Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Master of Science (MSc)

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Master of Science (MSc)

Thesis-based program

Program overview

Students with a bachelor’s degree who are looking enjoy a wide variety of research that is at the forefront of many fields should consider getting a Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (MSc Thesis) degree. Research can include everything from biochemistry to molecular research, as well as cellular and developmental biology. It also ranges from genetics and immunology to bioinformatics, with applications to cancer and clinical research. As they deepen their skills, students will get to enjoy the amenities of a large city near the outdoor leisure activities of the Rocky Mountains. Completion of the program usually takes two years of full-time study.

Completing this program

  • Courses: Courses may include Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Bioinformatic Resources for the Biologist.
  • Research Ethics: Students are required to attend Research Integrity Day sessions in the first year of their program.
  • Sex & Gender Module: Students are required to complete one of the CIHR sex and gender online training modules found at discoversexandgender.ca in the first year of their program.
  • Seminars: Students participate in a journal club and work-in-progress seminars for their research group, and will present one seminar per year.
  • Thesis: Students will be required to submit and defend an original research thesis.

Specializations

Bioinformatics

Outcomes

Academic research; post-secondary and secondary teaching; industry research and consulting; business consulting, analytics, management, sales, research and marketing; scientific writing; IP and patent law; medicine (lab tech; physician; clinical scientist); veterinary medicine.

A master’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology will give you the pre-requisite for a PhD.

Thesis-based program

Students are required to prepare a thesis and successfully defend in an open oral defense.

Courses

Three core courses and one elective

Learn more about program requirements in the Academic Calendar

Classroom delivery

Time commitment

Two years full time; four years maximum

Supervisor

A supervisor is required, and must agree to oversee the student's research before admission will be granted

Fees and funding

See the Graduate Calendar for information on fees and fee regulations, and for information on awards and financial assistance.

Virtual Tour

Explore the University of Calgary’s (UCalgary) Foothills Campus from anywhere. Experience all that the Cumming School of Medicine has to offer for interested prospective graduate students. Explore this state of the art campus from wherever you are. Discover the buildings, student services and available programs all from your preferred device.


Supervisors

Learn about faculty available to supervise this degree.
 


  1. Dr. Pierre Billon

    Pierre Billon

    Seeking Students
    Genetics, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and Cell Biology
  2. Janice Braun

    Janice Braun

    Accepting Inquiries
    Molecular Chaperones and Neurodegeneration
  3. George Chaconas

    George Chaconas

    Unavailable
    Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Lyme Disease
  4. Sarah Childs

    Sarah Childs

    Seeking Students
    Genetics of blood vessel development; precision medicine; developmental biology, Vascular patterning, Vascular stabilization, The zebrafish model
  5. Jason headshot

    A.P. Jason de Koning

    Accepting Inquiries
    Computational biology, bioinformatics, and genomics, Systematic variant interpretation in human genetic disease, Bayesian statistics, large-scale inference, and machine learning, Human and computational population genetics, Molecular evolution
  6. Ina Dobrinski

    Ina Dobrinski

    Unavailable
    Biology of male germ line stem cells
  7. Antoine Dufour

    Antoine Dufour

    Unavailable
    Proteomics, proteases, systems biology, inflammation, immunity
  8. Sabine Gilch

    Sabine Gilch

    Accepting Inquiries
    Prion diseases, cell biology of prion infection, chronic wasting disease, prion strains
  9. Photo of Paul in the woods

    Paul Gordon

    Unavailable
    Nanopore Sequencing Data Analysis, Phylogenetic Interference
  10. Steven Greenway

    Steven Greenway

    Unavailable
    Cell-free DNA, Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells, Microbiome

Admission requirements


GPA

A minimum of 3.3 GPA on a 4.0 point system, over the past two years of full-time study (a minimum of 10 full-course equivalents or 60 units) of the undergraduate degree.

Minimum education

A four year baccalaureate degree, or equivalent from a recognized institution.

Work samples

None

Documents

  • A current C.V.

Reference letters

Two

Test scores

None


English language proficiency

An applicant whose primary language is not English may fulfill the English language proficiency requirement in one of the following ways:

Deadlines

For admission on May 1:

  • Canadians and permanent residents: Mar. 1 application deadline
  • International students: Dec. 1 application deadline

For admission on September 1:

  • Canadians and permanent residents: June 1 application deadline
  • International students: Apr. 1 application deadline

For admission on January 1:

  • Canadians and permanent residents: Oct. 1 application deadline
  • International students: Aug. 1 application deadline

If you're not a Canadian or permanent resident, or if you have international credentials, make sure to learn about international requirements

Learn more about this program

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Health Sciences Centre
HSC G345C, 3330 Hospital Drive NW
Calgary, AB T2N 1N4

Contact the Graduate Program Administrator

Visit the departmental website

Cumming School of Medicine

Health Sciences Centre
Foothills Campus, University of Calgary
Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4

Visit the Cumming School of Medicine website

Learn more about UCalgary by taking a virtual tour


Highlights of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program

These stories from those involved in the program show what it's like to be involved yourself.

Carla Davidson, Owner - Endeavour Scientific Management and Consulting

Carla Davidson, Owner - Endeavour Scientific Management and Consulting

"I learned a combination of critical thinking, clear communication and broad experience. My graduate degree gave me the willingness to start my own business."

Kevin Thorneloe

Kevin Thorneloe, Director - Biopharm Translational Medicine

"The critical thinking skills I acquired during my PhD has been the foundation of my career in the pharmaceutical industry."

Nima Najand

Nima Najand, Technology Analyst - Innovate Calgary

"UCalgary has been instrumental in providing me with skills to succeed in careers outside academia."