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UBC Occupational Therapy: Admissions Guide 2026-2027

Guide to UBC Occupational Therapy MOT 2026-2027: prerequisites, required experience, Casper, verbal interview, written-English assessment and program curriculum.

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

UBC's Master of Occupational Therapy is a 24-month, entry-to-practice program taught across Vancouver, Surrey and Prince George. Applicants need a qualifying bachelor's degree, prerequisite courses, at least 70 hours of qualifying experience and Casper. Competitive senior-level academic standing determines interview consideration.

Program
Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT)
Credential
MOT
Location
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Casper
Required
Interview
Interview
Seats
94 new registrations
Length
24 months, six sequential terms

Casper Requirement for University of British Columbia Occupational Therapy

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

Languages
English
Applicant ID to enter
Phone number; University of British Columbia Applicant Id

Check available Casper test dates in your Acuity Insights account at takecasper.com.

Use your phone number and UBC Applicant ID when registering.

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.

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University of British Columbia Occupational Therapy Application Deadlines 2026-2027

Apply through
UBC Faculty of Graduate and Post-doctoral Studies / online portal
Application fee
For the Fall 2027 intake, UBC lists CAD $120.75 domestic or CAD $168.25 international, plus a CAD $135.25 MOT supplemental application fee.

Apply through UBC's graduate online application system and submit transcripts and the required references. Applicants interested in the Prince George cohort must also complete its supplementary application form.

University of British Columbia Occupational Therapy Admissions Statistics

Period: 2025 registration year

  • Seats / class size: 94 new registrations
  • Applicants: 530 applications
  • Admitted: 106 offers

UBC reports applications, offers and new registrations by registration year; offers are not the same as students who enrolled.

Eligibility Requirements for University of British Columbia Occupational Therapy

Degree / credits

Complete a recognized bachelor's degree equivalent to a four-year UBC bachelor's degree in any field. The degree may be in progress when applying, but required courses must finish by April 30 of the application year; applicants completing undergraduate courses in the summer cannot apply for September entry.

Residency

Primary consideration among domestic applicants goes to British Columbia residents. UBC considers an applicant a BC resident if they hold a valid BC Services Card when applying.

Language proficiency

Applicants whose university outside Canada did not primarily teach in English must provide an eligible English-proficiency result taken within 24 months of applying.

UBC has designated seats for international students.

Other requirements

  • References and transcripts: Submit transcripts from all post-secondary study and two references, including supervisor verification of qualifying experience.
  • Post-acceptance health and safety requirements: Admitted students need an immunization review and must meet applicable placement immunization requirements; students accepting an offer must consent to a criminal record check.

Selection Factors University of British Columbia Considers

Prerequisites

CourseRequirement
Human anatomyOne course, 3 credits or equivalent
Gross anatomy of the upper and lower limbs and trunk; check UBC's accepted-course requirements.
Social scienceOne course, 3 credits or equivalent
Sociology, anthropology or human geography; other disciplines may be reviewed individually.
Behavioural scienceOne course, 3 credits or equivalent
Psychology; other disciplines may be reviewed individually.

GPA

How it is calculated

UBC considers academic standing in senior-level courses when selecting candidates for interviews.

Minimum
UBC Graduate School's usual minimum is an overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC); the MOT program may set additional requirements. Meeting the minimum does not guarantee admission.

Admissions tests

  • GRE (not required): The GRE is not required.
  • English-language proficiency (required for some applicants): Required for applicants whose university outside Canada did not primarily teach in English. See UBC's MOT profile for accepted tests, scores and validity.

Experience and volunteer hours

Required.

Complete at least 70 hours of direct, in-person volunteer or paid work with people with cognitive, emotional or physical disabilities by the application deadline, at no more than two organizations. An organizational supervisor must verify the hours and provide a reference; family members cannot do so.

Supplementary application

Submit UBC's required response to a question. Applicants seeking the Prince George cohort must also complete its supplementary application form.

How applicants are ranked

Applicants meeting minimum requirements may be considered for an interview; competitive academic standing in senior-level courses determines interview selection. The interview includes verbal and written-English components. Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee an interview or admission.

Interview Format at University of British Columbia

Format: Interview

The interview comprises a verbal interview and an examination of written English proficiency.

Who is invited
Applicants who meet the minimum requirements may be considered; candidates are selected based on competitive academic standing in senior-level courses.

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Curriculum at University of British Columbia Occupational Therapy

Program length
24 months, six sequential terms
Structure

Coursework and five fieldwork placements of 5-7 weeks each; the program has no thesis requirement.

Campuses
Vancouver, Surrey, Prince George

Students at all three sites follow the same curriculum and evaluation sequence. The degree requires 65 academic credits plus fieldwork requirements.

Campus and facilities

UBC offers the MOT at its Vancouver campus, its Surrey site and the University of Northern British Columbia campus in Prince George. Students follow the same curriculum and evaluations across sites.

Tuition and Funding at University of British Columbia

  • Domestic program tuition: CAD $17,005.50
  • International program tuition: CAD $116,612.22

UBC lists three tuition instalments per year, additional student and program fees, and a CAD $1,000 offer-acceptance deposit. Published fees are subject to change.

University of British Columbia's Mission and Values

The Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) program is the entry-to-practice program for students to train to become occupational therapists.

Our Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) program is our entry-to-practice program for students to train to become occupational therapists.

What Applicants Are Saying

Matriculated students describe the program as hands-on with low-stress learning and supportive professors, positioning UBC as a top choice for BC residents and others seeking practical occupational therapy education. Students report a low-stress environment fostering deep engagement with occupational therapy coursework. Applicants report preferences for in-province applicants amid high competition, and that BC residents face less competition. Applicants with 86% averages and second-quartile Casper scores report rejections.

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

How to Prepare Your University of British Columbia Occupational Therapy Application

  1. Check degree equivalence and plan the anatomy, social-science and psychology prerequisites.
  2. Complete and document at least 70 hours of qualifying, supervised, in-person experience with people with disabilities.
  3. Review Acuity Insights' registration and available Casper dates when UBC's schedule is published.
  4. Arrange transcripts, two references and UBC's required response to a question.
  5. Prepare for UBC's verbal interview and written-English assessment.

More About University of British Columbia Occupational Therapy

MOT admissions contact

mot.admissions@ubc.ca

Frequently Asked Questions About University of British Columbia Occupational Therapy

Is Casper required for UBC Occupational Therapy admissions?

Yes. UBC lists Casper as an admission requirement. Check Acuity Insights for available UBC MOT test sittings and distribution instructions.

What is the minimum GPA for UBC Occupational Therapy?

UBC Graduate School's usual minimum is a B+ range average (76% at UBC). Competitive standing in senior-level courses is used to select interview candidates.

Does UBC Occupational Therapy require work experience?

Yes. Complete at least 70 hours of qualifying, supervised, in-person volunteer or paid work with people with disabilities by the application deadline, at no more than two organizations.

What is the interview format?

UBC describes a verbal interview and an examination of written English proficiency. Competitive senior-level academic standing determines interview consideration.

How much is the UBC MOT application fee?

UBC lists CAD $120.75 domestic or CAD $168.25 international, plus a CAD $135.25 MOT supplemental application fee.

Can international students apply?

Yes. UBC has designated international seats. Applicants must meet degree and course requirements and, where applicable, English-proficiency requirements.

What does the UBC MOT curriculum cover?

The 24-month program combines sequential coursework with five fieldwork placements across six terms.

Where can I find UBC MOT admission statistics?

UBC's graduate program profile reports application, offer and new-registration totals by registration year. See the admissions statistics on that page.

Sources

Last updated: September 26, 2026