Application Process

Please direct inquiries regarding the Western Graduate School Application to the following:

t. 519.850.2341
e. gradapps@uwo.ca

Requirements

Acceptance into the program involves in two steps:

  1. Submit an application to the program. Applications are evaluated by the Graduate Program Committee. Candidates who are deemed suitable for graduate studies in Biochemistry will be provisionally accepted into the program.
  2. Secure the support of a thesis supervisor. The supervisor will help the student develop the thesis and provide stipend support. Supervisors will supply an offer letter, and once the offer is accepted, the student will be fully accepted and able to register in the graduate program.

The Dept. of Biochemistry does not match supervisors with applicants. On this basis and because full acceptance and registration in the graduate program require supervisory support, all applicants are encouraged to contact potential research supervisors during or before the application process. Find out more about Biochemistry faculty and their research.
 
Please indicate on the Dept. of Biochemistry questionnaire the potential supervisor(s) you have contacted.

When applying through the Western Graduate School application, our program requires the following documents for a complete application:

Canadian Residents (national applicants)

  • Application form
  • Transcripts (original language and English translation) from all Universities attended
  • 2 Letters of reference
  • Department questionnaire (MSc/PhD Thesis applicants only)

International Applicants

  • Application form
  • Transcripts (original language and English translation) from all Universities attended
  • 2 letters of reference
  • Valid English Proficiency Score
  • Department questionnaire

- English Language Proficiency

Applicants whose first language is not English must furnish evidence of their proficiency in the use of the English language by a satisfactory achievement within the last two years in one of the following. Our minimum score requirements are:

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): 250, computer based; internet based test (iBT) 90, with no individual score lower than 22.
  • International English Language Testing Service (IELTS): 6.5 out of 9.
  • Fanshawe College ESL Program: Level 5, Advanced Academic Preparation, minimum 80% in each component.

**Note: Photocopies of scores are not acceptable. You must have the testing service send your score electronically.

**Note: The Department cannot pre-evaluate copies of transcripts to ascertain if you should apply to our program. A complete application must be submitted for review.

**Note: Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance to the program as space is limited and competitive.

Next Steps

Once Western receives your completed application and payment, an automated email will be sent to you confirming receipt of the completed application. The School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies will complete a preliminary assessment of your application to calculate an admission average, establish an academic degree basis for your potential admission and determine any additional documentation required by Western should you receive an offer of admission. After your application passes through the preliminary assessment phase an email will be sent to you confirming your application is now in the hands of the program to which you are applying.

Once your application has been released to the Program it will be reviewed as soon as possible. This process may take anywhere between 1-14 business days.

If your application is approved by the program, it will be made available to our faculty. You are encouraged to browse the research interests of our faculty and contact those whose research is of interest.

Application Deadlines for Biochemistry Program

Domestic
  • October 1 (for January start)
  • February 1 (for May start and first round considerations for September start)
  • June 1 (for September start)

International
  • August 1 (for January start)
  • December 1 (for May start)
  • April 1 (for September start)

These dates are an approximation and are subject to change. Applications received on or near the deadline may not be approved in time for the desired start date. International applicants should allow time for visa processing.