The PhD in Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice is a unique interdisciplinary program. It prepares students to conduct original research and become leading scholars and/or professionals in fields related to Social Justice.
At the Social Justice Institute you can explore your interests in diverse areas while employing feminist, intersectional, critical race, sexuality, and decolonizing methodologies.
The program offers students different and interwoven research pathways to advance their program of studies according to their goals:
- Research-based options for academics, leaders, consultants
- Critical creative practice options for artists and creators
- Practice community-based options for community workers and activists.
At present, the PhD program has 25 students in residence. Each year we receive between 140-160 applications and we accept two to three new students to the program.
The PhD program consists of 21 credits of coursework, a comprehensive examination, and a research dissertation.
Coursework
Students admitted after 2026W
Students entering the PhD program take 21 credits of coursework at the 500 level. Students who have already done comparable coursework should discuss this with the graduate program chair.
Depending on their academic backgrounds, students may be required to take additional coursework (in addition to the 21 credits) at the discretion of the Supervisory Committee and in consultation with the Graduate Program Chair and Advisor.
Note: the requirements below apply to students who were admitted in 2026W or later.
Students take the following core courses in the first year:
- GRSJ_V 500A: Current and Global Issues in Social Justice (3 credits)
- GRSJ_V 500B: Current and Global Issues in Social Justice (3 credits)
Students must complete GRSJ_V 500A-101 before enrolling in GRSJ_V 500B-201. Registration in GRSJ_V 500B-201 will not be permitted without successful completion of the prerequisite.
- GRSJ_V 502: Critical Theories in Social Justice (3 credits)
- GRSJ_V 501: Methods for Social Justice Research and Practice (3 credits)
Students take a minimum of 9 credits of electives chosen from graduate courses offered by the Institute or another UBC department. Electives must have the approval of the research supervisor.
Students may choose one of the following GRSJ graduate courses:
- GRSJ_V 511: Difficult Knowledge: Ethics and Praxis of Research in Challenging Settings (3 credits)
- GRSJ_V 512: Critical Studies in Sexuality: Multi-disciplinary Approaches (3 credits)
- GRSJ_V 503: Special topics (3-9 credits)
- GRSJ _V 505: Directed Reading (3-6 credits). Learn more about Directed Reading.
- GRSJ_V 515: Critical and Creative Social Justice Seminar (3 credits)
Graduate courses from other UBC departments may be taken as electives.
Undergraduate courses are not eligible for credit towards a PhD program.
Students admitted before 2026W
Were you admitted to the PhD program before 2026W? If so, access your program requirements at the link below.
Supervision
PhD students are assigned a supervisor when admitted. The supervisor will assist the students in forming a study program and in preparing for comprehensive exams and thesis.
Our graduate students draw on the institute's core faculty to serve as supervisors and committee members and may have faculty associates serve as committee members.
By the end of their second term in the program, students should have established a supervisory committee (supervisor and at least two members). The supervisor should be an expert in the student’s field and a GRSJ faculty member or associate. Where appropriate, the student may change supervisor or committee members with permission from the chair of graduate studies (CGS).
While changes to the supervisor and committee members are possible, this is generally discouraged. Any changes require permission of the Chair of Graduate Studies. It is the student’s responsibility to find new supervision should a change be approved.
Dissertations also require an external reader, an expert in your field with whom you have not worked, and who will be chosen by your supervisor/committee. The external reviewer receives the dissertation in a complete form and only when the committee deems it finished and ready for external review.
Other Requirements
A comprehensive examination is required by the Faculty of Graduate and Postgraduate Studies in all doctoral programs. The examination intends to assess and develop further the student’s breadth and in-depth knowledge of the discipline, their ability to conduct independent and original research, and their degree of preparation for their dissertation research.
Students usually complete their Comprehensive Exams in the first term of their 2nd year in the program.
This will build on the groundwork laid by the comprehensive exams. It develops an argument proposing the direction in which the student expects the research to develop.
The prospectus, prepared in consultation with the supervisory committee, should be submitted to the Chair of Graduate Studies and Graduate Program Assistant, with the full approval and the signatures of all members of the supervisory committee, ideally within 24 months of entering the PhD program and no later than 36 months.
PhD students achieve candidacy when they have:
- Completed all required coursework
- Passed the comprehensive examinations (both written and oral)
- Completed a dissertation proposal and had it approved by their supervisory committee
The Program Assistant must be notified by the supervisor of successful completion of the comprehensive exams and the proposal. The Institute will then notify the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies of the date candidacy was achieved. Having achieved candidacy, students can begin work on the dissertation, the culmination of the PhD program.
Be sure to familiarize yourself with the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies website, as it contains many resources that will be useful as you move through your program: grad.ubc.ca/current-students
The dissertation marks the culmination of the PhD program. It is an original and independent research project that contributes to knowledge in a special area selected by the student.
The student will discuss data and authorship handling with the supervisor per UBC policies of scholarly integrity and inventions and discoveries.
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