Finding Admissions, Courses, Funding, and Advising at UBC Geography

Updated

The UBC Department of Geography website (geog.ubc.ca) organizes student information under two main menus: Undergraduate and Graduate. Each menu contains its own admissions, courses, funding, and advising pages, so the first step is to decide which level applies to you and use that section rather than searching the site as a whole. The department offers undergraduate programs leading to a BA or BSc, and graduate programs leading to an MA, MSc, or PhD.

Undergraduate programs and courses

The undergraduate program is divided into three fields:

  • Human Geography (BA)
  • Environment and Sustainability (BA)
  • Geographical Sciences (BSc)

Two additional credentials appear alongside the majors: a Minor in GIS & Geographical Computation and a Certificate in Climate Studies and Action. There is also a BSc in Atmospheric Science and a BA in Urban Studies.

If you are choosing a program, compare these options on two dimensions: the degree type (BA vs. BSc) and the subject focus (human/social vs. environmental vs. technical/geospatial). The GIS minor and climate certificate are add-ons rather than standalone degrees, so they suit students already enrolled in a major who want a defined secondary specialization.

Course information sits under the Courses link in the Undergraduate menu, with a separate Study Resources section for support material. The site also highlights specific terms — for example, a "2026W Course Spotlight" noting available seats across topics such as sustainability, geopolitics, and climate change. Course spotlights are term-specific, so check the current listing rather than relying on a past spotlight page.

Graduate admissions and programs

Graduate study in the department leads to an MA, MSc, and/or PhD. The Graduate menu separates:

  • Masters' Programs — MA Geography and MSc Geography
  • PhD Program
  • Admissions — the entry point for application requirements and deadlines
  • Courses, Computing Resources, Funding, and Advising

The MA/MSc distinction generally maps onto the same human/physical split seen at the undergraduate level, so applicants should confirm which stream fits their intended research before starting the admissions process. Admissions requirements, deadlines, and funding details are only authoritative on the department's own Admissions and Funding pages — treat third-party summaries as leads, not sources.

Funding, advising, and computing resources

Both the Undergraduate and Graduate menus include Funding, Advising, and (for graduate students) Computing Resources. These are the correct entry points for questions about financial support, academic planning, and technical setup. Because funding programs and advising arrangements change by term and by program, the department pages are the place to confirm what currently applies to your situation rather than assuming a fixed offer.

Opportunities and research

The site maintains a Job Opportunities section covering undergraduate, graduate, and faculty/staff positions. Research is organized under Research Themes, Research Groups, Digital Resources, and Publications, with named units including the Centre for Climate Justice and the Trail 6 Undergraduate Journal. Prospective graduate students looking for a supervisor should start from Research Themes and Research Groups to identify faculty working in their area, then move to Admissions.

A practical path through the site

  1. Decide your level: Undergraduate or Graduate.
  2. For programs, open the program list in that menu and note the degree type and field.
  3. For courses, use the Courses link and check the current term's listings.
  4. For money and support, use Funding and Advising in the same menu.
  5. For research fit (especially graduate), browse Research Themes and Research Groups before contacting faculty.

The department describes itself as one of the top geography departments in the world and frames its teaching around a critical and ethical approach to the natural environment and society's relationship with it — useful context when judging whether its program emphases match your goals.