PhD in Genetic and Genomic Counselling

About this programme

Precision health (e.g. genome sequencing, sequencing of a person’s entire genetic code) is transforming clinical care. Genome sequencing is a powerful technology that can diagnose patients with suspected genetic disorders and can customize treatment. Precision health is advancing in many disciplines of medicine at a rapid pace. The expansion of clinical genome sequencing requires additional and innovative methods to cope with the increased demand for genomic counselling to enable access and optimize patient-centered care. Genome sequencing generates complex and novel genomic counselling issues: results that are difficult to interpret and incidental findings that can have family-wide and health service implications. Essentially, there is a growing and urgent need for genetic counsellor-led research to address the important societal issues that intersect with the broader scale implementation of precision health. This program, first of its kind in the world, will develop researchers who generate knowledge through empirical research that will advance and inform evidence-based practice in the genetic counselling profession, resulting in improved health outcomes. For specific program requirements, please refer to the departmental program website The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies establishes the minimum admission requirements common to all applicants, usually a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC). The graduate program that you are applying to may have additional requirements. Please review the specific requirements for applicants with credential