The MSc program generally requires a minimum of two years of full-time study with the first eight months devoted primarily to course work. Masters students may choose to complete their degree requirements through part-time study. You will need to declare whether you have chosen part-time or full-time studies. Part-time students should be aware that they are not eligible for UBC scholarships or awards.

UBC policy establishes a 5-year time limit for the completion of a Masters program, for both full-time and part-time students. See the UBC policy regarding leave, extensions to these limits.

The following is a sample timeline for a full-time student. The time points for applying for funding will vary depending on the nature of funding needed (operating funds vs. fellowship assistance) and funding agency deadlines. The important message is that funding should be sought as early as possible.

Prior to Admission (recommended, not mandatory)

• meet with individual faculty, identify potential supervisor, and research topic
• where possible apply for graduate fellowships

• Year 1, Term 1 – coursework; meet with faculty advisor and other faculty to choose supervisor; submit applications for scholarship funding
• Year 1, Term 2 – coursework; finalize choice of thesis supervisor, supervisory committee, research topic; develop thesis proposal; apply for research funding; if possible, present thesis proposal in HCEP 507
• Year 1, Summer – complete thesis proposal, ethics application, and get started on thesis research
• Year 2, Term 1 – present thesis proposal in HCEP 507 (if not done previous term); continue thesis research
• Year 2, Terms 2 and 3 – complete thesis research and write thesis; present present results in HCEP 507; defend thesis; submit thesis to the Faculty of Graduate Studies
  

The following table outlines the courses that should be followed by students in each thematic area of concentration.

Friday Academic Day

In order to foster a community of scholars, Friday mornings during the Fall and Winter terms are considered "academic days" in which all students are expected to participate. The breadth of topics provides insights into the context and methods of the many disciplines of the School's research and teaching. Attendance is important means to engage in cross-disciplinary learning and interact with colleagues.

Attendance at Friday Academic Day is required at 80% of the sessions for MSc students in the first two years of their program. The only exception is for students carrying out fieldwork away from Vancouver. Part-time students must attend at least 40 Friday Academic Days (i.e., the equivalent of 2 full-time years) during their years in the program. Third year MSc students are strongly encouraged to participate and will be asked from time to time on a rotation basis to attend to provide critical information regarding the research process from their own experience, assist with small group discussions, and initiate discussions of the literature.

Friday morning Rounds, the School seminar series, starts Friday Academic Day.

HCEP 507, which includes both Research in Progress and Journal Club, follows Rounds. Research in Progress provides in-depth discussion of student research as well as exposure to special topics such as ethics and management of research, budgeting of time and money, supervisory committee dynamics, and methodological issues. Interdisciplinarity is a key focus to foster understanding and respect for differing methods and research contexts.  Journal Club provides students with an opportunity to hone their critical appraisal skills and apply their growing research expertise by extending their capacity to apply published research to practice.

Some students enter the program with a thesis supervisor already identified; others enter without. Each student without a supervisor is assigned a faculty advisor whose role is to assist the student in the initial months, until a thesis supervisor is identified. The student and faculty advisor should move quickly to identify a general domain and supervisor for the thesis research.

The advisor's (or thesis supervisor's) role in the first year is to

• help the student to select courses in the initial 1-2 terms, 
  
• ensure the student is aware of how to find departmental and faculty policies
  
• provide advice regarding strategies for finding a thesis supervisor
  
• assist student in finding information about funding sources and teaching opportunities, where appropriate
  
• ensure the student has opportunity to be nominated for awards, where appropriate
  

How do I choose a supervisor and committee?

You are responsible for choosing your thesis supervisor, who will chair your supervisory committee. A review of the School's full-time faculty will enable you to familiarize yourself with the research being conducted in the School and start a preliminary dialogue with any faculty members whose research appears compatible with your intended course of study. If your research interests or plans change, you can change your supervisor, although you should be aware that this may delay your progress towards graduation. The thesis supervisor must be a full-time Professor, Associate Professor or Assistant Professor in the School and must be a member of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

The supervisory committee consists of the chair and 2 or more other committee members. You work together with your supervisor to identify suitable committee members. At least one committee member should be a School faculty member (can include an associate faculty member, i.e., one with a primary appointment in another UBC department, but also formally appointed in our School). Other committee members may be clinical faculty or individuals from other academic units or from outside the University. Members from outside the School must be approved by the Graduate Advisor or the Director of the School.

Roles and Responsibilities of Students and Supervisors 

Research Topic

Any research topic related to the health of human populations is considered suitable for a thesis in the School. Specific research topics will be constrained by the availability of faculty with suitable content and methodological expertise to supervise the work. Students are encouraged to meet with many different faculty members to discuss potential research topics.

Thesis Proposal

MSc students are required to present their thesis research protocol orally as one of their HCEP 507 (Research Seminar) presentations. Presentation of the thesis proposal to the Thesis Screening Panel is optional. If you plan to present to the Panel, please refer to the Thesis Screening Panel web page for information on  proposal format and the Panel meeting.

Thesis Format

There are no specific rules regarding thesis length or content. This should be determined by the student and the supervisory committee. Typically, a Masters thesis focuses on one main research question, which may or may not be closely linked to a faculty member's research. The School strongly encourages students to publish their research results in the peer-reviewed literature. The written thesis must adhere to the formatting requirements of the University. 

Final Oral Examination

After the thesis has been approved by the supervisor and supervisory committee members, it must be submitted to the School and defended in an internal School oral defence. The student and supervisor are responsible for scheduling the oral examination. Please note that the examination and any subsequent revisions must be completed in time for final submission of the thesis to the Faculty of Graduate Studies to meet graduation deadlines.

• examination committee: Three members proposed by the thesis supervisor and approved by the School Director; members to include the thesis supervisor, one full-time School faculty member not on the student's thesis committee, and one other School faculty member (possibly from the student's thesis committee, but not necessarily so).
• format: Open to all members of the university community; 20-minute presentation by student; questioning by examining committee, other faculty, students, others; maximum duration 2 hours.
• grading: 4 options: accept as is; accept with revisions to be approved by the thesis supervisor; accept with revisions to be approved by specified members of the examining committee; not acceptable. The final thesis grade submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies is either pass or fail.