Admission Requirements

MIF Requirements

  • The MIF is designed for early/mid-career professionals. Applicants must have an academic background in science, social science, or a related discipline with an adequate grounding in natural resource conservation and management. As part of the application package, applicants will be required to submit a questionnaire that will assist us in evaluating foundation knowledge.

Additional Requirements

For applicants with Canadian or USA credentials you must have:

  • The academic equivalent of a four-year bachelor’s degree with a minimum overall average in the B+ range in third- and fourth-year courses (at UBC, these are courses numbered 300-499).

Visit the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies website for a full explanation of the general requirements for Canadian or US credentials.

For applicants with International credentials, your requirements vary by country. Please see the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies website for a full list of general requirements for international credentials.

English Language Proficiency
Applicants whose prior degree is from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide official results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. TOEFL, IELTS, CAEL, PTE are acceptable tests. Visit the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies website for a complete list of acceptable testing agencies.

View English Requirements

  • Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your program application and the results must be sent to UBC directly from the testing agency.
  • The minimum TOEFL internet-based score required for a Forestry graduate program application is 100, with a minimum score in each component: Reading – 23; Writing – 24; Listening – 23; Speaking – 22. 
  • For IELTS, a minimum overall band score of 7.0 is required, with a minimum score of 6.5 in each component of the academic (NOT general) test.
  • If you plan on taking an English proficiency test with a different testing agency, please contact us for information on the minimum test score required.
  • Please note that at UBC, minimum test scores vary from program to program. Forestry’s minimum language score requirements are higher than the minimums listed by the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
  • If you do not meet minimum Forestry language scores, you may be granted an exemption with the recommendation of the Program Director and approval from the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. An exception may be granted based on an applicant’s excellent academic record and potential language ability. Exceptions are evaluated on a case-by-case basis and may require an interview and submission of a writing sample.
  • If you completed your degree credential in a non-English speaking country but your university’s primary language of instruction is English, we require an official letter from the University Registrar to confirm this. In such cases, you may be exempted from language testing.

Other Considerations

  • We welcome applications from both domestic and international students. Individuals of Aboriginal ancestry are particularly encouraged to apply. Please read the additional information for Aboriginal applicants to graduate programs.
  • Admission standards for all of our graduate programs are in accordance with the standards set by UBC’s Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Given that the number of applicants exceeds the number of positions available, a record that satisfies basic entrance requirements does not guarantee admission.