UBC Funded Master's in Cell and Developmental Biology 2027

The University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, one of Canada's top universities, offers a research-based Master of Science in Cell and Developmental Biology. Every student in the programme receives guaranteed funding, so you can do a master's in Canada without paying your own way.

Two intakes, two deadlines:

• May 2027 intake: apply by 30 November 2026 (transcripts and references by 15 December 2026)
• September 2027 intake: apply by 31 March 2027 (transcripts and references by 15 April 2027)

You need a supervisor before you apply. Start contacting professors now.

How the funding works

• Minimum funding of CA$32,500 per year, for at least two years
• Funding comes from a mix of scholarships, teaching assistantships and research assistantships
• Your research supervisor commits to supporting you financially throughout your training
• Funding generally continues until you finish, as long as your performance is good
• Tuition is paid from your funding. First-year tuition is about CA$10,082 for international students, and you keep the rest for living costs

For reference, UBC reports that students in this programme received a median of about CA$35,200 in funding a year.

Admission requirements

• A supervisor's firm commitment before you apply
• Two reference letters
• English test taken within the last 24 months, if your previous education wasn't in English:
  • IELTS Academic 6.5 overall, with no band below 6.0
  • TOEFL 90 (120-point scale), or 4.5 on the new 6-point scale
  • Duolingo 125
• No GRE required

How to apply

1. Explore research labs in UBC's Cell and Developmental Biology programme and find professors whose work matches your interests.
2. Email potential supervisors with a short, personal message, your CV and a brief description of your research interests.
3. Once a supervisor agrees to take you, apply online through UBC's Graduate School.
4. Ask your two referees to submit their letters, and upload your transcripts by the document deadline.

How to email a potential supervisor

• Read two or three of their recent papers and mention something specific.
• Explain your fit: your degree, research experience and lab skills.
• Keep it short: one or two paragraphs, plus your CV.
• Follow up politely after a week or two if you don't hear back.

Tips

• Start now. Finding a supervisor can take weeks, especially before the 30 November deadline.
• Highlight lab experience: final-year projects, techniques you've used and any publications or posters.
• Budget carefully. Vancouver is expensive, so plan how you'll cover rent and living costs from your funding.

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