Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) — University of British Columbia

Program status: Active. The only occupational therapy degree program in British Columbia.

SpaceCat Fit Notes

CASPer: SpaceCat’s very high CASPer score is a significant advantage. CASPer is required and factors into interview selection alongside GPA, experience hours, and reapplication status. The exact weighting is unpublished, but CASPer is one of only four factors determining who gets interviewed (out of ~707 applicants, only ~200 are interviewed). A very high CASPer score meaningfully improves SpaceCat’s chances of making the interview cut.
GPA window & upgrading strategy: GPA is calculated on the most recent 45 senior-level credits (15 courses at the 300/400 level). Taking 15 strong new senior-level courses would fully reset SpaceCat’s effective GPA. Taking 7–8 new senior courses (roughly one full-time year of upper-level courses) would replace about half the window. Note: only 300/400-level courses count — lower-level courses would not enter the calculation. The out-of-province competitive band is 87–92%, which is very high.
Experiential / written advantage: UBC has both a 500-word statement of intent and an MMI (9-station Multiple Mini Interview via Kira Talent). The statement of intent is the only application document seen by interview panelists — strong writing directly shapes their impression. SpaceCat’s shelter work experience can shine in both the statement and the MMI, which assesses verbal communication, maturity, and personal suitability. The MMI format plays to interpersonal strengths from hands-on work with vulnerable populations. Additionally, the 70-hour experience requirement (direct interaction with persons with disabilities or older adults) may partially overlap with shelter work, though this needs confirmation. UBC also requires 2 references, including one from the direct supervisor of the experience hours — another avenue for SpaceCat’s background to be validated.
Out-of-province: Ontario resident. - Primary consideration is given to BC residents. Up to 10% of the 94 domestic Vancouver cohort seats (currently up to 9 seats) may be offered to out-of-province applicants. The Fraser, North, and Okanagan cohorts (16 seats each) appear to be for BC residents (not explicitly stated but implied b
Overall assessment: Reach — The high out-of-province GPA competitive band (87–92%) and very limited out-of-province seats (~9 of 94 domestic Vancouver seats) make UBC extremely difficult for an Ontario resident. The GPA window of 45 senior credits requires significant high-grade upper-level coursework to become competitive. However, the holistic evaluation (CASPer + statement of intent + MMI + experience hours) provides more avenues for SpaceCat’s strengths than purely numbers-driven programs, and UBC’s MMI is one of the better interview formats for her experiential background.

Quick Facts

Institution: University of British Columbia (UBC)
Program name: Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT)
Degree granted: MOT
City, Province: Vancouver, BC (main campus); distributed sites in Prince George, Surrey, and Kelowna)
Program type: Professional master’s (course-based, no thesis)
Duration: 24 months (6 terms), 15 courses totaling 65 credits
Delivery format: In-person
Full-time / Part-time: Full-time only; no part-time or virtual options (FAQ)
Language of instruction: English
Start date(s): September
Intake frequency: Annual
Application deadline(s): January 15, 2026 for September 2026 entry; application opens October 15, 2025 (How to Apply)
Application system: UBC Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies online application (apply here)
Application code: N/A (direct to UBC grad studies)
Supplementary application portal: Embedded within UBC grad application; additional forms for MOT North and MOT Okanagan cohorts
Program URL: https://osot.ubc.ca/prospective-students/master-of-occupational-therapy/
Accredited: Yes — full accreditation from the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) (program page)

Admission Requirements

GPA

Minimum GPA: 76% (B+) average across all senior-level courses (300/400+ level). Individual courses may fall below 76% if the cumulative senior-level average meets the threshold. Applications below 76% are automatically ineligible. (Admission Requirements)
Competitive GPA: In the past two years, the competitive average band to receive an interview offer has been 82-87% for BC residents and 87-92% for out-of-province applicants. Being within this band does not guarantee an interview; CASPer scores, experience hours, and reapplication status also factor in. (Admission Requirements; FAQ)
GPA calculated on: Most recent 45 senior-level credits / 15 senior-level courses (assumes 3 credits per semester-length course; adjusted for non-standard credit systems). If an applicant has fewer than 45 senior-level credits / 15 courses, all eligible senior-level work is used. When multiple courses qualify as the “last courses,” the best applicable grades are used. (Admission Requirements)
Number of credits in GPA window: 45 credits (15 courses). A minimum of 6 senior-level courses (18 credits) must have final grades posted on the transcript by the application deadline. In-progress courses at the deadline are excluded from the initial calculation.
GPA scale used: Percentage (76% minimum = B+). Graduate-level courses count with equal weight to undergraduate courses. (FAQ)

Prerequisites

All prerequisites must be completed by April 30 of the entry year. Summer-term courses (May-August) cannot be included if applying for the same-year September intake. (Admission Requirements)

Course	Subject Area	Required / Recommended	Min Grade	Can be taken online?	Time Limit	Topic Coverage / Notes
Human Anatomy (1 course)	Gross anatomy of musculoskeletal system	Required	Not specified (must pass)	Some approved courses are distance ed (see list below)	Not stated	Must cover: upper limbs, lower limbs, and trunk (bones, joints, muscles, nerves, blood vessels for each). Only pre-approved courses accepted; unlisted courses automatically declined. (Anatomy page)
Social Science (1 course, 3 credits)	Sociology, Anthropology, or Human Geography	Required	Not specified	Not stated	Not stated	Any level accepted. Courses outside these three disciplines assessed case-by-case via syllabus submission to mot.admissions@ubc.ca. Acceptable examples: Sociology of Sport, Social Psychology, Health Policy & Society, courses with “Socio-/Social/Society” in title. OSOT 301 at UBC also qualifies. (Admission Requirements)
Behavioural Science (1 course, 3 credits)	Psychology	Required	Not specified	Not stated	Not stated	Any level accepted. Courses outside Psychology assessed case-by-case. Acceptable examples: Social Psychology, Sport Psychology, Mental Health & Illness, certain Neurobiology courses, courses with “Psych/Psychology/Behavioural” in title. OSOT 301 at UBC also qualifies. (Admission Requirements)

Approved anatomy courses available as distance education (selected): - Athabasca University: BIOL 235 (Human Anatomy and Physiology) — distance ed - University of Alberta: PTHER 350 — distance ed - Simon Fraser University: BPK 325 — distance ed - Thompson Rivers OLU: BIOL 1593+1693 (combination, distance ed); BIOL 3701 (distance ed) - Bow Valley College: ANAT 1101 — distance ed - Dalhousie University: ANAT 1010 — distance ed

Full approved list: https://osot.ubc.ca/prospective-students/master-of-occupational-therapy/admission-requirements/human-anatomy/

Anatomy courses available at Dalhousie (SpaceCat’s alma mater): ANAT 1010 (distance ed), ANAT 3010, HSCE 1020+1030 (combination required). (Anatomy page)

Courses that can be requested for review: Applicants may submit an unlisted anatomy course for evaluation between August 1 and October 31 of the application year using the Human Anatomy Assessment Form with 8 separate PDFs demonstrating course coverage. Course outlines alone are insufficient. (Anatomy page)

Prereq source URL: https://osot.ubc.ca/prospective-students/master-of-occupational-therapy/admission-requirements/

Prior Degree Requirement

Minimum credits / degree required: Academically equivalent 4-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution (equivalent to a UBC 4-year Bachelor’s). (Admission Requirements)
Completed degree required? All coursework must be completed by April 30 of the entry year; degree may be in progress at application deadline but must be conferred before program start.
Degree field restrictions: Any field accepted. (Admission Requirements)

Supplementary Requirements

CASPer: Required for all applicants. Must be completed before the application deadline. Register at takecasper.com for “Casper 2 - Occupational Therapy.” Available test dates: August 11 - December 1, 2026. Distribution destination: University of British Columbia Occupational Therapy. (CASPer page)
GRE: Not required.
Interview: Yes — Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format via Kira Talent platform. 9 interview stations + 1 rest station, approximately 60 minutes total. Typically held first week of March. Approximately 200 applicants interviewed per cycle. Interview panelists do not see application materials except the statement of intent. Maximum of 3 interviews offered to any one applicant over a lifetime. (How to Apply)
Resume / CV: Not explicitly listed as required in application documents.
References: 2 required (deadline = January 15):
Academic reference — from a professor, TA, or RA (alternative: employer who can speak to academic ability). Must address academic capacity for graduate-level work. Employer references must have institutional email or submit the Academic Reference Form. (Admission Requirements)
Volunteer/work experience reference — from the direct supervisor of the 70-hour experience. If experience spans two organizations, a third reference is required (two experience + one academic = three total). Non-institutional email holders use the Volunteer & Work Experience Reference Form. (Admission Requirements)
References cannot be family members. Re-applicants may reuse previous referees but must obtain updated letters annually.
Reference forms: https://osot.ubc.ca/reference-forms/
Volunteer / work experience: Minimum 70 hours required, completed by the application submission date (not the deadline). Must involve direct, meaningful, in-person interaction with individuals with cognitive, emotional, or physical disabilities, or older adults with additional needs. Experience limited to no more than two facilities/organizations. Direct supervisor must serve as a reference to verify hours. (Admission Requirements)
Language proficiency (if applicable): Required if English was not the primary language of instruction for undergraduate degree. Must be within 24 months of deadline. Minimums: TOEFL iBT 100, IELTS 7.5 overall / 7.0 per component, PTE Academic 75 / 70 per component, CAEL 75 / 70 per component, MELAB 85. (Admission Requirements)
Other (post-acceptance): Criminal record check (CRRA), immunizations per BCCDC guidelines for healthcare workers, non-refundable tuition deposit. (Admission Requirements)

Written / Personal Components

Component	Word Limit	Prompt / Description
Statement of Intent	500 words	Visible to interview panelists; the only application document they review during the MMI. Specific prompts not published on website. (How to Apply)

How Applications Are Evaluated

The evaluation process has multiple stages (Admission Requirements; FAQ):

Eligibility screening: Minimum 76% senior-level GPA, completed prerequisites, 70-hour experience requirement. Failure to meet any = automatic disqualification.
Interview selection (~200 of all applicants): Based on competitive GPA, CASPer score, in-depth experience hours, and reapplication status. Exact weighting not published. Meeting minimums does not guarantee an interview.
Interview (MMI via Kira Talent): Assesses verbal communication skills, maturity level, and personal suitability to program and profession.
Final selection: Based on overall application including interview performance. Seats allocated based on cohort site preferences.

Professional communication throughout the admissions process is considered part of the evaluation; unprofessional conduct may result in admission denial.

No explicit numerical weighting is published (e.g., no “GPA is X%, CASPer is Y%”). The process appears holistic but GPA-gated.

Out-of-Province Considerations

Residency restrictions or quotas: Primary consideration is given to BC residents. Up to 10% of the 94 domestic Vancouver cohort seats (currently up to 9 seats) may be offered to out-of-province applicants. The Fraser, North, and Okanagan cohorts (16 seats each) appear to be for BC residents (not explicitly stated but implied by the BC Services Card requirement). (FAQ)
Residency definition: BC/Yukon/NWT residency demonstrated by a currently valid BC Provincial Services Card submitted as a PDF by the application deadline. (Admission Requirements)
Out-of-province tuition differential: None. All Canadian citizens and permanent residents pay the same domestic tuition rate regardless of province. (UBC Graduate Tuition Fees; UBC Academic Calendar - Master’s Tuition)
Equity / priority seats: Not mentioned on the admissions pages reviewed.

Cost

Tuition (total program, domestic): ~$17,005.50 ($2,834.25 per installment x 6 installments over 2 years) (UBC Academic Calendar - Master’s Tuition)
Tuition (total program, international): ~$116,612.22 ($19,435.37 per installment x 6 installments) (UBC Academic Calendar - Master’s Tuition)
In-province vs out-of-province: No differential for domestic students. (UBC Graduate Tuition Fees)
Additional fees:
Application fees: $251.25 total (domestic) / $301.00 (international) (program page)
UBC adjudicated fees (UPass, health insurance, etc.): ~$400-500 per installment (program page)
MOT program fees: $726 (Year 1), $468 (Year 2) (program page)
Books & supplies: ~$1,000/year (program page)
Out-of-town fieldwork placements: ~$2,000/month for travel and accommodation (program page)
Inter-provincial fieldwork placements: $250 non-refundable fee per placement to National Fieldwork Placement Service (program page)
Cost of living (Vancouver): Starting at $16,453/year (program page)
Financial aid notes: Government loans (Canadian/US), employer tuition benefits, private/bank loans, tax credits, RRSP withdrawals. No program-specific scholarships mentioned. Ontario Learn and Stay Grant would NOT apply (program is in BC). (Grad Studies)

Competitiveness

Cohort size: 102 total seats: 46 domestic Vancouver + up to 8 international Vancouver + 16 Fraser + 16 North + 16 Okanagan (How to Apply)
Acceptance rate: Based on 2024 data: 453 applications, 107 offers, 94 new registrations = ~24% offer rate, ~21% enrollment rate (Grad Studies)
Number of applicants (trend):

Year	Applications	Interviews Offered	Waitlisted	Moved Off Waitlist
2023	362	200	30	12
2024	450	200	43	33
2025	532	200	42	14
2026	707	200	—	—

Applications have nearly doubled from 362 (2023) to 707 (2026), while interview slots remain fixed at 200. This means the program is becoming significantly more competitive each year. (Admission Requirements; How to Apply)

Fieldwork / Clinical / Practicum

Placements guaranteed? Not explicitly stated, but fieldwork is a mandatory program component built into the curriculum across all cohorts.
Total required hours: 30 weeks of fieldwork across 5 different settings (individual placement blocks are 5-7 weeks each). (program page; Grad Studies)
Placement settings / locations: Five different settings; out-of-town placements are possible and generate additional costs (~$2,000/month for travel/accommodation). (program page)
Can placements be done out of province? Yes — inter-provincial placements are mentioned and require a $250 non-refundable fee per placement to the National Fieldwork Placement Service. MOT Okanagan students conduct the majority of placements in the Interior Health region. (program page)

Licensing & Career Path

Licensing exam: National Occupational Therapy Certification Examination (NOTCE), administered by CAOT. Graduates are eligible to take the exam upon completion. (program page)
Graduates eligible to practice in all provinces? Yes — CAOT-accredited program; graduates can register with any provincial regulatory body across Canada.
Any known issues with credential recognition? None identified. High employment demand noted across British Columbia and Canada. 98.6% graduation rate. (Grad Studies)

Reputation & Notes

Only OT program in BC — unique geographic monopoly means strong connections to BC healthcare employers and clinical placements.
Distributed model across 4 sites (Vancouver, Prince George, Surrey, Kelowna/Okanagan) is distinctive. All sites follow the same curriculum with real-time technology interaction between sites.
Small class sizes: Faculty-to-student ratios range from ~1:4 overall to ~1:8 in case-based tutorials and ~1:14 in lab sessions. (program page)
No transfer credits may be granted toward the UBC MOT program. (FAQ)
No deferrals are granted; applicants must apply during the year they can attend. (FAQ)
Reapplication: Applicants may apply as many times as they wish, but the department offers a maximum of 3 interviews per applicant over a lifetime. After 3 interviews without admission, no further interviews are offered. (FAQ)
Rapidly increasing competitiveness: Applications jumped from 362 (2023) to 707 (2026) while interview slots remain at 200.
Premed101 forum data: Forums indicate competitive GPAs and CASPer scores are critical, but specific self-reported data points from applicants were not accessible due to forum restrictions. (Premed101 2024 cycle; 2023 cycle)
Blog interview account (older format): One blog post describes a 30-minute panel interview with 3 panelists and a 500-word statement of intent. This appears to reflect the pre-Kira Talent format; current interviews use MMI via Kira Talent with 9 stations. (Blog post)

Information Not Found

The following items could not be confirmed from public sources and should be verified directly with the program (contact: mot.admissions@ubc.ca):

Exact statement of intent prompt(s) — the 500-word statement is mentioned but no specific prompts are published.
Exact weighting of evaluation components — no numerical breakdown of how GPA, CASPer, experience hours, and interview are weighted relative to each other.
Minimum grades for prerequisite courses — no minimum grade per prerequisite is stated (only the overall 76% senior GPA threshold).
Time limits on prerequisites — no expiry date mentioned for anatomy, social science, or psychology courses.
Whether online delivery is acceptable for social science and psychology prerequisites — not stated (only some anatomy courses are flagged as distance ed).
Whether shelter work with vulnerable populations qualifies for the 70-hour experience requirement — the requirement specifies “persons experiencing physical, cognitive, or emotional disabilities or older adults with additional needs.” Shelter populations may overlap but this should be confirmed.
Whether the out-of-province seat cap (~9 seats) applies only to the Vancouver cohort or across all cohorts — the FAQ states “up to 10% of our 94 domestic Vancouver cohort seats” but it’s unclear if non-Vancouver cohorts accept out-of-province applicants at all.
Equity/Indigenous priority seats — not mentioned on any page reviewed.
Specific CASPer score threshold or percentile required for interview selection.
Whether the competitive GPA band of 82-87% / 87-92% has shifted upward given the sharp increase in applicants (362 to 707 in four years).
Application fee breakdown — $251.25 total is stated but the components are not itemized.

Sources