Offered by The University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, Geological Sciences: Master of Science (MSc) - UBCV is a master's degree in Earth Sciences & Geology programme. The programme runs for 2 years, 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:Master's Degree
Field:Earth Sciences & Geology
Duration: 2 years
Delivery: On Campus
Language: English
Local tuition: CAD 5,739 / year
International tuition: CAD 10,082 / year
Last checked September 2026 · Source: grad.ubc.ca ·
Program details
Overview
The MSc in Geological Sciences sits in UBC's Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences and is described by the department as a two-year programme preparing graduates for industry, government or a PhD. Research spans the full range of how geologists work: field-based studies of mineral deposits, volcanoes, sedimentary systems, tectonics, petrology and hydrogeology; experimental work on rock deformation, hydraulic fracturing, volcanic processes and carbon-dioxide sequestration; and laboratory analysis in petrography, petrology and geochronology. Students are housed in the Earth System Science Building with access to the Mineral Deposit Research Unit, the Centre for Experimental Studies of the Lithosphere, the Electron Microbeam and XRD Facility and the Pacific Centre for Isotopic and Geochemical Research, and benefit from Vancouver's role as a centre of mineral-exploration companies and from British Columbia as a natural field laboratory. Many students are funded through industrial partnerships. The degree is listed as coursework with options, is delivered in person, and welcomes applicants holding a BSc or BASc, ideally in Earth science or geological engineering; no supervisor commitment is needed before applying, though contacting faculty is encouraged.
Requirements
Minimum GPA:76.00 / %
Admission Requirements: A BSc or BASc is accepted, though a BSc in Earth Science or a BASc in geological engineering is preferred. The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies' general minimum overall average of B+ (76% at UBC) applies; meeting it does not guarantee admission given competitive selection. Applicants from a university outside Canada where English is not the language of instruction must submit, within 24 months of applying, IELTS Academic 6.5 overall, TOEFL iBT 4.5 overall on the post-2026 six-point scale, or Duolingo English Test 125 overall. The GRE is not required. Applicants should identify faculty members they wish to work with and indicate this preference in their application; prior commitment from a supervisor is not required, though contacting faculty in advance is encouraged. The application also requires three letters of reference, a statement of interest, and official transcripts from all prior post-secondary institutions.
Application Details
Start Date:September and January
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.
