Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry - Nuclear and Radiochemistry

Nuclear and radiochemistry applications in chemistry utilize nuclear decay probes to provide insights into a wide range of areas: in medicine via the development of new radio-pharmaceuticals for imaging and of alternate approaches to the production of radioisotopes for medical diagnostics, in catalytic processes via the study of muon spin-labeled free radicals in heterogeneous catalysts and via the utility of beta-decay probes of thin films and interfaces by novel NMR techniques, in probing new magnetic and superconducting materials by both muon spin rotation ('SR) and beta-decay NMR techniques, in chemical kinetics by leveraging massive isotopic mass effects using muon beams, and in chemical physics and spectroscopy using laser-pumping techniques to select specific initial states as precursors for studies of reaction rates and spin-exchange interactions ('spintronics). The TRIUMF facility on campus provides us with unsurpassed opportunities in these areas.

UBC Chemistry strongly encourages all international applicants to apply for direct entry into our PhD program, as the number of admissions offered to international MSc applicants is very limited.

Applicants who meet the academic requirements (see below) and demonstrate advanced research ability, may apply for direct admission to the PhD program. Students entering directly from a bachelor's degree must, within the first 24 months of study, complete 12 credits with a first class average, of which at least 9 credits must be at the 500 level or above and at least 9 credits must be of first class standing, to maintain registration as a doctoral student.

For direct entry to the PhD program, an overall average of B plus (from all courses taken in their Bachelor's degree) is required for all applicants.

For entry to the PhD program by students with an MSc

For applicants who hold a credential/degree from a Canadian or USA post-secondary institution, a B+ average in senior undergraduate level courses is required, along with a successfully defended Master thesis.

For applicants who hold an international credential/degree, an overall average of B plus (from all courses taken in their Bachelor's degree) is required, along with a successfully defended Master thesis.

The minimum overall TOEFL score for graduate admission to the Department of Chemistry is 92 on the internet-based test with minimum component scores of 23, 22, 23 and 22 for reading, writing, listening and speaking, respectively. For IELTS, a minimum overall band score of 6.5 is required with a minimum score of 6.0 in each component of the academic IELTS test. Self-reported test scores on applications are considered unofficial. Applicants must also contact the testing agency (TOEFL or IELTS) and request the official test scores be sent to UBC electronically as part of their application.