The admission and degree requirements of the PhD program are essentially those of the university. Most applicants will have a recognized master's degree in a related field obtained with minimum academic standing of 'A-' (80%) in their postgraduate studies, and the endorsement of a potential thesis advisor. Under exceptional circumstances admission directly to a PhD program with an appropriate honours degree alone, or transfer from MSc to PhD program without completing the MSc thesis requirements, is also possible. Applications should be received at least one full semester (four months) prior to the expected date of admission. Applications from international students should arrive at least eight months prior to the expected date of admission.

Graduate student applications to programs in the College of Biological Science are handled by the Office of the Associate Dean, Research (ADR). Before submitting an application, you are strongly encouraged to view the "Before you Apply" webpage on the ADR Future Student's site. NOTE: The name of a potential advisor(s) is required in order to complete the submission summary.

On-line applications, required documents and instructions can be found on the Graduate Program Services webpage or in the Graduate Calendar

Completed applications should be submitted to the CBS Graduate Admissions Secretary.

The Integrative Biology program expects that the major part of the student's time will be devoted to research in fulfillment of the thesis requirement. For that reason, the department does not require that PhD students take any courses. Even so, students entering directly into the PhD program are strongly encouraged to take IBIO*6630, Scientific Communication I (0.75 credit) in their first Fall semester. Furthermore, advisory committees may, from time to time, require that a student take some prescribed or additional courses. Regardless, PhD students are expected to contribute and participate actively in the full academic life of the department, including regular attendance at departmental and inter-departmental seminars, and to provide leadership and counseling to undergraduate and MSc students.

PhD students will become candidates for the PhD degree upon successful completion of a qualifying examination with oral and written components, which should be conducted not later than the third semester of the PhD program. The exam evaluates students' knowledge in the general area of the intended research.

Submission and defence of an acceptable thesis complete the requirements for a PhD. An acceptable thesis comprises a report of the candidate's research on a particular and well-defined research problem or hypothesis. It should represent a significant contribution to knowledge in that field. Emphasis is placed on the quality of the work as judged by the expression of mature scholarship, critical judgment, and satisfactory literary style in the thesis. Thesis approval implies that it is judged sufficiently meritorious to warrant publication in reputable, refereed journals in its field.