Master of Science in Biology - Okanagan

About this programme

The biology graduate program at the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus in Kelowna, BC offers tier-one research-based degrees to students in a collegial, close-knit setting. Our dynamic faculty and students are engaged in a variety of research projects, many in collaboration with partners in government, non-profit agencies or industry. Our research-based MSc and PhD degrees in biology provide students with theoretical, practical and analytical expertise, as well as experience in the application of scientific results to real-world problems. The MSc degree is centred on conducting research in the biological sciences. Graduates of the MSc program are prepared for positions in government, management, industry, education, consulting or for PhD research. Exceptional MSc students can transfer to the PhD program if they meet program requirements. Most MSc students become Teaching Assistants for at least one semester in order to gain valuable experience and to learn effective communications strategies. The PhD degree is centred on conducting original research. Graduates of the PhD program are prepared for careers requiring advanced independent research and teaching in academia, government and industry. At the PhD level, coursework is required only at the discretion of the student’s advisory committee. We recommend that PhD students have completed upper-level undergraduate or graduate-level courses in the following: Students lacking any of these courses prior to entering the program must take the necessary courses as part of their PhD training.