General Information
The Biochemistry, Microbiology & Immunology Graduate Program offers research-focused Master of Science (M.Sc.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) programs, where students receive advanced training and mentorship from experts in areas such as:
- Cellular and molecular biology of eukaryotes
- Microbial genetics and physiology
- Virology
- Immunology
- Vaccinology
- Enzymes
- Metabolic pathways
- The synthesis, structure and function of proteins and nucleic acids
Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology graduate students have access to cutting-edge research facilities including Western College of Veterinary Medicine, the Canadian Light Source, and the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization and International Vaccine Centre.
Prospective Students
Prospective students interested in pursuing graduate programs in Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology can learn more about the department and its research activities at https://medicine.usask.ca/bmi/index.php.
Detailed information about the Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology Graduate Program, including application procedures, is available on the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies admissions website (https://grad.usask.ca/programs/find-a-program.php).
Admission Requirements:
M.Sc. Program: Applicants must hold a Baccalaureate (or equivalent) from a recognized institution, comparable to a degree at this university, with a specialization in biochemistry, microbiology, immunology, or a related discipline. A minimum cumulative weighted average of 75% (University of Saskatchewan equivalent) is required.
Ph.D. Program:
Non-direct entry: Applicants must hold a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline from a recognized university, with a minimum cumulative weighted average of 80% (University of Saskatchewan equivalent). The BMI Graduate Affairs Committee will review the applicant’s thesis and/or published papers to assess the quality of the M.Sc. degree. If the degree is not deemed equivalent, the applicant will be admitted as an M.Sc. student and must complete the Ph.D. Candidacy Assessment within the first two years to transfer into the Ph.D. program.
Direct entry: Applicants must hold a 4-year Honour’s degree or equivalent with a specialization in biochemistry, microbiology and/or immunology, or a related discipline and a minimum 80% average in final two years of course work (U of S grade system equivalent). Applicants must also:
- Submit a detailed statement outlining any prior research experience and technical skills, specific research interests and how these align with the potential supervisor’s research area and describe long-term goals/career path.
- Arrange for their potential supervisor to submit a letter of recommendation attesting to the applicant’s research skills and potential for long-term research success. Note: The proposed research supervisor may be one of the three research mentor referees. However, the supervisor’s endorsement letter must be submitted separately, in addition to the three required reference letters.
English Language Requirements:
International applicants must meet the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology’s English language requirements. A minimum TOEFL score of 90 (with at least 20 in each section) or an overall IELTS score of 6.5 (with no section below 6.5) is required. If TOEFL or IELTS are unavailable, alternative tests recognized by the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies may be accepted.
All prospective students must have a faculty supervisor confirmed before they apply. There are no fixed application deadlines and applications are accepted at any time.
Program Details
Program Objectives
The graduate program in Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology will provide students with advanced training in biomedical research and critical thinking. The program emphasizes independent research to prepare students for careers in academia, industry, and related fields.
Students will spend the majority of their time working on their research project, which forms the core of the program. This hands-on experience allows students to develop expertise in experimental design, data analysis, and scientific communication.
Coursework Requirements
- Master of Science (M.Sc.) Program
Students must complete 9 credit units of graduate-level (800-level) courses. - Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Program:
Non-direct entry: No graduate-level coursework is required for Ph.D. students. The program focuses entirely on research and scholarly development.
Direct entry: A minimum of 9 credit units at the 800-level, must be completed within the first 2 years of the program,
Note that all students registered in the Ph.D. program must complete the candidacy assessment no later than 24 months after the initial registration
Typically, an M.Sc. degree is expected to be completed within 2-3 years, while a Ph.D. generally requires 5 years.
Progress Requirements:
For both M.Sc. and Ph.D. programs, continued enrollment depends on satisfactory progress in all components, including coursework, research, written and oral communication skills, and thesis preparation. These are assessed by the student’s advisory committee.
Program Overview
Course work: For the Ph.D. no further course work is required unless recommended by the student’s committee to bolster a student’s knowledge in perceived areas of weakness. (Note: It may be beneficial for foreign students to take some 800 level courses to increase their chances of winning scholarships).
Research progress: Progress in research will be assessed by the committee annually (usually in May) on the basis of a short but formal presentation and by submission of a progress report to the chair of the advisory committee at least two weeks before the scheduled committee meeting. The students should address the questions raised in previous meeting(s) in their progress report.
In addition, there will be a second meeting in November at which the student will again present a short talk and an addendum to the progress report which only describes progress in the last 6 months.
Presentation skills: Oral communication skills will be assessed on the basis of the talks to the committee as well as the formal presentations in journal club (or equivalent). Written communication skills will be assessed on the quality of the initial proposal and the subsequent progress reports. The committee should expect to see a significant improvement in both oral and written abilities as the student progresses through the program. (Note: Many language courses are available on campus particularly for foreign students and the advisory committee should recommend these when deficiencies are noted or difficulties are encountered)
Thesis writing: In general, it should require between 3 to 4 months to write the thesis. Progress should be monitored initially by the supervisor with guidance from the committee if there are delays. Students should understand that the thesis must be approved, first by the supervisor, second by the advisory committee chair and finally by the committee before being sent to the external examiner.
Some students may seek permission from their supervisor and advisory committee to transfer from a M.Sc. program to a Ph.D. program before completing the requirements of the M.Sc. program, and without preparing and defending a M.Sc. thesis. This option is generally reserved for students who are doing very well in the M.Sc. program, and who show great promise for success at the Ph.D. level. M.Sc. students who have completed at least 9 credits of graduate coursework, with a grade point average of 80 or higher, may seek permission to transfer to the Ph.D. program as early as one year after entering the program but must do so before the end of their second year. M.Sc. students who have been in the program more than two years will not be permitted to transfer to the Ph.D. program. M.Sc. students must also pass a qualifying exam (see below). If the student fails the qualifying examination on the first try, a second examination can be undertaken within three months. However, a second failure automatically disqualifies a student from transferring directly to a Ph.D. program. Final approval to transfer from the M.Sc. program to the Ph.D. program is given by the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, and is not guaranteed even if the student passes the Qualifying Examination.
Students admitted to the Ph.D. program must take the qualifying exam within one year of beginning their program. Passing the exam is required to continue in the program.
Contact
Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology Graduate Program
GA20 Health Sciences Building, 107 Wiggins Road
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5