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UBC Physical Therapy MPT: Admissions Guide 2026-2027

UBC Master of Physical Therapy admissions: Casper, prerequisites, required experience, application deadlines, online MMI, tuition and distributed study sites.

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University of British ColumbiaPhysical TherapyVancouver, British Columbia, Canada2026-2027 cycle

UBC’s 26-month Master of Physical Therapy is a distributed, case-based program with five clinical placements. Applicants need an eligible degree, approved prerequisites, at least 70 hours of qualifying experience and Casper. Qualified applicants may be invited to an online Multiple Mini Interview.

Program
Master of Physical Therapy (MPT)
Credential
MPT
Location
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Casper
Required
Next deadline
November 1, 2026 (Prerequisite course review request)
Interview
Multiple mini interview (MMI)
Seats
143 annually
Length
26 months

Casper Requirement for University of British Columbia Physical Therapy

University of British Columbia Physical Therapy requires Casper for the 2026-2027 cycle.

Languages
English

Upcoming Casper test dates

  • October 3, 2026 at 5:00 PM PDT
  • October 6, 2026 at 5:00 PM PDT
  • October 8, 2026 at 5:00 PM PDT
  • October 14, 2026 at 3:00 PM PDT
  • October 14, 2026 at 5:00 PM PDT
  • October 15, 2026 at 5:00 PM PDT
  • November 5, 2026 at 5:00 PM PST
  • November 29, 2026 at 10:00 AM PST
  • December 1, 2026 at 5:00 PM PST
  • January 7, 2027 at 5:00 PM PST

Test dates can change: confirm availability in your Acuity Insights account at takecasper.com.

Casper format

Casper is an online, open-response situational judgment test run by Acuity Insights. The current format has 11 scenarios (4 video-response and 7 typed-response) with 2 questions each and takes about 65 to 85 minutes, including optional breaks. Typed-response scenarios allow 3.5 minutes to answer both questions.

Practice with Bright Doctor's Casper Question Bank, featuring 100+ scenarios and 300+ expert responses.

University of British Columbia Physical Therapy Application Deadlines 2026-2027

Apply through
UBC Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies online application portal
Applications open
October 1, 2026
Application fee
CAD $118.50 domestic or $168.25 international online application fee, plus a $132.75 MPT supplemental application fee.
WhatWhen
Prerequisite course review requestNovember 1, 2026upcoming
International applicationDecember 15, 2026upcoming
Prerequisite course completionDecember 31, 2026upcoming
Canadian applicationJanuary 5, 2027upcoming
International transcripts and referencesJanuary 10, 2027upcoming
Canadian transcripts and referencesJanuary 15, 2027upcoming

University of British Columbia Physical Therapy Admissions Statistics

Period: 2025 entry for applications, offers and registrations; current annual intake for seats

  • Seats / class size: 143 annually
  • Applicants: 432
  • Admitted: 154 offers
  • 2025 new registrations: 140
  • Indigenous reserved seats: 8
  • Maximum international seats: 8

Eligibility Requirements for University of British Columbia Physical Therapy

Degree / credits

A recognized four-year bachelor’s degree (120 credits) or equivalent in any field is required. Applicants finishing a degree must provide a final official transcript confirming conferral by November of the year they enter.

Residency

Primary consideration goes to BC residents, applicants who completed a bachelor’s degree or higher in BC within the preceding five years, and residents of Yukon, Northwest Territories or Nunavut. UBC accepts up to 10% of incoming students from out of province.

Citizenship

International applicants may apply; annual international enrolment is limited to 8 seats. International applicants are not eligible for MPT-North.

Language proficiency

If required because English was not the primary language of instruction at a university outside Canada, submit an approved proficiency test taken within 24 months of the application deadline. UBC Graduate School lists TOEFL iBT 5.5 overall on the six-point scale for tests taken from January 21, 2026, or 100 on the earlier 120-point scale; UBC’s department also lists IELTS Academic 7.5 overall with 7.0 in each component, CAEL 80, and PTE Academic 70.

Admission pathways

  • Indigenous applicants: Eight seats are reserved for qualified Indigenous applicants who document First Nations, Métis or Inuit ancestry, meet admission requirements and complete the MMI.

Confirm prerequisites and the English Casper requirement via the MPT Admissions Guide. Consult the MPT Admissions Guide on UBC's website for full prerequisite details and equivalencies.

Other requirements

  • References: Provide one academic referee and one practical/professional referee; the latter completes the MPT Practical Reference Form.
  • Site preference: Complete the online site-preference survey; applicants interested in MPT-North must also complete its application form.
  • Supporting documents: Upload required official transcript scans and applicable residency, AP/IB, immigration-status or name-change documents.

Selection Factors University of British Columbia Considers

Prerequisites

CourseRequirement
Basic physiologyApproved course; minimum B (72%)
Advanced physiologyApproved course; minimum B (72%)
Human anatomyApproved course; minimum B (72%)
StatisticsApproved course; minimum B (72%)
EnglishApproved course; minimum B (72%)
PhysicsApproved course; minimum B (72%)
PsychologyApproved course; minimum B (72%)

GPA

How it is calculated

UBC combines up to 30 credits of the most recent eligible upper-level university courses with eligible anatomy, physiology, statistics and psychology prerequisites. It excludes English and physics prerequisites; course selection and grade conversion are determined by the admissions office.

Minimum
B+ (76% at UBC) overall average in senior-level courses
Competitive
Higher averages strengthen the profile amid competition; competitive applicants exceed the minimum thresholds.

Admissions tests

  • GRE (not required): The GRE is not required.
  • English language proficiency (required for some applicants): Required for applicants covered by UBC’s English-language competency rule; see eligibility.languageProficiency for accepted scores.

Experience and volunteer hours

Required.

Complete at least 70 hours of volunteer or paid work involving direct interaction with people with cognitive, emotional or physical disabilities by the application deadline. Experience may span no more than two organizations and must be verifiable by a direct supervisor.

Supplementary application

Submit the MPT Supplemental Application Form through UBC’s online portal. It records prerequisite courses and grades, volunteer or paid experience, and a 200-word response to the program’s question.

How applicants are ranked

Applicants must meet minimum requirements before their overall application is evaluated for an interview. Final admission decisions consider both the overall application and the MMI. Applicants rank site preferences; UBC uses those preferences with the application package to allocate cohorts.

Interview Format at University of British Columbia

Format: Multiple mini interview (MMI)

Online Multiple Mini Interview (MMI).

Who is invited
Qualified applicants selected after review of their complete applications; meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee an invitation.
When
Invitations near the end of February; online MMIs in early March.

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Curriculum at University of British Columbia Physical Therapy

Program length
26 months
Structure

Evidence-based, integrated case-based learning delivered across distributed sites, with five clinical placements.

Campuses
Vancouver, Interior Region / Vancouver, Surrey (Fraser Valley), Victoria, Prince George (North)

Study covers basic sciences, clinical decision-making, musculoskeletal, neurological and cardiopulmonary-vascular practice, exercise and movement sciences, and rehabilitation research.

Campus and facilities

UBC teaches MPT cohorts across Vancouver, Surrey, Victoria and Prince George, with an additional Interior Region / Vancouver cohort. Its Physiotherapy and Research Clinic offers MPT clinical placements.

Tuition and Funding at University of British Columbia

  • Domestic first-year tuition: CAD $7,288.05
  • International first-year tuition: CAD $51,229.65
  • Domestic program tuition: CAD $17,005.45
  • International program tuition: CAD $119,535.85

Tuition is charged over seven installments; additional student and program fees apply. An accepted offer requires a CAD $1,500 deposit credited toward tuition. Fees may change.

University of British Columbia's Mission and Values

The objectives of the MPT curriculum reflect the essential knowledge, skills and attitudes a student should possess on graduation from a physiotherapy education.

The objectives of the MPT curriculum reflect the essential knowledge, skills and attitudes a student should possess on graduation from a physiotherapy education.

What Applicants Are Saying

Students describe the program as demanding yet rewarding, with access to an on-campus clinic offering treatments at $50 per hour supervised by senior students. Matriculated students note that the interview focuses on practical application over straightforward recall and is more demanding than peers such as UofA. Reviews praise the Physical Therapy & Research Clinic highly, though bookings extend into the next year; the Allan McGavin Clinic has mixed feedback.

Shared by applicants and students on forums and communities. It is anecdotal, not official program information.

How to Prepare Your University of British Columbia Physical Therapy Application

  1. Check all seven prerequisite subjects and the required grades.
  2. Arrange 70 hours of qualifying supervised experience and identify an academic and a practical referee.
  3. Use Acuity Insights’ practice test before Casper.
  4. Prepare the supplemental form, 200-word response and site preferences.
  5. Practise for UBC’s online MMI.

Frequently Asked Questions About University of British Columbia Physical Therapy

Is Casper required for UBC MPT admissions?

Yes. All applicants must complete Casper and select UBC Master of Physical Therapy to share results.

What GPA do I need for UBC Physical Therapy?

At least B (72% at UBC) in each prerequisite and an overall average in the B+ (76% at UBC) range in senior-level courses. Meeting minimums does not guarantee an interview.

What is the UBC MPT interview format?

Qualified applicants may be invited to an online Multiple Mini Interview.

How long is the UBC Master of Physical Therapy program?

The MPT lasts 26 months and includes five clinical placements.

Are there scholarships for UBC MPT students?

UBC lists funding options, including some bursaries; check eligibility with UBC.

What are UBC MPT prerequisite examples?

Required subjects include basic and advanced physiology, human anatomy, statistics, English, physics and psychology. Each prerequisite needs at least B (72% at UBC).

Can international students apply to UBC Physical Therapy?

Yes. The MPT accepts up to eight international students annually, but international applicants cannot enter the MPT-North cohort.

How much is treatment at UBC’s physio clinic?

UBC’s Physiotherapy and Research Clinic offers MPT clinical placements. Contact the clinic for current treatment rates and availability.

Sources

Last updated: September 26, 2026