Program Overview

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Overview

The Doctor of Philosophy in Soil Science (PhD) is a collaboration between the Faculty of Land and Food Systems and Faculty of Forestry, offering opportunities for advanced study and research leading to MSc and PhD degrees. Students are registered in the Faculty of Graduate Studies through either the Faculty of Land and Food Systems or Faculty of Forestry, depending upon their research interests.

Quick Facts

• Faculty: Faculty of Land and Food Systems
• Academic Unit: Faculty of Land and Food Systems
• Specialization: Soil Science
• 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.

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: Test of English as a Foreign Language - internet-based

• Overall score requirement: 90
• Reading: 22
• Writing: 21
• Speaking: 21
• Listening: 22

IELTS: International English Language Testing System

• Overall score requirement: 6.5
• Reading: 6.0
• Writing: 6.0
• Speaking: 6.0
• Listening: 6.0

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 is not required.

2) Meet Deadlines

• Program Name: Doctor of Philosophy in Soil Science (PhD)
• Intake: September 2026
  • Canadian Applicant Deadline: 10 January 2026
  • International Applicant Deadline: 10 January 2026
• Program Name: Doctor of Philosophy in Soil Science (PhD)
• Intake: January 2027
  • Canadian Applicant Deadline: 1 June 2026
  • International Applicant Deadline: 1 June 2026
• Program Name: Doctor of Philosophy in Soil Science (PhD)
• Intake: May 2027
  • Canadian Applicant Deadline: 1 September 2026
  • International Applicant Deadline: 1 September 2026

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.

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. All applicants need firm commitment from a supervisor prior to applying.

Research Information

Research Focus

Areas of study include biometeorology, forest nutrition and nutrient cycling, mycorrhizal ecology, soil biology, soil quality and fertility, soil-plant interactions, ecosystem services, land and water systems.

Facilities

The program is enriched through collaboration with colleagues in other graduate programs such as Forestry, Geography, Plant Science, Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainabilty, Landscape Architecture, and in agencies such as Environment Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Forest Innovation Investment, and various provincial government agencies.

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
    • 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 (i.e. based on your academic performance) and need-based (i.e. based on your financial situation) opportunities.

Program Funding Packages

From September 2024 all full-time students in UBC-Vancouver PhD programs will be provided with a funding package of at least $24,000 for each of the first four years of their PhD.

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

Career Options

Graduates of the soil science degree program often obtain positions with government or the private sector. Some graduates decide to continue in the area of research and academia with various universities and colleges.

Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats

ENROLMENT DATA

	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
Applications	6	1	2	6	4
Offers	1	1	1	1	2
New Enrolment	1	1	1	1	2
Total Enrolment	6	5	3	3	8

Completion Rates & Times

Based on 5 graduations between 2020 - 2023 the minimum time to completion is 4.44 years and the maximum time is 6.83 years with an average of 5.19 years of study.

Research Supervisors

Supervision

Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their thesis supervisor. All applicants need firm commitment from a supervisor prior to applying.

List of Supervisors

• Black, Thomas Andrew (Biometeorology; Microclimate modification; Soil physics; Greenhouse gas emissions; Evapotranspiration)
• Cornelis, Jean Thomas (Pedology; Biogeochemistry; Soil-Plant Interactions)
• Krzic, Maja (Soil health; Soil management; Soil science education)
• Smukler, Sean (Agricultural ecology; Soil health; Climate change adaptation and mitigation; Ecosystem services)
• Taye, Zelalem (Plant Microbiome; Soil Microbiome; community ecology; Synthetic Microbial Communities; Plant and Soil Health; Genomic Tools and Ecological Modeling)

Sample Thesis Submissions

• Evaluation of agricultural practices for regenerative outcomes in cropping systems of southwestern British Columbia
• Measurements of evapotranspiration and greenhouse gas exchange over a conventionally managed forage crop
• Improving agricultural phosphorus management to reduce environmental loss in high phosphorus soils in the Fraser Valley, British Columbia

Related Programs

Same specialization

• Master of Science in Soil Science (MSc)

Same Academic Unit

• Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Animal Biology (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Food Science (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Human Nutrition (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Integrated Studies in Land and Food Systems (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Plant Science (PhD)
• Graduate Certificate in Aquaculture (GCAQUA)
• Master of Food and Resource Economics (MFRE)
• Master of Food Science (MFS)
• Master of Land and Water Systems (MLWS)
• Master of Science in Applied Animal Biology (MSc)
• Master of Science in Food Science (MSc)
• Master of Science in Human Nutrition (MSc)
• Master of Science in Integrated Studies in Land and Food Systems (MSc)
• Master of Science in Plant Science (MSc)
• Master of Science in Soil Science (MSc)

Further Information

Specialization

Soil Science covers areas of soil microbial ecology, organic matter, soil physics, irrigation and drainage, biometeorology, soil pollution, soil and water conservation, soil management, and land use, with application to forest, agricultural, urban, and range soils.

Program Website

graduate-and-postdoctoral-studies/degree-programs/soil-science

Faculty

Faculty of Land and Food Systems

Academic Unit

Faculty of Land and Food Systems

Program Identifier

VGDPHD-WT

Classification

Natural sciences » Earth and related environmental sciences » Soil sciences