Apply to the Program

A 2-3 page personal essay, describing why you are applying to a genetic counselling program. Include how a career in genetic counselling would meet your personal goals and how your past training and experiences have prepared you for this program.

Within the application portal, this document should be uploaded in the "brief statement of academic and professional goals" section. Please note: introductions that do not meet the formatting requirements listed below will not be reviewed.

Formatting Requirements:

• • Double spaced
  • Minimum 12 point font
  • One inch margins

We ask that all applicants provide a statement of one page or less (double spaced, 12 point font, one inch margins), describing their roles and/or goals in supporting increased diversity within genetic counselling.

We also encourage people who self-identify as First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples of Canada to apply to the program, as we are committed to the goals outlined in the UBC Faculty of Medicine Indigenous Strategic Plan. The GC program has committed to reserving a minimum of 2 out of 30 of the interview spots to be offered to Canadian citizens who self-identify as Indigenous who meet all of the application requirements. To be considered as an Indigenous applicant, you will be required to provide additional documents at the time of application. Specifically, Proof of Ancestry can be demonstrated through one of the following:

• A scanned copy of the front and back of your Indian Status Card or Tribal Enrolment Card, Métis Membership/Citizenship Card, Inuit or Inuvialuit Tribal Corporation Number or Inuit Registry.
• A letter from an official representative of your First Nations Band, Treaty, Tribal, or Traditional Council, Inuit land/territory organization, Métis settlement or community organization, or a recognized Indigenous organization. This letter must be on organizational letterhead and sent directly to the UBC Admissions office by mail, as well as emailed to medgeneducation@cw.bc.ca.
• Another form of identification that is deemed acceptable with consultation from the Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health at UBC.

If you are not sure if your proof of ancestry is accepted or you do not have proof of ancestry, please contact us and we can help you navigate what you need for the admissions process.

A single page CV (resume) outlining your academic, volunteer and work experiences. If multiple pages are submitted, only the first page will be reviewed. Dates / lengths of time should be clear.

Three letters of reference. These must be personal letters from individuals who are familiar with your work, academic abilities, volunteer experience and/or personal attributes. It is suggested that you obtain:

• One letter from an academic reference.
• One letter from an individual who can comment on your counselling and communication skills
• One letter from a reference of your choice.

Referees will be contacted directly by the system once you have submitted your application. Do not upload the letters yourself.

Upload one copy of each institution’s transcript, scanned front and back (in colour preferably).

While it is preferable that all prerequisite courses be completed at the time of application, if any are still in progress, then applicants may upload proof of current enrollment (e.g. official letter or transcript confirming enrollment) to the application portal. Prerequisite courses must be completed prior to program enrollment.

Complete the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies’ online application form.

Pay the application fee. Application fees must be paid by credit card.

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. For more information on English proficiency requirements, visit UBC’s Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies’ website.

Provide a new 2-3 page personal essay, describing why you are applying to a genetic counselling program. Include how a career in genetic counselling would meet your personal goals and how your past training and experiences have prepared you for this program.
Please note: Introductions that do not meet the formatting requirements listed below will not be reviewed.

Formatting Requirements:

• Double spaced
• Minimum 12 point font
• One inch margins

We ask that all applicants provide a statement of one page or less (double spaced, 12 point font, one inch margins), describing their roles and/or goals in supporting increased diversity within genetic counselling.

We also encourage people who self-identify as First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples of Canada to apply to the program, as we are committed to the goals outlined in the UBC Faculty of Medicine Indigenous Strategic Plan. The GC program has committed to reserving a minimum of 2 out of 30 of the interview spots to be offered to Canadian citizens who self-identify as Indigenous who meet all of the application requirements. To be considered as an Indigenous applicant, you will be required to provide additional documents at the time of application. Specifically, Proof of Ancestry can be demonstrated through one of the following:

• A scanned copy of the front and back of your Indian Status Card or Tribal Enrolment Card, Métis Membership/Citizenship Card, Inuit or Inuvialuit Tribal Corporation Number or Inuit Registry.
• A letter from an official representative of your First Nations Band, Treaty, Tribal, or Traditional Council, Inuit land/territory organization, Métis settlement or community organization, or a recognized Indigenous organization. This letter must be on organizational letterhead and sent directly to the UBC Admissions office by mail, as well as emailed to medgeneducation@cw.bc.ca.
• Another form of identification that is deemed acceptable with consultation from the Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health at UBC.

If you are not sure if your proof of ancestry is accepted or you do not have proof of ancestry, please contact us and we can help you navigate what you need for the admissions process.

A single page CV (resume) outlining your academic, volunteer and work experiences. If multiple pages are submitted, only the first page will be reviewed. Dates / lengths of time should be clear.

Re-applicants must provide at least one new reference letter. The application portal will still request three references. In order to satisfy this requirement, you may list the same reference three times, with "placeholder" inactive email addresses for the second and third entries.

Re-applicants must upload updated transcript(s) if new courses have been taken or if transcript(s) originally provided were not complete in the previous application (i.e. Your marks from your last term were not available).

While it is preferable that all prerequisite courses be completed at the time of application, if any are still in progress, then applicants may upload proof of current enrollment (e.g. official letter or transcript confirming enrollment) to the application portal. Prerequisite courses must be completed prior to program enrollment.

Complete the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies’ online application form. Important: Please be sure to use the same student number that you were issued when you originally applied, in a prior year. If you attempt to reapply with a new account and student number, your application may not be processed.

Pay the application fee. Application fees must be paid by credit card.

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. For more information on English proficiency requirements, visit

UBC’s Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies’ website

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