Residency Program in Psychiatry

The UBC Psychiatry Residency Program is one of the largest in Canada and is fully accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

With two tracks, a general and a research-dedicated track, and through integrated programs of clinical placements and academic seminars, our program is designed to achieve the goals of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Our teaching environment values trainee wellness, embraces diversity, and cultivates equity and inclusion.

Program Highlights


Training is offered at five sites (Vancouver, Fraser, Vancouver Island, Prince George, and Southern Interior) with unified standards, training requirements, and curricula.


Supportive faculty and administrative staff, dedicated to resident growth both personally and professionally.


All residents have protected time to participate in academic day sessions.

Application and CaRMS Interview Process

2025 CaRMS Interview Dates

Regardless of the number of streams applied, all shortlisted candidates will receive and complete all interviews on the same day. The 2025 CaRMS interview dates are as follows:

  • January 21, 2025
  • January 28, 2025
  • January 29, 2025

Interview Process

All interviews are conducted virtually via Zoom. The UBC Psychiatry Education Office will notify all applicants of their interview status through CaRMS Online. Those who are short-listed for a virtual interview will be contacted by e-mail. Applicants must respond within three business days in order to secure an interview spot. Telephone interviews are not an option unless there is a connection issue during the virtual interview. Interviews will take place over a full day, and includes:

  • Virtual Meet and Greet with Faculty and Resident Representatives from different subspecialties and representatives from the training site.
  • Program orientation with our Program Director and Resident Representatives.
  • 10-minute Program Director and Associate Program Director Interview.
  • 10-15-minute Mini Interview with members of the Selections Committee to assess communication, organization, collaboration, and professionalism skills.
  • 10-15-minute Panel Interview with members of the Selections Committee.

Additional interviews are included for:

  • Applicants to the Southern Interior and Prince George Sites: 15-minute interviews with the Associate Program Directors.
  • Applicants to the Research Track:  30-minute Interview with the Research Track Associate Program Director and a 45-minute panel interview with the Research Track Committee.
  • IMG: 20-minute interview with the IMG Associate Program Director.

CaRMS FAQs

Re-Entry Positions

The UBC Department of Psychiatry will be funded yearly for 1 Re-entry Residency Position in Psychiatry in for the 2025/2026 academic year.

Residency Training Curriculum

Psychiatry residency EPAs

Psychotherapy

Academic Day Curriculum

The Academic Day curriculum is an integrated series of seminars covering all aspects of Psychiatry, and all residents are excused from clinical responsibilities to attend. Flex time is built into the Academic Day schedules, which varies per year:

PGY1: Residents start off the year in July by attending a 1-week academic Bootcamp. Academic sessions will focus on foundational psychotherapy skills and primer courses on different modalities of treatment.

PGY2, PGY3: A full Academic Day is scheduled every Thursday, either in-person or virtually via Zoom. Two Mock OSCEs per year (Fall and Spring) also take place during this period

PGY4: For most of the year, the Academic Day provides protected preparation time for the Royal College Examination, interspersed with review courses. Five Mock OSCEs are also held for exam practice.

PGY5: Curriculum shifts to more enhanced practice and subspecialty topics.

Scholarly Activities in the General Track

MANDATORY SCHOLARLY ACTIVITY PROJECT

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada has mandated that all residency programs must include a scholarly activity project, in recognition that active participation in scholarly activities is a necessary component of preparing future psychiatrists to fulfill their role as scholars and educators upon graduation. Scholarly activity is defined as creative work that is peer reviewed and publicly disseminated. Scholarly activity includes the discovery of new knowledge, the development of new technologies or methods, and the integration of knowledge leading to new understanding

Residents in the general track are mandated to complete a scholarly activity project before the end of the PGY5 year.  Residents can fulfill this requirement by completing a research project, a systematic review of the literature, a quality improvement project, or a scholarly educational project. Scholarly activity for all four categories requires a systematic approach to formulating the question, acquiring the relevant information/data, critically analyzing/appraising the information, and disseminating the results.

SCHOLARLY ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE

Important dates

SUBMITTING AN ABSTRACT

SUBMITTING A FINAL REPORT

FURTHER INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE

Research Track

Resident Testimonials

Program Inquiries

Program Inquiries

Inquiries about the General Program can be directed to:

Inquiries pertaining to a specific Residency Track can be directed to: