Admissions
The MSc and PhD program application portal opens on September 15 and closes on December 15.
* December 15, 2026, is the application deadline for programs beginning in September 2027 or January 2028.
Canadian Immigration update
There have been recent changes to immigration regulations, which have raised some concerns and caused confusion about graduate student applications. In particular, from 2024 onwards, the government has imposed a cap on the number of new graduate study permits to be issued across Canada (note that this does not affect renewal of existing permits). The federal government announced on Nov 4, 2025 that starting Jan 1, 2026, most graduate students will be exempt from the PAL requirements. Applicants to UBC master and doctoral degree programs won't need a PAL when applying for a study permit after Dec 31, 2025. Read more]
Iranian Applicants – English Language Testing Update
We understand that the recent changes affecting the availability of English language tests in Iran, including TOEFL, GRE, and the Duolingo English Test (DET), may create additional challenges and uncertainty as you prepare your applications to UBC’s Computer Science graduate programs.
We want you to know that we are aware of these challenges and are actively working with the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (G+PS) to understand the situation and explore possible options for applicants who may be affected. The situation is still evolving, and we will share further information as soon as we have clearer guidance.
We recognize that this is a difficult and uncertain time for many Iranian students and their families, particularly given the significant uncertainty and disruption they have experienced in recent months. We sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding, and we hope to provide more clarity and support as the situation develops.
In the interim, applicants who have already completed a TOEFL exam but are unable to access or send their official score report may contact G+PS Admissions & Records for assistance. G+PS can request that ETS verify and match the applicant’s existing TOEFL score to their UBC application. To facilitate this request, the applicant should provide:
their 8-digit UBC student number;
their TOEFL appointment number;
their legal name as it appeared when registering for TOEFL; and
their date of birth.
This process is intended for applicants who have already taken the TOEFL.
Three research programs to choose from
UBC’s Department of Computer Science is home to around 280 graduate students in its research programs, and applications are now open! We have three main graduate research programs: the research-based MSc, PhD, and PhD Track programs.
The research MSc is a 2-year program, including around 16 months of full-time research work. We also offer the PhD program (usually for students with Master’s degrees) as well as a PhD Track program for PhD students without a Master’s. All three programs are fully-funded, and qualify for substantial awards towards tuition costs.
Our department’s research is organized around 24 research groups, across the full spectrum of Computer Science topics. Particular strengths include Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Graphics, HCI, Software Engineering, Programming Languages, Formal Methods, Systems, Security & Privacy, Data Science, Data Management and Mining, Theory and Scientific Computing.
The university is ranked amongst the top public universities in the world, and the department is situated on a beautiful campus on the edge of Vancouver, which is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city.
The deadline for applications for this coming year is 15th December.
Once you are ready to submit your application, you can find all of the instructions here.
Admission Information Sessions
Join us for virtual information sessions about admissions to the graduate programs at UBC Computer Science. Please register here.
We look forward to welcoming you to UBC!