Transfers

Transfer requests must be received a minimum of one month prior to the start of the new program. Transfers can only be processed for the following start dates: January, May, or September.

Requests for transfer can take 2-3 weeks to be processed, as they may require approval from the graduate supervisor, the graduate advisor, the Faculty of Applied Science and/or the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

Transfer directly into a PhD program should be accomplished after the first year of study and will not be permitted after the completion of the second year in a Master’s program.

Transfers may not be retroactive.

The transfer must be clearly justified by the student’s supervisor in a memorandum to Graduate Studies recommending the transfer.

Students who wish to transfer from a Master’s program to a PhD program must have:

• Completed one year of study in the Master’s program (and less than two years).

• Completion of minimum 18 credits for MASc coursework (not including BMEG 598 Seminar and BMEG 599 Thesis). Of this coursework:

• minimum 80% average in 12 credits

• at least 12 of these credits must be at the 500 level or above

• at least 9 credits must be at 80% or above

• all grades above 68%

• successful completion of a PhD Comprehensive Exam

• the student must also show clear evidence of research ability.

To Advance to Candidacy:

Students admitted prior to 2024 are required to complete 24 credits to advance to candidacy. Students admitted in 2024 or after are required to complete 21 credits to advance to candidacy. Please visit the Courses page for more information about specific courses.

After completing the minimum 18 credits of coursework to transfer to the PhD program, students may complete the remaining coursework to advance to candidacy either:

• 24 months from start of registration in MASC program, or

• at least 4 months after transfer, whichever is later.

The final course requirement after advancing to candidacy is BMEG 598 Seminar, which is a 1-credit seminar course that students must continuously register in until graduation.

If a student transfers from a Master’s program to a PhD program without completing the Master’s degree, the commencement of the PhD program will be from the date of first registration in the Master’s program.

• Transfers from PhD to a Master’s program should not be for academic reasons, but rather must be justified on the appropriateness of a student’s personal or professional goals.

• Students must send an official request to the program office with the requested date of transfer (must be the first day of term – September, January, or May).

• Deadline: one month prior to start of new term.

• Students must send an official request to the program office with the requested date of transfer (must be the first day of term – September, January, or May).

• The department will request confirmation from your supervisor that she/he is in support of transferring credits to the new program. Transferable credits will be assessed at time of transfer request.

• Only courses with a minimum of B standing (74% at UBC) will be considered for transfer.

• Note: BMEG 597 typically cannot be used for credit unless the project was substantially different from the proposed thesis.

• Deadline: one month prior to start of new term.

• Students must send an official request to the program office with the requested date of transfer (must be the first day of term – September, January, or May).

• Students must have secured a supervisor who is able to provide SBME’s minimum funding.

• The department will request a memo from the supervisor to confirm that she/he is in support of the transfer, including the rationale.

• Supervisor will sign admission letter and student will receive a copy.

• Only courses with a minimum of B standing (74% at UBC) will be considered for transfer.

• Deadline: one month prior to start of new term.

Students requesting a transfer to or from another department should discuss it with their supervisor and review the G+PS policies at Transfer Another Degree Program.