Program Overview

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Overview

The Master of Science in Atmospheric Science (MSc) program at the University of British Columbia engages in fundamental research in atmospheric science, both independently and in cooperation with federal and provincial laboratories and other research groups around the world. The emphasis of the research is on studies of processes and developing physical understanding of the atmosphere.

What makes the program unique?

Atmospheric scientists use principles of classical physics to study, explain, and predict atmospheric behavior on scales ranging from turbulent eddies through storm clouds to earth’s global circulation. The program is motivated by weather-related big societal issues including climate change, air quality, and renewable energy. Important tools include big data (statistics, machine learning, scientific programming), geographic information systems, and remote sensing.

Quick Facts

• Faculty: Faculty of Science
• Academic Unit: Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences
• Specialization: Atmospheric Science
• Mode of delivery: In person at UBC Vancouver
• Program Components: Coursework + Options
• Tuition (First Year):
  • Domestic: $5,626.02
  • International: $9,883.98

Admission Information & Requirements

Check Eligibility

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). Each program may set higher academic minimum requirements.

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. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of the application.

Minimum Requirements for English Language Proficiency Tests

• TOEFL:
  • Overall score requirement: 100
  • Reading: 22
  • Writing: 22
  • Speaking: 23
  • Listening: 22
• IELTS:
  • Overall score requirement: 7.0
  • Reading: 6.5
  • Writing: 6.5
  • Speaking: 7.0
  • Listening: 6.5

Prior Degree, Course, and Other Requirements

Prior Degree Requirements

Applicants are encouraged from a wide variety of scientific, math, statistics, and engineering backgrounds. A Bachelor's degree in meteorology or atmospheric science is not required.

Course Requirements

A strong physics, math, and computational background is desired.

Meet Deadlines

• Program Name: Master of Science in Atmospheric Science (MSc)
• Intake:
  • September 2026:
    • Canadian Applicant Deadline: 15 January 2026
    • International Applicant Deadline: 15 January 2026
  • January 2027:
    • Canadian Applicant Deadline: 15 June 2026
    • International Applicant Deadline: 15 June 2026

Prepare Application

Transcripts

All applicants must submit transcripts from all past post-secondary study.

Letters of Reference

Applicants must submit 3 references to apply to this graduate program.

Statement of Interest

Many programs require a statement of interest, sometimes called a "statement of intent", "description of research interests" or something similar.

Supervision

Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their thesis supervisor. Applicants should browse faculty profiles and indicate in their application who they are interested in working with.

Research Information

Research Focus

Research areas include weather-related natural disasters, air pollution and atmospheric chemistry, micrometeorology, cloud and aerosol physics, atmospheric radiation and remote sensing, fluid dynamics, climate dynamics and climate change, glaciology, atmosphere-ocean interactions, urban meteorology, transportation meteorology, numerical weather prediction, artificial neural networks, big data, and much more.

Facilities

The program has access to extensive lab facilities, wind tunnels in Engineering, and high-performance computing facilities both at UBC and at large computing centers across Canada.

Tuition & Financial Support

Tuition

• Fees:
  • Application Fee:
    • Canadian Citizen / Permanent Resident / Refugee / Diplomat: $118.50
    • International: $168.25
  • Tuition:
    • Installments per year: 3
    • Tuition per installment:
      • Canadian Citizen / Permanent Resident / Refugee / Diplomat: $1,875.34
      • International: $3,294.66
    • Tuition per year:
      • Canadian Citizen / Permanent Resident / Refugee / Diplomat: $5,626.02
      • International: $9,883.98
  • Other Fees and Costs:
    • Student Fees (yearly): $1,144.10 (approx.)
    • Costs of living: Estimate your costs of living with the interactive tool to start developing a financial plan for your graduate studies.

Financial Support

Applicants to UBC have access to a variety of funding options, including merit-based and need-based opportunities.

Career Options

The 2-year MSc program in Atmospheric Science prepares students to be analysts of the atmospheric environment. Industry jobs include air-quality and environmental consulting, weather-related renewable energy, modeling of the environment, weather-related natural disasters, computer programming of tailored weather forecasts, and big-data analysis. Government jobs span municipal, regional, and provincial environment ministries as well as traditional weather-forecasting jobs.

Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats

Enrolment Data

• Applications:
  • 2023: 30
  • 2022: 22
  • 2021: 37
  • 2020: 9
  • 2019: 17
• Offers:
  • 2023: 6
  • 2022: 3
  • 2021: 8
  • 2020: 4
  • 2019: 4
• New Enrolment:
  • 2023: 4
  • 2022: 2
  • 2021: 5
  • 2020: 3
  • 2019: 3
• Total Enrolment:
  • 2023: 8
  • 2022: 4
  • 2021: 7
  • 2020: 7
  • 2019: 6

Completion Rates & Times

Based on 5 graduations between 2020 - 2023, the minimum time to completion is 1.7 years and the maximum time is 3.07 years with an average of 2.59 years of study.

Research Supervisors

Instructions regarding thesis supervisor contact for this program

Applicants should browse faculty profiles and indicate in their application who they are interested in working with. No commitment from a supervisor prior to applying is necessary, but contacting faculty members is encouraged.

List of Faculty Members with Full Supervisory Privileges

• Allen, Susan
• Austin, Philip
• Balmforth, Neil
• Bertram, Allan
• Black, Thomas Andrew
• Borduas-Dedekind, Nadine
• Donner, Simon
• Giang, Amanda
• Orsi, Anais
• Pawlowicz, Richard
• Radic, Valentina
• Stull, Roland
• Waterman, Stephanie
• White, Rachel
• Zimmerman, Naomi

Sample Thesis Submissions

• Improving surface wind forecasts in British Columbia using neural-network post-processing
• Seasonal forecasting of streamflow in a mountainous catchment in British Columbia
• Extending the skillful range of hub-height wind forecasts using self-organizing maps
• Projecting future climate changes and extremes using convection-permitting atmospheric downscaling over the coastal Pacific Northwest
• Investigating the utility of weighting schemes on a 51-member short-range ensemble forecast

Related Programs

Same Specialization

• Doctor of Philosophy in Atmospheric Science (PhD)

Same Academic Unit

• Doctor of Philosophy in Atmospheric Science (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Geological Engineering (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Geological Sciences (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Geophysics (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Oceanography (PhD)
• Graduate Certificate in Applied Geological Engineering (GCAGE)
• Master of Applied Science in Geological Engineering (MASc)
• Master of Applied Science in Geophysics (MASc)
• Master of Engineering in Geological Engineering (MEng)
• Master of Science in Geological Sciences (MSc)
• Master of Science in Geophysics (MSc)
• Master of Science in Oceanography (MSc)

Further Information

Specialization

Atmospheric Science at UBC offers areas of graduate research including boundary layers and micrometeorology, numerical weather prediction, air pollution, climate, satellite remote sensing, ocean-atmosphere interactions, biometeorology, geophysical fluid dynamics, and machine-learning tools.

Program Identifier

VGMMSC-CD

Classification

Natural sciences » Earth and related environmental sciences » Atmospheric sciences