Graduate students guide in Biological Sciences

As a student, the one person with the greatest investment in completing your degree is you. 

General responsibilities

• Completing your coursework
• Completing the required training in ethics and biosafety
• Completing the documents and meetings required for the proposal, progress reports, candidacy exam (PhD students only), and thesis
• Attending at least 50% of the department seminars (includes Crackerjack seminars, memorial lectures, and MSc and PhD defences). The times and locations of these are advertised in emails and posted throughout the 3 buildings that house the Department of Biological Sciences.

MSc students' requirements

• MSc students are required to take a minimum of six credit hours at the 7000 level, one of which will be the required 7100 course, and maintain a minimum degree grade point average (GPA) of 3.0.
• MSc students are also required to give a written proposal and short oral presentation to their committee members, generally within six months of their program start date.

PhD students' requirements

• PhD student credit hours are based on admission status.
  • Where admission to the PhD is directly from a MSc Degree, a minimum of six credit hours of graded course work at the 7000 level (including the core course BIOL 7220: Critical Thinking in Biological Sciences), and a thesis are required.
  • Where admission to the PhD is directly from an Honours Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, a minimum of 12 credit hours of graded course work at the 7000 level (including two core courses, BIOL 7100: Core Skills in Biological Sciences and BIOL 7220: Critical Thinking in Biological Sciences), and a thesis are required.
• You are also required to present a public proposal (normally in the first year) as well as complete the candidacy exam in the later part of the program.

It is the responsibility of your advisor to direct you in your program of study and research. This begins with a formal documentation of lab expectations by meeting with your advisor to complete the advisor-student guidelines and submitting the form to the Faculty of Graduate Studies. Your advisor can access the form through the Graduate Studies Hub.

Completing the guidelines with your advisor

During the completion of this form, many important topics will be discussed so that you can better understand how your advisor will mentor you throughout the program. For example, by completing this exercise, you should have a clear understanding of how your advisor will aid you in navigating the milestones of the program by providing guidance on drafting and writing the proposal, progress reports and thesis.

It is also important to understand how your advisor will guide and aid you in competing for additional sources of funding. 

When to complete the guidelines

You are required to complete the advisor-student guidelines once during your time in the program. However, the Faculty of Graduate Studies recommends completing them annually to promote a clear understanding of expectations as students advance through the program.

The committee members’ role is to approve your proposed research and give feedback on your progress on at least a yearly basis.

You should consult with your advisor about the process for choosing the appropriate people for your Advisory Committee, as faculty members can differ in their approaches and preferences. Your advisor can provide guidance as you choose a committee with the expertise to ensure your success.

You should consult the supplemental regulations for the Biological Sciences Department to better understand the rules specified by the Faculty of Graduate Studies, as well as the department for the makeup of this committee.

You are required to develop a thesis-research proposal, which should be completed within the first six months of study for the MSc and within the first year for the PhD.

A public presentation of the proposal is required at the PhD level, but not for the MSc. Please review the supplemental regulations for more information and consult with your advisor, as the exact format and style of the proposal can vary among advisors.

Progress meetings can be held once every four months or annually. They should be arranged in consultation with your advisor and Advisory Committee. The progress report is a form completed by your advisor and signed by your committee members and yourself. The progress report should be a minimum of two pages and should detail your progress over the past reporting period (both scientific and course-based).

How and when to submit the progress report

You have to submit a written progress report to the Advisory Committee each time approximately one week before meeting with them.

To have the forms prepared and sent to you before the meeting, please email Jaime Stringer.

Following the meeting, the completed form must be signed by each member of the committee before emailing it to Jaime Stringer for final approval by the department’s associate head of graduate studies and submission to the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

The exam must be completed after the thesis proposal and is a minimum eight-week process where students typically focus only on the exam. Make sure you start the process of scheduling the exam at least two to four months before you would like to take it.

More detailed information can be found in the supplemental regulations. Please review the advice on initial preparation and recommended steps, as well as a generalized guideline.

The supplemental regulations provide guidelines for the formats and processes related to the MSc and PhD theses. The process of submission differs between the degrees, so be informed, read the regulations and seek advice from your advisor.

You can also learn more about thesis and practicum examinations and MSpace submission.

To initiate and maintain your status as a graduate student, Jaime Stringer registers you in all your courses for each term (Fall, Winter and Summer). Make sure you double-check in Aurora that you are registered for GRAD 7020, as it keeps you in the program.

You must discuss your courses with your advisor and send an email to Jaime Stringer about which courses you will be taking.

• MSc courses
• PhD courses

These courses are not offered every Term or year, so make sure to check Aurora for their availability. In addition, there are a number of online courses that are required for graduate students.

The Department Office staff are not responsible for or involved in tuition administration. Calculating tuition or ensuring that you have the money to pay your tuition is your responsibility. You should review your letter of offer to understand where your funding is stemming from (research stipend from advisor, being a teacher's assistant, and fellowships and awards).

• Calculate fees to better understand your financial status
• Funding opportunities
• Finding housing

• Gradsteps workshops: Offered by the Faculty of Graduate Studies to help you navigate your program and transfer your skills and knowledge into the workplace. These workshops are free and focus on different themes, including basic, health, research, communication, career and entrepreneurship. If you attend at least six workshops within the applicable year (May 1 to April 30), you can document your participation using the Experience Record. This is university-sanctioned documentation of your additional training.
• Student supports and resources at the Faculty of Science
• Science Innovation Hub

Before using any of the below applications, make sure you claim your University ID.

The department’s directory contains a list of faculty, instructors, support staff and technicians. By selecting the names in the directory, you can learn more about people and navigate to lab websites.

Biological Sciences General Office

The General Office is located at 212 Biological Sciences Building. The following list includes the names and information of the support staff in this office, and when to reach out to them.

Scholarships and awards

The Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) and the Department of Biological Sciences send out regular emails with information on upcoming deadlines for awards. The following is a list of scholarships and awards available to UM graduate students:

• A searchable database of awards maintained by FGS
• University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship (UMGF)
• Faculty of Science Award for Excellence in Teaching Assistance
• Graduate fellowships
• Graduate student conference support
• Student group funding
• UMGSA conference grant
• Biological Sciences financial aid and awards
• Research Manitoba Master’s Studentship Award
• Research Manitoba PhD Research Studentship

Please make sure to check out the websites for information on important dates and deadlines.

Student loans

If you require student loans to help cover tuition and some living costs, there are some options available:

• National Student Loans Service.
• Manitoba Student Aid
• OSAP: Ontario Student Assistance Program

Teaching assistants or grader/marker positions

Applying to positions

These positions are advertised and can be applied for through the UM recruitment site. Once you submit your application, the instructor will select a person from the pool of applicants based on the materials that were submitted. Given that your supervisor is providing a research stipend, consult with them before applying and accepting a position.

Total number of hours required and pay

Each course will vary in the total number of hours required and rate of pay. Hourly rates for these positions can be found in the Students' Collective Agreement.

Exam invigilation

Many courses require extra help to invigilate midterm or final exams. The department office assistant will send an email with these opportunities and help people sign up for them. It's important to talk with your advisor to ensure that these activities do not interfere with your research.

• Biological Sciences Graduate Student Association (BSGSA): The BSGSA creates many opportunities to meet other students through lecture series, seminars and social events. This group is a great resource for questions that you have about life as a grad student, but do not know who to ask. They are here to help you.
• University of Manitoba Graduate Students’ Association (GSA): This student body provides services exclusively to graduate students and provides a voice for
  graduate students at the University level.

Getting to campus

• Transportation to campus

Student hubs

• UMSU University Centre
• Sport and recreation facilities
• Libraries
• Spaces at the Faculty of Science to explore

Communities on campus

• The Indigenous community at UM
• 2SLGBTQIA+ community at UM

Support, health and wellness

• Student Accessibility Services (SAS)
• International Centre
• Student Advocacy
• University Health Services
• Coverage under UMSU Health and Dental plan (Office located at 110 University Centre)
• Student health and wellness
• Student Counselling Centre (SCC)

• Off-campus housing (Places4Students)
• Living on campus
• Summer Term or short-term housing
• Residential Tenancies Branch in Manitoba
• Know your rights and your landlord's responsibilities