phd in gis canada

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Geography Graduate Program

The Department of Geography offers a graduate program leading to a Master’s of Arts (MA), a Master’s of Science (MSc), and a doctorate (Ph.D.). We only accept full-time students; part-time status is not an option.

Information on this page is for advisory purposes only. For detailed and official information on the Geography graduate program, please see the Geography Graduate Students Handbook and the University Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) web site.

Master's Program

Students must pass the courses specified for their program, attend such additional courses that the Chair and the student's thesis supervisor think fit, and submit a thesis in an appropriate area of geographical inquiry approved by the supervisor.

The basic requirements for a Master’s degree includes a total of 45 credits, 30 related to the thesis and 15 related to course work. These must be successfully passed before a Master's degree is awarded. Students must spend a minimum of 3 semesters (18 months) in residence. (Residence involves full-time presence and the payment of fees.)

Additional program options at the Master’s level (Neotropical Environment Option, Development Studies Option, Gender and Women's Studies Option, etc.- see links on right) require additional courses. Most such options require a separate application. See the Geography section of the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies web site .

Year 1 3 credits for GEOG 631: Methods of Geographical Research 12 credits for four 3-credit graduate-level courses selected according to Department guidelines. 6 credits for GEOG 698: Thesis Proposal

Year 2 24 credits for GEOG 699: Thesis Research

The purpose of the thesis is to demonstrate that the student can, with faculty assistance, design and execute an original research project. The thesis should address a well-defined problem, contain an analysis of data, and draw logical conclusions.

The thesis manuscript is usually 80 to 100 pages in length. Students are expected to complete their degrees within 24 months.

Doctoral Program

Students must pass the courses specified for their program, attend such additional courses that the Chair and the student's thesis supervisor think fit, and submit a dissertation in an appropriate area of geographical inquiry approved by the supervisor.

The basic requirements for a doctoral degree include a total of 9 credits.

Most students enter with a Master’s degree at the Ph.D. 2 level and are required to spend 6 semesters (3 years) in residence. In certain circumstances, students may enter the doctoral program without a Master’s degree -- at the Ph.D. 1 level – and are required to spend 8 semesters (4 years) in residence. (Residence involves full-time presence and the payment of fees.) See the Graduate Admissions tab for more information on entry at the Ph.D. 1 level.

As with the Master’s degree, additional options (Environment Option, Neotropical Environment Option, Gender and Women's Studies Option, etc.) require additional courses. Most such options require a separate application. See the Geography section of the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies web site.

Year 1 3 credits for GEOG 631: Methods of Geographical Research 6 credits for two 3-credit graduate-level courses selected according to Department guidelines.

Drafting a formal dissertation proposal occurs during GEOG 631.

The supervisory committee may require the candidate to register for other courses in order to ensure an adequate grasp of methodological and theoretical issues.

Year 2 Successful completion of the Comprehensive Examination (which is recorded as the non-credit GEOG 700, 701, and 702) by the end of the third semester of residence (typically fall semester of a student’s second year).

Year 2 and beyond

Conducting research and writing the dissertation follows completion of the Comprehensive Examination.

In addition to the dissertation, award of the doctorate is based on the judgment by a university committee that the candidate has achieved a substantial level of creative and critical scholarship. The degree should be completed within four years.

Graduate Admissions

Deadline Application Process Admission Process Admission standards and criteria Ph.D. 1 and Ph.D. 2 Entry Funding

Complete applications must be received by JANUARY 15 for guaranteed consideration. Files received after this date may be considered at the discretion of the Department.

The Geography Department only accepts students for Fall (September) admission. January admission to our programs is only considered in  highly  exceptional circumstances, and at the discretion of the department’s Graduate Affairs Committee (GAC).

Application Process

Students should apply to the Geography graduate program through McGill’s  uApply  system. Application fees and other charges are listed on the student accounts website .

As part of your application, you need to include a research statement in addition to other supporting documentation. In this research proposal, you should articulate your research interests and capabilities, and provide a concise but detailed description of your proposed research. There is no set length for research statements, but most master’s are between one and two pages, and most doctoral ones are between two and four pages, plus a brief reference list. Also be sure to see the requirements regarding English language proficiency on the GPS web site. (See the  requirements  regarding English language proficiency on the GPS web site.)

Admissions Process

If the Department reviews a file favorably, it sends an offer letter to the student and recommends her/him for admission to the University. The Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) office then reviews the file to determine if the student meets the University’s admission’s criteria. Once GPS approves a file, they send an admissions package with complete information regarding registration, student visas (if necessary), etc.  Students are not admitted until GPS has approved their application; the department may recommend an applicant but cannot admit a student.

Admission standards and criteria

Admission to the Master's program requires a Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) with a strong undergraduate record in geography or a related discipline. Admission to the Ph.D. program normally requires completion of a Master's degree in geography or a related program.

Many successful applicants have degrees in a discipline other than Geography. However, the Graduate Affairs Committee (GAC) may require applicants without sufficient background in Geography to take courses beyond those required for the degree during their graduate program, or may require that students complete a qualifying term or year before admission to the program. Such decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.

In Geography,  applicants are only admitted if a faculty member agrees explicitly to supervise and to fund them.   The department urges potential applicants to contact an appropriate faculty member before submitting an application to determine if she or he would be willing to provide supervision and funding.  A list of faculty and their research interests appears on the department website, and a list of faculty seeking students on the  graduate recruitment page.

Students who apply without first contacting a potential supervisor are rarely admitted. However, if the student is accepted, the name of a potential supervisor and, in many cases, an additional advisor, will be provided, subject to the approval of all parties concerned.

The minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) for University admissions is 3.0 out of a possible 4.0; or a GPA of 3.2 out of 4.0 in the last two years of full-time studies. Successful applicants to the Geography program typically have GPAs above 3.3.

If your university does not use a 4.0 scale, GPS provides  guidelines  for converting transcripts for most universities and regions in the world. This site is especially useful for International students.

There are additional University requirements, including proficiency in English, outlined on the  GPS web site .

Ph.D. 1 and Ph.D. 2 Entry

Students who have completed a Master's degree are normally admitted at the  Ph.D. 2 level.

On  rare  occasions, a student may be admitted to the doctoral program without having first earned a Master's degree, and are admitted at the  Ph.D. 1 level . Among other requirements, students admitted to Ph.D. 1 must have the equivalent of 3.5 GPA or higher (on McGill’s 4-point scale) in their undergraduate program. Ph.D. 1 requires an additional year of residency and extra classes.

Students – both masters’ and doctoral -- are typically only admitted to the Geography graduate program if they have confirmed funding from their prospective supervisor and/or an external funding agency. The  major  source of funding for most students comes from their supervisors in the form of Research Assistant (RA) positions, and/or from external funding agencies.

Applicants should be in contact with potential supervisors before they apply to assess the possibility of an RA position, but do not need to submit a separate application.

Students should apply directly to public and private funding agencies. For Canadian residents, public agencies include  NSERC  and  SSHRC , and various provincial programs. (Quebec residents, for example, can apply to  FQRSC  and  FQRNT .) Funds for non-Canadian students may be available from their own home governments. See the  GPS web site  for more information.

The university typically provides additional funding for students in their first year, and the department can generally offer qualified students Teaching Assistant (TA) positions. (TA positions are usually for 90 hours per semester – about 6 hours per week -- and pay approximately $2000 per semester.) Incoming students typically apply for TA positions in late August or early September, and such positions are advertised on the  department homepage .

See the  GPS web site  for current and more detailed information.

Living Expenses The cost of living in Montreal is very reasonable compared to other major Canadian and US cities. The department estimates that a single graduate student should expect to pay $12-14,000 (Canadian) for 12 months (including housing, food, and other basic expenses). Actual costs depend on personal circumstance.

Tuition and Fees For information about fees, payments, etc., please go to the  Student Accounts website .

To learn more about the cost of living in Montreal, please visit the  Student Aid website .

Related Content

Useful links.

• Geography Graduate Student Handbook

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• Neotropical Option

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PhD students work closely with a faculty supervisor(s), who is selected by the student at the time of admission, and with a Supervisory Committee. The Supervisory Committee consists of the supervisor(s) and at least two graduate faculty members (at least one of which must be appointed to geography). 

Program Requirements 

The department expectation is that PhD degrees will be completed on a full-time basis within four years of initial registration. The School of Graduate Studies requires that the thesis be submitted within six years of initial registration in the program.

Students enrolled in a PhD program are required to complete the requirements: coursework, annual progress reports, comprehensive exam, proposal exam, candidacy, internal thesis defense exam, and external final oral exam.

Coursework — Physical

Completion of 3 half-credit courses including:

• the core course GGR1200H
• one (1) half-credit course in geography
• one (1) half-credit course in any subject

Students enrolled in a collaborative specialization should view the  Collaborative Specializations page  for any additional requirements.

Coursework — Human

Completion of 6 half-credit courses including:

• the core course GGR1110H
• two (2) half-credit courses in geography
• one (1) half-credit course which must be taken outside the department
• two (2) half-credit courses in any subject

Annual Progress Reports

The supervisory committee must meet at least once per academic year to review the student’s progress and plans for the following year.

Comprehensive Exam

Students will take a written and oral comprehensive exam between June of year one and no later than December of year two. See the  Examinations  page for further details. 

Proposal Exam

Students will defend a research proposal before their supervisory committee between June of year two and no later than September of year three. See the  Examinations  page for further details. 

The department requires students to achieve candidacy by the end of year two. A student can achieve PhD Candidacy and receive a notation on their transcript once they have completed three requirements: coursework, comprehensive exam, and proposal exam. School of Graduate Studies policy requires that candidacy is achieved by the end of year three.

Thesis Defense Exam

The thesis shall constitute a significant contribution to the knowledge of the field and must be based on original research conducted while registered for the PhD program. The topic for the thesis will have been approved at the proposal defense. The completed PhD thesis will be examined in a Departmental Thesis Examination. The examination committee consists of the supervisory committee. One or more additional members can be from outside the Department of Geography & Planning if required.  

See the  Examinations  page for further details. 

Final Oral Exam

The Final Oral Examination is the capstone experience of the PhD program. Students will defend their dissertation before an Examination Committee. In addition to the supervisor and other members of the supervisory committee, the Examination Committee will include an appraiser (external to the University), at least one graduate faculty member who has not been closely involved in the supervision of the thesis, and a chair designated by the School of Graduate Studies. 

For further details on the PhD program requirements above, please see the  Geography Graduate Handbook . 

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Geography - PhD at Waterloo

Program information.

Watch the How to apply to Waterloo graduate studies video

What does it take to get in?

Minimum admission requirements.

• A Master's degree in geography or equivalent, with at least an 80% average in all graduate work.
• Exceptional students may be allowed to enter the PhD program directly from the Master's program. Such students must have completed all Master of Arts (MA)/Master of Environmental Studies (MES)/Master of Science (MSc) requirements except the thesis, have demonstrated a superior academic record and satisfied other conditions (details of which can be obtained from the Director of the Program).
• Please note that a supervisor is required for admission and supervisors are not assigned in the Department of Geography. Full agreement from a faculty member to supervise prior to initiating the application process is not necessary, however it is strongly recommended to contact professors to discuss the possibility of supervision and funding in order to better inform your decision whether or not to apply. Please see the full list of Geography department faculty .

Supervisors

• Review the finding a supervisor resources

Application materials

• The SIF contains questions specific to your program, typically about why you want to enrol and your experience in that field. Review the  application documents web page for more information about this requirement
• If a statement or letter is required by your program, review the  writing your personal statement resources  for helpful tips and tricks on completion

Transcript(s)

• Three academic  references are required, unless a professional reference is specified
• TOEFL 100 (writing 26, speaking 26), IELTS 7.5 (writing 7.0, speaking 7.0)

How much will it cost?

• Use the student budget calculator to estimate your cost and resources
• Visit the  graduate program tuition page  on the Finance website to determine the tuition and incidental fees per term for your program
• Review the  study and living costs
• Review the funding graduate school resources for graduate students

What can you expect at Waterloo?

• Review the degree requirements in the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar, including the courses that you can anticipate taking as part of completing the degree
• Check out profiles of current graduate students to learn about their experience at Waterloo
• Check out Waterloo's institutional thesis repository - UWspace to see recent submissions from the Department of Geography and Environmental Management graduate students
• Check out the Waterloo campus and city tours
• Review the  Department of Geography and Environmental Management  website to see information about supervisors, research areas, news, and events

This program page is effective September 2023; it will be updated annually.  Any changes to the program page following this date will be indicated with a notation. 

We strive to provide you with the necessary information on each of our program pages.  Was there something you found helpful?  Was there anything missing?  Share your thoughts .

Program Contact

Alan Anthony at  [email protected] 519-888-4567, ext. 42730

Related links

• Geography - MSc at Waterloo

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8 Universities in Canada offering Postgraduate Geographical Information Systems degrees and courses

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University of Lethbridge

THE World Ranking: 1201

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Algonquin college.

Vancouver Island University

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The University of British Columbia

THE World Ranking: 41

University of Calgary

THE World Ranking: 201

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Spatial Analysis (MSA)

Part of the  Faculty of Arts

Program Overview

Format:  Full-time, Part-time

Degree Earned:  Master of Spatial Analysis

The unique MSA degree is awarded through an academically rigorous yet professionally oriented graduate program. In project-based courses, a practicum placement, and a major research paper or thesis, students learn to think geographically and master Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to support operational and strategic decision-making in government and industry.

Spatial analysts work in business, environmental consulting, crime analysis, social policy, telecommunications, epidemiology and resource management. For example, they delineate market areas, estimate sales potentials, recommend facility locations or conduct environmental assessments. With the effective use of maps, location analysis and site suitability assessments, our graduates are shaping the economic and social well-being of cities, the settlement and conservation policies of regions, and the health and connectivity of people across the globe.

At a Glance

Admissions information.

• Completion of a four-year undergraduate (or equivalent) degree from an accredited institution
• Minimum GPA or equivalent of 3.00/4.33 (B) in the last two years of study
• Statement of research interest
• Transcripts
• Two letters of recommendation
• English language proficiency requirement

More information on  admission requirements . Due to the competitive nature of our programs, it is not possible to offer admission to everyone who applies that meets the minimum entrance requirements for the program. 

Program-specific requirements

Check Application Deadline

Students are encouraged to submit applications prior to the first consideration date to increase their chances of securing financial support for their graduate studies. Applications received after the first consideration date will be accepted and reviewed based on spaces remaining in the program.

See application dates .

Financing Your Studies

For detailed graduate tuition and fees information please visit  Fees by Program .

For information on scholarships, awards and financing your graduate studies visit  Financing Your Studies.

Sample Courses

Spatial Analysis (MSA) graduate program calendar

Research Areas

Faculty and student research span a mind-blowing range of topics across the three fields of study:

• Business/commercial applications
• Physical/environmental geography and landscape analysis
• Social and community information analysis

Recent student research topics range from socio-economic analysis of Toronto neighbourhoods to ice cover in the high Arctic; offender journey to crime and risk terrain to spatiotemporal analysis of regional and super-regional shopping centres across Canada; impact assessment of proposed school and library closures to trade area delineation techniques for cinema patronage; urban heat island to immigrant health patterns and the geography of aging. Common to our research is the geographic perspective and the use of spatial analysis methods and tools. Student research is often quantitative but includes qualitative and mixed-methods research. We employ commercial and opensource GIS packages, web map services, remote sensing software, statistical and business intelligence tools, as well as custom scripts, office software, and paper-and-pencil approaches. 

MSA courses and student research are supported by over 25 faculty members with expertise across all areas of geography and allied disciplines. A dedicated computer lab is located within the Department’s office space. Some of the named research centres and groups affiliated with the MSA include:

• Centre for the Study of Commercial Activity (CSCA)
• Laboratory for Geocomputation
• Geographic Information Science and Systems Group
• The Centre for Immigration and Settlement
• Urban Forest Research and Ecological Disturbance (UFRED) Group
• Polar Regions Spatial and Environmental Analysis Laboratory (POLAR SEAL)

Graduate Admissions 

Admissions information and how to apply

Graduate Studies Admissions Office 11th Floor, 1 Dundas Street West Toronto, ON Telephone: 416-979-5150 Email:  [email protected] For information specific to programs, please see the program contact information below.

Program Contacts

Dr. Eric Vaz Graduate Program Director PhD, New University of Lisbon Research areas: Geographic Information Systems, Spatial Analysis, Complex Spatial Modeling, Business GIS applications, Health Geography, GIS Programming Telephone: 416-979-5000 ext. 553121 Email: [email protected]

Lisa Benadiba Graduate Program Administrator Telephone: 416-979-5000 ext. 557440 Email:  [email protected]

“The advanced data management and analysis skills I am learning in the MSA program have already been extremely valuable in my placement with a public health agency. These skills are transferable to a wide variety of applications, thus opening a world of career opportunities to MSA graduates.” Jessica Miki, MSA student

Student Profile  (external link) 

After graduation, Amanda Maze, (master of spatial analysis alumna) utliized her skills to support business cases and analyze customer trends in the finance industry, leading to recruitment by a major retail company, where she is now director of a spatial strategy team.

Find curriculum, course descriptions and important dates for Spatial Analysis (MSA).

Once you’ve made an informed choice about which program(s) you are going to apply to, preparing your application requires careful research and planning.

At Toronto Metropolitan University, we understand that pursuing graduate studies is a significant financial investment. Funding comes from a combination of employment contracts (as a teaching assistant), scholarships, awards and stipends. There are a number of additional funding sources – internal and external – available to graduate students that can increase these funding levels.

As an urban innovation university, Toronto Metropolitan University offers 60+ cutting-edge, career-oriented graduate programs, as well as 125+ research centres, institutes and labs, in a wide range of disciplines. Our close connections with industry, government and community partners provide opportunities to apply your knowledge to real-world challenges and make a difference.

• Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)
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Applicants to Master’s and Doctoral degrees are not affected by the recently announced cap on study permits. Review more details

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Forestry graduate students learn from a dynamic and diverse group of researchers who educate and communicate how forests and the products that are created from them contribute to the well-being of all living things. The health and sustainability of forests and the people who depend on them underlies everything we do. We are among the best institutions globally in forest-related education and research and are also unique in the breadth of expertise we possess, which allows us to integrate new knowledge across many disciplines.

PhD in Forestry students can be found all over the world; they are important ambassadors for UBC Forestry and demonstrate just how diverse and international in scope the research is that is undertaken in our Faculty. We have approximately 130 doctoral students in any given year, which is about 40% of our total Forestry graduate student population. In addition to being part of the Faculty of Forestry, PhD students are also considered members of one of our three Faculty departments, based on their supervisor's affiliation.

For specific program requirements, please refer to the departmental program website

What makes the program unique?

The Faculty of Forestry offers excellent courses and cutting edge research across a spectrum of disciplines related to forestry, and opportunities for interdisciplinary learning. Graduate students work with leading scientists in state-of-the-art facilities within the Forest Sciences Centre and at any of two research forests. 

We are one of the largest graduate units on campus, with over 300 students enrolled in our 7 degree programs. We attract students from around the world, with over 40 countries represented in our community. Given the global nature of modern forestry, the experience our students gain by working with colleagues from around the world is a subtle but effective means of creating the global citizens that UBC aspires to produce.

The UBC Faculty of Forestry is a leading forestry science and research institute that is incredibly interdisciplinary in nature, which I believe is essential for tackling environmental dilemmas. UBC provides an optimal location and environment from which to study and engage with these highly human-influenced and interconnected ecosystems.

Sofie McComb

Program Structure

The major requirement for the PhD in Forestry is completion of a research dissertation which meets the requirements of the Faculty of Graduate & Post-doctoral Studies. Advancement to Candidacy must be achieved within 24 months of the start of studies, the requirements of which include a comprehensive examination. Course work is not required for the Forestry PhD, although many doctoral students do complete courses (either for credit or audit) as recommended by their supervisory committee.

Quick Facts

Program Enquiries

Admission information & requirements, 1) check eligibility, minimum academic requirements.

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies establishes the minimum admission requirements common to all applicants, usually a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC). The graduate program that you are applying to may have additional requirements. Please review the specific requirements for applicants with credentials from institutions in:

• Canada or the United States
• International countries other than the United States

Each program may set higher academic minimum requirements. Please review the program website carefully to understand the program requirements. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission as it is a competitive process.

English Language Test

Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.

Minimum requirements for the two most common English language proficiency tests to apply to this program are listed below:

TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language - internet-based

Overall score requirement : 100

IELTS: International English Language Testing System

Overall score requirement : 7.0

Other Test Scores

Some programs require additional test scores such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Test (GMAT). The requirements for this program are:

The GRE is not required.

Prior degree, course and other requirements

Prior degree requirements.

Students admitted to the Ph.D. degree program normally possess a master's degree in Forestry or a related area, with clear evidence of research ability or potential. Transfer from the master's to the Ph.D. program is permitted under Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies regulations. Exceptional students may be admitted directly to the Ph.D. program from the bachelor's level.

2) Meet Deadlines

January 2025 intake, application open date, canadian applicants, international applicants, may 2025 intake, september 2025 intake, january 2026 intake, deadline explanations.

Deadline to submit online application. No changes can be made to the application after submission.

Deadline to upload scans of official transcripts through the applicant portal in support of a submitted application. Information for accessing the applicant portal will be provided after submitting an online application for admission.

Deadline for the referees identified in the application for admission to submit references. See Letters of Reference for more information.

3) Prepare Application

Transcripts.

All applicants have to submit transcripts from all past post-secondary study. Document submission requirements depend on whether your institution of study is within Canada or outside of Canada.

Letters of Reference

A minimum of three references are required for application to graduate programs at UBC. References should be requested from individuals who are prepared to provide a report on your academic ability and qualifications.

Statement of Interest

Many programs require a statement of interest , sometimes called a "statement of intent", "description of research interests" or something similar.

Supervision

Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their thesis supervisor. Please follow the instructions provided by each program whether applicants should contact faculty members.

Instructions regarding thesis supervisor contact for Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD)

Securing the interest of a prospective faculty supervisor is a vital step in the PhD, MSc and MASc application process, and interest must be confirmed before you submit the online application. Using the prospective supervisor list at , carefully review faculty members whom you consider to be the best match with your research interests. Make a short-list of prospective supervisors and contact them to see if they are accepting new students. Remember that faculty members receive many inquiries, so generic e-mails may not receive a response. Make your correspondence stand out: tell potential supervisors about your background and interests and how this relates to their research area. As part of your conversation with a prospective supervisor, it is important to discuss funding. UBC Forestry requires that supervisors have a minimum funding package planned for the student prior to an Offer of Admission being issued. Your online application should only be submitted after a prospective supervisor has confirmed to you that they are interested in reviewing your application.

Citizenship Verification

Permanent Residents of Canada must provide a clear photocopy of both sides of the Permanent Resident card.

4) Apply Online

All applicants must complete an online application form and pay the application fee to be considered for admission to UBC.

Tuition & Financial Support

Financial support.

Applicants to UBC have access to a variety of funding options, including merit-based (i.e. based on your academic performance) and need-based (i.e. based on your financial situation) opportunities.

Program Funding Packages

From September 2024 all full-time students in UBC-Vancouver PhD programs will be provided with a funding package of at least $24,000 for each of the first four years of their PhD. The funding package may consist of any combination of internal or external awards, teaching-related work, research assistantships, and graduate academic assistantships. Please note that many graduate programs provide funding packages that are substantially greater than $24,000 per year. Please check with your prospective graduate program for specific details of the funding provided to its PhD students.

Average Funding

• 63 students received Teaching Assistantships. Average TA funding based on 63 students was $9,903.
• 73 students received Research Assistantships. Average RA funding based on 73 students was $20,299.
• 14 students received Academic Assistantships. Average AA funding based on 14 students was $4,352.
• 94 students received internal awards. Average internal award funding based on 94 students was $10,715.
• 17 students received external awards. Average external award funding based on 17 students was $31,333.

Scholarships & awards (merit-based funding)

All applicants are encouraged to review the awards listing to identify potential opportunities to fund their graduate education. The database lists merit-based scholarships and awards and allows for filtering by various criteria, such as domestic vs. international or degree level.

Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA)

Many professors are able to provide Research Assistantships (GRA) from their research grants to support full-time graduate students studying under their supervision. The duties constitute part of the student's graduate degree requirements. A Graduate Research Assistantship is considered a form of fellowship for a period of graduate study and is therefore not covered by a collective agreement. Stipends vary widely, and are dependent on the field of study and the type of research grant from which the assistantship is being funded.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)

Graduate programs may have Teaching Assistantships available for registered full-time graduate students. Full teaching assistantships involve 12 hours work per week in preparation, lecturing, or laboratory instruction although many graduate programs offer partial TA appointments at less than 12 hours per week. Teaching assistantship rates are set by collective bargaining between the University and the Teaching Assistants' Union .

Graduate Academic Assistantships (GAA)

Academic Assistantships are employment opportunities to perform work that is relevant to the university or to an individual faculty member, but not to support the student’s graduate research and thesis. Wages are considered regular earnings and when paid monthly, include vacation pay.

Financial aid (need-based funding)

Canadian and US applicants may qualify for governmental loans to finance their studies. Please review eligibility and types of loans .

All students may be able to access private sector or bank loans.

Foreign government scholarships

Many foreign governments provide support to their citizens in pursuing education abroad. International applicants should check the various governmental resources in their home country, such as the Department of Education, for available scholarships.

Working while studying

The possibility to pursue work to supplement income may depend on the demands the program has on students. It should be carefully weighed if work leads to prolonged program durations or whether work placements can be meaningfully embedded into a program.

International students enrolled as full-time students with a valid study permit can work on campus for unlimited hours and work off-campus for no more than 20 hours a week.

A good starting point to explore student jobs is the UBC Work Learn program or a Co-Op placement .

Tax credits and RRSP withdrawals

Students with taxable income in Canada may be able to claim federal or provincial tax credits.

Canadian residents with RRSP accounts may be able to use the Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) which allows students to withdraw amounts from their registered retirement savings plan (RRSPs) to finance full-time training or education for themselves or their partner.

Please review Filing taxes in Canada on the student services website for more information.

Cost Estimator

Applicants have access to the cost estimator to develop a financial plan that takes into account various income sources and expenses.

Career Outcomes

154 students graduated between 2005 and 2013: 2 are in non-salaried situations; for 12 we have no data (based on research conducted between Feb-May 2016). For the remaining 140 graduates:

Sample Employers in Higher Education

Sample employers outside higher education, sample job titles outside higher education, phd career outcome survey, alumni on success.

Kristina Cockle

Job Title Research Scientist

Employer CONICET

Jill Hamilton

Job Title Assistant Professor

Employer North Dakota State University

Michael Donaldson

Job Title Content Development Manager

Employer Canadian Science Publishing

Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats

These statistics show data for the Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (PhD). Data are separated for each degree program combination. You may view data for other degree options in the respective program profile.

ENROLMENT DATA

Completion rates & times, upcoming doctoral exams, monday, 29 april 2024 - 12:30pm - room 203, wednesday, 22 may 2024 - 9:00am - room 200, tuesday, 4 june 2024 - 9:00am.

• Research Supervisors

Advice and insights from UBC Faculty on reaching out to supervisors

These videos contain some general advice from faculty across UBC on finding and reaching out to a supervisor. They are not program specific.

This list shows faculty members with full supervisory privileges who are affiliated with this program. It is not a comprehensive list of all potential supervisors as faculty from other programs or faculty members without full supervisory privileges can request approvals to supervise graduate students in this program.

• Aitken, Sally (forest genetics, climate change, Climate change, conservation, ecology, genetics, genomics)
• Alila, Younes (Hydrology, Flood, Water Resources, Water Structures, Forest Hydrology, Forest management, hydrological engineering)
• Arcese, Peter (Global change biology; Ecology; Conservation Biology; Evolutionary Biology; conservation finance)
• Avramidis, Stavros (Other natural sciences, n.e.c.; Wood-water relations and sorption thermodynamics.; Fluid flow, heat transfer, and molecular diffusion; Modeling steady-state and dynamic non-isothermal diffusion in wood.; Application of fractals and machine learning to modeling wood physical properties.; Molecular modeling of the wood nano-pore network in the cell wall.; Industrial wood kiln drying optimization and development of new drying strategies.; Radio frequency vacuum (RFV) heating and drying of wood and wood products.; Dielectric wood phytosanitation.; Wood thermal modification.)
• Barbeito Sanchez, Ignacio (refining novel silvicultural practices; establishment and management of forests under global change)
• Benson-Amram, Sarah
• Boedhihartono, Agni (Forestry sciences; biodiversity; Communities and Livelihoods; conservation; Forest management; Land-use Change; social science; sustainability; Tropical Landscapes and Livelihoods)
• Bohlmann, Joerg (plant biochemistry, forestry genomics, forest health, conifers, poplar, bark beetle, mountain pine beetle, natural products, secondary metabolites, terpenes, floral scent, grapevine, Conifer genomics Forest health genomics Mountain pine beetle, fungus, pine interactions and genomics Chemical ecology of conifer, insect interactions)
• Booker, Thomas (population and quantitative genetics)
• Bulkan, Janette (aboriginal forestry, biodiversity, climate change, communities and livelihoods, conservation, corporate responsibility, forest management, forest policy, international trade, social impact, social science)
• Bull, Gary (international forest policy, environmental services markets, carbon markets, Government and economic systems)
• Burton, Cole (Forestry sciences; Ecology and Quality of the Environment; Ecological Trends; Animal; Biodiversity and Biocomplexity; Landscape and Restoration; Environment Management and Protection; Biodiversity conservation; Ecological Monitoring; Landscape ecology; Mammal Ecology; Population and Community Ecology; Wildlife Management)
• Cardinal-McTeague, Warren (Earth and related environmental sciences; Forestry sciences; plant biodiversity; Indigenous environmental management and food systems; monitoring of ecosystem health and function)
• Carroll, Allan (climate change, mountain pine beetle, bark beetles, forest disturbance, integrated pest management, insect ecology, population dynamics, insect-plant interactions, Climate change, conservation, ecology, ecosystems, forest biology, forest management)
• Chanway, Christopher (Soil microbiology)
• Cool, Julie (modelling, wood products, wood science, wood)
• Coops, Nicholas Charles (Forestry sciences; Telemetry (Remote Sensing, Radar); Space Techniques; Forestry Technology and Equipment; Plants and Forests)
• Cranston, Emily (Nanoparticle synthesis, properties and applications; Bio-based materials and nanocellulose; Atomic force microscopy (forces, adhesion, friction, imaging); Colloid and interface science; Polymer chemistry; Cellulose nanocrystals; Bioproducts; Foams, emulsions, aerogels)
• Dai, Chunping (Forestry sciences; Bamboo; Bio-products; Wood Products; Wood Science; Wood Technology)
• Daniels, Lori (forest plants and trees; forest history; forest management; environmental protection and natural resource use, Climate change, ecology, fire regimes)
• Davies, Jonathan (Phylogenetics & Biodiversity. Development and application of phylogenetic methods in ecology and conservation biology)
• Day, Susan (Forestry sciences; urban soils; urban forestry; Landscape and Restoration; urban ecology; Plants and Forests; Ecology and Quality of the Environment; Environment Management and Protection)
• Devisscher, Tahia (Forestry sciences; adaptation; climate change; Human Health; Human Well-being; Nature Recovery; Social-Ecological Resilience)
• El-Kassaby, Yousry (Forestry sciences; Applied Genetics; conservation; genomics; Seed orchards’ genetics; Tree breeding; Tree domestication)
• Eskelson, Bianca (Natural resource management; Forest Biometrics; Forest Modelling; Disturbance Effects; Management Effects)

Open Research Positions

• PhD Position in Forest Growth Projection and Sampling

Doctoral Citations

Sample thesis submissions.

• From landscape to the continent : quantifying the effect and future changes of wildland fires in Canada
• Development and characterization of xylan crystalline nanotiles and Grasstic films from plant biomass
• The importance of phylogeny and environment in shaping species phenologies
• Forest pathology in the genomics era : combining comparative genomics and CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing to gain new insights into the genetics of filamentous plant pathogens
• The evolution of bark beetle–fungus mutualisms : insights from a hardwood system
• Predicting forest tree species’ fundamental climate niche and productivity
• The characterization of stream and riparian features of importance for fish habitat using laser scanning
• Plant community resistance, resilience, and recruitment in tidal freshwater marshes of the Salish Sea
• Cottonwood ecology and restoration in the context of river diking and channelization in the semi-arid Okanagan-Similkameen Region of B.C.
• Enhancing post-harvest regeneration monitoring with digital aerial photogrammetry and deep learning
• Historical dynamics of ecosystem services and their social-ecological drivers in British Columbia, Canada
• The impact of altitude, soil geology, and soil depth on Pinus patula solid wood properties for structural timber and plywood production
• Phytobiomes and soil communities : assessing natural communities and the impact of anthropogenic change on plants, soils and their associated organisms
• Genomics of adaptation in interior spruce to past, present, and future climates of western Canada
• Optimization of log logistics at the operational level considering sorting decisions and synchronization requirements

Related Programs

Same specialization.

• Master of Applied Science in Forestry (MASc)
• Master of Forestry (MF)
• Master of Geomatics for Environmental Management (MGEM)
• Master of International Forestry (MIF)
• Master of Science in Forestry (MSc)
• Master of Sustainable Forest Management (MSFM)
• Master of Urban Forestry Leadership (MUFL)

Further Information

Specialization.

Forestry offers advanced study in natural and social science, management, and economic aspects of forestry and wood science, in an interdisciplinary setting.

UBC Calendar

Program website, faculty overview, program identifier, classification, social media channels, supervisor search.

Departments/Programs may update graduate degree program details through the Faculty & Staff portal. To update contact details for application inquiries, please use this form .

Mike Stefanuk

The Faculty of Forestry and UBC host a fantastic group of multi-disciplinary researchers with world-class experts in wildfire and forest ecology. I was eager to learn in a place where my perspectives would be broadened and challenged by this diverse community. Support programs offered by UBC,...

The Faculty of Forestry at UBC is full of students, faculty, and staff with diverse perspectives and backgrounds that have and will provide me with great opportunities for interdisciplinary research.

Tara L. Brown

I chose to study at UBC's Faculty of Forestry for its global reputation in multidisciplinary research on complex ecological systems, which aligns with my focus on human health and natural environments. My decision to study at UBC was further inspired after watching seminars by my eventual...

Dane Pedersen

I was born and raised in British Columbia on Secwepemc territory (Kamloops, BC). I completed my B.Sc at the University of Victoria, and my M.Sc at McGill University, where I studied the transboundary governance network tasked with protecting the endangered Southern Resident killer whale. It is from...

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• 17 April 2024

Canadian science gets biggest boost to PhD and postdoc pay in 20 years

• Brian Owens

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Canada’s prime minister Justin Trudeau and finance minister Chrystia Freeland hold copies of the 2024 federal budget. Credit: David Kawai/Bloomberg via Getty

Researchers in Canada got most of what they were hoping for in the country’s 2024 federal budget, with a big boost in postgraduate pay and more funding for research and scientific infrastructure.

“We are investing over $5 billion in Canadian brainpower,” said finance minister Chrystia Freeland in her budget speech on 16 April. “More funding for research and scholarships will help Canada attract the next generation of game-changing thinkers.”

Canadian PhD students and postgrads plan mass walkout over low pay

Postgraduate students and postdoctoral researchers have been advocating for higher pay for the past two years through a campaign called Support Our Science. They requested an increase in the value, and number, of federal government scholarships, and got more than they asked for. Stipends for master’s students will rise from Can$17,500 (US$12,700) to $27,000 per year, PhDs stipends that ranged from $20,000 to $35,000 will be set to a uniform annual $40,000 and most postdoctoral-fellowship salaries will increase from $45,000 to $70,000 per annum. The number of scholarships and fellowships provided will also rise over time, building to around 1,720 more per year after five years.

“We’re very thrilled with this significant new investment, the largest investment in graduate students and postdocs in over 21 years,” says Kaitlin Kharas, a PhD student at the University of Toronto, Canada, and executive director of Support Our Science . “It will directly support the next generation of researchers.”

Although only a small proportion of students and postdoctoral fellows receive these federal scholarships, other funders tend to use them as a guide for their own stipends.

Many postgraduates said that low pay was forcing them to consider leaving Canada to pursue their scientific career, says Kharas, so this funding should help to retain talent in the country.

“This is going to move us from a searing brain drain to a brain gain, and position us to compete on the world stage,” says Chad Gaffield, chief executive of the U15 Group of Canadian Research Universities, based in Ontario, which supported the campaign.

‘Determined to thrive’

The budget also includes marked boosts for basic research. There is an extra $1.8 billion over five years in core funding for the three federal grant-awarding research councils, as well as $400 million for upgrades to the TRIUMF particle accelerator in Vancouver, and more cash for several other large facilities and institutes across the country. There will also be more than $2 billion for the artificial-intelligence sector in Canada.

“[This budget] really emphasizes that Canada is determined to thrive in the twenty-first century based on science and research,” says Gaffield.

Canada announces new innovation agency — and it’s not modelled on DARPA

Others have pointed out that the vast majority of the money in the budget for the research councils is backloaded, with just $228 million coming in the next two years. This means that the gains will be slow, and could be vulnerable to changes in the political climate, says Alex Usher, president of Higher Education Strategy Associates, a consultancy in Toronto. “Do not count on this money being there after an election,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter). Canada’s next federal election is due in October 2025, and the opposition Conservative Party is campaigning on reigning in spending.

The budget also makes some changes to how science funding is organized. Instead of ten different programmes for scholarships and fellowships, with differing levels of support, there will now be a single programme with just three levels — master’s degrees, PhDs and postdoctoral fellowships. Kharas says that this should simplify the system.

The government will also create a new “capstone” research-funding organization to better coordinate the work of the three granting councils and “help to advance internationally collaborative, multi-disciplinary and mission-driven research”, the budget says. It will also create an advisory Council on Science and Innovation, comprised of leaders from academia, industry and the non-profit sector, which will develop a national science-and-innovation strategy to guide priority setting and increase the impact of federal investments. “This should help move us towards a more efficient, well-coordinated and nimble way of supporting research in Canada,” says Gaffield. “I look forward to working with the government to optimize it.”

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-01124-2

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A List of College GIS Certificate Programs in Canada

So many GIS certificate programs to choose from, eh

While many prefer going the full-fledged approach of getting a GIS degree or GIS certificate , you can’t discount going to a college or technology institute to earn your very own GIS diploma.

You get the practical skills employers are looking for like GIS programming, remote sensing, and even surveying. This means you are better positioned to learn faster, which is crucial in today’s world.

There are some great schools in Canada – COGS, and BCIT are stand-outs . But there’s really so many to choose from, eh? Today, we outline all the GIS certificate colleges in Canada that will pave the way for your very own GIS career path.

British Columbia

Beautiful British Columbia offers college GIS certificate programs from the following institutes:

• British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) Advanced Diploma Program in GIS
• Selkirk College Advanced GIS Diploma
• Vancouver Island University (VIU) Advanced Diploma in GIS Applications
• Simon Fraser University Certificate in Spatial Information Systems
• Okanagan College Advanced GIS Certificate

1. British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT)

If you are serious about learning GIS and developing your skills, then you should go to the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT).

People have nothing but good things to say about BCIT’s Advanced GIS Diploma program . Its intense schedule and classes help you achieve well-rounded skills. The work-based practicum boosts your CV. It’s highly regarded by employers in Canada.

If you can’t make it to class, you have the online education route. Although face-to-face program delivery can give you the necessary feedback, especially in labs and programming – online education will give you the much-needed self-discipline and motivation to complete the Advanced GIS certificate.

2. Vancouver Island University (VIU)

Learn face-to-face in Nanaimo, British Columbia in VIU’s Advanced Diploma in GIS Applications . Alternatively, online classes could be spread out for more convenience. No matter what, in the end, you earn an advanced GIS diploma.

Both options help students secure full-time employment in the field of GIS. As with the other GIS programs, training is concentrated in ArcGIS, the most popular GIS software in the world.

VIU now offers an intriguing Master’s GIS program as well.

3. Selkirk College

You should take a close look at what Selkirk College has to offer. They combine classroom study with coop or personally developed projects. It’s possible to extend the Advanced GIS Diploma to a Bachelor in GIS.

Their lab is modern with dedicated workstations. The Applied Geospatial Research Center is attached to the college. The pristine British Columbia Kootenays area is beautiful if you like to hike or ski.

4. Simon Fraser University

Get certified with a Certificate in Spatial Information Systems at Simon Fraser University.

How is SIS different from GIS? It tackles a wider array of spatial-related fields. SIS includes Geographic Information Science; spatial analysis and modeling; geo-visualization; geospatial interface research; remote sensing; and mobile networks.

Put data in a geographical context with this modern approach to spatial entity information.

5. Okanagan College

The Okanagan College is located in beautiful Kelowna, BC with campuses in Penticton and Vernon. The Salmon Arm hosts the campus for GIS studies.

For the Okanagan College Advanced GIS Certificate , students have to complete not one, but two projects of their own direction. This prepares students for employment opportunities.

The Prairies

The Prairie Provinces consisting of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba have the following options to obtain a diploma or certificate in GIS:

• Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) Bachelor of Applied Technology Geographic Information Systems
• Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) Geographic Information Technology Certificate
• Saskatchewan Polytechnic Geographic Information Science for Resource Management Certificate
• Red River College (RRC) Advanced GIS Technology Certificate – This program has been discontinued
• Assiniboine Community College (ACC) GIS Advanced Diploma

1. Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT)

If you live in the southern part of Alberta or anywhere really, you should consider enrolling in their Bachelor of Applied Technology Geographic Information Systems .

It’s a great way to familiarize yourself with Esri ArcGIS, which is the leading GIS software in the industry. The GIS program practicum is rumored to be a challenge, as it can be difficult to find one. The same goes for its intense time commitment as students need to spend vast amounts of time on campus.

2. Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT)

The NAIT program is geared to the whole industry and practice of GIS with classes from ArcGIS to project management and industry best practices. Their Geographic Information Technology Certificate is one of a kind.

What’s unique about the NAIT GIS program is the delivery in both Geomedia and ArcGIS. The classes are unique and interesting. It has web mapping with open source GIS software and even Oracle spatial fundamentals courses.

3. University of Calgary’s Masters in GIS

The Masters in GIS (MGIS) program at the University of Calgary consists of 10 courses. While 5 courses are part of the core course load, the remaining will also build on GIS skills.

The Masters in GIS program covers applications, theory, spatial modeling, remote sensing, and statistics. It also consists of research projects where students get to develop skills in the topic of their choice.

University of Calgary’s Masters in GIS program is one of the best programs in Canada. Students who are looking to seriously develop their skills and become GIS professionals should consider the MGIS program.

4. Saskatchewan Polytechnic

The Geographic Information Science for Resource Management Certificate is a one-year certificate program offered full-time at the Saskatchewan Polytechnic Prince Albert campus.

This program gives you hands-on learning and practical experience that employers are looking for from GIS graduates. The field experience is also something unique to the program. 80% of GIS grads find jobs after six months of graduation working as mapping technicians, GIS specialists, cartographers, and other titles.

5. Red River College (RRC)

The Advanced GIS Technology diploma at Red River College has been discontinued

The Advanced GIS Technology diploma at Red River College is a one-year intense program. It combines a mix of remote sensing, cartography, GIS modeling, CAD, and other courses to build your knowledge in GIS.

It also connects students with potential employers through a thesis research project. This gives students a taste of how GIS is being used in the industry. However, you need a Bachelor’s Degree to get into this program as a prerequisite.

6. Assiniboine Community College (ACC)

Available through distance education and face-to-face, the Assiniboine College GIS Advanced Diploma is chosen by many Manitobans as a sure way to get the GIS knowledge they need.

With approximately 93% of grads finding employment in their field, the courses cover everything from image analysis to spatial statistics. It’s interesting to see a precision agriculture techniques course in the curriculum that shows how big agriculture is an industry in Manitoba.

The largest province in terms of population, Ontario, has a plethora of options to earn a certificate in Geographic Information Systems. Here they are in no particular order:

• Ryerson Certificate in Applied Digital Geography and GIS
• Queen University Certificate in Geographic Information Science
• York University Certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) & Remote Sensing
• Fleming College Geographic Information Systems Cartographic Specialist
• Niagara College GIS Certificate
• Algonquin College GIS Graduate Certificate
• University of Waterloo Diploma of Excellence in GIS
• Ontario Learns GIS Certificate (Humber College, Durham College, George Brown College, Seneca College, Centennial College, Mohawk College)

1. Ryerson University

There’s nothing but positive about Ryerson’s Certificate in Applied Digital Geography and GIS . It balances conceptual and practical training with lectures and laboratory learning environments. Ryerson’s Certificate in Applied Digital Geography and GIS is well-recognized in the GIS industry. It also offers distance education as this certification is primarily designed for part-time students.

Ryerson helps you accelerate your GIS job probabilities by earning the right amount of hands-on experience. Essentially, you build the right foundation to get your foot in the door. The distance learning option is also available for students who can’t make it to campus with busy lives.

2. Queen’s University

The Certificate in Geographic Information Science delivers a thorough understanding of cartography, remote sensing, and GIS techniques. In addition to completing a degree, Queen’s University students can also achieve a Certificate in Geographic Information Science. All undergraduate students regardless of their degree concentration are eligible to pursue the Certificate in Geographic Sciences.

Queen’s University’s GIScience certification gives you a blueprint for a career in GIS. You build a wealth of practical knowledge and GIS uses and applications in the workplace. This program understands how GIS is becoming an affordable technology that can be integrated into nearly every corporation, governmental agency, or non-profit organization.

3. Fanshawe College

Fanshawe College’s Certificate in Geographic Information Systems has both traditional and online classroom options. It’s an eight-month program to help students master the concepts of GIS, remote sensing, GIS programming, spatial analysis and modeling, photogrammetry, web mapping and CAD.

The program is project-based, software-intensive, interdisciplinary, and focused on building flexible, current, high-end applied skills. Students require their own laptops in this GIS certificate program. It teaches everything from the theory behind GIS to grasp an understanding of the important fundamentals. You will also get the hands-on skills to help you strive in the GIS industry.

4. York University

Get certified by York University’s Certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) & Remote Sensing . This program understands that together GIS and remote sensing are the backbone of many decision-making systems and location-based services emerging in the decades to come.

York University is far more in-depth. It’s heavily loaded in remote sensing which is a good thing. Satellite data is becoming more abundant and free to the whole world. York University’s GIS program puts you on the right path for your own career in the field of GIS and remote sensing.

5. Fleming College

There’s a lot to like about Fleming College’s GIS programs. You can walk away from this program, with the right skills for spatial decision-making in the real world.

It’s possible to take the GIS for Analytics Program in person, online, or both. This 3-semester program helps you make working relationships with partners and provide a real-world GIS deliverable. There’s nothing better than making those contacts that can lead you to a GIS career.

6. Niagara College

Niagara College offers an assortment of GIS courses, where you get hands-on experience working in GIS and GIS-related subjects. But it also teaches you the concepts and skills that you will use every day.

Currently, there is an Introduction to Geographic Information Systems and a GIS Applications course that still uses ArcGIS 9.X. That’s right, not even ArcGIS 10 or ArcGIS Pro.

7. University of Waterloo

The Geospatial Centre at the University of Waterloo is your home for anything related to GIS. This includes geospatial data, cartography, and any mapping software. There was a Diploma of Excellency available at this university but it appears to be a bit in limbo. It’s best to contact the Geospatial Centre at the university for any availability.

Just a warning that you may not be able to grasp all the important concepts with just databases, spatial analysis, management issues, and an introduction to GIS. It might look good on your CV, but in all practicality, this program needs more core courses like programming, remote sensing, and CAD.

8. Algonquin College

The GIS Graduate Certificate Program at Algonquin College is a three-semester program with the option for a co-op. Students need a university degree or 2-3 years from a college diploma program to enter the program.

It gives the best of all aspects of GIS – cartographic design, application and modeling, and remote sensing. Classes are offered in the classroom and the lab.

9. Ontario Learns GIS Certificate

You might think I should list each one of these colleges as their own separate number on this list.

…But in reality, they ARE the exact same program .

It’s the GIS diploma in a tin can. Without the prestige as the other GIS certificate programs offered in Ontario, in each of these programs, you’re going to be taking the same eight courses, and you may even be using dated GIS software to top things off.

Here are the courses you are going to get in the Ontario Learns GIS Certificate program: Microsoft Access Specialist, Microsoft Access Expert, Introduction to Geographic Information Systems, Designing/Implementing/Managing a GIS, GIS Software – ArcView, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), Remote Sensing and Internet Mapping.

If you eat, sleep and breathe GIS, then you’re not going to enjoy the Ontario Learns GIS certificate program.

The colleges that offer the Ontario Learns GIS Certificate are Humber College , George Brown College , Seneca College , Centennial College , Mohawk College and Durham College .

The Maritimes

The Maritime Provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland) have a bit less to offer in college GIS certificate programs. But it does offer one of the most recognized programs in all of Canada, the Centre of Geographic Sciences (COGS):

• Centre of Geographic Sciences (COGS) Advanced Diploma in Geographic Sciences
• New Brunswick Community College (NBCC) Geographic Information Systems Certificate

1. Centre of Geographic Sciences (COGS)

Employers in the industry know which schools have better reputations, and hire accordingly. COGS has cemented itself in one of the top spots for GIS certification. Its history traces back to 1948.

COGS used to be its own college, then became part of Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC). You might have to move a distance to attend because COGS is located in Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia. But it’s well worth it.

On a scale of 1 to 10, COGS Advanced Diploma in Geographic Sciences is a definite 10. Furthermore, it has a two-year Diploma in Geographic Sciences for those who directly enter from high school and people with unrelated degrees.

2. Dalhousie University

Nova Scotia is home to two incredible GIS diploma programs. As part of the Certificate in Geographic Information Science at Dalhousie University, students must complete 2 mandatory courses (Geoscience Information Management and GIS Applications to Environmental and Geological Science) and must select 2 other courses from a list of others. For example, Space, Place, and GIS course has students learn to use GIS to address land use and site planning issues even in regards to examining legal, privacy, and ethical implications of using GIS data in the public realm.

All courses set the standard of B to complete. But the heart and soul of this program lies in the research project, as independent work from the student. The research project focus is on the methodological and organizational design, the application of appropriate GIS techniques, and the proper reporting of the results.

Dalhousie University has a strong reputation in terms of universities in Canada – it dates back to 1818. This program is no exception as it’s high on the list for teaching students the necessary skills on how to design, manage, and employ methods in Geographic Information Science (GIS).

3. Memorial University (MUN)

Memorial University offers a Diploma in Geographic Information Science (GIScience) located in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Students have to be registered in a Bachelor of Arts or Science Degree program.

What I like most about MUN’s GIScience diploma program is the wealth of knowledge you’ll get for practical GIS applications. This is why the program requires students to complete two instructional field placement courses. Students can apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to real-life situations.

4. New Brunswick Community College (NBCC)

Update: As of 2004, the GIS Post-Diploma Technology Program is no longer part of NBCC.

The New Brunswick Community College (NBCC) GIS Post-Diploma Technology Program used to be all the buzz. Back in 2006, Esri presented the college with an award of excellence for their Post-Diploma in GIS, and college graduates were extremely successful at finding meaningful careers in GIS.

NBCC is quiet as of late, and it’s unclear whether or not their program still exists – as it’s not listed in their college GIS certificate listings.

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31 comments.

Hello folks, I’m SHS graduate from Ghana. Am interested in the of GIS. When would this years admission form is gonna be open for applicants. Needs more info.

Hi I am interested in remote sensing and GIS advance program.

I have to study in Canada. I have a graduation diploma and I have to do a Post Graduation.

What about Quebec?

This site is good for me. I will be encouraged to learn more about GIS

I am an graduate of Bachelor of Engineering in Geoinformatics from India. I am having 3 years of industrial experience in India. Currently, I am planning to do a Master degree in GIS related course in Canada. I am mainly doing this course because of the possibilities to get a job related to GIS in Canada. So, can anyone please suggest me courses related to GIS which has the option to work in related field during the course.

Hi Everyone! Does anybody know a scholarship in GIS/Geomatic field to study in Canada. I’m Colombian and looking forward to getting more info. I really appreciate your help community.

Hello, does anybody have any thoughts on the geographic information systems for environmental management certification at U of T’s school of continuing studies? It is not listed above. Although there is a focus towards environmental management, would it still be considered a GIS certification? Thank you.

Howdy! I have a bachelor’s degree in Geology and a double master’s degree in “Applied Environment Science” and “Hydrology, Hydrogeology, and Water resource” with an additional advanced diploma in water and Environmental technology. I would like to get a GIS certification in short term that focuses in my background. Any recommendation? thanks in advance!

Please see our page on GIS certifications – https://gisgeography.com/gis-certification-is-it-worth-it/

The 2 main options are:

• Esri Certification

BCIT’s GIS department offers both an Advanced Certificate (7 courses all online) and an Advanced Diploma (19 courses offered online and on campus).

Hello everyone. First of all, thanks a lot for the post, it’s very helpful. I have a bachelor’s degree in Biology and work for an environmental government agency in my country. I already use GIS tools in my work like a regular user and I like to take 2 years to live in Canada and learn more skills. I think a post degree diploma is better than a Master because of practical skills, while the Master is more academic (and expensive :). Is there any chance for a Biologist with a GIS diploma in Canada built a good career as a GIS technician? Is it dificult to be accepted in a post degree cause I’m a Biologist? I hope this comments became a helpful space and a friendly environment for the Gis community.

There are Masters Degrees in GIS in Canada. For example, Vancouver Island University offers an online MGISA (Master of GIS Applications) and University of Calgary has a MGIS in their Geography department.

is there a S3 (PHD) scholarship to study GIS in Canada??

Hi Ike. I have a diploma in Geomatics Engineering Tech and am looking into the University of Lethbridge 2 year post-diploma Bachelor of Science in Geography with a Concentration in GIS program. I see you have a Bachelors in Geography…is there any particular reason you are looking to do more schooling? Should I maybe consider SAIT’s (Calgary) BGIS program (1 year + 1 year paid practicum)?

Hello everyone, I have a Bachelors degree in Geography and would want to do a diploma program in GIS , hopefully a 1 year program in Calgary. What are my options and would the diploma program be sufficient to make me marketable as a GIS analyst?

Exactly, is there not data on Quebec? Cegep or University?

Under the Ontario Learns GIS Program you have mentioned dated software, is this program ‘behind the times’?

For someone without any GIS experience, but wanting to develop some marketable skills is this program a good choice?

Hello everyone. I wish to have a taste of the certificate or diploma course in GIS and remote sensing in Canada or elsewhere. More importantly, how can I get fellowship to assist me achieve my goal?

@Frank and @Okocha lucky – There are no master’s degrees for just GIS in Canada. What you would be looking for are master’s degrees in geography, which do exist at Canadian universities. Here’s a list I found with a quick Google search, but there might be others not on this list.

This webpage has listings only for college/university programs that focus entirely on obtaining GIS skills. Learning how to use GIS is only a subset of what would be involved in a master’s degree for geography. For example, most of the programs listed on this webpage don’t require students to research and write their own thesis, as typically would be required by a master’s program. It’s like comparing the difference between studying drama and studying filmmaking: the latter is just going to teach you how to operate a camera and edit what you record while the former is going to be a lot more in-depth on how to structure a story to make it more compelling.

Hope this explanation and attached link helps.

https://gisgeography.com/gis-masters-degree-program/

Is there something like Canada speak for a master’s degree? What is the equivalent, ey?

I actually want to enroll for a master’s program in GIS, all I’m seeing here is post diploma certificate and so on, are they equally thesame because I’m confused.

Which country has the best GIS opportunities as well as jobs?

Another one in Newfoundland: GIS Applications Specialist (Post Diploma) http://www.cna.nl.ca/programs-courses/Show-Program-Details.aspx?program=96

Thanks guys. I’ve made these changes in the article.

You missed one :-) Dalhousie University in Halifax.

http://www.dal.ca/faculty/science/environmental-science-program/programs/certificates/certificate-in-geographic-information-science.html

Note: the NBCC Geographic Information Services program in was eliminated in 2014

Great list! I am wondering if you could make a list of the best place to study GIS (or GIS-related), not only in Canada, but in the whole world! :)

I am interested in a M.Tech in Geoinformatics course. Is it possible through distance mode?

So we’re totally just not going to talk about Atlantic Canada? Newfoundland? MUN? Anyone?

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Canada pledges dramatic pay rise for PhDs, postdocs – but many will not benefit

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The Canadian government has pledged a significant investment in its graduate students and postdoctoral scholars after more than two decades of stagnation . Its 2024 budget proposal , announced on 16 April , provides C$825 million (£481 million) over the next five years to support next-generation researchers by increasing both the number and value of stipends. However, the pay rise will only be seen by graduates who win scarce Tri-Council grants, although it is hoped that as these stipends rise others will need to too to compete.

The budget, which the House of Commons must pass before it is finalised, would provide nearly C$200 million per year, increasing annual master’s and PhD scholarships to $27,000 and $40,000, respectively, and postdoctoral fellowships to $70,000. The budget’s passage is not guaranteed – it needs the support of at least one of three political parties other than the ruling Liberal party.

Source: © David Kawai/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Justin Trudeau, Canada’s prime minister, and Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s deputy prime minister and finance minister, presented the budget on 16 April. The package included funding that ended over 20 years of stagnation in PhD and postdoctoral stipends

The planned increases represent a dramatic jump. Currently, the typical annual stipend in Canada is around C$17,500 for master’s students, C$24,000 for PhDs and C$45,000 for postdocs. The government is also proposing C$1.8 billion to the different funding agencies in Canada over five years to increase core research grant funding.

The funding surge is expected to increase the number of research scholarships and fellowships provided by the government, building to approximately 1720 more graduate students or fellows benefiting each year.

Graduate student and postdoc pay in Canada has remained unchanged for over 20 years . A national survey last year by the Ottawa Science Policy Network found that nearly 90% of graduate students in the country reported feeling stressed and anxious about their finances, and almost one-third said they have considered leaving academia due to financial pressures.

‘These fellowships had the same value for many years, which means their ability to support students had, in many cases, fallen below a livable amount,’ explains Bruce Arndtsen , a chemistry professor at McGill University. ‘Many departments and institutions therefore needed to top these fellowships up from research grants simply to get to our normal stipend level.’

Most chemistry graduates ineligible for raise

Such a significant increase to graduate student stipends in Canada will give top students a competitive stipend and enable Canada to better retain these students, Arndtsen adds. ‘It will also allow the use of grant funds to better support their research activities rather than topping their fellowship up to needed levels.’

However, he notes that these stipend increases will only apply to the select few who win prestigious Tri-Council awards, and the majority of chemistry graduate students in Canada do not receive these top fellowships but are instead paid from research grants. In fact, Arndtsen notes that funding for the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s major chemistry funding programme has also remained stagnant for decades, and he expresses hope that these grants will receive a similar increase in the near term.

Anne Labarre , a sixth-year PhD chemistry student at McGill who is involved in computational drug discovery, celebrated the government’s announcement. Labarre says the PhD stipends at her chemistry department are currently fixed at around C$26,000 per year and emphasises that this increase is significant considering the recent inflation and rent increases in Montreal.

Matthew Berg, who received a PhD in biochemistry from Western University in Canada in 2021 and is now a postdoc at the University of Washington in the US, is optimistic. ‘These increases are going to set the bar for where funding should be for trainees in the sciences and in graduate school,’ he states. ‘Right now, a lot of Canadian graduate students struggle,’ Berg continues. ‘We’ve heard stories of students having to rely on food banks and different support systems in order to just make it through their degree.’

Last year there was a nationwide walkout of students and academics in Canada who were demanding more federal funding for graduate students and postdoc researchers. This month, graduate teaching assistants at Western University went on strike to protest what they deemed unfair wages. Meanwhile, a union representing striking academic workers at York University in Toronto, including teaching assistants and graduate workers, appeared to have reached a tentative deal on 14 April after being on strike over pay since late February.

Berg says he was lucky – he received one of one of the elusive federal awards to support him as a PhD candidate in Canada, which he says was worth about C$35,000 annually for three years. As a postdoc in the US, Berg says he currently receives significantly better compensation, with a stipend equivalent to more than C$90,000.

‘My dream after my PhD is to move to back to Canada and be a professor there,’ he says. ‘But it does make me nervous how difficult it is to get funding there and I don’t want to run a lab where my students are struggling to survive.’

Michel Cayouette , the vice president of research and academic affairs at the Montreal Clinical Research Institute, says the C$1.8 billion funding boost is great news but will be insufficient to allow supervisors to increase the value of their trainees’ stipends to the amounts announced for award recipients. ‘This means that the vast majority of students and postdocs will continue to struggle financially,’ Cayouette warns. ‘There is therefore more work to do in coming years to fill the gap in funding and ensure that all trainees receive a liveable wage.’

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• GIS Applications in Society Today

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) professionals help transform how we understand and manage the world.

A recent episode of UMBC’s Mic’d Up podcast explores GIS applications in society and how GIS changes urban planning and environmental conservation fields.

What is GIS?

GIS uses spatial data and analytical methods to address complex geographic problems. Harrison, a current student and guest on the podcast, explains that GIS is about more than making maps. It helps us understand the stories behind the data. GIS analyzes demographic trends, optimizes public transport routes, and manages natural resources. These applications provide insights that influence global policy and decision-making.

Real-World GIS Applications in Society

Harrison discussed his use of GIS in community services on the podcast. He worked on a project for Baltimore County, creating a locator for food pantries . This tool helped determine the best locations for food pantries to ensure accessibility. His work demonstrates how GIS can improve public service efficiency and reach.

GIS also plays a crucial role in environmental management. GIS can help to map data such as elevation, land cover, and hydrology. This information allows professionals to manage resources and plan sustainable development. Harrison is passionate about using GIS in environmental studies, which can lead to better stewardship of natural environments.

Why Choose UMBC’s GIS Program?

UMBC offers a strong GIS graduate program for those inspired by Harrison’s story. The program equips students with skills needed in the dynamic field of GIS. It focuses on both the technical aspects and practical GIS applications in society.

UMBC is committed to providing a comprehensive GIS education. The curriculum is tailored to current and emerging trends in the field. The faculty consists of experienced professionals and academics. They prepare students for careers in various industries.

The Future of GIS

The future of GIS includes integrating it with technologies like AI. This integration is expected to enhance analytical capabilities. As AI evolves, it will likely change how data is collected and analyzed. This could lead to more innovative solutions to global challenges.

However, the human element remains vital. Harrison emphasized the importance of ethics and responsible technology use. These factors shape how the public perceives and uses technology.

Conclusion: Embracing GIS for a Better Future

The need for skilled GIS professionals is growing as the world faces complex challenges. These professionals will navigate the intersection of technology, geography, and societal needs.

UMBC encourages individuals to join its GIS graduate program. This program helps students make significant impacts through the innovative use of maps and other tools. Join UMBC in shaping a better, more informed world.

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