Applying to the Program

The completed application package includes:

• Two academic letters of recommendation
• Academic transcripts
• Curriculum vitae (CV)
• A personal letter in which the applicant should outline why they are applying to the Department of Microbiology & Immunology at Western University, their research experience and interests, and identify members of the department whose research is of particular interest

For international applications, there are additional requirements to demonstrate English language fluency.

Applications must be submitted through the SGPS portal. Follow the instructions as they are listed on the SGPS site completely and carefully. Instructions found on the SGPS site supersede instructions found here.

Please note: There are fees associated with this application process. The Department is NOT able to waive these fees unless the applicant is applying through an established program that has already made this formal arrangement. No other considerations can be made to waive or reduce application fees. If application fees are a barrier to your application, we strongly recommend that you only apply if you have already come to an agreement with a potential supervisor (Step 2).

Applications are evaluated by faculty members of the Graduate Education Committee of the Department of Microbiology & Immunology to identify applicants who have the potential to be successful in the given degree program.

Decisions are based on:

• Academic performance (and language competency for international applicants)
• Completion of courses relevant to the subjects of Microbiology & Immunology
• Prior research experience
• Useful and informative letters of recommendation that indicate that the applicant has the appropriate aptitude for academic research
• Demonstration of interest in the program as outlined in the personal letter. The immigration status, country of origin, and country of residence and NOT factored into the decision.

Please note: The Department receives a large number of applications through the SGPS portal every year and only about half (see below) are determined to be admissible to the program. Due to the large number of files, we are not able to respond to requests for feedback and will not provide justifications for admissibility decisions.

An incoming student must have a supervisor prior to being enrolled in any degree program offered by the Department of Microbiology & Immunology. This means that the student and supervisor must come to a mutual agreement that the student can join the faculty member’s research group. Students enrolled can be supervised by any Primary or Cross-Appointed faculty member of the Department. A list of these members and a brief description of their research interests can be found at the following link: Faculty Research.

To find a supervisor, potential students should contact faculty members directly to express an interest in working under their supervision and inquire if they are accepting new students into their group. Not all faculty members accept new students every year, and the decision to recruit is driven by funding, space, and project availability.

If you are a prospective student looking for a supervisor, start by reviewing the department website to identify potential supervisors whose research aligns with your interests. Each faculty member is the head of what is often referred to as a “research group”. Many research groups have an independent website that provides a more detailed description of the lab environment and research. When contacting a potential supervisor, it is best to demonstrate that you have a general understanding of the research their group performs and explain how that aligns with your own interests and goals.

Please note: The department does NOT maintain a list of potential supervisors who are actively recruiting new students, and we cannot facilitate matching potential students with supervisors. Not all students deemed to be admissible in Step 1 will find a faculty member willing to supervise them, meaning that they will not be enrolled in the program. The size of the incoming class for any given year fluctuates depending on the number of new students the different member labs can accommodate.