Pharmaceutical Sciences: Pharmaceutical Sciences MSc

Master of Science

Program Description

The Graduate Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy offers students in the physical, biological, clinical, health, and social sciences a challenging and rewarding research-intensive program leading to the MSc degree. The result is an educational program that encourages multidisciplinary approaches to problem-solving and collaboration between students and faculty members. Graduate students are immersed in a challenging program that equips them with new ways of thinking and provides them with multiple tools to solve problems.

The MSc program can be taken on a full-time or part-time basis. Admission and program requirements are the same for the full-time and part-time options. A limited number of students will be admitted to the part-time option.

Minimum Admission Requirements

  • Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Graduate Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences' additional admission requirements stated below.

  • An appropriate bachelor's degree from a recognized university with at least a mid-B average in each of the last two years of undergraduate study.

  • The Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Admissions Committee considers the applicant's background and accomplishments, academic standing, and financial support from the potential supervisor.

  • Applicants whose primary language is not English and who graduated from a university where the language of instruction and examination is not English, must demonstrate facility in the English language through the successful completion of one of the following English-language proficiency tests:

    • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with the following minimum scores:

      • paper-based TOEFL: 600 and 5 on the Test of Written English (TWE)

      • Internet-based TOEFL: 100/120 and 22/30 on the writing and speaking sections.

    • International English Language Testing System (IELTS): a score of 7.0 (Academic) with at least 6.5 in each component.

    • The Certificate of Proficiency in English (COPE): a score of 76, with at least 22 in each component and 32 in the writing component.

    • Academic Preparation Course: a final grade of B in Level 60.

  • If the undergraduate degree was not obtained from a recognized Canadian or US university, the applicant must write and achieve scores at the 50th percentile ranking or better on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE; General Test).

Program Requirements

  • The MSc is a program of study that provides the appropriate foundation for thesis research. The program depends on the student's background and is planned in consultation with the supervisor and advisory committee, with the approval of the graduate director(s).

  • Coursework. Students must successfully complete a minimum of 1.0 full-course equivalent (FCE).

  • Yearly advisory committee meetings.

  • Attend at least one research ethics workshop (0.0 FCE) for graduate students.

  • One poster presentation to all faculty and graduate students at Graduate Research in Progress (GRIP).

  • Annual attendance at GRIP.

  • Regular attendance at a minimum of eight Pharmaceutical Sciences departmental seminars as well as student group seminars for two years (or less if all other program requirements are completed).

  • An annual oral presentation of the student's own research work is given in the student seminar series.

  • Final seminar to be given during the thesis defence.

  • A thesis based on an approved research problem in an area of pharmaceutical sciences.

Program Length

6 sessions full-time (typical registration sequence: F/W/S/F/W/S);
14 sessions part-time

Time Limit

3 years full-time;
6 years part-time