Master of Engineering Leadership in High Performance Buildings

Program Overview

The Master of Engineering Leadership in High Performance Buildings (MEL in HPB) is a program within the Faculty of Applied Science.

The MEL in HPB program develops Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) for the rapidly evolving high performance green building sector. This building sector is seeing opportunities as the demand for sustainable buildings and cities increases. UBC has an exceptional group of researchers working on green and sustainable buildings, cities and integrated energy systems.

The MEL in HPB is a degree for professionals who have relevant industry experience. It is delivered either as a 12-month, full-time program or a 24-month, part-time program. Students should consult the MEL admissions website for more information on both the full time and part time options.

This program is delivered by the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, both within the Faculty of Applied Science, in collaboration with the Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration (also known as the Sauder School of Business).

Admission Requirements

The MEL Program is a professional leadership degree. Admission takes into consideration a variety of criteria: previous academic performance, English language proficiency, professional experience, maturity, and fit.

• Applicants must hold an undergraduate credential in either engineering (or equivalent) OR a professional Master of Architecture.
• A minimum of 3 years relevant work experience.

Applicants lacking these requirements may be required to complete additional coursework on the recommendation of the Program Director. Additionally, applicants with backgrounds only in architecture may be required to complete prerequisite coursework in engineering on the recommendation of the Program Director.

The minimum admission requirement for students with degrees from North American institutions is an average of 76% (UBC-equivalency), calculated from senior-level coursework. An applicant with an average slightly less than 76% may be admitted if they have achieved 80% or higher in at least 12 credits (UBC-equivalency) of senior-level coursework in the prospective area of study.

The minimum admission requirement for applicants with degrees from outside North America is an overall degree average of 76% (UBC-equivalency).

Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of English language proficiency prior to being extended an offer of admission. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application. Acceptable English language proficiency tests for the MEL in HPB are:

• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
           Either:
  • A minimum score of 90 (internet-based exam), with minimum component scores of 22 [in reading, listening] and minimum component score of 21 [in writing, speaking];
    OR
  • Minimum score 55 each for reading, listening, and writing (in the paper-based test), with a minimum score of 4.0 on the Test of Written English (TWE).
• IELTS (International English Language Testing Service): minimum overall band score of 6.5 with no other component score less than 6.0 of the academic (NOT general) IELTS test.
• MELAB (Michigan English Language Assessment Battery): minimum overall score of 85, with a minimum score of 3 in the speaking test.
• PTE (Pearson Test of English - Academic): minimum overall score of 65, with a minimum score of 60 reading, 60 writing, 60 listening, and 60 speaking.
• CELPIP (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program): minimum scores; 4L/4L/4L of the academic (NOT general) test is required.
• CAEL (Canadian Academic English Language Assessment): minimum overall score of 70, with a minimum score of 60 on the speaking sub-test.

Applicants who do not meet both the academic and English language proficiency requirements stated above, but who have had other significant formal training, relevant professional experience, and/or otherwise possess demonstrable knowledge or expertise that would prepare them adequately for successful study in the graduate program, may be granted admission on the recommendation of the Program Director and approval of the Dean of Applied Science.

Lists of the required application documents are available on the program website. The Professional Masters office is responsible for collection and assessment of application documents.

Transfer Credit

1. Graduate students who have earned credits for equivalent courses outside of the HPB program (e.g., from a different university, in a different UBC master's program, or as an unclassified student) may apply to transfer credits toward their MEL in HPB degree. Typically only 3 credits will be allowed to be transferred, provided that:

• The courses were not used as a basis for admission to the HPB program;
• The courses were not used to satisfy the requirements of another credential;
• The courses considered for transfer credit have been taken within five years of commencement of the HPB program;
• At least a B standing (UBC 74%) was obtained in courses considered for transfer.

2. Transfer credit may only be at the graduate level (500-/600-level).

3. Transferring credits is not permitted for APSC Professional Programs management and leadership courses, course code: APPP_V or Sauder business course codes.

4. Requests for transfer credit must be accompanied by a letter or memo of support from the Director of HPB, addressed to the Associate Dean of Applied Science. The letter must provide an academic justification for allowing the transfer credit on a course by course basis and be accompanied by a set of original transcripts from the completed course institution.

5. Transferring credits will not reduce tuition fees.

Program Requirements

Degree completion requires completion of 30 credits. This includes 18 credits of Pillar courses and 12 credits of Platform courses, including 1.5 credits of approved electives from the Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration. (Platform refers to foundational coursework focused on the professional skills required for an experienced graduate to be an effective professional leader. These courses are common across many of the Applied Science Professional Master's programs. The Pillar contains the relevant technical material.)

This program also requires the student to attend Welcome Day and successfully participate in a 1-day workshop on professionalism and integrity offered by the department, in order to graduate.

The required core courses for the platform include:

APPP_V 503 (1.5) Sustainability and Leadership 
APPP_V 503 (1.5) Organizational Leadership 
APPP_V 504 (3) Business Acumen for Technical Leaders 
APPP_V 505 (3) Analytics and Interpretation for Applied Sciences 
Platform course (1.5) Approved and specified by the MEL program. 
1.5 credits of approved Commerce and Business Administration electives.

The required core courses for the pillar include:

HPB_V 501 (3) Green Building Contemporary Practice 
HPB_V 502 (3) Regenerative Development 
HPB_V 503 (3) Whole Building Energy Modelling and Simulation 
HPB_V 504 (3) Building Energy Systems Design 
HPB_V 505 (3) Capstone: Greening Existing Buildings 
HPB_V 506 (3) Capstone: New Building Energy Systems Design

Each students' course plan must be approved by the MEL in HPB graduate program office. A complete list of the courses required for successful completion are available on the program website.

Financial Assistance

Financial assistance based on academic merit and financial need may be available.

Students should consult the MEL in HPB program website for more information.

Contact Information

MEL – MHLP Office
The University of British Columbia 
Gerald McGavin Building 
211-2386 East Mall 
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3 
Email apscpp@apsc.ubc.ca 
Web: www.apscpp.ubc.ca