Program Overview

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Overview

The PhD Program in Business Administration welcomes applications from individuals planning research-oriented academic careers. As well as gaining access to a world of knowledge and opportunity, Sauder PhD students benefit from the individual attention they receive from faculty members - right from the outset of the program. Our faculty members devote extensive time, energy and effort to developing the research capabilities of all of our PhD students.

What makes the program unique?

The Real Estate Division in the Sauder School of Business at UBC is known to be one of the best in the world. Our faculty sit on editorial boards of some of the top journals, including Journal of Urban Economics, Real Estate Economics, and Regional Science and Urban Economics. Our PhD program draws on the ULE faculty as well as those in Finance, Strategy and Business Economics, Management Science, Economics, and other fields.

Quick Facts

• Faculty: Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration
• Academic Unit: Robert H. Lee Graduate School
• Specialization: Urban Land Economics
• Mode of delivery: In person at UBC Vancouver
• Program Components: Dissertation
• Tuition (First Year):
  • Domestic: $5,626.02
  • International: $9,883.98

Admission Information & Requirements

1) 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). The graduate program that you are applying to may have additional requirements. Please review the specific requirements for applicants with credentials from institutions in:

• Canada or the United States
• International countries other than the United States Each program may set higher academic minimum requirements. Please review the program website carefully to understand the program requirements. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission as it is a competitive process.

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 your application.

• Minimum requirements for the two most common English language proficiency tests to apply to this program are listed below:
  • TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language - internet-based
    • Overall score requirement: 100
    • Reading: 22
    • Writing: 21
    • Speaking: 21
    • Listening: 22
  • IELTS: International English Language Testing System
    • Overall score requirement: 7.0
    • Reading: 6.5
    • Writing: 6.5
    • Speaking: 6.5
    • Listening: 6.5

Other Test Scores

Some programs require additional test scores such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Test (GMAT). The requirements for this program are:

• The GRE or a comparable test is required. Please check the program website.

Prior degree, course and other requirements

2) Meet Deadlines

See the graduate degree program listing for additional deadline details.

• Program Name: Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration in Urban Land Economics (PhD)
• Intake: September 2026
• Canadian Applicant Deadline: 31 December 2025
• International Applicant Deadline: 31 December 2025

3) Prepare Application

Transcripts

All applicants have to submit transcripts from all past post-secondary study. Document submission requirements depend on whether your institution of study is within Canada or outside of Canada.

Letters of reference

Applicants have to submit 3 references to apply to this graduate program. Please review our general information on reference letters, including the types of references (e.g. academic, professional) that you may be asked for and how the references will be collected.

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. Please follow the instructions provided by each program whether applicants should contact faculty members.

• The program will review research interests of applicants and recommend/match faculty members during the application/evaluation process. Applicants should not reach out to faculty members directly.

Tuition & Financial Support

Tuition

• Fees:
  • Canadian Citizen / Permanent Resident / Refugee / Diplomat:
    • Application Fee: $118.50
    • Tuition per year: $5,626.02
  • International:
    • Application Fee: $168.25
    • Tuition per year: $9,883.98
• 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 (i.e. based on your academic performance) and need-based (i.e. based on your financial situation) opportunities.

• Program Funding Packages: We provide a financial package that includes tuition plus $30,000 per year for the first five years of the PhD Program.
• Scholarships & awards (merit-based funding): All applicants are encouraged to review the awards listing to identify potential opportunities to fund their graduate education.
• Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA): Many professors are able to provide Research Assistantships (GRA) from their research grants to support full-time graduate students studying under their supervision.
• Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA): Graduate programs may have Teaching Assistantships available for registered full-time graduate students.
• Graduate Academic Assistantships (GAA): Academic Assistantships are employment opportunities to perform work that is relevant to the university or to an individual faculty member, but not to support the student’s graduate research and thesis.
• Financial aid (need-based funding): Canadian and US applicants may qualify for governmental loans to finance their studies.

Career Outcomes

102 students graduated between 2005 and 2013. Of these, career information was obtained for 100 alumni (based on research conducted between Feb-May 2016):

• RI (Research-Intensive) Faculty: typically tenure-track faculty positions (equivalent of the North American Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor positions) in PhD-granting institutions
• TI (Teaching-Intensive) Faculty: typically full-time faculty positions in colleges or in institutions not granting PhDs, and teaching faculty at PhD-granting institutions
• Term Faculty: faculty in term appointments (e.g. sessional lecturers, visiting assistant professors, etc.)
• Sample Employers in Higher Education:
  • Western University (Ontario) (5)
  • City University of Hong Kong (5)
  • University of Manitoba (3)
  • University of British Columbia (3)
  • Simon Fraser University (3)
  • University of International Business and Economics (3)
  • Arizona State University (2)
  • Boston College (2)
  • University of Toronto (2)
  • University of Ottawa (2)
• Sample Employers Outside Higher Education:
  • Banco de México (2)
  • Bank of Canada (2)
  • IBM Research
  • Ministry of Education - Guyana
  • Ontario Public Service
  • Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan)
  • Royal Bank of Canada
• Sample Job Titles Outside Higher Education:
  • Strategic ICT Specialist
  • Senior Economist
  • Research Scientist
  • Senior Financial Specialist
  • Economic Staff
  • Consultant / Analyst
  • Information Organization Manager
  • Deputy Executive Secretary
  • Assistant Chief
  • Head of Research

Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats

These statistics show data for the Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration in Urban Land Economics (PhD). Data are separated for each degree program combination.

• ENROLMENT DATA:
  • 2023:
    • Applications: 11
    • Offers: 0
    • New Enrolment: 0
    • Total Enrolment: 1
  • 2022:
    • Applications: 5
    • Offers: 0
    • New Enrolment: 0
    • Total Enrolment: 1
  • 2021:
    • Applications: 4
    • Offers: 1
    • New Enrolment: 1
    • Total Enrolment: 1
  • 2020:
    • Applications: 5
    • Offers: 0
    • New Enrolment: 0
    • Total Enrolment: 0
  • 2019:
    • Applications: 6
    • Offers: 0
    • New Enrolment: 0
    • Total Enrolment: 0

Research Supervisors

Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their thesis supervisor. Please follow the instructions provided by each program whether applicants should contact faculty members.

• The program will review research interests of applicants and recommend/match faculty members during the application/evaluation process. Applicants should not reach out to faculty members directly.

Related Programs

Same Academic Unit

• Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration in Accounting (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration in Finance (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration in Management Information Systems (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration in Management Science (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration in Marketing and Behavioural Science (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration in Organizational Behaviour (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration in Strategy and Business Economics (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration in Transportation and Logistics (PhD)
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Master of Business Analytics (MBAN)
• Master of Management (MM)
• Master of Science in Business Administration in Finance (MSCB)
• Master of Science in Business Administration in Management Information Systems (MSCB)
• Master of Science in Business Administration in Transportation and Logistics (MSCB)
• Professional Master of Business Administration (PMBA)

Further Information

Specialization

Urban Land Economics This subject covers statistical methodology, theory of finance, microeconomics and advanced topics in urban land economics.

UBC Calendar

graduate-and-postdoctoral-studies/degree-programs/business-administration

Program Website

administration/specializations/urban-land-economics

Faculty

Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration

Academic Unit

Robert H. Lee Graduate School

Program Identifier

VGDPHD-CHYH

Classification

Social sciences » Economics and business administration » Economics » Urban, rural and regional economics
Social sciences » Economics and business administration » Economics » Real estate economics

Program Website

administration/specializations/urban-land-economics

Apply Now

Apply for September 2026

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