Applying
What are the minimum requirements for submitting an application to MBI and GDBI program?
An applicant who is applying to the Masters of Biomedical Informatics (MBI) and Graduate Diploma in Biomedical Informatics (GDBI) must:
- hold a minimum of a BSc (Honours) degree in biology, life sciences, biochemistry, medical sciences, computer science, biostatistics, engineering, and related disciplines;
- be interested in designing and implementing quantitative and computational methods that solve challenging problems across the entire spectrum of biology and medicine; and
- wish to develop the skills required for a range of exciting careers in medicine, research and development, or industry.
The minimum acceptable average for admissions to these programs is B+ in the third and fourth years of the student's undergraduate program (all courses considered). Students whose first language is not English are required to submit English Language Proficiency Test (ELPT) scores. Please visit the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs application page and click on "Step 4: Provide English Language Test Results (if applicable)" to see the list of accepted ELPT scores.
I have a professional degree (e.g Nursing), am I eligible to apply to this program?
Yes! We encourage applicants who have professional degrees in nursing, medicine and pharmacy to apply. Applications can be submitted through the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs website.
Do students usually apply to the GDBI first and then ladder to the MBI program?
You can apply to the MBI program directly. Graduate diploma is the mandatory part of the master's program. However, graduate diploma can be a stand-alone credential.
If I am interested in Master program but want to start from diploma first, should I apply to both programs at the same time?
The core courses for both GDBI and MBI programs are same. The GDBI courses are part of the MBI requirement. You can apply to master's program directly, after completing the requirement of graduate diploma, you have an option to take the graduate diploma credential or continue with the master's program.
How is the application assessed?
Application are reviewed by an Admissions Committee; the committee recommends the selected applicants to the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs. Academic background is the most important criterion in the assessment of the applications. Academic references from the instructors of your undergraduate studies also play an important role in the assessment. Other information such as work experience, or any volunteer activities act as a supporting document.
Do we need to find supervisors before submitting an application?
No. You will have an opportunity to read about potential projects and supervisors during the diploma portion of the program. You can then select a project for the Fall.
Fundamentals
What is the structure of the program?
The diploma portion is taught in the summer (May-August) as four sequential courses. Each course is taught in an interactive, hands-on manner and has an intense load. The elective courses and the project for the MBI are covered in the following Fall and Winter terms.
What are the tuition and fees of this program?
The GDBI program costs approximately:
- $9467 for domestic students and
- $26,000 for international students.
The total cost of the MBI program (which includes the cost of GDBI) is approximately:
- $20,500 ($9467 Summer, $5400 Fall and $5400 Winter) for domestic students and
- $55,000 for international students.
These amounts are subject to change. Please see the breakdown of fees by terms at the Office of the University Registrar website.