CA · Master's
University of British Columbia
Master of Public Health
University of British Columbia
Course Overview
UBC's MPH, run out of the School of Population and Public Health (SPPH), is a 24-month accredited professional degree with four major concentrations: Population Health Practice, Global Health, Occupational & Environmental Health, and Quantitative Methods (epidemiology + biostatistics). The Quantitative stream is one of the strongest in Canada and routinely places graduates into the BC Centre for Disease Control, Provincial Health Services, and Statistics Canada.
The program includes a 400-hour practicum placement — past Sri Lankan students have placed with the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office, BC CDC, Vancouver Coastal Health, and the Public Health Agency of Canada. Graduates typically split between practitioner roles in Canadian provincial health authorities and policy/research roles with multilateral organisations or returning to South Asian Ministry of Health postings.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle Four-year Bachelor's degree (any discipline; pre-med, biology, nursing, social sciences, or quantitative backgrounds preferred) with minimum B+ (76%) standing.
- check_circle At least 1 year of relevant work or volunteer experience in public health, healthcare, community development, or policy.
- check_circle Statement of Intent aligned with chosen concentration; three references (at least one academic).
English Proficiency
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 7.0 Overall (min 6.5 in each component).
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 100 Overall (min 22 in Reading/Listening, 21 in Writing/Speaking).
- check_circle Waived if your degree was taught in English in an English-majority country for at least 3 years.
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (CAD) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Tuition Fee | CAD 21,550 | Rs. 5,070,000 |
| Living Expenses (Vancouver, 12 mo) | CAD 22,000 | Rs. 5,170,000 |
| GIC + SDS Visa + Biometrics | CAD 21,400 | Rs. 5,030,000 |
| Total Year 1 Investment | CAD 64,950 | Rs. 15,270,000 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
MPH graduates qualify for the 3-year Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) and the Express Entry PR pathway. BC's health authorities (Vancouver Coastal Health, Fraser Health, BC CDC, Provincial Health Services Authority) actively recruit UBC MPH grads, with starting salaries around CAD 75,000–90,000 for epidemiologists and health-policy analysts. Returning Sri Lankan grads have moved into the Ministry of Health, IHP, WHO Country Office Colombo, and global NGOs (PATH, FHI 360, Save the Children).
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