How to Apply

We encourage applicants to communicate with potential references early, and recommend sharing your CV and LOI with them. We also recommend reviewing and sharing the Reference Guide. We require applicants to enter the contact information, including an email address, for each of their references in the online application. Referees can submit a reference form, reference letter, or both.

We accept two basic types of references:

1. Electronic references submitted via the online application system. References will be asked to either fill out a reference form in the online system, or upload their document (letter or previously completed form). In order to use the online system, referees must have an institutional email account (university, organization, professional business, etc). Referees cannot use the system if they have a have a personal email account (Hotmail, Yahoo, Gmail, MSN, etc). The online system automatically verifies all email addresses. We prefer electronic references.
2. Paper letters of reference or paper reference forms mailed directly to the MSc program office. Paper reference letters should be on the referee’s official letterhead and must be mailed directly to the office in a sealed and endorsed envelope.

Instructions will be provided to referees once the online application has been submitted. Please note that referees will only be notified about submitting references once the application has been submitted. We encourage you to submit your application early to allow plenty of time for your references to submit their documents.

Your referees will receive automatic reminders 10 days prior to the earliest referee deadline. You will also receive automatically generated emails about the status of your references, (e.g. when the reference is submitted, a referee declines, or the referee address has failed). You also have the option to change a referee in your online application after you’ve submitted your application and before the deadline. We cannot accept reference letters emailed directly to the program.

All applications must include a Quantitative Statement. This is a mandatory question in the application. Please include your Quantitative Statement in the application – do not upload a separate document.

Quantitative Statements must be 150 words or less. Statements should describe past quantitative experience, including, but not limited to: coursework in math, statistics, or research methods; experience with statistical software; and/or research experiences. Further information and example Quantitative Statements can be found here.

TOEFL or IELTS test scores must be submitted electronically through the testing agency. The UBC institution code is 0965. We must receive the scores by the application deadline. We encourage applicants to book a date early if you need to take the TOEFL or IELTS.

Please note that the online application asks you to self-report your TOEFL or IELTS scores, and allows you to upload a copy of your test report form. We encourage you to self-report scores, but we are not able to accept either of these as official scores. We require that the scores be submitted directly to UBC via the testing agency.

Test scores, including GRE or GMAT, are not required. If you would like to submit test scores, you can, and they will be reviewed as part of your application.

GRE scores (or other test scores) must be submitted electronically through the testing agency. The UBC institution code is 0965. We must receive the score by the application deadline, or it will not be considered in the application.

Please note that the online application asks you to self-report your GRE scores, and allows you to upload a copy of your test report form. We encourage you to self-report scores, but we are not able to accept either of these as official scores. We require that the scores be submitted directly to UBC via the testing agency if you would like them reviewed as part of your application.