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Anatomy and Cell Biology (MSc, PhD)

Explore graduate training that offers advanced approaches in cell biology, neurobiology anatomical sciences and education scholarship. Propel the growth of your research with dedicated faculty mentors and top-tier training facilities.

Anatomy and Cell Biology (MSc, PhD)

Explore graduate training that offers advanced approaches in cell biology, neurobiology anatomical sciences and education scholarship. Propel the growth of your research with dedicated faculty mentors and top-tier training facilities.

People wearing gloves pointing at a anatomy textbook

Anatomy and Cell Biology (MSc, PhD)

Explore graduate training that offers advanced approaches in cell biology, neurobiology anatomical sciences and education scholarship. Propel the growth of your research with dedicated faculty mentors and top-tier training facilities.

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About the program

Apply now Admission requirements
The Anatomy and Cell Biology graduate program prepares you for a career as a medical educator, research scientist or health-care professional via two streams of study: Biological research - a research-intensive, thesis-based experience; and clinical anatomy - a course-based, hands-on learning experience.
MSc, PhD
2-5 years
Thesis-based , Course-based
Full-time
Funding support
International students

Reasons to study

Students examine a bone model in a lab, utilizing advanced resources for specialized training.

Personalized graduate training

Benefit from tailored training with dedicated mentors and access to advanced resources that will help you to explore the boundaries of your field.

A professor teaches in a classroom setting, emphasizing mentorship from expert faculty.

Award-winning faculty

Our expert faculty will help you to refine your research abilities and navigate the complexity of graduate study in these interconnected fields.

A modern laboratory equipped for advanced multidisciplinary research.

Advanced research laboratories

Our facilities feature advanced technology and environments that support scientific research and discovery across multiple disciplines.

Fields of research

Find potential supervisors

Biology of disease

Researchers in our department are committed to investigating the cell biological mechanisms that underpin the basis of diseases that are genetically inherited, injury-induced or acquired during aging. 
Faculty researchers

Neurological health & disease

Our cognition, emotions and behaviors stem from neural activity in the brain. Researchers in Anatomy and Cell Biology study neurological diseases across levels - from genes to neurons, circuits and networks - to understand brain function.
Faculty researchers

Clinical anatomy

Research in this field builds on our strength in anatomical sciences and partnerships with local clinicians to tackle surgical challenges. You’ll use advanced imaging techniques and cadaver resources to pursue important new findings for a range of challenges.
Faculty researchers

Developmental health and disease

This field combines anatomy and cell biology to study normal and disrupted development across various systems. Research includes neurodevelopmental disorders, maternal-fetal health and cellular channels, using innovative molecular, cellular and imaging techniques.
Faculty researchers

Cancer biology

Understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underly tumor growth and metastasis, with a focus on solid tumors such as breast, prostate, ovarian, skin and brain cancer.
Faculty researchers

Featured courses (Clinical Anatomy)

More course information

Program details

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Duration

  • Five terms
  • Non-thesis program

Application deadlines

  • January 15 - Fall Term

Requirements

  • Educational background: Four -year honours degree or equivalent in a health or life science, or a degree in dentistry, medicine or veterinary science from an accredited university.
  • Grade requirement: Minimum 80% (A-) average for the most recent two years of undergraduate study, or the most recent 10 full senior level courses.
  • English Language Proficiency; if your first language is not English:  TOEFL - 92, IELTS - 7.0 with no individual score less than 6.0.
  • Anatomy experience is recommended.

Find required documentation and application procedure of Clinical Anatomy MSc program here.

Duration

  • Six terms
  • Thesis program

Application deadlines

  • February 1 - Fall intake
  • June 1 (pending spots remaining) - Fall intake
  • March 1 - Summer intake *
  • October 15 - Winter intake *

*Positions are not always available for summer/winter intakes.
Acceptance notifications for the fall intake begin in March and continue until July 31.

Requirements

  • Educational background: Four -year honours degree or equivalent in a health or life science, or a degree in dentistry, medicine or veterinary science from an accredited university.
  • Grade requirement: Minimum 80% (A-) average for the most recent two years of undergraduate study, or the most recent 10 full senior level courses.
  • English Language Proficiency (if your first language is not English): TOEFL - 92 with no individual score below 20, IELTS - 7 out of 9.
  • Anatomy experience is recommended.

Find required documentation and the application procedure for the Biological Research MSc here.

Duration

  • 12 terms (Four years)
  • 15 terms (Five years) – Direct-entry PhD or transfer MSc to PhD (thesis-based program)

Application deadlines

  • February 1 - Fall intake
  • June 1 (pending spots remaining) - Fall intake
  • March 1 - Summer intake *
  • October 15 - Winter intake *

*Positions are not always available for summer/winter intakes.
Acceptance notifications for the fall intake begin in March and continue until July 31.

Requirements

  • Educational background: MSc degree or equivalent from an accredited university.
  • Grade requirement: Minimum standard is 80% (A-).
  • Research experience   is required.
  • English Language Proficiency (if your first language is not English): TOEFL - 92 with no individual score below 20, IELTS - 7 out of 9.

Note:

  • Direct entry into the PhD program following completion of an undergraduate honours degree or through the MD/PhD program is possible.
  • Previous research experience and a minimum average of 85% are necessary to be considered for direct-entry PhD.

Find required documentation and the application procedure for the PhD program here.

Apply now via Western's School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

Apply now Application process

Plan your finances

Graduate student funding & fees explained

What it costs

Expenses usually include tuition, fees, housing, food, and many other necessities.

Find your tuition and fees in the fee schedules available through the Office of the Registrar.

Fee schedules

Support available

As a thesis-based graduate learner, you may be eligible to receive funding.

Check out the funding package for Anatomy and Cell Biology.

Funding package

Plan ahead

Managing your finances, time, and overall wellness are critical to your academic success.

Use the Graduate Student Affordability Calculator to estimate how much money you will need to pay for your tuition, fees, housing, food, and other necessities for a 12-month (three-term) academic year.

Explore the calculator

Career resources & opportunities

As a Western graduate student, you have access to an abundance of quality professional development opportunities, which make it simple for you to self-direct your learning and development, maximize the value of your degree, and ease your career transition.

Own Your Future

The Own Your Future website offers PhD students free career and professional development advice to support the transition into the working world.
Learn more

Upskilling graduates for success

The School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies offers a series of free, online professional development courses to help you prepare to enter the always-evolving labour market in Canada and abroad.
Learn more

Internship program

As a graduate student, you can take part in our internship program, even when the opportunity may not be directly related to your thesis research.
Learn more

After graduation

Graduates can pursue professional school and post-doctoral research, or enter the workforce as:

  • Research scientist or technician in industry
  • Business and management consultant
  • Intellectual property specialist grants or
  • Contracts Officer
  • Research associate or technician
  • Clinical trials coordinator
  • Science publisher

Have questions? Connect with us!

Contact our program coordinator for more information on the program and finding a supervisor, or get your questions answered.

Miranda Fullerton

Program Coordinator
anatomy@uwo.ca

Email Miranda Frequently asked questions

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