Please note, the program is currently under review and not accepting applications for the 2027/28 intake.
This online two-year, 30 credit specialized program is designed to prepare surgical care professionals from many disciplines to address surgical challenges and contribute to finding solutions in low resource settings globally.
Advancing Equitable Surgical Care Worldwide
The Master in Global Surgical Care at the University of British Columbia (UBC) is designed for clinicians, researchers, and health leaders committed to improving access to safe, timely, and affordable surgical care around the world. Grounded in academic excellence and real-world impact, the program equips graduates with the knowledge, skills, and global perspective needed to address surgical inequities across diverse health systems.
World-Class Faculty
Students learn from an interdisciplinary faculty of internationally recognized leaders in global surgery, public health, health systems, and policy. UBC faculty bring deep experience from clinical practice, research, and partnerships across low-, middle-, and high-income settings. Their work shapes global evidence, influences policy, and advances sustainable solutions, ensuring learners are mentored by experts at the forefront of the field.
A Global Network of Alumni
Graduates of the program join a growing, diverse alumni network spanning continents and sectors. Alumni work as surgeons, anesthesiologists, researchers, policymakers, educators, and advocates, advancing global surgical care in ministries of health, academic institutions, NGOs, and international organizations. This vibrant community offers valuable professional connections, mentorship, and lifelong collaboration opportunities.
A Truly Unique Program
This program distinguishes itself by combining global surgery, health systems strengthening, equity, and implementation science within a single, integrated curriculum. Rather than focusing solely on clinical care, the program emphasizes systems-level thinking, preparing graduates to design, plan, evaluate, and lead scalable solutions that improve surgical access and outcomes worldwide.
Online and Flexible Learning
Designed for working professionals, the program is delivered fully online with flexible scheduling. Learners can balance their studies with residency, clinical practice or professional responsibilities while engaging in meaningful collaboration with peers from around the world. This accessibility ensures global participation and fosters rich, cross-cultural exchange.
Relevant and Practical Courses
The Reputation of UBC
As one of Canada’s leading research-intensive universities, UBC is globally recognized for academic excellence, innovation, and impact. A UBC credential signals rigorous training, credibility, and leadership, enhancing graduates’ ability to influence practice and policy at local, national, and global levels.
Academic Progress Requirement
For students who begin the MGSC in September 2023 or later, all SURG courses in the MGSC are graded on a pass/fail basis with 74% being required to pass. Students will not receive a grade or percentage on their transcript, but will receive a notation of Pass or Fail.
For specific program requirements, please refer to the departmen
Our graduate program is an innovative, online program focused on the global burden of unmet surgical care. Learners will build on their health-care related disciplines to gain the fundamental knowledge, critical thinking tools and practical skills needed to lead the way to improved access to care by addressing the gap that exists between surgical need and the equitable provision of safe surgical care in low resource settings.
The Master of Global Surgical Care (MGSC) is an online two-year, 30-credit specialized program consisting of 8 courses designed to prepare surgical care professionals from many disciplines to address surgical challenges and contribute to solutions in low-resource settings globally. The MGSC includes the option to complete a specialized stream in Canadian Low Resource Settings, focusing on the unique issues affecting surgical care in rural and remote low resource settings in Canada.
Each 3-credit course is delivered completely online over a period of 12 weeks. Courses are designed to bring different and complementary essential aspects that provide depth and breadth to the subject. Students research journal articles, view videos, complete course-specific tasks and assignments as well as engage in facilitated online discussion forums.
By expanding students’ knowledge of conditions, and global circumstances, that shape surgical care globally, graduates will become leaders in this emerging academic discipline and equipped to play an integral part in provision of global surgical care in low resource settings.
This Masters program bridges the gap between the international demand and the health professionals' education to meet the learning needs of this growing cadre of students. Currently, there are no accredited graduate-level degree programs available to this cadre that focus on surgical care issues and this Masters program is unique in the world.
The MGSC is an online two-year, 30-credit specialized program designed to prepare surgical care professionals from many disciplines to address surgical challenges and to contribute to finding solutions in low resource settings globally. The program is designed for graduate students, postgraduate trainees, surgical faculty, or surgery-related allied health care workers across the globe.
A blended model of practicum based learning and on-line teaching methods facilitate the participation of candidates from across Canada and around the world. Students spend four to eight weeks in an underserved location globally, producing practical "on-the-ground" skills.
Students are required to complete 30 credits of SURG courses which include the 6 credit Global Surgical Care Field Practicum.
The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies establishes the minimum admission requirements common to all applicants, usually a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC). The graduate program that you are applying to may have additional requirements. Please review the specific requirements for applicants with credentials from institutions in:
Each program may set higher academic minimum requirements. Please review the program website carefully to understand the program requirements. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission as it is a competitive process.
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.
Minimum requirements for the three most common English language proficiency tests to apply to this program are listed below:
Overall score requirement : 4.5
Reading
4.5
Writing
4.5
Speaking
4.0
Listening
5.0
Overall score requirement : 90
Reading
22
Writing
21
Speaking
21
Listening
22
Overall score requirement : 6.5
Reading
6.0
Writing
6.0
Speaking