Life as a student

Live and learn in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Nestled next to the Pacific Ocean, the campus provides endless opportunities to experience a cosmopolitan city, breathtaking natural wonders, entertaining excursions, and an environment of academic excellence.

Vancouver offers a temperate climate and unlimited options for outdoor adventure – from kayaking and sailing in English Bay to skiing and biking on the North Shore mountains. This cosmopolitan city is compact enough to make its recreational and cultural attractions easily accessible, and big enough to ensure there is always something new to discover.

What to expect

Graduate school is fundamentally different than undergraduate study. What can you expect as you begin your journey of advanced study?

Graduate-level coursework

• Your courses will usually consist of a smaller cohort.
• Courses will be based on specific topics and will focus on reading and discussing the research and cases related to that topic.
• You will be expected to participate in in-depth discussions.
• Reading load will be intensive. Plan on spending 15-20 hours per week on reading.

General

You can expect graduate school to be an exciting and challenging endeavour. It will normally require at least 40 hours a week of sustained work in reading, writing, preparing presentations, developing scholarship or grant proposals, library or lab research and the like. Your professors will expect you to take charge of your own educational path and ask for guidance when you need it. You can also expect times of great inspiration and times of "feeling stuck". Social and peer support is crucial for handling the inevitable ups and downs of graduate school.