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Medical Sciences

Neuroscience program admissions

Before you apply

To be eligible for admission to the neuroscience graduate program, you must have first completed a 4-year bachelor’s degree (if applying to the MSc program) and a 1- or 2-year master’s degree (if applying to the PhD program) from an institution recognized by the University of Victoria.

You must also have a neuroscience faculty member agree to supervise you and provide financial support in advance of applying to the program.

Note: in addition to a bachelor's and/or master's degree and supervisor approval, you must meet the minimum admission standards set by the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Read the graduate studies admission requirements

Admission requirements

When applying, you must have completed a previous degree with coursework appropriate to your proposed research concentration. Traditionally, students in the neuroscience program have backgrounds in 1 of the following:

  • biology
  • biochemistry
  • mathematics
  • pharmacology
  • physics
  • physiology
  • psychology
  • zoology

Transferring from another UVic program

Note: if you are transferring from another program within UVic, the neuroscience graduate program committee will consider your application based on your GPA from the last 2 academic years.

For more information about program admissions, please visit the graduate admissions site.

Application process

Step 1: Find a prospective supervisor

Before you apply, you must find a neuroscience faculty member willing to supervise you in your studies. You are responsible for finding your own supervisor.

First, review our research faculty and contact your prospective supervisor by email to confirm if a position is available. Include the following with your email:

  • your CV
  • unofficial transcripts
  • contact information for 2 references
  • a letter outlining your research interests and relevant experience

If a supervisor confirms by email that a position is available and agrees to supervise you, please forward that email to the neuroscience graduate program assistant. You can then proceed to the next step.

If you do not receive confirmation from a potential supervisor, you will not be considered for graduate studies.

Learn more about finding and working with supervisors.

Step 2: Apply to UVic

Once a supervisor confirms by email that a position is available and they agree to supervise you, you may submit your application to UVic. You will be asked to upload your supervisor’s confirmation email.

Step 3: Graduate Admissions and Records application evaluation

Once you’ve submitted your application, Graduate Admissions and Records will evaluate it to determine if you meet the minimum program requirements. If you do, your application will be forwarded to the neuroscience graduate program committee for review.

Step 4: Neuroscience graduate program committee decision

You will be admitted to the neuroscience graduate program only if the neuroscience graduate program committee approves your application and if funding is in place. The graduate program assistant will notify you the decision by email.

Application deadlines

You can apply to the neuroscience program anytime. However, we recommended you apply at least 3–6 months ahead of the entry term if you are a domestic student and 6–9 months ahead of the entry term if you are an international student. Terms start in September, January and May.

Additionally, we suggest you apply by April 1 for entry to the fall term (September to December) to be considered for graduate fellowships and entrance awards.