Program Overview

Overview

The Master of Science in Chemical and Biological Engineering (MSc) program at the University of British Columbia (UBC) is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in the principles and practices of chemical and biological engineering. The program is offered by the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, which was established in 1999 and has a strong reputation in several areas of chemical engineering science, including fluid-solids contacting, pulp and paper engineering, heat exchanger fouling, and biotechnology.

What makes the program unique?

The program is unique in that it offers a strong research focus, with faculty members who are actively engaged in applied research and have won national and international recognition for their research contributions. The department has a world-class reputation in several areas of chemical engineering science, and students have access to state-of-the-art research facilities and equipment.

Quick Facts

• Faculty: Faculty of Applied Science
• Academic Unit: Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering
• Specialization: Chemical and Biological Engineering
• Mode of delivery: In person at UBC Vancouver
• Program Components: Coursework + Thesis required
• Tuition (First Year): Domestic: $5,626.02, International: $9,883.98
• Median Funding: 50% of students receive $35,258 or more funding per year in the first 2 years, before tuition and fees

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).
• 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: 90, Reading: 22, Writing: 21, Speaking: 21, Listening: 22
  • IELTS: Overall score requirement: 6.5, Reading: 6.0, Writing: 6.0, Speaking: 6.0, Listening: 6.0

Prior degree, course and other requirements

• Students with a background in Engineering will receive a Master of Applied Science degree whereas students without Engineering background will receive a Master of Science degree.

Meet Deadlines

• Program Name: Master of Science in Chemical and Biological Engineering (MSc)
• Intake: May 2026, Canadian Applicant Deadline: 1 December 2025, International Applicant Deadline: 1 December 2025
• Intake: September 2026, Canadian Applicant Deadline: 1 February 2026, International Applicant Deadline: 1 February 2026

Prepare Application

• Transcripts: All applicants have to submit transcripts from all past post-secondary study.
• Letters of reference: Applicants have to 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.

Tuition & Financial Support

Tuition

• Fees:
  • Application Fee: $118.50 (Canadian Citizen / Permanent Resident / Refugee / Diplomat), $168.25 (International)
  • Tuition: $5,626.02 (Canadian Citizen / Permanent Resident / Refugee / Diplomat), $9,883.98 (International)
  • Int. Tuition Award (ITA) per year (if eligible): $3,200.00
  • Other Fees and Costs:
    • Student Fees (yearly): $1,144.10 (approx.)
    • Costs of living: Estimate your costs of living with our interactive tool in order 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.
• Program Funding Packages: Applicants who are interested in catalysis research with a focus on programs addressing waste generation, environmental compatibility, energy efficiency, and alternative energy sources may consider the SusSyn program that provides additional funding and professional development opportunities.
• Funding Statistics: Based on the criteria outlined below, 4 students within this program were included in this study because they received funding through UBC in the form of teaching, research, academic assistantships or internal or external awards with a mean of $36,312 and a median of $35,258.

Career Options

Chemical engineers have a myriad career choices, finding employment globally in industry, government, research, and medicine. Many chemical engineers have gone on to become managers, company executives, entrepreneurs, and leaders of government and non-government organizations.

Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats

• Enrolment Data:
  • Applications: 41 (2023), 50 (2022), 50 (2021), 50 (2020), 51 (2019)
  • Offers: 4 (2023), 2 (2022), 2 (2021), 4 (2020), 1 (2019)
  • New Enrolment: 2 (2023), 2 (2022), 1 (2021), 4 (2020), 1 (2019)
  • Total Enrolment: 6 (2023), 4 (2022), 3 (2021), 5 (2020), 1 (2019)

Research Supervisors

• Supervision: Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their thesis supervisor.
• 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.

Sample Thesis Submissions

• Fluorescence as an indicator of kraft lignin structure and colloidal particle properties
• Development and evaluation of UV-activated metal oxide semiconductor gas sensors for hydrogen sulfide and nitrous oxide monitoring
• Property – performance relationships for cellulose nanocrystals in latex nanocomposites

Related Programs

• Same specialization:
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD)
  • Master of Applied Science in Chemical and Biological Engineering (MASc)
  • Master of Engineering in Chemical and Biological Engineering (MEng)
• Same Academic Unit:
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD)
  • Master of Applied Science in Chemical and Biological Engineering (MASc)
  • Master of Engineering in Chemical and Biological Engineering (MEng)
  • Master of Engineering Leadership in Sustainable Process Engineering (MEL)
• Related Disciplines:
  • Master of Applied Science in Chemical and Biological Engineering (MASc)
  • Master of Engineering in Chemical and Biological Engineering (MEng)

Further Information

• Specialization: Chemical and Biological Engineering
• Chemical and Biological Engineering provides innovative and sustainable solutions to pressing local and global challenges to industry and society, with faculty being engaged in the following broad areas:
  • Biotechnology
  • Chemical Process Engineering
  • Energy and Materials
  • Environmental Engineering
• Program Identifier: VGMMSC-D2
• Classification: Engineering and technology » Chemical engineering » Chemical engineering