Admission Requirements and Deadlines

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The Department welcomes applications from graduates with backgrounds in any of the biological or physical sciences, including:

  • biology
  • biochemistry
  • chemistry
  • computer sciences
  • engineering
  • genetics
  • immunology 
  • medicine
  • physics
  • any other related sciences

Applicants are evaluated based on academic achievement and potential for creative research.

Learn more about admission requirements and application deadlines for the Medical Biophysics graduate program below.

Admission Requirements - MSc

Admission consideration to the Medical Biophysics MSc requires:

  • completion of an appropriate four-year bachelor's degree from a recognized university.
  • a minimum B+ average in the final two years of study. This is flexible for those demonstrating exceptional aptitude for research.
  • submission and evaluation of all supplemental application material as outlined below under the heading 'Application Components and Evaluation Criteria'.
  • an admissions interview for all candidates who are a potential fit for the program.

Note for International MSc Applicants
The Department strongly encourages all International students to apply directly to the PhD program. Due to tuition fee differentials, International students accepted to the MSc program will not participate in lab rotations and are required to secure a supervisor before applying to the program. Additionally, effective September 2020 the supervisor will be responsible for the payment of the full tuition fee differential for International MSc students.

To learn more, please review additional information for International applicants.

Admission Requirements - PhD

Admission consideration to the Medical Biophysics PhD requires:

  • completion of an appropriate master's degree from a recognized university.
  • a minimum A- average in the final two years of study. This is flexible for those demonstrating exceptional aptitude for research.
  • submission and evaluation of all supplemental application material as outlined below under the heading 'Application Components and Evaluation Criteria'.
  • an admissions interview for all candidates who are a potential fit for the program.

Direct-Entry PhD - Domestic Applicants
Applicants holding an undergraduate degree, who have not been enrolled in a master's program, would be typically considered for entry into the MSc program. Once in the program, MSc students are able to reclassify (transfer) into the PhD program. To be considered for Direct-Entry PhD, applicants should have an appropriate bachelor’s degree from a recognized university with a minimum A- average in the last two years of study, and also demonstrate a high aptitude for research. Direct-entry PhD students are required to pass a qualifying exam within the first 18 months of enrollment.

Note for International Applicants
The Department strongly encourages all International students to apply directly to the PhD program. Due to tuition fee differentials, International students accepted into the MSc program will not participate in lab rotations and are required to secure a supervisor before applying to the program. Please note that all undergraduate students accepted directly into the PhD program must pass a qualifying exam within 18 months of registration.

To learn more, please review additional information for International applicants.

Application Components and Evaluation Criteria

A complete application includes:

  • SGS online application and fee.
  • A letter of intent summarizing your academic achievements, research interests, and details of any related research experience.
    • What the Admissions Committee is looking for in the letter of intent: A concise letter that describes an applicant's research interests, their career goals and their rationale for applying to MBP. If applicable, the letter may also explain mitigating circumstances that affected the applicant's undergraduate performance and/or limited their research experience to date. The applicant should also describe any other alternative evidence of their research aptitudes.

  • An updated CV.
    • What the Admissions Committee is looking for in the CV: Research experience is an asset, especially for the PhD applicants. The MBP Admissions Committee considers work in a research lab as a volunteer, summer, thesis project, and/or co-op student. Additional points are awarded for conference presentations and co-publications in peer reviewed journals. Work or volunteering positions that are not research related as well as exceptional personal achievements in arts, sports, or civic life are an asset.

  • Submission of the names of up to 5 MBP faculty member(s) you would like to potentially work with.
    • What the Admissions Committee is looking for in the list of 5 faculty members: This list is used to help the committee determine possible applicant matches with faculty for admissions interviews and further gauge the type of research the applicant may be interested in doing.

  • Two references - completed by faculty members and/or research supervisors who are able to assess your potential for graduate studies. Please note that references must be sent from an institutional email address and not a personal email address.
    • What the Admissions Committee is looking for in the reference letters: Letters of recommendation should be provided by referees with good knowledge of the candidate. These letters and should discuss suitability of the candidate for the MBP graduate program. The referees are strongly encouraged to describe specific examples in support of the applicant’s academic strength, independent thinking skills, laboratory skillscomputational and data analysis skillsteam work and oral and written communication.

  • All post secondary transcripts and other relevant educational documents.
    • What the Admissions Committee is looking for in the educational background of applicants: The Admissions Committee considers the GPA over the last two years of undergraduate and/or graduate studies (B+ minimum for MSc and A- minimum for PhD) and takes into account difficulty of the courses taken and their relevance to the MBP faculty research areas. Advanced courses in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Genetics, Proteomics,  Biochemistry, Physiology, Chemistry, Data Analysis, Mathematics, Physics, Engineering, or Computer Science are considered an asset.

  • Successful applicants will be invited for an admissions interview with MBP Faculty.
    • What the interviewer is looking for during the interview: The interviewer will examine all application components in order to determine applicant readiness for the program. Interviewers will questions to the candidate based on their potential research interests and educational background, looking for a potential fit with their lab and/or the labs of colleagues. Applicant communication skills should be demonstrated through the ability to listen attentively, ask for clarification of the questions when pertinent, and express themselves clearly, concisely, confidently, and respectfully. The readiness of the interviewing faculty member to accept the student for a rotation is used as a predictor of the likelihood of a successful student-supervisor match in the future. 


Note: The SGS application and all components listed above are required to be submitted by the given application deadline for consideration to the program. If an applicant initiates an application close to, or on an application deadline date, all application components and documentation must be uploaded by no later than 11:59 pm on the day of the deadline for the application to be considered complete.

For more information on the application process, please visit 'How to Apply'

Application Deadlines

The SGS application and all components (letter of intent, CV, list of 5 faculty members you are interested in working with, transcripts and reference letters) are required to be submitted by the given application deadline for consideration to the program. If an applicant initiates an application close to, or on an application deadline date, all application components and documentation must be uploaded by no later than 11:59 pm on the day of the deadline for the application to be considered complete. 

Fall 2025 Admission*

Application Deadline* When Are Decisions Granted?
November 8, 2024 February 2025
February 7, 2025 April 2025

*It is important to note that although Medical Biophysics does have two distinct application deadlines for fall admission, the earlier an application is received, the earlier a decision will be granted. The sooner you know if you have been accepted, the more time/opportunity you will have to secure a supervisor for first term lab rotations and apply for graduate awards/scholarships.