Admissions

The Oceans and Fisheries (OCF) Master's program is a 2 year, full-time program that provides students with the opportunity to broaden their academic and research experience.

The Program is the only M.Sc. program in Canada that offers both 18-credit thesis and 12-credit thesis streams, and provides interdisciplinary training in both ocean and fisheries science.

The M.Sc. degree requirement is a minimum of 30 credits, including either a 12-credit thesis (FISH 549A) or an 18 credit thesis (FISH 549B).

Prior Degree Requirements

BA or BSc is required, with minimum grade averages set by UBC Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (G+PS).

Minimum academic requirements:

• Canada & United States Students
• International Students

English Proficiency Requirements

TOEFL

The minimum TOEFL score required for all applicants to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies is:

• Tests taken prior to January 21, 2026 (1-120 scale): 90 overall with a minimum component score of 22 (reading, listening) and 21 (writing, speaking) or
• Tests taken as of January 21, 2026 (1-6 scale): 4.5 overall with a minimum component score of 5 (listening), 4.5 (reading, writing) and 4 (speaking)

IELTS

A minimum overall band score of 6.5 is required with a minimum score of 6.0 in each component of the academic (NOT general) IELTS test.

Individual graduate programs may require higher English language proficiency scores, and may require minimum scores on individual components of the test. Please check individual program websites to verify English language score requirements.

Note: IELTS Online is accepted for Applications to UBC-Vancouver. IELTS Indicator is not accepted for Applications to UBC-Vancouver.

The Oceans and Fisheries (OCF) Doctoral Program is a full-time program consisting of courses and research. It draws on the broad and extensive expertise of IOF faculty and responds to the emerging need for expertise to manage fisheries and other resource use activities on Canada’s coastlines, marine territory and inland waterbodies. In the process, the program will foster cutting-edge research on marine and freshwater systems, and address national and global priorities in environmental science and technologies, and natural resources and energy.

The program is expected to take four years, and provides a student with demonstrated academic and research ability an opportunity to develop and strengthen his/her research capabilities and knowledge to a more advanced level. Candidates are required to pass a comprehensive examination on their research area within 24 months of their program start date and then focus on their doctoral dissertation.

Prior Degree Requirements

A Master's degree (or equivalent) from an approved institution with clear evidence of research ability or potential, with minimum grade averages set by UBC Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (G+PS).

Minimum academic requirements:

• Canada & United States Students
• International Students

English Proficiency Requirements

TOEFL

The minimum TOEFL score required for all applicants to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies is:

• Tests taken prior to January 21, 2026 (1-120 scale): 90 overall with a minimum component score of 22 (reading, listening) and 21 (writing, speaking) or
• Tests taken as of January 21, 2026 (1-6 scale): 4.5 overall with a minimum component score of 5 (listening), 4.5 (reading, writing) and 4 (speaking)

IELTS

A minimum overall band score of 6.5 is required with a minimum score of 6.0 in each component of the academic (NOT general) IELTS test.

Individual graduate programs may require higher English language proficiency scores, and may require minimum scores on individual components of the test. Please check individual program websites to verify English language score requirements.

Note: IELTS Online is accepted for Applications to UBC-Vancouver. IELTS Indicator is not accepted for Applications to UBC-Vancouver.

While a prospective student is able to apply to the program independently, it is best to identify a potential supervisor(s) from the IOF faculty list. All core IOF faculty members are listed at the top of the People page.

Students will not be admitted to the OCF graduate program unless a faculty member has agreed to accept them into their laboratory group/research unit.

Applicants should contact potential supervisor(s) to discuss their backgrounds, their future research plans, and to provide them with draft versions of the items that are part of the online application (i.e., transcripts, letters from referees, etc.).

• Tips on approaching a potential supervisors can be found here.
• Tips on how to pitch your research project.
• To secure funding before approaching a supervisor, search awards database here.

It is highly recommended that the potential supervisor(s) supports and encourages an application before proceeding to the next step.

Statement of Intent

This outlines your research experience, your proposed research project (or ideas), and explains your interest in working with the particular faculty member(s). As indicated above, it helps if you mention that you have been in contact with your potential supervisor(s) and that they are aware and supportive of your application.

Transcripts

You must obtain an official paper transcript from every post-secondary institution you have attended. Student requirements may differ for:

Domestic students

International students

Your Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Two (2) Letters of Reference

You are required to submit two confidential letters of reference. Some supervisors may require a 3rd letter of reference which will be requested after your application has been submitted. The referees should be faculty members who have supervised your studies and/or research in the past and who can provide a report on your academic abilities and qualifications. It is also acceptable if one of your referees knows you in a professional context.

Note: UBC's online application system will only notify your referees to write their letters once your application is complete and has been submitted online. It is very important that applicants complete and submit their applications online with enough time for us to contact your referees, for them to submit their letters of recommendation, and for us to receive their letters before the admissions deadline of January 30. Applications with missing reference letters will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed.

English proficiency exam scores

If you are applying from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language, you must provide English language proficiency examination results as part of your application.

For details on the English Proficiency score levels, please review the requirements for your program.

Note: UBC requires an official score to be sent electronically from the test centre. On the IELTS application form you will be asked to specify institutions where you would like the results to be sent to. Use the following details:
 
Name of institution: The University of British Columbia
Name of person/department: Graduate School Admissions
Address: 170-6371 Crescent Road, Vancouver BC V6T 1Z2, Canada

All applicants must complete an online application form and pay the application fee to be considered for admission to UBC.