Program Requirements

The requirements for a MSc degree in Neuroscience include:

  1. A research thesis, which in the opinion of the Advisory Committee, presents research of appropriate quality for publication in a refereed journal. The thesis must be successfully defended in an oral examination. The examination committee will consist of two faculty members from the Neuroscience Program, at least one of whom was not a member of the student’s Advisory Committee, and an additional faculty member from outside the Program and not from the supervisor’s home department.   
  2. Course requirements:  
    1. Principles of Neuroscience (Neuroscience 9500) - 0.5 credit
    2. Perspectives in Neuroscience Seminar Series: students will be required to complete this milestone in each academic year of their full-time enrollment
    3. Elective 0.5 credit - chosen through consultation with your supervisor(s) and advisory committee. Students without a strong background in Neuroscience will be required to broaden their background in specific areas related to their research interests. 

NOTE: a passing grade of at least 70% is REQUIRED; a student who does not achieve at least a passing grade will be required to withdraw from the Program.

  • When the research project has clearly developed beyond that of a MSc, students may be permitted to transfer directly to the PhD Program without completing a MSc research thesis (see above under Admission Procedures for full description).  

The requirements for a PhD degree in Neuroscience include:

  1. A research thesis describing original scientific research. In general, it should contain 3 results chapters and present research of appropriate quality for publication in a refereed journal. The thesis must be successfully defended in an oral examination which is immediately preceded by a public lecture. The public lecture should be of about 40-45 minutes duration and should describe the scope of research and a discussion of experimental findings. A question period by the audience will follow. The examination committee will consist of two faculty members from the Neuroscience Program, one member of the university who is not a member of the program or the supervisor’s home department and one member who is an expert in the field from outside the University.
  2. A comprehensive assessment in Neuroscience.
  3. Course requirements:  
    1. Principles of Neuroscience (Neuroscience 9500) if not taken at the MSc level. Exemption from this course will not be granted for students having taken a survey course in Neuroscience in other programs.
    2. Perspectives in Neuroscience Seminar Series: students will be required to complete this milestone in each academic year of their full-time enrollment
    3. Neuroscience 9601 - Grant writing course
    4. Additional courses required by the student's Advisory Committee to prepare the student for the comprehensive examination and/or to provide background for the student's particular area of research.

NOTE: a passing grade of at least 70% is REQUIRED; a student who does not achieve at least a passing grade will be required to withdraw from the Program.

 

Master's and PhD

Our graduate program is highly interdisciplinary and students enter with a variety of academic backgrounds. Some students admitted to the program will be required to enroll in Neuroscience 9000: Fundamentals of Neuroscience. The course better prepares new graduate students in Neuroscience that may lack training in the biological sciences and hence lack a fundamental knowledge of the language of neuroscience. This course combines graduate level skills training with learning about fundamentals in Neuroscience, with an emphasis on sensory systems and cellular/molecular Neuroscience. Enrollment in this course will better prepare students for the required Neuroscience 9500 course. It will not count towards the required credits for degree completion. In consultation with potential supervisors, applicants identified by the Program Committee to require this course are notified through their admission offer letter.