The PhD in Design, Technology and Society is accepting applications for admission to the 2027/28 academic year.
The SALA Design, Technology and Society (DTS) PhD program supports original doctoral research at the intersection of design scholarship, science and engineering, the humanities, and the social sciences. Working across architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, and allied fields, students investigate the technological, cultural, environmental, and political forces that shape the built environment. The program provides an interdisciplinary setting in which students develop rigorous, independent research through scholarly, design-based, technical, and/or creative modes of inquiry.
The PhD program builds upon the strengths of SALA as an interdisciplinary hub for design research and experimentation, where experts in architecture, landscape architecture, and urban design work collaboratively to address the pressing challenges of our time and apply cross-disciplinary research expertise.
SALA faculty investigate design, history, theory, science, technology, and state-of-the-art solutions to ‘grand challenges’ through the School’s core research themes: climate and energy, housing and diversity, healthy and resilient environments, design and the future of construction, and form and aesthetics. These questions are by their nature cross-disciplinary, demanding knowledge sharing and collaboration with allied disciplines, while SALA’s research context uniquely frames these topics within the established disciplines of architecture, landscape architecture, and urban design.
As a School we build on Vancouver’s position as a locus for innovative sustainable design that nurtures communities. Beyond our internationally renowned faculty, we routinely collaborate with industry, government, non-profits, and First Nations partners. Study topics often enable our students to engage with the diverse communities in our city, as well as those further afield.
Current research areas
- Climate, energy, and environmental systems
- Housing, equity, justice, and urban transformation
- Indigenous, decolonial, and community-based design research
- History and theory of modern architecture, landscape architecture, and urbanism
- Material systems, construction, and research-based practice
- Design computation, AI, and emerging technologies
These areas indicate current faculty research strengths and possible directions for supervision. Applicants with strong research proposals outside these areas may also be considered where appropriate supervisory fit exists.
Faculty accepting PhD students
Coming soon.
Funding
Students receive full financial support for four years according to UBC’s minimum funding policy for PhD students. Funding packages may combine scholarships, teaching assistantships, graduate research assistantships, faculty research grants, and university funding. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply for external scholarships where eligible. Specific funding details are confirmed through official offer letters.
Some project-based positions may have funding tied to faculty grants. These opportunities will be advertised separately when available.
Current PhD students
Coming soon.
The PhD in Design, Technology and Society is a four- to five-year course of study and research. Doctoral students work under the guidance of a supervisory committee consisting of at least three faculty members, including the research supervisor.
Candidates are required to complete a minimum of 15 credits of coursework, as follows: DES 562 Research Seminar (3 credits); DES 565 Research Colloquium (6 credits); a minimum of 6 credits of elective coursework; and DES 699 Doctoral Dissertation (0 credits). Each candidate chooses their electives in consultation with their supervisor(s). The curriculum is designed to support multiple research pathways. Students may pursue science- or engineering-oriented research, humanities-based scholarship, design research, or applied research with industry, government, or community partners.
Students are required to complete a qualifying comprehensive examination within the first two years of study. In advance of this examination, students prepare and submit a literature review and a dissertation proposal.
The SALA PhD Program is governed by the general policies and procedures of the UBC Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (G+PS) and their more specific elaboration by SALA.
The application deadline for admission in September 2027 is January 1, 2027.
The SALA Admissions Committee considers many factors in making admissions decisions, including academic preparation, academic capability, experience, and fit with a prospective research supervisor and with the School. Applicants should review current research areas and identify potential supervisory fit before applying. They may contact a potential supervisor with a concise research statement, CV, and relevant work samples. Faculty encouragement to apply does not guarantee admission. If an applicant does not hear back from the faculty member, they are welcome to apply to the program without that confirmation.
Some PhD positions may be tied to faculty-led research projects or external grants. These positions may have specific research topics, skills, timelines, or funding arrangements. Applicants should follow the instructions in the specific position posting. Project-based or PI-funded applicants remain subject to SALA’s admissions review and must meet program-level expectations for academic quality, research fit, and cohort fit.
Eligibility
See the minimum admissions criteria for graduate studies at UBC.
Previous degree
Applicants should hold a master’s degree from an approved university in a course of study relevant to the disciplines of architecture, landscape architecture, and/or urban design. Accepted prior degrees include but are not limited to: MArch, MLA or MUD. Eligible candidates may alternatively possess a master’s degree in engineering, geography, art history, or similar subjects. Candidates must demonstrate clear evidence of research ability or potential. Transfer from a master’s program to the PhD program is permitted under regulations set by the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
Academic Achievement
Applicants with credentials from Canadian or U.S. universities are normally expected to have a B+ average in third- and fourth-year coursework. Applicants with credentials from other countries must meet UBC’s country-specific minimum academic requirements.
English Language Proficiency
Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.
The minimum scores are:
TOEFL – 100 iBT
IELTS – Overall band score of 7.0 with a minimum score of 6.5 in each component of the academic (not general) test.
Application Materials
Applicants should follow the official UBC application requirements. For SALA review, applicants should be prepared to submit:
- A cover letter summarizing relevant experience, past research contributions, and reasons for applying to SALA and the proposed supervisor(s)
- A research proposal describing the research context, theoretical framework, methods, and expected outcomes
- A work sample consisting of a writing sample, portfolio, or both, depending on the applicant’s background
- A curriculum vitae
- Transcripts
- Letters of reference
For project-based or named positions, applicants should follow any additional instructions provided in the specific position posting.
For questions about application procedures, eligibility, and deadlines, contact phd@sala.ubc.ca.
For questions about research fit, applicants should first review the current research areas and faculty profiles. Faculty should be contacted only with a concise and specific research inquiry.