Eligibility Criteria
Prospective applicants may address enquiries and applications for admission to the Admissions Secretary, School of Library, Archival and Information Studies. Specify the Master of Library and Information Studies program. The deadline for applications is February 1 for the term beginning the following September; May 1 for the term beginning in January; and December 1 for the term beginning in May.
The School accepts only students whose personal and academic qualifications appear to fit them for successful practice in library, archival and information professions.
Preference is given to applicants who have been actively engaged within recent years in library or other information-related work, teaching, academic studies, or some similar intellectual pursuit.
The Master of Library and Information Studies program has a limited enrolment. The number of qualified applicants exceeds the number of available places. In recent years, therefore, those accepted have shown academic ability above the minimum required standard specified below.
For admission to the Master of Library and Information Studies program, a candidate must:
Possess a four-year bachelor’s degree (or its equivalent) from a recognized university in a discipline acceptable to the Admissions Committee for the program;
Have achieved a minimum overall average in the ‘B+’ range (76% at UBC) in third- and fourth-year level courses of a bachelor’s degree; and
Show promise of superior professional performance as attested by letters of reference and a personal written statement.A candidate who already has a formal qualification as a professional librarian (for example, a B.L.S. degree from a program which was at the time accredited by the American Library Association) and who wishes to enrol in the Master of Library and Information Studies program is considered on the same basis as above. It is expected that letters of reference will demonstrate a history of successful professional practice and career development. A candidate who has recently successfully completed part of a graduate program accredited by the A.L.A. at another school will also be considered for admission to complete the program at this School.
An applicant possessing a bachelor’s degree or its academic equivalent, who does not meet the requirements of point 2 above but has had sufficient formal training or relevant professional experience to offset such deficiencies, may be granted provisional admission on the recommendation of the Director of the School and the approval of the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies. An applicant possessing a bachelor’s degree or its academic equivalent, who does not meet the requirements of point 2 or of the previous sentence, may be permitted to register as a Qualifying student for no more than one year on the recommendation of the Director of the School and the approval of the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies. Satisfactory completion of a Qualifying year neither guarantees subsequent admission to the Master of Library and Information Studies program nor substitutes for any of its courses.