UBC Calendar: Residency Requirements and Duration of Program
Please read the full Senate policy in the Calendar.
Doctoral Students
Students admitted to a doctoral program will normally be expected to spend the equivalent of at least two consecutive years of full-time study at the University. With the approval of the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, graduate programs may make different regulations concerning duration of study, sequence of study and location of full-time study.
Students must maintain continuous registration throughout all years until graduation by keeping up with tuition fee payments.
If the degree is not awarded within a period of six years from initial registration, the student's eligibility for the degree will be terminated. Under exceptional circumstances, extensions may be granted by the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
Students who, for health or personal reasons including childbirth and having primary responsibility for the care of a child, must interrupt their studies, should apply for a leave. See the UBC Calendar, On-Leave Status. The period of leave is not counted toward time to completion.
Master's Students
Students in a master's program are expected to engage in full-time study, unless they are approved by the program for part-time study.
There is no general requirement for residency period on campus for master’s students. However individual programs may establish requirements for location of study.
Five years is the maximum period of time to complete a master's degree. If a degree is not awarded within a period of five years from initial registration, the student's eligibility for the degree will be terminated and the student will be required to withdraw from the program. Under exceptional circumstances, an extension to allow a student to continue in the program may be granted by the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. This restriction applies equally to full-time and part-time students.
Students who, for health or personal reasons including childbirth and having primary responsibility for the care of a child, must interrupt their studies should apply for a leave. See On-Leave Status under Classification of Students. The period of leave is not counted toward time to completion.
Individual master’s programs may establish an expected or required duration of program that is less than 5 years. See the graduate degree program entry for more information.
Graduate Diploma Students
There is no general requirement for residency period on campus for graduate diploma students. However individual programs may establish requirements for location of study.
Five years is the maximum period of time to complete a graduate diploma. If a graduate diploma is not awarded within a period of five years from initial registration, the student's eligibility for the diploma will be terminated and the student will be required to withdraw from the program. Under exceptional circumstances, an extension to allow a student to continue in the program may be granted by the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
Students who, for health or personal reasons including childbirth and having primary responsibility for the care of a child, must interrupt their studies should seek approval from their graduate diploma program.
Individual programs may establish an expected or required duration of program that is less than 5 years. See the graduate diploma program entry for more information.
Graduate Certificate Students
There is no general requirement for residency period on campus for graduate certificate students. However individual programs may establish requirements for location of study.
Five years is the maximum period of time to complete a graduate certificate. If a graduate certificate is not awarded within a period of five years from initial registration, the student's eligibility for the certificate will be terminated and the student will be required to withdraw from the program. Under exceptional circumstances, an extension to allow a student to continue in the program may be granted by the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
Students who, for health or personal reasons including childbirth and having primary responsibility for the care of a child, must interrupt their studies should seek approval from their graduate certificate program.
Individual programs may establish an expected or required duration of program that is less than 5 years. See the graduate certificate program entry for more information.