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 recognize that recent restrictions have created challenges for applicants in Iran trying to access English-language tests such as IELTS, TOEFL and the Duolingo English Test.
As an interim measure, Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies will accept the Oxford English Language Level Test (ELLT) for graduate applicants who are currently based in Iran and are unable to access our other accepted English-language tests because of these restrictions.
The Oxford ELLT Digital test can be completed online from within Iran. Applicants must have a valid and up-to-date Iranian passport issued by the relevant authority.
More information on Oxford ELLT is available online: https://oxfordellt.com/ellt/
For UBC graduate applications, the required Oxford ELLT score is an overall score of 7, with no individual component below 6. The CS-specific English language requirements for the ELLT are still under discussion.
* If you are able to access one of UBC’s other accepted English-language tests, you should continue to use one of those options. The Oxford ELLT is being made available specifically as an interim access measure for applicants who are unable to access the other tests due to the current circumstances.
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!