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Overview
Our program delivers an interdisciplinary experience, combining principles of geotechnical engineering, hydrogeology and geology, to provide a versatile set of skills needed to solve a wide range of practical problems related to engineering interactions with the earth environment.
Faculty members in the Geological Engineering program have research interests in the following general areas:
- landslides, debris flows, runout analysis, hazard assessment
- groundwater hydrology, groundwater contamination & remediation, reactive transport modeling, environmental geochemistry
- rock mechanics & rock engineering, open pit & underground mine design, tunnelling
Other research areas include geotechnical engineering, environmental geology, economic geology and applied geophysics. Students are encouraged to consult individual faculty members for information about current research areas.
What makes the program unique?
Geological Engineering is an interdisciplinary field, in which principles of geoscience are used to solve engineering and environmental problems. It connects geology, physics and chemistry with civil engineering and other fields (e.g. mining, geography, forestry) to provide a versatile set of skills applicable to a wide range of contemporary problems. The qualifications of a geological engineer are similar to those of a civil engineer with geotechnical or environmental specialization; however, our graduates have the advantage of better understanding of geological processes.
Quick Facts
Program Enquiries
Contact the program
Admission Information & Requirements
1) Check Eligibility
Minimum Academic Requirements
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 ÑÇÖÞÌìÌÃ). 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 carefully to understand the program requirements. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission as it is a competitive process.
English Language Test
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 two most common English language proficiency tests to apply to this program are listed below:
TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language - internet-based
Overall score requirement: 100
Reading
22
Writing
22
Speaking
23
Listening
22
IELTS: International English Language Testing System
Overall score requirement: 7.0
Reading
6.5
Writing
6.5
Speaking
7.0
Listening
6.5
Other Test Scores
Some programs require additional test scores such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Test (GMAT). The requirements for this program are:
The GRE is not required.
2) Meet Deadlines
January 2026 Intake
Application Open Date
01 April 2025Canadian Applicants
International Applicants
September 2026 Intake
Application Open Date
01 October 2025Canadian Applicants
International Applicants
January 2027 Intake
Application Open Date
01 April 2026Canadian Applicants
International Applicants
3) Prepare Application
Transcripts
All applicants have to submit transcripts from all past post-secondary study. Document submission requirements depend on whether your institution of study is within Canada or outside of Canada.
Letters of Reference
A minimum of three references are required for application to graduate programs at ÑÇÖÞÌìÌÃ. References should be requested from individuals who are prepared to provide a report on your academic ability and qualifications.
Statement of Interest
Many programs require a statement of interest, sometimes called a "statement of intent", "description of research interests" or something similar.
Supervision
Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their thesis supervisor. Please follow the instructions provided by each program whether applicants should contact faculty members.
Instructions regarding thesis supervisor contact for Doctor of Philosophy in Geological Engineering (PhD)
Citizenship Verification
Permanent Residents of Canada must provide a clear photocopy of both sides of the Permanent Resident card.
4) Apply Online
All applicants must complete an online application form and pay the application fee to be considered for admission to ÑÇÖÞÌìÌÃ.
Research Information
Research Facilities
The Geological Engineering program is housed in the recently constructed Earth Science Building and the associated buildings EOAS-Main and EOAS-South. The $75 million Earth Sciences Building was designed to inspire collaboration and creativity across disciplines.Ìý Research facilities include the Environmental Interfaces laboratory (EIL), the Centre for Experimental Studies of the Lithosphere (CESL), a wet lab and field staging areas. We have access to cluster-computing facilities in our own department, as well as high-performance computing facilities both at ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà and at large computing centers across Canada. In addition, software licenses paid by ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà covers powerful desktop data analysis, programming, and visualization apps.
Tuition & Financial Support
Tuition
| Fees | Canadian Citizen / Permanent Resident / Refugee / Diplomat | International |
|---|---|---|
| Application Fee | $116.25 | $168.25 |
| Tuition * | ||
| Installments per year | 3 | 3 |
| Tuition per installment | $1,875.34 | $3,294.66 |
| Tuition per year (plus annual increase, usually 2%-5%) | $5,626.02 | $9,883.98 |
| Int. Tuition Award (ITA) per year (if eligible) | Ìý | $3,200.00 (-) |
| Other Fees and Costs | ||
| Student Fees (yearly) | $1,144.10 (approx.) | |
| Costs of living | Estimate your costs of living with our interactive tool in order to start developing a financial plan for your graduate studies. | |
All fees for the year are subject to adjustment and ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà reserves the right to change any fees without notice at any time, including tuition and student fees. Tuition fees are reviewed annually by the ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Board of Governors. In recent years, tuition increases have been 2% for continuing domestic students and between 2% and 5% for continuing international students. New students may see higher increases in tuition. Admitted students who defer their admission are subject to the potentially higher tuition fees for incoming students effective at the later program start date. In case of a discrepancy between this webpage and the ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Calendar, the ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Calendar entry will be held to be correct.
Financial Support
Applicants to ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà have access to a variety of funding options, including merit-based (i.e. based on your academic performance) and need-based (i.e. based on your financial situation) opportunities.
Program Funding Packages
All full-time Ph.D. students who begin a ÑÇÖÞÌìÌÃ-Vancouver PhD program in January 2021 or later will be provided with a funding package of at least $25,500 for each of the first four years of their PhD. The funding package consists of any combination of internal or external awards (NSERC scholarships, ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Four Year Fellowships, departmental awards, etc.), teaching-assistantships and research assistantships. In addition, tuition will be covered for the first four years of the program through a scholarship. Ìý
Funding Statistics
This results in a net balance (any funding provided to the student minus tuition and fees) mean of $26,146 and median of $31,530.
- 4 students received Teaching Assistantships. Median TA funding based on 4 students was $4,203.
- 4 students received Research Assistantships. Median RA funding based on 4 students was $12,489.
- 5 students received internal awards. Median internal award funding based on 5 students was $25,999.
Review methodology
Scholarships & awards (merit-based funding)
All applicants are encouraged to review the awards listing to identify potential opportunities to fund their graduate education. The database lists merit-based scholarships and awards and allows for filtering by various criteria, such as domestic vs. international or degree level.
Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA)
Many professors are able to provide Research Assistantships (GRA) from their research grants to support full-time graduate students studying under their supervision. The duties constitute part of the student's graduate degree requirements. A Graduate Research Assistantship is considered a form of fellowship for a period of graduate study and is therefore not covered by a collective agreement. Stipends vary widely, and are dependent on the field of study and the type of research grant from which the assistantship is being funded.
Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)
Graduate programs may have Teaching Assistantships available for registered full-time graduate students. Full teaching assistantships involve 12 hours work per week in preparation, lecturing, or laboratory instruction although many graduate programs offer partial TA appointments at less than 12 hours per week. Teaching assistantship rates are set by collective bargaining between the University and the .
Graduate Academic Assistantships (GAA)
Academic Assistantships are employment opportunities to perform work that is relevant to the university or to an individual faculty member, but not to support the student’s graduate research and thesis. Wages are considered regular earnings and when paid monthly, include vacation pay.
Financial aid (need-based funding)
Canadian and US applicants may qualify for governmental loans to finance their studies. Please review .
All students may be able to access private sector or bank loans.
Foreign government scholarships
Many foreign governments provide support to their citizens in pursuing education abroad. International applicants should check the various governmental resources in their home country, such as the Department of Education, for available scholarships.
Working while studying
The possibility to pursue work to supplement income may depend on the demands the program has on students. It should be carefully weighed if work leads to prolonged program durations or whether work placements can be meaningfully embedded into a program.
International students enrolled as full-time students with a valid study permit can work for unlimited hours and work for no more than 24 hours a week during academic sessions.
A good starting point to explore student jobs is the ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà program or a .
Tax credits and RRSP withdrawals
Students with taxable income in Canada may be able to claim or tax credits.
Canadian residents with RRSP accounts may be able to use the (LLP) which allows students to withdraw amounts from their registered retirement savings plan (RRSPs) to finance full-time training or education for themselves or their partner.
Please review on the student services website for more information.
Cost Estimator
Applicants have access to the cost estimator to develop a financial plan that takes into account various income sources and expenses.
Career Outcomes
7 students graduated between 2005 and 2013: 1 graduate is seeking employment; for 1 we have no data (based on research conducted between Feb-May 2016). For the remaining 5 graduates:
Sample Employers Outside Higher Education
Schlumberger Technology Corp.Knight Piesold
BGC Engineering Inc.
Crux Engineering Group (CEG)
AMC Consultants
Sample Job Titles Outside Higher Education
EngineerSenior Engineer
Senior Geotechnical Engineer
Vice President
Senior Geotechnical Consultant
PhD Career Outcome Survey
You may view the full report on career outcomes of ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà PhD graduates on .Disclaimer
These data represent historical employment information and do not guarantee future employment prospects for graduates of this program. They are for informational purposes only. Data were collected through either alumni surveys or internet research.Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats
These statistics show data for the Doctor of Philosophy in Geological Engineering (PhD). Data are separated for each degree program combination. You may view data for other degree options in the respective program profile.
ENROLMENT DATA
| Ìý | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applications | 7 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Offers | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| New Enrolment | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Enrolment | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 |
Disclaimer
Upcoming Doctoral Exams
Tuesday, 27 May 2025 - 9:00am - 5108, Earth Sciences Building, 2207 Main Mall
Research Supervisors
Supervision
Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their thesis supervisor. Please follow the instructions provided by each program whether applicants should contact faculty members.
Instructions regarding thesis supervisor contact for Doctor of Philosophy in Geological Engineering (PhD)
Advice and insights from ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Faculty on reaching out to supervisors
These videos contain some general advice from faculty across ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà on finding and reaching out to a supervisor. They are not program specific.
Doctoral Citations
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2017 | Dr. Severin's research focused on the impact of geological faults on both displacement and stress heterogeneity within large open pit mines. He was responsible for a unique experiment using radar to monitor slope movement and his work will help the safe design and application of open pit mining. |
| 2016 | Dr. Dorador studied the fragmentation process of block caving, an underground mining method. He developed a new approach to estimate block size distribution at drawpoints. His research contributes to the design of block cave mining projects during early stage engineering. |
| 2015 | Dr. Wyllie's research involved two aspect of rock fall hazards. First, actual rock fall events were carefully documented to provide data for calibration of rock fall computer models. Second, an improved rock fall protection net has been developed which minimizes the absorption of impact energy and reduces construction costs for these structures. |
| 2013 | Dr. Zangeneh examined the influence of geology on the design of hydraulic fracturing, to improve extraction from natural gas reservoirs. She developed procedures to design effective hydraulic fractures, and to mitigate against induced seismicity. Her study will help operators to maximize oil and natural gas extraction in a safe and sustainable manner. |
| 2012 | Dr. Starzyk investigated the controls governing the interaction of surface water and groundwater along a stream. Through a combination of field work and numerical modelling, her work improves our ability to understand and predict the interaction between groundwater and streams. |
| 2011 | Dr. Woo studied land subsidence from block cave mining using advanced numerical modeling. Analysis of the Palabora Mine in South Africa identified limitations in mine-site numerical databases. Design methodologies were improved through understanding of such influences as geology, and topography, contributing to advances for the mining industry. |
Pages
Sample Thesis Submissions
Further Information
Specialization
Geological Engineering applies earth sciences principles to engineering problems. Research interests include
- landslides, debris flows, engineering geology, slope stability
- groundwater hydrology, groundwater contamination and remediation, reactive transport modeling, environmental geochemistry
- rock engineering, rock slopes, and tunneling
Other research areas include geotechnical engineering, environmental geology, engineering geology, economic geology, and applied geophysics. The specific fields of study may involve geomorphology and terrain analysis, groundwater hydrology, natural hazards, slope stability, petroleum and coal geology, coalbed methane, mineral prospecting and valuation, and other similar subjects.
ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Calendar
Program Website
Faculty Overview
Academic Unit
Program Identifier
January 2026 Intake
September 2026 Intake
January 2027 Intake
Program Enquiries
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