Why have I been admitted as a MSc instead of PhD?
Students whose degrees are not from Canadian institutions are usually admitted as master’s students, even if they already have a master’s degree. Most, if not all, Canadian universities do this. Unlike many countries, Canadian universities seem to prefer students to complete a master’s degree in preparation for a PhD. This is not intended as a slight against either the students or their academic credentials: most non-Canadian degrees are treated this way, whether they be from CalTech to Podunk U. It’s ostensibly to ensure that the student is capable of PhD work. Most students have the opportunity to switch into the PhD stream at the end of their first year (during the summer term). The only real downside is that Immigration Canada will not issue you a student visa for more than your expected program length. So you’ll need to renew your visa after two years, at a cost of $175. This trend has been changing in recent times, however, and it may begin happening at UBC with the PhD Tuition W
