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Faculty of Science

Graduate programs

As a UVic Science graduate student, you’ll join an inclusive community of students and internationally-recognized researchers who focus on both fundamental and applied research that impacts people, places and the planet.

Our research-intensive programs grant you access to top-notch resources and facilities and an international network. Each field has its own expectations in terms of research, coursework and teaching opportunities.

A graduate student and her supervisor look at an agar plate.

Programs

Our graduate programs are research-intensive, giving students the opportunity to conduct in-depth research with leading scholars in their fields. Each department in the Faculty of Science offers graduate programs leading to a Master of Science (MSc) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). 

Explore graduate programs in science

Finding a supervisor

A graduate supervisor oversees your academic work and can help you identify funding, research and teaching opportunities. A good supervisor is passionate about your subject area and invested in your success beyond your degree. Your relationship with your supervisor is the foundation of your graduate student success.

How to find a supervisor

When looking for a supervisor, consider the research projects that each faculty member does, whether your work and communication styles are compatible and what type of funding is available for you in that lab and department. 

There are typically 2 ways to find a supervisor:

  1. Identify researchers that you want to work with and approach them to see if they're looking for a graduate student and if you're a good fit. You can then indicate the name(s) of potential faculty supervisors in your application. 
  2. Apply to your graduate program. Researchers looking for students will contact you after your application is accepted. 

Funding

All graduate students in the Faculty of Science recieve funding to support their research and learning. This funding may consist of UVic fellowships and awards, teaching assistantships and research assistantships. Amounts may vary by department. 

Graduate students may also wish to apply for external awards, bursaries and/or additional internal awards.

Co-op

Take part in the largest graduate co-op program in Canada and put your skills into practice in the workplace. Graduate students may choose to participate in co-op and combine paid work terms with graduate studies. 

Explore co-op for graduate students

Interdisciplinary opportunities

You’ll have many opportunities to pursue interdisciplinary studies in science. If you’re interested in interdisciplinary research, you can create a supervisory committee that includes one or more faculty members from other disciplines. You may also be interested in one of the following programs:

  • Coastal Climate Solutions Leaders (CCSL) program: An NSERC CREATE funded program, CCSL offers an immersive learning experience for graduate students seeking to advance climate solutions. Bridging across the sciences, engineering, social sciences and business, this program delivers enriched interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral training to prepare the next generation of leaders with the knowledge, experience and skills needed to rise to the challenge of climate change.

We have also recently offered NSERC CREATE funded programs in Polymer Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery (PoND) and New Technologies for Canadian Observatories (NTCO).

Facilities & infrastructure

Equipment and facilities are a key part of conducting cutting-edge research. From advanced microscopy facilities, to an NMR facility and multiple mass spectrometry facilities, to biosafety level 2 labs, there's a good chance we have exactly what you need. Beyond the basics, we also have an outdoor aquatics facility, a 603 square-foot greenhouse, a marine research vessel and a state-of-the-art proteomics centre.
Explore research facilities

Our location

At UVic, science is quite literally in our backyard. Whether you’re interested in exploring the ocean, the forests or the Earth and rocks, our location puts you in close proximity to the environment you’re studying.

Victoria is a city where science is happening. As the capital of British Columbia, many government agencies are located in Victoria, and it's a place where industry thrives. These agencies and businesses are collaborating with our faculty members and are invested in helping train our students, making it easy to connect with people you want to work with—and who want to work with you.

Regardless of your field of study, Victoria is a beautiful place to live with some of the best weather in Canada. Summers are comfortable and dry with low humidity, in winter the temperature rarely falls below freezing, and the ocean, mountains and forests are never too far away. 

Ready to apply?

Ready to apply to UVic? We'll walk you through the steps of our application process.

How to apply to UVic
Questions? Connect with the graduate secretary for your department or contact a UVic student recruiter.