Biotechnology: Master's Degree (MBtec) - UBCO at The University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada is a master's degree in Biotechnology programme. The programme runs for 16 months, delivered on campus. Teaching is in English. Tuition for international students is CAD 10,920 per semester (CAD 3,902 per semester for local students).
At a glance
Degree:Master's Degree
Field:Biotechnology
Duration: 16 months
Delivery: On Campus
Language: English
Local tuition: CAD 3,902 / semester
International tuition: CAD 10,920 / semester
Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
UBC Okanagan's 16-month Master of Biotechnology, run through the Department of Biology, combines roughly 21 credits of lab-based coursework and industry seminars with a capstone research project or off-campus internship, training students in cell-culture techniques, CRISPR-mediated gene editing, protein expression and metabolomics using fluorescence-activated cell sorters and next-generation sequencing equipment. The required coursework includes two professional seminar courses alongside laboratory courses in molecular cloning, cell and tissue culture, advanced biotechnology and computational biology; students then choose between an on-campus capstone project or one to two off-campus internships of at least 455 hours each. Admission requires a Bachelor of Science in biology, biochemistry, chemistry or a related field, with a minimum B+ average (76% at UBC) in third-year-and-above coursework, or at least 12 credits of third- or fourth-year coursework in the A range (80%+); international applicants need an equivalent average over their final two years, plus a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 or TOEFL iBT of 90. Applications require a CV and statement of intent.
Requirements
Minimum GPA:76.00 / %
Admission Requirements: The program applies UBC's Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies standard. Canadian and American applicants need a recognized four-year bachelor's degree in biology, biochemistry, chemistry or a related field, with a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC) in third-year-and-above coursework, or at least 12 credits of third/fourth-year courses in the A range (80% or higher); international applicants need the equivalent B+ average in their final two years and must meet country-specific standards. Non-native English speakers must submit, within the last 24 months, IELTS Academic with an overall score of 6.5 and no band below 6.0, TOEFL iBT with an overall score of 90 (Reading/Listening 22, Writing/Speaking 21) for tests before 21 January 2026, or the equivalent 4.5 overall on the six-point scale from that date. A CV and a statement of intent covering academic and professional goals and laboratory experience are required. Self-identified Indigenous applicants are assessed case by case with possible flexibility on GPA and degree requirements.
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.
