Graduate Certificate in Migration Studies

Admissions Requirements

Students from all graduate programs can apply. Students will normally apply in May for intake into the certificate program in September.   

Applicants must have the following: 

• be currently enrolled in and making adequate academic progress in a UBC master’s degree program, research or professional, or doctoral degree program  
• demonstration of an interest in migration or mobilities studies 
• a signature of the student’s supervisor or graduate program director that they are aware of this undertaking   

Students are required to submit a statement of interest that describes their interests in migration research and/or professional practice, their CV, copies of all transcripts submitted for their UBC graduate degree application, and current graduate degree academic record transcripts. Acceptance into the program will be based on the strength of demonstrated interest in migration/mobilities research and/or professional practice, fit with the objectives of the program, and academic preparation and performance as shown by academic  records. Establishing a cohort with diverse disciplinary backgrounds will also be taken into consideration when making admission decisions. 

Program Requirements

To complete the certificate, students must complete 10 credits: 

• 9 credits of graduate course electives from a list of approved courses. Please see the certificate section of the CMS website for the list of approved courses. The 9 credits may be completed any time during the student’s graduate degree. 3 of the above 9 credits must be taken outside of the student’s home department. Where departments open up 400 level courses to graduate students, certificate students may take 3 of the required 9 credits at the 400 level.  
• Any number of these elective credits may also be applied to the requirements for their graduate degree program of study at the discretion of the student’s degree program. 
• ASTU 505 (1 credit) Interdisciplinary Research and Professional Practice in Migration Studies. Students are generally expected to complete this research seminar in their first year of the certificate program. 
• Upon completion of the 10 credits, students are required to submit a 5-7 page paper reflecting on their curricular learning. 

If a student does not maintain continuous registration in or is withdrawn from their degree program before they complete the certificate requirements, they will be simultaneously withdrawn from the graduate certificate program. However, if a student has already completed all certificate requirements at the time they are withdrawn from the degree program, they may be awarded the certificate.  

If a student takes an approved leave of absence during their degree program, they will simultaneously be on leave from the graduate certificate program.  

Satisfactory progress as defined by the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies for Graduate Certificate students must be maintained.