Prospective applicants may address inquiries and applications for admission to the Program Assistant, School of Information. Specify the Master of Library and Information Studies program. Admission application dates are as follows:
For September admission:
Domestic/International students: January 15
Supporting document deadline: February 1
For January admission:
Domestic/International students: June 1
Supporting document deadline: June 15
The M.L.I.S. program accepts only students whose personal and academic qualifications appear to make them suitable for successful practice in library, archival, and information professions.
The M.L.I.S. program has a limited enrolment. The number of qualified applicants exceeds the number of available places. In recent years, therefore, those accepted have shown academic ability above the minimum required standard specified below.
For admission to the M.L.I.S. program, a candidate must:
- possess a four-year bachelor's degree (or its equivalent) from a recognized university in a discipline acceptable to the Admissions Committee for the program;
- have achieved a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC) in third- and fourth-year level courses of a bachelor's degree; and
- show promise of superior professional performance as attested by letters of reference and the UBC iSchool questionnaire.
Applicants to the program from international institutions will be considered on a case-by-case basis for eligibility. An applicant possessing a bachelor's degree or its academic equivalent who does not meet the requirements of point two above should contact the School's Educational Services Coordinator for information regarding possible qualifying coursework.
Undergraduate Preparation
A broad educational background is expected of the information professional. In the undergraduate years, prospective applicants should select elective courses that will give some acquaintance with the humanities, sciences, and social sciences. In general, it is desirable to have a wide range of reading and recreational interests.
A librarian, archivist, or other information professional must often interpret documents, and/or data in searching systems, in more than one language. The study of major languages other than English at the undergraduate level is therefore recommended as preparation. Efficient use of computers is essential in information professions today; it is expected that students come into the School with basic computer competence.
Language Requirement
Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must present evidence of competency to pursue studies in the English language prior to being extended an offer of admission. The School of Information requires a minimum score of 600 on the paper-based TOEFL, or a score of at least 100 on the internet-based TOEFL, or a minimum overall band score of 7.5 with a minimum score of 7.0 in each component of the academic (NOT general) IELTS test.