Graduate Studies in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Three degree programs
Applying for September 2027International applicants May 2, 2027 · Domestic applicants August 15, 2027
How to apply All key dates →Welcome
About the program →Your curiosity. Your research. Our mentorship.
At UBC’s Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, you join a working research group in your first term and build a thesis of your own.
Across three degree programs, we welcome students from diverse backgrounds in science and medicine, including biochemistry, physiology, cell biology, microbiology and immunology.
Your laboratory could sit at BC Cancer, Vancouver General, St. Paul’s, BC Children’s or the Centre for Heart Lung Innovation — teaching hospitals and research institutes across the city, rather than one building on campus.
Rankings: QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, Life Sciences and Medicine. Among Canadian universities only Toronto places higher.
Choose your program
Compare the programs →What could you study?
Supervisors seeking students →Every project starts with a question.
You might investigate how a tumour grows, how an infection affects the lungs, or whether a blood marker can reveal an injury. Projects range from experiments with cells to studies with patients.
You settle on the question with a supervisor before you apply, so the work is yours from the first day.
Three students, three questions
Could a blood test detect a youth concussion?
Kidus Achalu measures 120 brain-specific proteins in blood samples to find biomarkers that could objectively diagnose sports-related concussions in young athletes.
MSc · Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Meet Kidus
Can a virus be trained to kill breast cancer?
Razieh Sadat Banijamali develops better ways to deliver cancer-killing viruses into triple-negative breast cancer tumours.
PhD · Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Meet Razieh
Could a clotting protein block many viruses at once?
John Perrier investigates whether tissue factor, a clotting trigger built into viral envelopes, could be blocked by drugs to stop very different viruses.
PhD · Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Meet John
Before you apply
Three things worth knowing about who we take, what you would work on, and where it leads.
Who we look for
- A strong commitment to medical research, shown through prior experience or references from faculty who can speak to your potential.
- Undergraduate degrees in biology, biochemistry, physiology, genetics or medicine.
- We welcome trainees from under-represented groups.
What you’ll research
Most projects study the mechanisms of disease — from in vitro through animal and human studies — or the discovery of biomarkers to predict and detect it. Our supervisors are national and international leaders in their fields.
Where it leads
Graduates go on to postdoctoral research, to biotechnology and diagnostics companies here and abroad, to medical school, and to work in public health, regulation and science policy.
FundingEvery graduate student here is funded. MSc students take home at least $34,000 a year and PhD students at least $40,000, before any award they win on top. What you are guaranteed →
Please noteThese are research degrees. We do not train physicians for careers in Clinical Pathology — that is a residency, not a graduate program.
British Columbia
B.C. is home to the fastest-growing life sciences sector in Canada, with over 1,100 companies employing 18,000 British Columbians working to improve health.
Where to start
This site is for trainees considering our program and for those already accepted. If you cannot find what you need, email our first point of contact at Graduate Admissions.
Latest news
Newsletter and archives →Welcome to the 2026 PALM Graduate Students — we look forward to the journey ahead.
First point of contact
Graduate Admissions
Tel 604-827-5736 · Diamond Health Care Centre, Vancouver