Transferring Between Master’s Degrees
In exceptional situations, students can apply to transfer between degree related degree programs. Please contact the Office of Graduate Administration at grad-office@unbc.ca for this form.
International students must comply with current Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada regulations on changing programs (https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/change-schools.html). International students considering this option should contact ie@unbc.ca first; changing programs may be subject to an available Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) allocation.
Continuation to a Doctoral Program (without completion of a Master's degree)
International Master's students who are continuing to a Doctoral program must comply with current Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada regulations on changing programs (https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/change-schools.html). International students considering this option should contact ie@unbc.ca first; changing degree levels is subject to an available Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) allocation.
Continuation from a Master's to a PhD program request form
As per the UNBC Graduate Academic Calendar, 7.1 Admission to Doctoral Degrees: Students enrolled in a Master’s program at UNBC may continue to a Doctoral program prior to completion of their Master’s degree. Students may apply to be transferred to Doctoral status no sooner than two semesters after initial registration in the Master’s program at UNBC. After a review, which must include an evaluation by the student’s supervisory committee, the program will recommend to the Dean one of the following:
7.1.4 Continuation to a Doctoral Program
a. admission to the Doctoral program without completion of a Master's program;
b. admission to the Doctoral program but with concurrent completion of all requirements for their Master's degree within one semester from the date of transfer;
c. admission to the Doctoral program following completion of the requirements for the Master's degree; and
d. refusal of admission to the Doctoral program.
Students who are approved and admitted to a Doctoral program under Continuation to a Doctoral Program in Admissions and Regulations must complete courses from the Master’s and Doctoral programs as recommended by the existing supervisory committee, and approved by the Dean.
Students admitted under Continuation to a Doctoral Program in Admissions and Regulations who do not complete the requirements for the Master’s degree within the one semester limit will lose their status in the Doctoral program and be returned to Master’s status.
Students admitted to a Doctoral program under Continuation to a Doctoral Program in Admissions and Regulations, but who are not continuing in the Doctoral program, may re-register as a candidate for the Master’s degree, provided that work to date has met the standards of the Master’s program and the candidacy examination has not been attempted.
7.1.5 No more than four full-time tuition fee units or the equivalent for part-time students will be credited in such cases towards the fees for the Doctoral program.
7.1.6 Part-time Doctoral work is not feasible in some areas because of the divergent nature of academic disciplines. Accordingly, no program is obligated to offer part-time Doctoral work.
PhD to Masters: International Students
International students (including those who have a pending application for permanent residency) are not eligible to be considered for transfer from a Doctoral program to a Master’s degree program.
PhD to Masters: Domestic Students
For domestic students, apply here. Transfer of completed coursework at the Doctoral level to the Master’s degree requirements is at the discretion of the program on approved transfer. If this transfer is approved, please note that previous instalments of tuition under the doctoral tuition waiver will not count towards the minimum instalments required for the Master’s degree and there is no tuition waiver for Master’s level study. Any held awards also may not transfer, and students should contact awarding bodies for details.