In this research-intensive two-year program, Master’s students will be engaged in cutting-edge research on wide-ranging topics in life sciences and environment, including, but not limited to fish ecology, bird communication, plant genetics to plant community ecology and invasive species in Northern Ontario. 

Students will complete two courses, including a required course in Science Communication and an elective course; and an independent research thesis including a general literature review, at least one publishable manuscript and a general discussion. Students will be guided in course selection and research development by a supervisor and a thesis committee of at least three members.

The program is two-year (six-semester) long, and students admitted into the program will maintain full-time status throughout the entire duration of the program. Students will be registered as full-time students and will pay applicable tuition, ancillary and insurance fees for all three semesters of both full years of study. The Spring/Summer semester is generally reserved for fieldwork and research, while the Fall and Winter semesters are allotted to completing the required coursework and contractual duties as a Teaching Assistant.  

Those admitted into the Program will receive a Guaranteed funding of $17,500/year for two years of full-time study, conditional upon the student remaining in good standing. As part of the guaranteed funding, each Master’s student is expected to work as a Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) for two semesters (up to 10 hours/week). The remaining portion of the funding comes from a Grant from the University (collectively contributing $10,000 per year towards the guaranteed funding) and a Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA) in the amount of $7,500 over one academic year, contributed from the student’s supervisor’s research grants.

For detailed program guidelines, academic policies, and more, please consult our Graduate Student Handbook.

Minimum Admission Requirements

Minimum admission requirements include a four-year Honours Bachelor of Science degree in any field of the Life Sciences from an approved accredited university, with at least a 75% (B+) average in the last two years of study (confirmed by official transcripts). Candidates holding an undergraduate degree in a science other than the life sciences, who have some biology background, either academic or professional, may be admitted.

Before applying, please review our Biology Faculty webpage to learn more about the research areas and specialization of our Biology Faculty and to identify a prospective Supervisor for your research.

Those who submit an application and meet all the minimum admission requirements will receive an emailed notification and instructions regarding the next steps of the application process. The successful applicant will be asked to contact a prospective research supervisor to discuss mutual interest in research and potential projects. A supervisor needs to be identified and their approval to supervise the research is required in order to be accepted into the program. Three letters of recommendation from faculty familiar with the work of the applicant will also be requested.

 

English Language Requirements

Proficiency in the English language, both written and oral, is required for international students whose primary language of instruction was not English, and who wish to pursue graduate studies at Algoma University. It is required that applicants demonstrate an appropriate level of English proficiency, regardless of their citizenship status or country of origin. We must receive a test score to complete an application.

• IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall, no band lower than 6.5 (reading, writing, listening and speaking)
• TOEFL (IBT): 93 overall, CBT: 230 overall
• Cambridge Assessment Test (CAE): 176
• Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL): 60
• Pearson Test of English (PTE): 63
• Four or more years of full-time studies in an approved postsecondary school (outside Canada). The first degree must have been completed in English from a recognized institution where English was the primary language of instruction.
• Four or more years of full-time studies in a recognized post-secondary institution in Canada.
• Duolingo English Test (DET): 110, no band lower than 100

*Please note that tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of application submission to be considered. Algoma University reserves the right to request English language proficiency results from any applicant.

Allow three months or more from the start to the end of your application; applications need to be completed by the posted deadlines to be considered in the admission process.

SPRING 2025 INTAKE:

Domestic and onshore international applicants:

• Application deadline: March 1st, 2025
• Documents are accepted until March 31st, 2025
  

International applicants (without a Study permit):

• Applications are accepted until: February 1st, 2025
• Document submission deadline: February 28th, 2025 (this includes English Language Proficiency test result and Official transcripts)
  

FALL 2025 INTAKE:

Domestic and onshore international applicants:

• Application deadline: July 4th, 2025 
• Documents are accepted until July 31st, 2025 

International applicants (without a Study permit):

• Applications are accepted until May 23rd, 2025 
• Document submission deadline: June 15th, 2025 (this includes English Language Proficiency test result and Official transcripts)

Application processing timelines:

• Expected time for application processing, review and issuing decision notices and Letters of Offer between two and six weeks.
• Only complete applications are assessed for admission.
• Incomplete applications will be closed or may be deferred to the next available intake.

* Given the high volume of applications received and to maintain integrity of the admission process, we do not issue application status updates prior to the completion of the review process and outside the above posted timeframes.

Please review our Tuition and Ancillary fees for the Master’s Programs

In order to apply for the Master of Science in Biology program we require the following;

• A complete Application form (submitted by the specified deadline)
• Full payment of the application fee ($70 for domestic applicants, and $125 for International applicants). 
• Undergraduate degree transcript ready to be uploaded to the Application Portal
• Language test result (for international applicants that completed their undergraduate degree in a country where English is not an official language) 

Official transcript, three Letters of reference and a short summary of research interests will be requested at a later time, following the pre-screening of the application and only if the application advances to the next stage of admission review.

• Submit your application through the Application Portal
• Please contact your school or a credential evaluation service, such as WES, and request to have an Official Transcript sent to the Graduate Admissions Office via email to [email protected], addressed to the attention of the Graduate Admissions and Support Specialist 
• Wait for a response from the Graduate Admissions Office (allow for 3 to 4 weeks following your application date)

• Your application will progress to further review. Email is sent to you to request additional documentation to complete the application:
  • 500-word Summary of your research interest 
  • Three letters of recommendation from faculty familiar with your work
• Follow the instructions received and arrange to have these documents sent to us by the specified deadline. Budget two months or more to complete this.  
• Once the documents are received, your application is considered complete and it will be sent for review through the appropriate stages of the admission process. This can take anywhere between one to two months. 
• Once the review is complete, a Decision letter will be issued and sent to you via email. This can be a Letter of Offer or Denial once the process is completed. 
• If offered admission, you will receive information on the next steps.

* Note: given the high volume of applications and supporting documents received, and to respect the integrity of the admission process, we will not be able to provide updates or partial decisions on your application. Please refer to our deadlines and process mapping to know when to expect a response from us. 

Key application planning timeframe and deadlines: 
Plan sufficient time to submit your application and all supporting documents by the specific deadline. Applications need to be completed by the posted deadlines to be considered in the admission process. 

SPRING 2025 INTAKE:

Domestic and onshore international applicants:

• Application deadline: March 1st, 2025
• Documents are accepted until March 31st, 2025

International applicants (without a Study permit):

• Applications are accepted until February 1st, 2025 
• Document submission deadline: February 28th, 2025 

FALL 2025 INTAKE:

Domestic and onshore international applicants:

• Application deadline: July 4th, 2025 
• Documents are accepted until July 31st, 2025 

International applicants (without a Study permit):

• Applications are accepted until May 23rd, 2025 
• Document submission deadline: June 15th, 2025