Program Overview

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Overview

The Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration in Management Information Systems (PhD) at the University of British Columbia is distinguished by an active and collegial group of senior and junior academics. These researchers investigate a wide variety of topics, including electronic commerce, economics of information systems, systems analysis, intelligent systems, strategic and organizational issues, and planning for MIS. Their methods include laboratory experiments, field studies, survey methods, econometrics, conceptual modelling, and computational simulation.

What makes the program unique?

The PhD Program in MIS stands at the top of Canadian business schools and at the very top rank in the international arena in terms of its reputation, research record, and research grants received. A recent assessment of research productivity showed that the UBC MIS program ranks 6th in the world among public universities, and 9th overall, in terms of publications in top MIS journals.

Quick Facts

• Faculty: Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration
• Academic Unit: Robert H. Lee Graduate School
• Specialization: Management Information Systems
• Mode of delivery: In person at UBC Vancouver
• Program Components: Dissertation
• Tuition (First Year):
  • Domestic: $5,626.02
  • International: $9,883.98
• Median Funding: 50% of students receive $58,934 or more funding per year in the first 4 years, before tuition and fees

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.

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.

• TOEFL:
  • Overall score requirement: 100
  • Reading: 22
  • Writing: 21
  • Speaking: 21
  • Listening: 22
• IELTS:
  • 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.

2) Meet Deadlines

• Program Name: Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration in Management Information Systems (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.

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. 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: $5,626.02
  • International: $9,883.98
• Application Fee:
  • Canadian Citizen / Permanent Resident / Refugee / Diplomat: $118.50
  • International: $168.25
• 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

We provide a financial package that includes tuition plus $30,000 per year for the first five years of the PhD Program.

Funding Statistics

Based on the criteria outlined below, 6 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 $58,004 and a median of $58,934.

Career Outcomes

102 students graduated between 2005 and 2013. Of these, career information was obtained for 100 alumni. Our graduates have academic positions in Canada, the USA, Asia, and Europe.

Research Supervisors

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.

Sample Thesis Submissions

• Strategic roles of AI and mobile management on performance: evidence from U.S. public firms
• Harnessing sustainability mobile apps for carbon reduction: a multilevel approach
• Three essays on AI strategies and innovation

Related Programs

• 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 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)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration in Urban Land Economics (PhD)

Further Information

Specialization

Management Information Systems covers information on systems analysis, databases, telecommunications, electronic commerce, economics of information systems, intelligent systems, strategic and organizational issues, and planning for MIS.

Faculty

Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration

Academic Unit

Robert H. Lee Graduate School

Program Identifier

VGDPHD-CHQL

Classification

Social sciences » Economics and business administration » Management and trade » Management information systems

Program Website

administration/specializations/management-information-systems

Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats

• Applications: 27 (2023), 26 (2022), 36 (2021), 30 (2020), 26 (2019)
• Offers: 2 (2023), 0 (2022), 1 (2021), 5 (2020), 3 (2019)
• New Enrolment: 2 (2023), 0 (2022), 1 (2021), 3 (2020), 1 (2019)
• Total Enrolment: 7 (2023), 6 (2022), 7 (2021), 6 (2020), 7 (2019)

Completion Rates & Times

This program has a graduation rate of 75% based on 9 students admitted between 2011 - 2014. Based on 6 graduating students from the 2011 - 2014 admissions cohort the minimum time to completion is 3.07 years and the maximum time is 7.51 years with an average of 5.56 years of study.