Program Overview

Overview

The Doctor of Philosophy in Oceanography (PhD) program at the University of British Columbia is designed for students who wish to pursue advanced research in oceanography. Oceanographers investigate both fundamental and applied problems relating to the physics, mathematics, biology, chemistry, and geology of the sea, often working across traditional academic disciplines.

Program Details

• The program builds on a proven record of accomplishments of the core faculty of the Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences Department.
• Students can choose from a wide range of concentrations, such as biological oceanography, chemical oceanography, and physical oceanography.
• The program brings together 12 full-time faculty, allowing students to choose from a wide range of research areas.

Admission Information & Requirements

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 the two most common 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

• All applicants have to submit transcripts from all past post-secondary study.
• Document submission requirements depend on whether the 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.

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

Facilities

• In 2012, the new Earth Sciences Building was completed, providing a $75 million facility designed to inspire collaboration and creativity across disciplines.

Tuition & Financial Support

Tuition

• Fees for Canadian citizens, permanent residents, refugees, and diplomats:
  • Application fee: $118.50
  • Tuition per installment: $1,875.34
  • Tuition per year: $5,626.02
• Fees for international students:
  • Application fee: $168.25
  • Tuition per installment: $3,294.66
  • Tuition per year: $9,883.98

Financial Support

• All full-time students who begin a UBC-Vancouver PhD program in September or January will be provided with a funding package of at least $25,500.00 CAD plus tuition fee coverage for each of the first four years of their PhD.
• The funding package may consist of any combination of internal or external awards, teaching-related work, research assistantships, and graduate academic assistantships.

Career Outcomes

• The program would provide graduates with collaborative research skills to lead marine and freshwater research, to address critical challenges of direct and indirect impacts of anthropogenic and climate change effects on aquatic ecosystems and coastal communities.
• In addition to academia, program graduates will be well-placed for academic and/or government research careers, intergovernmental agencies, industry, and positions with environmental consulting firms.

Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats

• The program has a graduation rate of 72.7% based on 11 students admitted between 2011-2014.
• Based on 10 graduations between 2020-2023, the minimum time to completion is 4.44 years, and the maximum time is 8.2 years, with an average of 6.22 years of study.

Research Supervisors

• The list of faculty members with full supervisory privileges who are affiliated with this program includes:
  • Allen, Susan
  • Andersen, Raymond
  • Bradbury, Hal
  • Crowe, Sean
  • Hunt, Brian
  • Maldonado, Maite
  • Pakhomov, Yevhenii
  • Pawlowicz, Richard
  • Suttle, Curtis
  • Tortell, Philippe
  • Waterman, Stephanie

Sample Thesis Submissions

• Transcriptomic responses of the marine heterotrophic bacterium Dokdonia sp. strain Dokd-P16 to iron limitation and viral lysate addition
• Autonomous measurement of phytoplankton physiology and productivity using fast repetition rate fluorometry
• Structure and functioning of zooplankton communities of the Canadian Northeast Pacific Ocean
• Measuring subsurface circulation in deep stratified marginal seas
• Revealing population-specific differences in lipid content, marine distribution, coastal food webs, and marine foraging of sub-adult Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)

Related Programs

• Same specialization: Master of Science in Oceanography (MSc)
• 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)
  • 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 Atmospheric Science (MSc)
  • Master of Science in Geological Sciences (MSc)
  • Master of Science in Geophysics (MSc)
  • Master of Science in Oceanography (MSc)