Program Information and Application Process
Biochemistry lets you explore a variety of areas, including human genetics, genome dynamics, epigenetics, and gene expression. You can focus on protein structure and function, proteomics, and cellular signaling. You can also delve into computational approaches and bioinformatics, which are becoming an essential part of biochemical research. In addition, you can investigate the technologies driving the exciting advancements in synthetic biology.
Research-based Degrees
The Department of Biochemistry offers research-intensive PhD and MSc degrees:
- Master of Science (MSc)
- Accelerated Master of Science (MSc)
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Doctor of Philosophy (Direct-entry PhD)
Collaborative Specialization Opportunities
Prospective students interested in a Collaborative Specialization must first apply to and be accepted into the Graduate Program in Biochemistry. Once admitted, students may then apply to an eligible Collaborative Specialization, provided their research aligns with the specialization and approval is granted by the specialization program.
Students remain registered in Biochemistry and must complete the normal requirements of the Biochemistry graduate program, including the Biochemistry seminar course and at least 0.25 credits from core Biochemistry coursework. In addition, students complete the specific course, seminar, workshop, committee, and/or research requirements of their selected Collaborative Specialization. These opportunities allow students to broaden their graduate training, connect with faculty and trainees across disciplines, and gain access to additional professional development, networking, and presentation opportunities.
The collaborative specialization options include the following:
Reasons To Study
- Dynamic field of study
- Transferable research skills
Fields of Research
- Genome dynamics, epigenetics, and gene expression
- Human genetics and clinical biochemistry
- Signal transduction and intracellular communication
- Macromolecular structure and dynamics
- Proteomics
- Bioinformatics
Own Your Future
If you’re a doctoral student, optimize your doctoral degree by taking advantage of Own Your Future (OYF). These workshops support you in your doctoral studies and enable you to be career-ready.
Own Your Future is...
- Self-directed – you participate as much or as little as you want
- Supported by a confidential Power Skills Assessment
- Designed to be relaxing and meaningful
- Developed and delivered by experts
Application Process
t. 519.850.2341
e. gradapps@uwo.ca
Requirements
Our program follows a rolling admissions process. Applications are reviewed continuously as they are received from the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (SGPS). SGPS will complete a preliminary assessment of your application and determine any additional documentation required by Western should you receive an offer of admission. Once your application has been released to the Program, we aim to inform applicants of their academic eligibility within three weeks.
If your application is approved by the program, it will be made available to our faculty. You are encouraged to browse the research interests of our faculty and contact those whose research is of interest.
The Dept. of Biochemistry does not match supervisors with applicants. On this basis and because full acceptance and registration in the graduate program require supervisory support, all applicants are encouraged to contact potential research supervisors during or before the application process. Find out more about Biochemistry faculty and their research.
International Applicants:
Under the new Canadian Study Permit Policy regulation changes, effective January 1, 2026, Master’s and Doctoral international applicants are exempt from the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) requirement introduced earlier this year. As such, all international graduate applicants who apply to the program will not require a PAL for their study permit application. However, the $2,000 tuition deposit requirement for international Master’s applicants, payable after accepting an Offer of Admission, will remain in place. Please refer to the IRCC website for the latest information on PAL requirements.
We strongly encourage international applicants to apply as early as possible due to potential delays with visa processing. Early applications are especially important as funding for new international students may be limited depending on the supervisor. We highly recommend that you contact potential supervisors before submitting an application and paying the $185 application fee.
- Complete the Western on-line application
- Complete, save, and attach the Dept. of Biochemistry questionnaire to your application.
When applying through the Western Graduate School application, our program requires the following documents for a complete application:
Canadian Residents (national applicants)
- Application form
- Transcripts (original language and English translation) from all Universities attended
- 2 Letters of reference
- Department questionnaire
International Applicants
- Application form
- Transcripts (original language and English translation) from all Universities attended
- 2 letters of reference
- Valid English Proficiency Score
- Department questionnaire
- Study Permit
Under the new Canadian Study Permit Policy regulation changes, all international graduate program applicants applying for a study permit after January 22, 2025, will require a PAL as part of their study permit application.
For international graduate applicants to receive a PAL from Western, they must:
- Accept their offer of admission (the deadline date to accept the offer and/or pay the tuition deposit will be specified on the offer letter).
- Pay their $2,000 tuition deposit (Master’s programs only).
Please note: tuition deposits are non-refundable. - Complete the PAL request form via the Graduate Student Web Services Portal.
We also recommend that you access this Government of Canada website to help you forecast how long it may take to process your study permit application.
- English Language Proficiency
Applicants whose first language is not English must furnish evidence of their proficiency in the use of the English language by a satisfactory achievement within the last two years in one of the following. Our minimum score requirements are:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): minimum overall score of 4.5 with no individual section score below 4.
- International English Language Testing Service (IELTS): 6.5 out of 9.
- Fanshawe College ESL Program: Level 5, Advanced Academic Preparation, minimum 80% in each component.
**Note: Photocopies of scores are not acceptable. You must have the testing service send your score electronically.
*Note: The Department cannot pre-evaluate transcripts to determine eligibility; a complete application must be submitted for review. Please be aware that meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee acceptance, as program spaces are limited and admission is highly competitive.
Next Steps
Once Western receives your completed application and payment, an automated email will be sent to you confirming receipt of the completed application. The School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies will complete a preliminary assessment of your application to calculate an admission average, establish an academic degree basis for your potential admission and determine any additional documentation required by Western should you receive an offer of admission. After your application passes through the preliminary assessment phase an email will be sent to you confirming your application is now in the hands of the program to which you are applying.
Once your application has been released to the Program it will be reviewed as soon as possible. This process may take anywhere between 1-14 business days.
If your application is approved by the program, it will be made available to our faculty. You are encouraged to browse the research interests of our faculty and contact those whose research is of interest.
Application Deadlines for Biochemistry Program
Domestic: July 1
International: June 1
Winter (January start)
Domestic: Oct 15
International: Sep 1
Summer (May start)
Domestic: Feb 15
International: Jan 1
