Graduate studies
Beyond your BCom
First, determine why you want to go to grad school. Maybe you’re interested in practicing law, or getting an MBA to help you climb the corporate ladder. Maybe you’d like to do academic research or specialize in a specific business discipline. Whatever's your reason, to choose the right program and school you need to think about your ultimate goal.
Applying to grad school
Grad school applications have many parts. They typically require a transcript, a standardized test score, letters of recommendation, and a personal admissions essay.
You’ve probably heard of standardized tests before: these are the GMAT, GRE, or LSAT. They’re a way to compare students from different universities with different grading standards. Whatever test you plan to take, be sure to familiarize yourself with the test format, and investigate research library resources and online forums for study tips. Take the standardized test early to avoid missing your application deadline.
While standardized tests provide a numerical score, letters of recommendation and admissions essays reveal the real person. That’s why good references from your professors and/or employers are important. If you’re serious about pursuing grad studies, remember to start building relationships early and maintain them.
MBA programs
A Master of Business Administration (MBA) can help advance your career and open the door to new opportunities. You’ll typically need an undergraduate degree and several years of work experience before doing an MBA.
Prospective graduate business school students take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), which measures their verbal, quantitative and analytical skills. There are a number of test sessions each year. Some business schools also accept the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) test.
- Learn more about the GMAT
- See the latest MBA program rankings
Specialized masters
Most specialized business masters programs are fairly new, but are growing more popular. There are specialized master’s degrees in a variety of fields, such as human resources, finance, operations management, data analytics, and marketing. Prospective students will also need to take the GMAT.
- Learn more about specialized business masters programs
- See how a specialized masters compares to an MBA
Law schools
A law degree may also be a possibility in your future. There’s no “best” pre-law undergraduate degree, but know that you’ll need to do well in courses involving synthesizing information, writing, and analytical reasoning.
The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is a standardized test administered 4 times each year, assessing prospective law students on their reading, writing, and logical reasoning abilities. Visit the LSAC website for the LSAT registration to learn more.
- Decide if law school is right for you
- Learn more about LSAT preparation
- See global rankings of law schools
Search for graduate schools
Where do you begin to research the myriad options for graduate studies? One place to start is to check out our links below.
Graduate study at UBC
- UBC Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies: Provides news and information about upcoming events and deadlines
- UBC Graduate Student Society: Acts as the independent voice of graduate students on UBC's campus, advises new students and provides information about upcoming events and volunteer opportunities
- MBA Programs at UBC Sauder: Learn about UBC Sauder’s full-time, part-time, and international MBA programs
Canada
- Universities Canada: Includes a brief introduction to each university, including a profile, programs, academic year, enrolment, tuition fees, housing, and sports
- Western Canadian Deans of Graduate Studies (WCDGS): Provides quick access to information about graduate studies at Western Canadian Universities and WCDGS annual meetings
- Canadian Association for Graduate Studies: Brings together 58 Canadian universities with graduate programs, the three federal research-granting agencies, and many other organizations
- MBA Schools and Programs in Canada: Provides information about graduate business degrees
United States
- Peterson's Guide: Search through thousands of graduate programs and prepare online for the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, and MCAT
- Graduate Guide Home: Search for US law schools, doctorates, and MBA programs by major and state; includes university contact details and email forms
- Council of Graduate Schools: The Resources for Students section includes information on choosing a graduate school, financing graduate education, fellowships, and financial aid
International
- International Graduate Programs: A great search tool for graduate schools in countries such as Australia, United Kingdom, and New Zealand