Applying for a second degree

Students must contact the Academic Advising Office for Science and Basic Medical Science students about completing a BMSc degree as a second degree. Ideally, students should indicate which module(s) they would like to complete in a second degree when submitting their request through the Help Portal.

Students who have already completed a BMSc degree at Western are typically allowed to complete a second BMSc degree.

The Academic Advising Office usually consults with the BMSUE Coordinators about a student's request to determine if the module(s) requested can be done in a second degree. The number of courses common to modules in the first and the requested second degree are taken into consideration (see Note below).

Students who have completed a non-BMSc degree at Western are considered on a case-by-case basis for admission and only if space is available in the BMSc Program.

The Academic Advising Office usually consults with the BMSUE Coordinators to determine if a student with a non-BMSc degree can complete a BMSc degree as a second degree. Students must satisfy the conditions for admission to Year 3 BMSc from the competitive pool to be considered for admission (e.g., minimum marks of 60% are required in each of the courses listed in the Admission Requirements, a minimum average of 75% is required on the 2000-level courses listed in the Admission Requirements, etc.).

If students completed the 2000-level Admission Requirements for BMSc modules in their first degree and were not eligible to register in the BMSc Program immediately after Year 2 of their first degree, then they will not be eligible to register in the BMSc Program for their second degree.

NOTE: a second BMSc degree containing an Honours Specialization that requires one of the "capstone courses" (e.g., a 4000-level research project) might not be approved for a student who has already completed a capstone course in another department. Admission to Year 4 of the Honours Specialization modules that have competitive entry, i.e., more qualified students apply than there are spaces available, may prefer to admit only those students who did not complete a capstone course in their first degree.

Before applying to Western as a "special student", students may send an unofficial transcript to the BMSUE Office (Basic Medical Sciences Undergraduate Education) for a preliminary assessment as to whether their academic performance (courses and marks) in their first degree make them eligible to pursue a BMSc degree as their second degree. Ideally, students should indicate which module(s) they would like to complete in a second degree when emailing the BMSUE Office.

After admission to Western, students must contact the Academic Advising Office for Science and Basic Medical Science students to discuss course equivalencies and course selection. Students should indicate the modules within the BMSc Program in which they are interested when contacting Academic Advising through their Help Portal.

Students who have completed a degree at another university are considered on a case-by-case basis for admission and only if space is available in the BMSc Program.

Each student's transcript from their first degree is reviewed to determine if their previous academic performance is comparable to students who are admitted to Year 3 BMSc from the competitive pool.

The following are taken into consideration:

• courses considered equivalent to the 1000-level courses listed in the Admission Requirements of the module the student wishes to pursue in a BMSc degree must have been completed with marks of at least 60%.
  
  
• courses considered equivalent to the 2000-level courses listed in the Admission Requirements of the module the student wishes to pursue in a BMSc degree must have been completed with marks of at least 60% (during the first attempt at each of these courses). Admission to some modules requires a mark greater than 60% in particular 2000-level courses listed in the Admission Requirements (noted in the Academic Calendar for each module). Students with failing grades in any of these courses will not be admitted to the BMSc Program.
  
  
• the average on courses considered equivalent to the 2000-level courses listed in the Admission Requirements for the module to which the student wishes to apply must be at least 75%. If the student has not completed courses equivalent to all the 2000-level courses listed in the Admission Requirements (and some 2000-level courses remain to be taken at Western), then an average of at least 75% on the courses taken at the previous university plus any remaining 2000-level courses taken at Western is required.

If review of a student's transcript indicates that they may be eligible to pursue a BMSc degree, certain conditions are then specified by the Academic Advising Office, in consultation with the BMSUE Office. The student is then informed of these conditions (courses that must be completed with certain marks/averages, etc.).

NOTES:

• Students are not admitted to BMSc during their first year at Western. Students will usually be admitted as a "special" student and will have to work with the Academic Counselling Office and/or the BMSUE Office with regards to course registration
  
  
• A second degree containing an Honours Specialization in the BMSc Program that requires one of the "capstone courses" (e.g., a 4000-level research project) might not be approved for a student who has completed a capstone course in their first degree. Admission to Year 4 of the Honours Specialization modules that have competitive entry, i.e., more qualified students apply than there are spaces available, may prefer to admit only those students who did not complete a capstone course in their first degree.