply for external funding to such organizations as Natural Sciences and Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and other smaller agencies.

 

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FAQs for APPLICANTS with international credentials:

Do I need to submit a TOEFL / IELTS score?

Any student whose previous degree was taken in a language other than English is required to supply an official English language competency test score (TOEFL, IELTS) obtained within the last two years.  The iBT/Next Generation TOEFL minimum score required by the Medical Genetics Graduate Program is 100 / 120; or an overall band of 7.0 for IELTS. The University of BC code is 0965.

Is the GRE (Graduate Record Exam) mandatory?

The GRE is not a mandatory requirement of the Medical Genetics Graduate Program, however, it is strongly recommended for American and other international students as it is difficult to compare Canadian university standards against those of other countries.  We request an official GRE test score obtained within the past two years including both "quantitative" and "analytical" scores as well as the subject test score - preferably in Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, although Biology is acceptable.  The University of BC code is 0965.

What does "official"  transcripts and degree certificate mean?
Official transcripts and degree certificates are those that are received by UBC from the student’s home university in sealed and endorsed envelopes.

My previous degree was not taken in English – how do I submit the English translation of my transcript and degree certificate?
For each university attended, forward two copies of the official, original language transcripts.  Also request two official copies of each degree certificate in the original language if your transcript does not state the degree name and the date the degree was conferred. Additionally, you must arrange for certified English translations of all transcripts and degree certificates. If your university does not provide English translations, then you will need to obtain the translation from a certified translator who is to submit the translation to the Program in a sealed, endorsed envelope.

What does “official” reference letter mean?
“Official” reference letter means that the referee submits their reference via the on-line application system; or, sends the paper reference form, complete with their original signature, directly to the Medical Genetics Graduate Program office in a sealed, endorsed envelope.  Reference letters are confidential and are therefore not to be opened or read by the student.  Reference letters must be current.  

Are awards and financial aid available for international students?

Awards and financial aid include the International Partial Tuition Fee Award (for MSc and PhD students); various UBC awards and other external scholarships where Canadian citizenship is not a requirement.  Please also check with your home university regarding scholarships for studying abroad. 

 

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FAQs FOR PROSPECTIVE Post-doctoral FELLOWS:

Where can I find information on applying for a postdoctoral position? Post-doctoral fellowships or visiting scientist positions are arranged independently with faculty members.  Post-doctoral applicants are often expected to obtain their own funding, thus you are encouraged to investigate funding sources in Canada and British Columbia.  While this information is geared to graduate students, a number of the listed agencies also offer funding opportunities for post-doctoral fellows.

 

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FAQs FOR OTHER PROGRAMS:

What is the difference between the Medical Genetics Graduate Program, the Masters Program in Genetic Counselling, the Genetics Graduate Program, the Strategic Training Program in Bioinformatics and the Genetics Residency Training Program?

Medical Genetics Graduate Program - research-based / thesis-based MSc and PhD degree programs.

Genetic Counselling Program - two-year MSc non-thesis program providing training for a career as a genetic counsellor.

Strategic Training Program in Bioinformatics
Genome Sciences Centre
Suite 100 - 579 West 7th Avenue
Vancouver, BC  V5Z 4S6
604-707-5803 (tel)

The Strategic Training Program in Bioinformatics is a joint scholarship program between the University of BC (UBC), Simon Fraser University (SFU), and the BC Cancer Agency (BCCA).  It is a two-year MSc program providing training in bioinformatics for students with a strong background in both biological science (i.e. molecular biology) and quantitative science (i.e. computer science). Students receive a stipend during their study and academic guidance from the Program’s mentors.  The Program is affiliated with the Bioinformatics Graduate Program at UBC, and both the Computing Science and the Molecular Biology and Biochemistry programs at Simon Fraser University.  In general, the training part of the Program consists of two terms of course work and a structured program of research rotations for a total of three terms or one year.  Once a student has completed their training, they complete their MSc, or they can opt to continue on as a PhD candidate if qualified to do so. However, the program only provides funding for 24 months.  For more information, contact the Bioinformatics Program Coordinator: bioinformaticsprogram@bcgsc.ca.

Medical Genetics Residency Training - for medical doctors pursuing a five-year Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada specialist training in clinical genetics.

CCMG accreditation - Fellowship Training Program – is currently not operating.