Soil Science: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - UBCV at The University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada is a doctorate in Soil Science programme. The programme is delivered on campus. Teaching is in English. Tuition for international students is CAD 10,082 per year (CAD 5,739 per year for local students).
At a glance
Degree:Doctorate
Field:Soil Science
Delivery: On Campus
Language: English
Local tuition: CAD 5,739 / year
International tuition: CAD 10,082 / year
Information for the 2027/28 academic year · Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
The doctoral program in Soil Science is delivered jointly by UBC's Faculty of Land and Food Systems and Faculty of Forestry, and centres on an original dissertation carried out with a faculty supervisor whose commitment must be in place before an application is submitted. Research covers soil biology and microbial ecology, soil organic matter, soil physics, irrigation and drainage, biometeorology, forest nutrition and nutrient cycling, mycorrhizal ecology, soil pollution, soil and water conservation, soil management and land use. Collaboration extends beyond the two faculties to partners such as Environment Canada and the Canadian Forest Service, giving doctoral projects access to field programs and agency data.
Requirements
Minimum GPA:76.00 / %
Admission Requirements: Admission follows UBC's Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies baseline of a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC); individual programs may set higher standards. Applicants from non-English-instruction institutions must submit a test from the last 24 months: IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no section below 6.0, TOEFL iBT 90 overall with no section below 21 (or 4.5 overall on the scale from January 2026), or Duolingo English Test 125 overall with no section below 115. All applicants need a firm commitment from a supervisor before applying; the GRE is not required. Three letters of reference and official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended are also required.
Application Details
Start Date:September
Application Deadline:Domestic and international undergraduate applicants both apply through EducationPlannerBC for Winter Session 2027/28 (September 2027 entry) and Summer 2027: applications open in early October 2026 and the equal-consideration deadline is 15 January 2027, 11:59 p.m. PST, the same date for both groups; a few programs keep reviewing late applications on a space-available basis afterwards. Earlier dates apply only to entrance-award consideration -- 15 November 2026 for the International Scholars Program and 1 December 2026 for Presidential/Centennial/Beyond Tomorrow scholars. Several limited-entry programmes -- Law, Pharmacy, Dentistry, Nursing (advanced entry), Occupational/Physical Therapy, Social Work and Teacher Education -- set their own earlier deadlines from October 2026 through February 2027. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
