8 Best Universities In Vancouver For Masters

Some of the best universities in Canada are in Vancouver like UBC and College offering world-class education at undergraduate and graduate levels. If you are looking to pursue a master’s degree in Canada, the universities in Vancouver may be the right place for you, keep reading to find out.

Vancouver is a city in Canada and one that you would love to be in especially as a student. The city is in the province of British Columbia and is among the densest and ethnically diverse cities in all of Canada. This makes Vancouver a favorite location among filmmakers and international students looking to pursue a degree in the arts due to its art, theater, and music scenery.

Aside from being a bustling city, Vancouver also houses some of the best universities in Canada that are internationally known for their academic excellence. Among them is the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, and the University of Victoria which are often preferred by national and international students for their quality programs, expert faculty, and cutting-edge facilities.

Some of the best universities in Vancouver also rank among the best in the world.

In this blog post, I have curated a list of the best universities in Vancouver for masters. This would help those who are looking to pursue a graduate degree in Canada discover universities and make a decision on where they would go. Whether you are a national or international student, you are welcome to digest this article. Even aspiring undergraduates will find this post useful in their search for a university in Canada.

Vancouver University offers a wide range of master’s degree programs that span multiple disciplines. Some of the most popular master’s programs in Vancouver are finance, psychology, design, media, communication business, and environmental science.

You can find more programs in any of the universities in Vancouver for the master’s that you wish to go for and from the details below, you can easily find your preferred institution without doing much research.

universities in Vancouver for masters

Best Universities In Vancouver For Masters

Some of the best universities in Canada and the world are in Vancouver, which one will you be attending to pursue your master’s degree? Find out from the curated list below.

  • The University of British Columbia (UBC)
  • University Canada West (UCW)
  • Simon Fraser University (SFU)
  • The University of Victoria (UVic)
  • Thompson Rivers University (TRU)
  • Regent College
  • Vancouver Island University (VIU)
  • Emily Carr University of Art + Design

1.     The University of British Columbia (UBC)

UBC, a global center for research and teaching, is consistently ranked among the best public universities in the world and regarded as one of the “Ivy League universities” in Canada. Admission into UBC is highly competitive, especially for graduate studies like master’s where the acceptance rate is just 18%.

To get into a master’s program at UBC, you must hold a four-year bachelor’s degree with a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76-79% at UBC) in 3rd and 4th year-level courses. The cost of a master’s at UBC varies, citizens and permanent residents pay $5,301.54 per year while international students are charged $26,398.26 per year.

Applicants who are non-native English speakers are required to provide results of an English language proficiency exam. Also, some programs may require applicants to provide GRE or GMAT scores. Check the UBC website for more details.

2.     University Canada West (UCW)

If you want to pursue a master’s degree in Canada in the business field UCW is where you should look into. The institution is business-oriented and this makes it well known for offering quality business degree programs, especially the MBA which is also the only master’s program that the school offers.

The school boasts of having a practical focus, an emphasis on teaching excellence with small class sizes, and professors with real-world business experience. To get into the MBA at UCW, you must possess an accredited bachelor’s degree with a CGPA of 3.00 on a scale of 4.33 and provide a GMAT or GRE test score. Three years of professional or management experience is also required.

3.     Simon Fraser University (SFU)

Simon Fraser University is one of the best universities in Vancouver for masters and is regarded as one of the “Ivy League universities in Canada”. The graduate division at SFU is divided into 8 faculties that offer various program options for graduate students. Applicants are required to have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university with a minimum CGPA of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0.

Applicants who are non-native English speakers are also required to provide English language proficiency results and all students must submit reference letters. Popular master’s program at SFU includes economics, finance, actuarial science, communication, and heritage resource management.

4.     The University of Victoria (UVic)

UVic ranks among the top universities in Vancouver for master’s degrees with popular programs in anthropology, clinical psychology, economics, English, and community development. The university is top 12 in Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Ranking.

UVic boasts of having one of the most unique academic environments in the world with programs that are designed to help you make an important impact. As a master’s student at UVic, you will be awarded research and teaching assistantships to support your studies.

5.     Thompson Rivers University (TRU)

TRU is a prestigious university in Canada, it won the national teaching awards for three consecutive years from 2018 to 2020. It is also the first university to achieve a platinum ranking with the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. The institution boasts of having the most diverse campus in Canada and offering a prestigious master’s education that will make you valued by employers.

The master’s programs at TRU are few, they are in business, education, nursing, data science, environmental science, economics, and many more. Admission requirements into the master’s program at TRU vary by program and student’s residency status, be sure to visit the school’s website to get all the info.  

6.     Regent College

Graduate applicants looking for a Christian-based school should look into Regent University. The institution is an evangelical graduate school of Christian studies in Vancouver and is affiliated with the University of British Columbia. There are 5 master’s programs at Regent University that are designed to fit different goals, interests, and parameters.

To enter any of the master’s programs at Regent, you must have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution and a minimum GPA of 2.8 (or 3.3 and a minimum of 5 years of working experience depending on the program).

Application materials include a non-refundable application fee of CAD 60, a personal statement of no more than 1,000 words, official transcripts, 2 recommendation letters, TOEFL for non-native English speakers, 10-12 pages of a sample research paper, and a 1,000-word writing sample. Depending on your program, a CV/resume may be required. Tuition is $505 per credit hour.

7.     Vancouver Island University (VIU)

Vancouver Island University is one of the best universities in Vancouver for masters ranked among the top public universities in Nanaimo. The institution is known for its prowess in teaching, applied research, and learning. Here at VIU, you can explore a wide range of master’s degree and graduate diploma programs in business, education, and community planning.

8.     Emily Carr University of Art + Design

Graduate applicants looking to further their education in the artistic field should consider the Emily Carr University of Art + Design. It is a world-class institution in art, design, and media disciplines that will shape you to be among world-leading artists.

Here at Emily Carr, you can either pursue a Master of Fine Arts or a Master of Design to explore the artistic world and bring out your true potential.

This wraps up the list of best universities in Vancouver for masters, with this info at your disposal, which of these universities will you be applying to?

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