Thank you for your interest in our programs!

Below prospective students will find common questions-and-answers about graduate programs in the Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics. Please email any queries not answered below to bmgadmin@umanitoba.ca. It can take up to five (5) business days to receive a reply. In the meantime, prospective students may find it useful to read through our detailed admission requirements and list of faculty members who are currently accepting graduate students.  

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Academic Background

Admission Decision

Application Package

Contact Us

Deadlines

Degree Programs Offered

Doctor of Philosophy Program

English Language Proficiency

Faculty Members

Finances

Grade Conversion Scales - Canada

Grade Conversion Scales - United States

Grade Conversion Scales - Outside North America

Grade Point Average

International Students

Master of Science Program

Offer of Admission

Online and Supporting Documents

Proof of Advisor Support

Recommendations

Teaching Assistantships

Transcripts

ACADEMIC BACKGROUND

1. What is an acceptable undergraduate degree?
   • Graduation from a four-year undergraduate degree program, or equivalent, with an appropriate background in biochemistry, genetics, or a closely related area is required. Minimum Grade Point Average Requirements.
     
     
2. What is an acceptable graduate degree?
   • A thesis-based Master's degree of at least two (2) years in duration, or equivalent, in biochemistry, genetics, or a closely related field is required. Minimum Grade Point Average Requirements.

ADMISSION DECISION

1. Which part of the application is most important?
   • No particular weight is assigned to any of the components in the application.
     
     
2. When will a decision about my application be made?

   • Decisions are usually made within four (4) to six (6) weeks of submitting a complete application package.
     
     
3. How do I find out if I've been admitted?

   • Admission decisions are posted to an applicant's account on the online application system. Please start checking within four (4) to six (6) weeks of submitting a complete application package.
     
     
4. I was accepted! What now?

   • Congratulations! Admitted students need to electronically accept their offer of admission through the online application system. They must also forward all requested documents directly to the Faculty of Graduate Studies. Once done, the Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics will be in touch regarding next steps.
     
     
5. I wasn't accepted. What went wrong?

   • We're sorry that we are unable to admit every applicant. There are four reasons why this happens. First, applicants did not submit proof of advisor support. Second, applicant's academic degree does not meet our requirements. Third, applicant's Grade Point Average is too low. Fourth, applicants do not meet our minimum requirements for proficiency in the English language. We wish applicants all the best in their future endeavours.
     
     
6. I named an advisor who's accepting students but I wasn't admitted? Why not?

   • Applicants must obtain written confirmation from a faculty member explicitly stating that s/he can (a) supervise an applicant's work and (b) pay the prospective student a minimum stipend of $17,850 Canadian for a minimum period of one year. This document is one component of a complete application package.
     
     
7. It's been four to six weeks since I applied but I haven't heard anything.

   • Please ensure that a complete application package has been submitted. If this has been done, then please email bmg@umanitoba.ca  for assistance. It can take up to five (5) business days to receive a reply.
     

APPLICATION PACKAGE

1. What is a "complete application package"?
   • It consists of all of the following items:
     • Completed online application form
     • Payment of the non-refundable application fee
     • Proof of Advisor Support
     • Proof of English Language Proficiency
     • Transcripts obtained form all post-secondary institutions attended
     • Two letters of recommendation
     • Statement of intent (research interests)

CONTACT US

1. The Faculty of Graduate Studies wants specific documents.
   • Send them here.
     
     
2. How can I contact the Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics?
   • Follow this link.

DEADLINES FOR APPLICATION 

1. Why does the Faculty of Graduate Studies have different deadlines than you do?
   • The Department of Biochemistry & Medical Genetics must forward application packages to the Faculty of Graduate Studies by those dates. Applicants must meet the deadlines specified in Question 2 below.
     
     
2. What application deadlines do I have to meet? 
   • The Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics needs to receive complete application packages from prospective students by the deadline dates below:
     

ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

1. What is an acceptable score of English proficiency?
   • Follow this link
     
     
2. My country is not on the exemption list. Can this requirement be waived?
   • No.
     
     
3. I took the test a few years ago. Is my score still valid?
   • The University does not accept scores that are more than two (2) years old.
     
     
4. Can I take the test after being admitted?
   • No.
     
     
5. My score is lower than the required minimum. Can I still be admitted?
   • No.

FACULTY MEMBERS

1. Who is currently accepting graduate students?
   • Follow this link. Please contact only those faculty members who are currently accepting students. Applicants must obtain written confirmation from a faculty member explicitly stating that s/he can (a) supervise an applicant's work and (b) pay a minimum student stipend of $17,850 Canadian for a minimum period of one year.
      
2. What information should I send to the faculty member?

   • Applicants are advised to state why they want to work with this specific faculty member. Please provide a curriculum vitae that includes publications and/or awards as well as English translations of transcripts obtained from all post-secondary institutions attended. It is not necessary to provide letters of recommendation at this point.
     
     
3. How should I contact the faculty member?

   • Email is preferable.
     
     
4. What is "proof of advisor support"?

   • It is a written confirmation from a faculty member explicitly stating that s/he can (a) supervise an applicant's work and (b) pay a minimum student stipend of $17,850 Canadian for a minimum period of one year. It is one component of a complete application package. Please note that proof of advisor support alone does not guarantee admission. Applicants must meet each and every one of our four requirements to be considered for admission. 
     
     
5. Why aren't faculty members answering my emails?

   • Most likely, it is because they are unable to supervise a prospective student's work. We wish applicants all the best in their future endeavours.
     
     
6. How long should I wait to hear back from a faculty member?

   • About six (6) weeks. If an applicant has not heard back by then, it generally means that the faculty member is unable to supervise a prospective student's work. We wish applicants all the best in their future endeavours.
     
     
7. Why won't the office help me find an advisor?

   • The advisor-student relationship is an important one. It is essential that it begin even during the initial stages of determining whether it will be mutually beneficial. For this reason, the administrative staff are unable to contact faculty members on prospective students' behalf.
     
     
8. I named an advisor who's accepting students but I wasn't accepted. Why not?

   • Applicants must obtain written confirmation from a faculty member explicitly stating that s/he can (a) supervise an applicant's work and (b) pay a minimum student stipend of $17,850 Canadian for a minimum period of one year. It is one component of a complete application package. Failure to meet each and every one of our four requirements for admission will result in the decline of an application.

FINANCES

1. How much funding can I expect to receive from an advisor?
   • If admitted, a student's advisor will typically pay a minimum stipend of $17,850 Canadian for a minimum period of one year. After that, s/he will assist the student in applying for additional funding. Note that this stipend is intended to supplement the student's existing resources. It will not cover the entire cost of tuition and living expenses.
     
     
2. Where can I find information about entrance scholarships?

   • International applicants here and Domestic applicants here. Please note that graduate students in the Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics are not directly eligible for the University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship. If admitted, a student's advisor will typically pay a minimum stipend of $17,850 Canadian for a minimum period of one year. After that, s/he will assist the student in applying for additional funding. Note that the student stipend is intended to supplement the student's existing resources. It will not cover the entire cost of tuition and living expenses.
     
     
3. How do I apply for the University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship?

   • Students in the Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics are not directly eligible for this award. If admitted, a student's advisor will typically pay a minimum stipend of $17,850 for a minimum period of one year. After that, s/he will assist the student in applying for additional funding. Note that the student stipend is intended to supplement the student's existing resources. It will not cover the entire cost of tuition and living expenses.
     
     
4. Are there any teaching assistantships?

   • No, not within the Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics.
     
     
5. I can finance my own education. Do I still need proof of advisor support?

   • Yes. It is one requirement for admission. A faculty member may or may not be able to accept a prospective student in this situation.
      
6. Where can I find information about living expenses?

   • Here
     
     
7. Where can I find information about tuition fees?

   • Here.

GRADE POINT AVERAGE

1. What is the minimum Grade Point Average requirement for the M.Sc. program?

   • It is 77%-79% or 3.5 out of 4.5 or a B+ average on the University of Manitoba scale over the last two full years of university study. Over the same period, there should be no grade below a C+ in any biochemistry, genetics, or life science course deemed relevant to an applicant's proposed course of study. Prospective students are advised to review the Canadian, American, or International grade equivalency tables to ensure that they meet the minimum Grade Point Average requirements. Academic Degree Requirements.
      
2. What is the minimum Grade Point Average requirement for the Ph.D. program?

   • It is 77%-79% or 3.5 out of 4.5 or a B+ average on the University of Manitoba scale over all courses taken during the Master's program as well as over the most recent two full years of university study. Over the same period, there should be no grade below a C+ in any biochemistry, genetics, or life science course deemed relevant to an applicant's proposed course of study. Prospective students are advised to review the Canadian, American, or International grade equivalency tables to ensure that they meet the minimum Grade Point Average requirements. Academic Degree Requirements.
     
     
3. How is the Grade Point Average calculated?

   • It is calculated using the Faculty of Graduate Studies' Canadian, American, or International grade equivalency tables. Each of an applicant's grades will be converted to the University of Manitoba scale in determining eligibility for admission. The converted grades may be higher, lower, or the same as the grades on an applicant's transcript(s).
     
     
4. My Grade Point Average is below the required minimum. Should I apply?

   • In rare cases, the Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics may consider applicants with a Grade Point Average lower than 3.5 out of 4.5 on the University of Manitoba scale or with a grade below a C+ in one relevant course in the last two full years of university study. Prospective students must have the written support of their advisor prior to consideration.
     
     
5. What if I've taken courses after graduation?

   • That's fine. If they are degree-level credit courses, the University of Manitoba will count those grades in the Grade Point Average calculation.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

1. Where can I find the application deadlines?

   • Here.
     
     
2. Who can I contact about obtaining a student visa?

   • The nearest Canadian Embassy at the time of application.
     
     
3. Who can I contact about obtaining a work permit?

   • The nearest Canadian Embassy at the time of application.
     
     
4. Where can I find information about living expenses?

   • Here.
     
     
5. Where can I find information about housing?

   • Here.
     
     
6. Where can I find information about tuition?

   • Here.
     
     
7. Where can I find information about entrance scholarships?

   • Here. Please note that graduate students in the Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics are not directly eligible for the University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship. If admitted, a student's advisor will typically pay a minimum stipend of $17,850 Canadian for a minimum period of one year. After that, s/he will assist the student in applying for additional funding. Note that the student stipend is intended to supplement a student's existing resources. It will not cover the entire cost of tuition and living expenses.
     
     
8. Where can I find information about teaching assistantships?

   • The Department of Biochemisty and Medical Genetics does not offer any teaching assistantships.
     
     
9. I can finance my own education. Do I still need proof of advisor support?

   • Yes. It is one requirement for admission. A faculty member may or may not be able to accept an applicant in this situation.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. How do I submit a recommendation?

   • Referees must use the recommendation form found through the online application system. Applicants must add their referees' contact information to the "recommendation provider" list. Once the list is saved, the referee will be sent a link to the online form. The completed form is automatically attached to the prospective student's application and sent directly to the Faculty of Graduate Studies. The Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics will review recommendation letters when assessing complete application packages.