Transferring from M.Ed. to M.A. Program within MERM
M.A. students require a much larger investment of time and resources from their faculty supervisors than do M.Ed. students. Whereas M.A. students are expected to apply for scholarships, become involved in research projects, and complete a thesis, the M.Ed. degree in entirely course based. Thus, the MERM program typically accepts considerably fewer M.A. students than M.Ed. students.
Student requests for a transfer will only be considered at the same time as the regular Admissions process. Because decisions to accept students into the M.A. program take “research fit” with the proposed supervisor into account and may require more research experience, past awards, stronger written and oral communication skills, specific background courses, or higher grades than might be the case for M.Ed. admissions, it is important that such transfer requests be considered by the program as a whole and alongside the regular Admissions process.
It is important that M.Ed. students who are considering requesting a transfer to the M.A. program recognize that approval of such requests is not guaranteed and, in fact, occurs relatively rarely. Students are not limited to listing their current program advisor as a potential thesis supervisor as their research interests may not best fit with that faculty member. In addition, these students will be competing with new applicants for M.A. student spots.
The following procedure only applies to student requests to transfer from the M.Ed. program to the M.A program within MERM*. Students do not need to apply to the M.A. program in MERM through the online Admissions portal or pay a fee. Instead, they must send their “Transfer Request Package” directly to the MERM Coordinator by e-mail by the annual deadline. Their package must include the following information presented in order in a single PDF document:
- A rationale for why they want to transfer from the M.Ed. to the M.A. program within MERM, including a description of their research interests (max. 350 words)
- A list of one or more potential thesis supervisors, with a brief rationale for why they are listing each faculty member
- An up-to-date CV
- A current copy of their unofficial UBC transcript
New letters of reference are not required as the MERM faculty will consider their own experiences with the applicants alongside the reference letters from the students’ original M.Ed. application.
Students whose request to transfer to the M.A. program is denied do not lose their place in the M.Ed. program. Such students will continue on in the M.Ed. program with the same program advisor as before.
Deadline to submit “Transfer Request Package”: Mon., Jan. 26, 2026
Submit to: Dr. Anita Hubley, MERM Coordinator, anita.hubley@ubc.ca
* Students from other programs within or outside the Dept. of ECPS must apply via the regular online Admissions portal.