Physiology

MHSc Program

Minimum Admission Requirements

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

• Admission is based on demonstrated exceptional scholarly achievement based on the following criteria:

  • a one-page statement summarizing how this program will contribute to the advancement of the applicant's professional goals

  • a curriculum vitae (CV)

  • two letters of reference.

• Applicants must have an appropriate bachelor's degree from a recognized university with an average of at least A– in the last two years of study. Students must have completed at least third year-level physiology or equivalent courses and demonstrate an interest in physiology.

• Selected applicants will be interviewed prior to final acceptance into the program.

• Applicants who were educated outside Canada, whose primary language is not English, and who graduated from a university where the language of instruction was not English, must demonstrate proficiency in the English language through the successful completion of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with the following minimum scores:

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

  • Other English proficiency tests are acceptable. Please consult the Physiology website for departmental standards.

Completion Requirements

All students are required to:

• Take 6.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) in physiology courses:

  • PSL4000Y Seminars and Graduate Professional Development

  • PSL4010Y Mentored Literature Review Project in Physiology

  • PSL4020Y Medical Physiology Practicum

  • PSL4030H Clinical Physiology

  • PSL4040H Big Data and Health

  • PSL4050H Collaboration and Commercialization in Physiology

  • 1.5 elective FCEs.

Students will be matched with a mentor and practicum placement in consultation with the relevant course director and MHSc program director.

MSc Program

Minimum Admission Requirements

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

• Admission is based on academic record, an essay summarizing background strengths and scientific aims, a curriculum vitae (CV), and at least two confidential letters of reference.

• Applicants must have an appropriate bachelor's degree from a recognized university with an average of at least A– in the last two years of study and with courses such as biology, biochemistry, calculus, organic and physical chemistry, general physics, and physiology.

• Physical-science-stream students from undergraduate programs in physics, mathematics, engineering, and other sciences are encouraged to apply to the MSc program.

• Applicants who were educated outside Canada, whose primary language is not English, and who graduated from a university where the language of instruction was not English, must demonstrate proficiency in the English language through the successful completion of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with the following minimum scores:

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

  • Other English proficiency tests are acceptable. Please consult the Physiology website for departmental standards.

Completion Requirements

All students are required to:

• Take 1.5 full-course equivalents (FCEs) in physiology courses, with the following guidelines:

  • PSL1000H MSc Seminars in Physiology, mandatory for all graduate students in Physiology.

  • 0.5 FCE in physiology graduate-only courses.

  • 0.5 FCE with a choice of (i) a physiology graduate-only course or physiology joint graduate-undergraduate course (preferable option) or (ii) a course taken in another department (rare choice).

• Select courses in consultation with the supervisor and/or advisory committee. See the Physiology website for details.

• Complete and defend a research thesis acceptable to the graduate department.

• Do one of the following within 12 to 18 months in the MSc program:

  • Write and defend an MSc thesis and graduate.

  • Write and defend a thesis and go on to the PhD program.

  • Transfer from the MSc into the PhD program. Transfer is encouraged for students who have made substantial progress in their research and have demonstrated the desire and potential to meet the requirements of a rigorous research training program. Such students will have fulfilled all course requirements for the MSc with at least an A– average and have demonstrated potential for publication of their work. There must be a clearly identified program for future research that continues, or is consistent with, work already underway. Too large a project for the MSc is not a reason for transfer to the PhD.

PhD Program (Following Completion of an MSc)

Minimum Admission Requirements

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

• Admission is based on academic record, a statement summarizing background strengths and scientific aims, a curriculum vitae (CV), and at least two confidential letters of reference.

• Students may be admitted into the PhD program after completion of an appropriate MSc degree program with an average of at least A– from a recognized university. Students with excellent research experience are encouraged to apply.

• Applicants should have taken courses such as biology, biochemistry, calculus, organic and physical chemistry, general physics, and physiology.

• Applicants who were educated outside Canada, whose primary language is not English, and who graduated from a university where the language of instruction was not English, must demonstrate proficiency in the English language through the successful completion of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with the following minimum scores:

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

  • Other English proficiency tests are acceptable. Please consult the Physiology website for departmental standards.

Completion Requirements

• Students must take 2.5 full-course equivalents (FCEs) in physiology courses in which an average standing of at least A– is maintained, with the following guidelines:

  • PSL2000H PhD Seminars in Physiology, mandatory for all graduate students in Physiology.

  • 0.5 FCE in physiology graduate-only courses.

  • PSL1066H Research Grant Proposal, mandatory for all PhD students in physiology.

  • 1.0 FCE with a choice of (i) a physiology graduate-only course or physiology joint graduate-undergraduate course (preferable option) or (ii) a course taken in another department (rare choice).

• Up to 1.0 FCE can be claimed from the student's MSc program completed in another department or university, subject to approval by the Graduate Studies Committee.

• Courses are selected in consultation with the supervisor and/or advisory committee. See the Physiology website for details.

• The recommended completion time for the doctoral program is approximately four years, by which time the candidate will write and defend a research thesis, first before a departmental committee and subsequently before a committee approved by the School of Graduate Studies.

PhD Program (Transfer)

Transfer Requirements

• Students may be admitted via transfer from the University of Toronto MSc program in Physiology. Transfer from the MSc into the PhD program is encouraged for students who have made substantial progress in their research and have demonstrated the desire and potential to meet the requirements of a rigorous research training program. Such students will have fulfilled all course requirements for the MSc with at least an A- average and have demonstrated potential for publication of their work. Students with excellent research experience are encouraged to apply. There must be a clearly identified program for future research that continues, or is consistent with, work already underway Too large a project for the MSc is not a reason for transfer to the PhD.

Completion Requirements

• Students must take 2.5 full-course equivalents (FCEs) in physiology courses in which an average standing of at least A- is maintained, with the following guidelines:

  • PSL2000H PhD Seminars in Physiology, mandatory for all graduate students in Physiology.

  • PSL1066H Research Grant Proposal, mandatory for all PhD students in Physiology.

  • 0.5 FCE in physiology graduate-only courses.

  • 1.0 FCE with a choice of (i) a physiology graduate-only course or physiology joint graduate-undergraduate course (preferable option) or (ii) a course taken in another department (rare choice).

  • Students who transfer from the MSc program in Physiology may claim up to 1.0 FCE from the MSc program in Physiology.

• Courses are selected in consultation with the supervisor and/or advisory committee. See the Physiology website for details on course requirements.

• The recommended completion time for the doctoral program is approximately five years from the start of the MSc, by which time the candidate will write and defend a research thesis, first before a departmental committee and subsequently before a committee approved by the School of Graduate Studies.

PhD Program (Direct-Entry)

Minimum Admission Requirements

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

• Admission is based on academic record, a statement summarizing background strengths and scientific aims, a curriculum vitae (CV), and at least two confidential letters of reference.

• For exceptional students with an A– standing in appropriate courses taken during the two preceding undergraduate years, direct entry into the doctoral program is possible. However, this will require specific approval by the Graduate Studies Committee. Students with excellent research experience are encouraged to apply.

• Applicants should have taken courses such as biology, biochemistry, calculus, organic and physical chemistry, general physics, and physiology.

• Applicants who were educated outside Canada, whose primary language is not English, and who graduated from a university where the language of instruction was not English, must demonstrate proficiency in the English language through the successful completion of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with the following minimum scores:

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

  • Other English proficiency tests are acceptable. Please consult the Physiology website for departmental standards.

Completion Requirements

• Students must take 2.5 full-course equivalents (FCEs) in physiology courses in which an average standing of at least A– is maintained, with the following guidelines:

  • PSL2000H PhD Seminars in Physiology, mandatory for all graduate students in Physiology.

  • 0.5 FCE in physiology graduate-only courses.

  • PSL1066H Research Grant Proposal, mandatory for all PhD students in physiology.

  • 1.0 FCE with a choice of (i) a physiology graduate-only course or physiology joint graduate-undergraduate course (preferable option) or (ii) a course taken in another department (rare choice).

• Courses are selected in consultation with the supervisor and/or advisory committee. See the Physiology website for details.

• The recommended completion time for the doctoral program is five years, by which time the candidate will write and defend a research thesis, first before a departmental committee and subsequently before a committee approved by the School of Graduate Studies.