If you are a strong undergraduate student who is interested in research and you would like to stay at McGill to do your M.Sc. degree, the B.Sc. / M.Sc. track may be the thing for you!
This track is an early-admission process that allows strong McGill undergraduates to move directly into a M.Sc. or M.A. program offered by a department in the Faculty of Science after completing their B.Sc.
Undergraduates in this track will have the opportunity to tailor their U3 year program – for example taking higher-level courses and/or research courses – to ensure that they are well prepared for their M.Sc./M.A. studies and ready to focus on their research.
Students will normally apply during the second term of their U2 undergraduate year and will normally start their Masters program in the summer following their U3 studies.
Students interested in this new track should talk with their departmental advisors to determine if they qualify before making an official application.
Who can apply?
Any U2 McGill biology student meeting the CGPA requirements may apply, from February 1 of U2 until December 1 of U3.
For which term?
You will apply to start in the summer following your U3 year, even if you might want to defer your start to the fall. This is because it is possible to move an admission decision forward, but not backward.
How do I apply?
Your first step is to apply through the Department of Biology to obtain pre-acceptance. Items to be included in your application include:
- Unofficial transcript
- Letter of intent that includes strong evidence of research potential (generally through undergraduate research experience).
- Letter of reference from your proposed supervisor that includes confirmation of their willingness to supervise during the MSc.
Once approved by the department, they will open a special Summer Term application for you on the uApply McGill Graduate Admissions System.
Is it different from a normal grad application?
It is effectively the same application form, but the summer term admission is normally not available for Department of Biology graduate programs, so the term will need to be opened for you.
What are the admissions criteria?
A CGPA of 3.5 or higher is required.
I have more questions. Whom can I ask?
Please contact ancil.gittens [at] mcgill.ca (Ancil Gittens), the department’s graduate program coordinator.