##  [Research Masters (MAP/MScP)](/research-masters) 

Note: the application process described on this webpage has been updated!

We have discontinued the Expression of Interest step seen in previous years.

More updates are still to come. Read carefully.





Admissions dates for the 2027 intake:

| **Applications open:** | **October 5, 2026** |
|---|---|
| **Applications/references deadline:** | **January 11, 2027** |





The following faculty are actively recruiting students in this program for AY 2027/28:

| [Jessica Barudin](/directory/jessica-barudin "Jessica Barudin") | Indigenous language revitalization and land-relationship planning |
|---|---|
| [Kelly Clifton](/directory/kelly-j-clifton "Kelly J Clifton") | Active transportation, transportation and land use, street space |
| [Julia Harten](/directory/julia-harten "Julia Harten") | Renting, gender, Chinese-speaking immigrants/ diaspora and/or new data and methodologies for planning |
| [Michael Hooper](/directory/michael-hooper "Michael Hooper") | Urban planning, policy and politics (Details in link) |
| [Theo Lim](/directory/theodore-lim "Theodore Lim") | Artificial intelligence and planning ethics |









### [Read this page and still have questions? ](https://scarp.ubc.ca/events?keywords=&field_event_category_target_id=280)

You can email admissions@scarp.ubc.ca with anything that still isn't clear. Or you can attend one of SCARP's or UBC's admissions infosessions. (Click here to see what's coming up!)







- Why Research Masters?
- Program overview
- Applying

#####  Why Research Masters? 



## As you decide which path is right for you, it's fair to ask:

[**Why UBC?**](https://www.grad.ubc.ca/prospective-students/why-grad-school-ubc)

[**Why Planning and why SCARP?**](/about)

and   
Why a Research-based Masters?

It opens so many paths.

SCARP's Research Masters degree is for you if any of the following rings true:

- You're interested in progressing to Doctoral research
- You're a mid-career professional who can’t commit to a PhD full time schedule right now
- You're building your professional platform for high-level planning and public-policy work
- You're seeking new insights, a broader lens, and honed skills in the field of Planning

If you want your research to ask today's big questions, you've come to the right place.

Today, many established assumptions of how to build and plan communities are being transformed and made more equitable, inclusive, and flourishing.

Immerse yourself in the insights and challenges of planning on your own terms. With the support of a flexible curriculum, open yourself up to your own research vision with all the tools, support, and expertise of UBC’s School of Community and Regional Planning.



With the freedom to undertake a regimen of SCARP and other UBC courses, bridge the gap between disciplines to truly become a transdisciplinary expert in any number of today’s most pressing Planning challenges, from building healthy communities to planning equitable urban design.



## A few words from our graduates





Image

![Woman in profile](/sites/default/files/styles/original_image/public/2023-11/savonnae_street_-_square.jpg.webp?itok=SUet72BU)







### Savonnaé Street, grad 2023

**First job after graduation: Planning Technician**

"SCARP’s Research Masters program was the perfect next step in my academic journey. SCARP cultivated my research and communication skills, and opened doors to academic, personal, and professional opportunities. SCARP was life-changing, as a researcher and an individual."











![Woman sitting by window overlooking bushes](/sites/default/files/styles/square_200/public/2023-11/christine_nesbitt_square.jpg.webp?itok=bzAwIkx4)





### Christine Nesbitt, grad 2019

**First job after graduating: Planning Assistant**

"I completed a BA Honours in geography, and I wanted to combine that with my Olympic experience and get my hands dirty as I move forward in a new direction. Planning is so multidisciplinary: I have developed hands-on, theoretical, and research skills that allow me to meaningfully contribute in many different fields. I'm building an integrated and wholistic approach to problem solving, whereas in another field, I would likely be more siloed."

















#####  Program overview 



This strong and robust degree program is designed to provide an especially rich theoretical understanding of complex issues in city and community planning, environmental planning, and international development planning, as well as intensive study of instructive case studies.

It's completed within 24 months, incorporating a selection of course work (including a theory course and thesis workshop), and a thesis prepared with the guidance of a supervisor and second committee member. Successful applicants will work closely with a faculty supervisor, who should be identified in your application.

### Your Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science





MAP and MScP represent the same degree program. Upon graduating, you receive a Master of Arts in Planning (MAP) if you entered the program with a Bachelor of Arts degree, or a Master of Science in Planning (MScP) if you entered the program with a Bachelor of Science degree.

Research Masters degree programs are not formally accredited by the Canadian or American boards. Those seeking a degree accredited by professional accreditation boards would apply to the School’s [Master of Community and Regional Planning (MCRP)](/mcrp) program.





### Should I choose a SCARP Research Masters program or SCARP's Master of Community and Regional Planning Program?





|  | [MCRP](/mcrp) | MAP/MScP |
|---|---|---|
| Credits required for degree completion | 60 | 34 |
| Core course requirement | 18 | 10 |
| Thesis/project | practicum report | 12-credit thesis |
| Accreditations | Accredited by UBC, and by Canadian and American professional planning boards | Accredited by UBC |
| Other program requirements / information | - Students develop a customized plan of coursework based on identified areas of interest, or request the Indigenous Community Planning concentration - Internship (3 credits) - Planning studio (6 credits) | - Students identify a thesis topic prior to admission elective coursework is based on research interests and thesis topic, and is planned out in collaboration with their advisor. - MAP/MScP students can access all elective courses available to MCRP students with the exception of core MCRP courses and studios reserved for MCRP students only. An exception can be made for students who want to audit Foundations of Planning Theory and History |
| Cross-benefits | Can lead to professional planning practice, and accreditation | Can lead to further research (through PhD) |





### Program Courses, Structure, and Requirements





MAP/MSCP students can access all elective courses available to MCRP students except core MCRP courses and studios reserved for MCRP students only.

#### Required courses: 

| CORE COURSES | CREDITS | **TOTAL** |
|---|---|---|
| **PLAN 558:** The Role of Theory in Planning Research | 3 | **10** |
| **PLAN 559:** Design of Planning- and Policy-oriented Research | 3 |  |
| **PLAN 560:** Master's Thesis Workshop | 1 |  |
| ***If MAP:** Any non-SCARP UBC course (approved by your supervisor) re: **qualitative methods***   ***If MScP:** Any non-SCARP UBC course (approved by your supervisor) re: **quantitative methods*** | 3 |  |
| **CONCENTRATION CREDITS** |  |  |
| *12 credits of approved courses tailored to your interest, in careful consultation with your supervisor.* | 12 | **12** |
| **PLAN 549C:** Master's Thesis | 12 | **12** |
| **TOTAL CREDITS:** | **34** |

Note you must spend your first year in residence taking required and elective courses.





### Tuition





[Master's Programs Fees](http://www.calendar.ubc.ca/vancouver/index.cfm?tree=14,266,773,1450)

[Graduate Student Fees](https://www.grad.ubc.ca/prospective-students/tuition-fees-cost-living/graduate-student-fees)

[Cost of living in the Vancouver area](http://www.grad.ubc.ca/prospective-students/tuition-fees-cost-living/cost-living)















#####  Applying 



Click each section below to expand:

## Application Requirements





### 1. G+PS admissions requirements





Please [consult or contact the UBC Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies](https://www.grad.ubc.ca/prospective-students/application-admission) to understand their requirements, such as:

- Application fees
- Online application problems
- Minimum academic requirements
- Transcript requirements
- Translations of transcripts
- Letters of Reference requirement
- GRE requirements
- Evidence of English Language requirements





### 2. Research Statement of Intent





Applicants are required to prepare and submit a research statement of intent (approximately 1,000 words). The statement should outline the thesis project you wish to undertake, the research methods you expect to use, and how the work builds on or draws from your previous training or experience.





### 3. Evidence of Research Competence





Applicants must submit at least one sample of their academic research and writing for their application. An undergraduate thesis, previous academic publications, or previous academic projects are all potentially acceptable writing samples.





### 4. CV/Resume





Each applicant must submit a CV/resume detailing educational background, work and/or volunteer experience, publications, and any academic or professional awards earned.





### 5. Deferred Admission





It is not possible to defer admission. If you are accepted but do not register you may apply again by submitting a new application form and paying the fee. Your admission would be considered along with others applying for that year.





### 6. Time of Admission





Applicants selected for consideration for admission will be invited to an interview with their prospective research supervisor and Program Chair. Final admission decisions will be made after the interview.

Applicants admitted to the program will commence full-time studies in September. The School of Community and Regional Planning does not admit students at any other time of year.









## How to apply





### Step 1:

#### Make contact and forge a connection with a prospective research supervisor  
(Well before applications period in Fall)

### Step 2:

#### Apply   
(Before application deadline in January)

Applicants need to demonstrate they:

- Are academically well-prepared, so that they are likely to succeed in our program
- Have a well-articulated connection to the academic discipline of planning
- Have articulated an important and interesting research area to focus on
- Promote our goals of ensuring intellectual and identity-based diversity and reconciliation for the School and the broader discipline.

The option to submit your formal application will appear on this webpage once the application period begins. You will be redirected to UBC’s application portal.

Full applications AND reference letters must be submitted before the application deadline. However, requests will not be sent to your reviewers until after you have submitted your application. This means that you should plan on submitting your application weeks before the indicated deadline so that your reviewers have enough time to upload their letters.

The university handles requests for application fee waivers. Unfortunately, the School does not have the capacity to provide application waivers outside of the university’s policies.

### Step 3:

#### After you apply

Protocols may be subject to change. Due to the volume of documents received we are unable to confirm receipt of documents by email or phone. Therefore, after you submit your application, regularly check:

- This webpage
- Email
- Your online application