Program Overview

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Overview

The mission of the Adult Learning and Education graduate program at UBC is to contribute to the creation, elaboration, exchange, and application of knowledge concerning the education and learning of adults in diverse contexts. This includes the development of scholars and reflective practitioners who will shape society and its institutions in ways that promote lifelong education and learning for all in critical ways.

Program Structure

The M.Ed. program is considered a professional degree for people who wish to work as practitioners in any adult education setting, most often as instructors, program planners, consultants, or administrators. It is a 30-credit program with required and elective courses.

• All on-campus master's students take a core of 9 credits of the following adult learning and education courses:
  • EDST 503 (3)
  • EDST 514 (3)
  • EDST 518 (3)
• These core courses are supplemented with electives that allow students to deepen their study of adult learning and education or to explore topics and issues addressed elsewhere in the department and the university that have implications for adult learning and education.
• Students must also take a 3-credit research methods course approved by their pro-tem advisor.

Quick Facts

• Faculty: Faculty of Education
• Academic Unit: Department of Educational Studies
• Specialization: Adult Learning and Education
• Mode of delivery: In person at UBC Vancouver
• Program Components: Coursework + Options
• Tuition (First Year):
  • Domestic: $8,043.27
  • International: $17,034.40

Admission Information & Requirements

Program Instructions

Please ensure you follow the instructions in the online application system. After submitting your application, it is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all supporting materials are submitted properly and by the application deadline.

Minimum Academic Requirements

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

English Language Test

Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application.

• TOEFL:
  • Overall score requirement: 92
  • Reading: 22
  • Writing: 22
  • Speaking: 22
  • Listening: 22
• IELTS:
  • Overall score requirement: 6.5
  • Reading: 6.0
  • Writing: 6.0
  • Speaking: 6.0
  • Listening: 6.0

Deadlines

• Canadian Applicant Deadline: 1 February 2026
• International Applicant Deadline: 1 February 2026

Tuition & Financial Support

Tuition

• Application Fee:
  • Canadian Citizen / Permanent Resident / Refugee / Diplomat: $118.50
  • International: $168.25
• Tuition per year:
  • Canadian Citizen / Permanent Resident / Refugee / Diplomat: $8,043.27
  • International: $17,034.36

Financial Support

Applicants to UBC have access to a variety of funding options.

Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats

Enrolment Data

• Applications: 90 (2023), 85 (2022), 98 (2021), 74 (2020), 61 (2019)
• Offers: 26 (2023), 24 (2022), 29 (2021), 17 (2020), 25 (2019)
• New Enrolment: 13 (2023), 11 (2022), 17 (2021), 11 (2020), 14 (2019)
• Total Enrolment: 30 (2023), 26 (2022), 29 (2021), 26 (2020), 25 (2019)

Completion Rates & Times

• Graduation rate: 98% based on 53 students admitted between 2015-2018
• Minimum time to completion: 0.68 years
• Maximum time to completion: 5.8 years
• Average time to completion: 1.7 years

Related Programs

• Graduate Certificate in Adult Learning and Education (GCALE)
• Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy (EdD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Studies (PhD)
• Master of Arts in Educational Studies (MA)
• Master of Education in Adult Learning and Global Change (MEd)
• Master of Education in Curriculum and Leadership (MEd)
• Master of Education in Educational Administration and Leadership (MEd)
• Master of Education in Educational Studies (MEd)
• Master of Education in Higher Education (MEd)
• Master of Education in Society, Culture and Politics in Education (MEd)

Further Information

Specialization

Adult Learning and Education

The Adult Learning and Education (ALE) program has historical roots in traditions of social welfare, community development, and extension education. ALE is concerned with the development of scholars and practitioners who will shape society in ways that promote lifelong learning for all.

Classification

• Social sciences » Education » Education systems » Adult and continuing education, and community education
• Social sciences » Education » Specialized studies in education » Educational assessment and evaluation
• Social sciences » Education » Curriculum, pedagogy and didactics » Vocational education and training curriculum, pedagogy and didactics
• Social sciences » Education » Specialized studies in education » Comparative and cross-cultural education
• Social sciences » Education » Other education » Other education, n.e.c.
• Social sciences » Sociology and related studies » Sociology » Sociology of education
• Social sciences » Political science and policy administration » Policy and policy administration » Educational policy