How to Apply

All applications to graduate school at the University of Toronto are made online through the School of Graduate Studies (SGS). Create your account and access your application at SGS Online Application. Please note there is an Application fee. Applicants will only be able to submit the Supporting Documents after Payment of the Application Fee.

What drives your passion for research? Please submit a 1 to 2 page Letter of Intent. In the letter of intent, please describe why you wish to enter the Biochemistry Graduate Program, your career aspirations, and a brief description of research experience you may already have (summer work, honours project, co-op work, etc.), and any further background you would like to include. Please also indicate specific areas of research that are of interest to you, and if possible, specify PIs whose research aligns well with your interests.

International Applicants (Applicants who are not Citizens or Permanent Residents of Canada): In your letter of intent you must include why you are interested in pursuing a PhD in a particular lab (the Sponsor - see further information below).

CVs should be 1-3 pages. 

Letters of reference are important in the evaluation process. We are particularly interested in receiving letters from research supervisors. If the applicant completed an undergraduate project/thesis course or did research in a co-op session or as a summer student, he/she should ask scientists who have supervised the research projects to write letters of reference on his/her behalf.

We require three letters of reference from people familiar with the applicant’s academic/research capabilities. To do this, applicants must submit an email address for each reference at the time of filling out the online application form. After the method of payment has been selected, an email will be automatically sent to each of the referees with a link to the reference form and instructions on how to submit it online. Applicants should use institutional email addresses for their referees (gmail, Yahoo, hotmail etc. will be prohibited). It is also very important that the applicant enters the correct referee email addresses as revisions cannot be made once the application has been submitted. Please do not enter more than 3 referees.  In the event that more than 3 reference letters are received, you will need to advise which one to remove as only 3 references will be reviewed with your application.

Important Note: Applicants applying for the January 15th deadline must advise their references the correct document deadline as the system will automatically indicate the March deadline in the instructions they receive.

All applicants are required to upload a scanned copy of their Official transcripts (including transcript legends) from ALL post-secondary institutions attended into their online application. Note:Transcripts from Canadian Universities only - a PDF print out from your school's online student record system will be accepted in lieu of scanned official transcripts for the review process - provided it includes your name and grading legend.

Accepted applicants will be required to send official paper copies of your transcript(s) as a condition of admission.

Note: It is important that your uploaded transcripts are legible.  Scanning in “gray scale” or black and white may produce the best results.  Preview your PDF for image quality and completeness prior to uploading.  Ensure your transcripts are not password protected. If you are unable to upload a legible document, you will need to have an official transcript mailed to the Biochemistry Office c/o Carrie Harber.

Applicants who completed their degree outside of a Canadian University must also submit: 

Applicants who have completed their degree outside of a Canadian University and where the language of instruction at the university is/was not English, we require an English language test. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application. Please review equivalent English-language facility test for minimal acceptable scores and exemptions. University of Toronto Code: 0982

Incoming graduate students to the Department of Biochemistry participate in rotations during the first term of their studies. At the end of the third rotation, students decide in which lab (in agreement with the PI) they will conduct their studies.

International applicants (students who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada) need to reach out to faculty members and find a Sponsor before they submit their application. A Sponsor is a Faculty member who provides a commitment of placement in the event that you are not able to secure a placement in a different lab after the rotation process.

When reaching out to Faculty members prospective applicants should include a copy of your CV, Letter of Intent, and Transcripts. The Letter of Intent should include why you are interested in pursuing a PhD in a particular lab.

Once you have secured a Sponsor, please inform the Sponsor that they must submit a Sponsorship Form to Carrie Harber.

*Exception - Students who received their BSc degree from U of T*