Earth and Ocean Sciences: Master of Science (MSc) is a master's degree in Natural Sciences & Mathematics programme taught at University of Victoria in Victoria, Canada. The programme runs for 2 years, delivered on campus. Teaching is in English. Tuition for international students is CAD 2,857 per semester (CAD 2,265 per semester for local students).
At a glance
Degree:Master's Degree
Field:Natural Sciences & Mathematics
Duration: 2 years
Delivery: On Campus
Language: English
Local tuition: CAD 2,265 / semester
International tuition: CAD 2,857 / semester
Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
This MSc supports thesis research across earth and ocean sciences, with faculty working on topics from theoretical climate dynamics and boundary-layer meteorology to biological and chemical oceanography, palaeoceanography, seismic hazards and geochemistry. Learning combines field trips, field schools and marine cruises with close faculty mentorship, drawing on Vancouver Island's surrounding marine and terrestrial environments as a study setting. Applicants need an undergraduate degree in earth and ocean sciences or a closely related science, a one-page statement of intended study, a résumé, two references and transcripts, and must secure a faculty supervisor's agreement before being admitted. The full-time, two-year degree can begin in September, January or May. Because processing can take time, the department recommends applicants have their paperwork ready well ahead of their intended entry term.
Requirements
Admission Requirements: Admission follows UVic's general Master's requirements: a four-year bachelor's degree (or equivalent) with a minimum “B” average over the last two years, plus program-specific criteria. The School of Earth and Ocean Sciences requires a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in Earth and Ocean Sciences or a closely related science, though it publishes no minimum grade average of its own. Applicants must secure a faculty supervisor who agrees to supervise and recommend admission before applying, and submit a one-page statement of intended study, a current résumé, the names and email addresses of two referees, and post-secondary transcripts. English-language proficiency follows UVic's general graduate standard for applicants whose first language is not English (IELTS Academic 6.5 overall, no band below 6.0, or TOEFL iBT 90, no section below 20, among other accepted tests). Applications may be submitted at any time, with entry in September, January or May.
Application Details
Start Date:September, January and May
Application Deadline:Domestic applicants apply through EducationPlannerBC, which opens for 2027-entry applications on 1 October 2026: most degree programmes see September 2027 entry close 31 January 2027, January 2027 entry close 30 September 2026, and Summer 2027 entry close 31 March 2027, though Teacher Education post-degree programmes close 2 January 2027, Indigenous Education post-degree admits on an ongoing basis, and Engineering's Summer entry (high-school graduates only) closes 31 December 2026. International applicants use the same portal and face identical dates, since UVic publishes no separate international deadline. UVic treats these as fixed annual dates rather than rolling admission, though it warns any programme can close early without notice. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
