


A Master of Engineering Leadership (MEL) degree from UBC gives you the credentials and knowledge to confidently take on positions of greater responsibility or make the shift into a new industry sector.
The program introduces you to the critical aspects of designing, constructing, operating, maintaining and deconstructing built infrastructure. You’ll gain the broad technical understanding needed to support strategic-level decision making that carefully considers the complex interdependencies that underpin urban infrastructure systems.
Technical knowledge is not enough. Through courses offered by UBC Sauder’s Robert H. Lee Graduate School, you’ll gain foundational business skills, improving your understanding of broad-based management concepts.
Leadership development is embedded throughout the program, giving you ongoing opportunities to lead teams and projects and strengthen your interpersonal skills.
UBC is one of the world’s top 40 universities and its programs and professors have a global reputation for excellence. UBC’s Faculty of Applied Science is home to one of North America’s premier engineering schools and the School of Community and Regional Planning offers a world-class instructional environment with faculty who are acknowledged experts in social, long-term and regional-level planning.
UBC Sauder School of Business is ranked first in Canada and 38th in the world for business and management studies, and the school is known for its commitment to rigorous, relevant and experiential teaching.
As a student in the MEL in Urban Systems program, you will grow your personal and professional network by:
“The multidisciplinary nature of the Urban Systems program reflects how urban infrastructure projects are actually designed and managed, where people with expertise in urban planning and engineering come together to address large and complex issues.” – Stephanie Chang
Students who have broad technical knowledge and an understanding of business have a distinct competitive advantage. In demand locally, nationally and internationally, our graduates have successfully moved into roles with municipalities, utility companies, transportation providers and engineering consulting firms as planners, policy advisors and entrepreneurs.
“Our graduates are job-ready for work in both the public and private sectors, bringing innovative thinking to enable urban centres to thrive as they grow.” – Susan Nesbit
Learn more about this innovative professional master’s degree from our professors.
2023 Application Deadlines
The online application portal for 2024 admission opens on January 1, 2023.
Round 1: March 30, 2023
Round 2: June 30, 2023
Round 3 (Canadian Citizens, Permanent Residents of Canada, and US citizens only): August 30, 2023
See how to apply section for full details.
How to ApplyA management consultant with 20 years of experience, a degree in civil and environmental engineering, an MSc in Transport and an MBA, Grace Sonmezsoy pursued the MEL in Urban Systems to update her skills so she can better address the complex challenges facing our cities.