Future Students

Applicants must possess an undergraduate degree with a minimum average of 78% over the last two years (3-year general degree or 4-year honours degree accepted); an MD or equivalent; and have completed at least two years in a surgical residency program.

In addition to submitting the online application form and arranging for three letters of reference along with transcripts of the academic record as required by the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, candidates must provide a research proposal for their surgical subspecialty area and have identified a supervisor for their research. 

Candidates who are residents will need to submit a letter of agreement from their Program Director. Recommendation letters can be provided by the Division Chair/Chief, the Program Director (in lieu of a letter of agreement), and the potential supervisor. 

Candidates who are fellows will need to submit a letter of agreement from their Fellowship Program Director. Recommendations can be provided by the Division Chair/Chief, the Fellowship Program Director (in lieu of a letter of agreement), the potential supervisor, and/or one external academic reference.

Students for whom English is a second language are required to provide proof of English proficiency. All such candidates will be interviewed by faculty members, by video conference when necessary, during which sufficient English language skills must be demonstrated.

Students in the MSc in Surgery will be required to complete two 1.0 credit courses, one 0.5 credit course and successfully complete and defend a thesis. Students must continue to meet objectives for thesis progression set by their supervisor and advisory committee in order to maintain enrolment in the program.  The required courses will run during the fall-winter term (September to April) and include:

• Principles of Advanced Surgical Research (1.0 credit)
• Advanced Surgical Research Colloquium (1.0 credit)
• Advanced Statistics and Research Methods for Surgeons (0.5 credit)

Normal completion of the MSc in Surgery will be in 12 months (3 terms) while enrolled full-time.  However each student’s progress will be closely monitored by his/her advisory committee and the final duration of the MSc program for each student will be at the discretion of the advisory committee and the graduate program committee pending suitable progress in the program.

Part-time enrolment in the program is permitted to a maximum of four years or completion of an individual's surgical subspecialty training program with the permission of the student’s supervisor and the Graduate Program Committee.

Read more about current tuition fees on the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies website.

The School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (SGPS) and Western's Office of the Registrar have launched the new Graduate Student Affordability Calculator: https://grad.uwo.ca/finances/affordability_calculator.cfm. 

Residents applying to the MSc program are encouraged to seek funding from established scholarship and award programs, such as the Clinician Investigator Program (CIP) and Resident Research Career Development Program (RRCD) at Schulich, Royal College grants and awards, etc. Residents and Fellows are also encouraged to apply for external scholarships which may require applications in advance of admission to the graduate program. Students may be eligible for a tuition scholarship while enrolled full-time in the program. Please also consult the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies website for funding opportunities.

Students applying to the MSc in Surgery program are encouraged to apply for the scholarships noted below:

Tri-Agency Canada Graduate Scholarships - Master’s (CGSM) 
For information on deadlines or how to submit an application, please visit the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies website

Ontario Graduate Scholarships (OGS)
For more information on deadlines or how to apply please visit Ontario Graduate Scholarships and QEII Graduate Scholarships in Science and Technology 

Deans Research Scholarship
For information on deadlines or how to submit an application, please visit the Awards page of the Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry website.

We are now accepting applications. Applications will be considered at any time of year; however to ensure consideration for Summer term admission (May 1st start), applications must be received by January 15th; or to ensure consideration for Fall term admission (September 1st start), applications must be received by April 15th.  Applications submitted after these deadlines cannot be guaranteed consideration for the preferred admit term. In order to apply you will need to complete the Research Template for Applicants and attach it to the Application Form available from the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies website.

Apply to the program via Western's online application system at the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies website.

Questions may be sent to: surggrad@lhsc.on.ca

• Graduate Program Chair:  Dr. Abdel-Rahman Lawendy
• Associate Graduate Program Chair: Dr. Luc Dubois