General Information
The Department of Physiology offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. The Department is well equipped with facilities for many fields of physiological research, including:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Cellular and Molecular Physiology
- Cellular and Systems Neurophysiology
- Endocrinology
- Fetal/Neonatal Physiology
- Membrane Physiology
- Renal Physiology
Inquiries about this program should be directed to the Graduate Administrator in the Department of Physiology. Complete details of the programs and their requirements are available in the Physiology Graduate Program Manual.
Entrance Requirements
For the MSc program, the Department’s minimum admission requirements are a four-year BSc or MD degree with an admission GPA of at least 3.0 on the 4-point scale from the University of Alberta, or an equivalent qualification and standing from a recognized institution. The admission GPA will be calculated on the last 60 units of graded coursework completed, or on the equivalent of the last two years of full-time graded coursework.
For the PhD program, the Department’s minimum admission requirements are an MSc or MD degree with an admission GPA of at least 3.0 on the 4-point scale from the University of Alberta, or an equivalent qualification and standing from a recognized institution. The admission GPA will be calculated on the last 60 units of graded coursework completed, or on the equivalent of the last two years of full-time graded coursework.
International candidates, except those applying from the USA, are not accepted directly to a PhD program (except under exceptional circumstances). These candidates may change program category to a PhD program after 12 months in the MSc program, following presentation of their PhD proposal and upon recommendation from their thesis advisory committee.
Since research in Physiology generally requires a broad background from several fields, completion of courses in the following areas is highly recommended for all applicants:
- Physiology 210 or 212, or an equivalent full year course in Human Physiology.
- Biochemistry 200 and one of 310, 320 or 330, or an equivalent full year course in Biochemistry.
- Introductory courses in basic Physics and Calculus are recommended.
- An introductory course in Statistics is recommended.
Where applicable, applicants must provide proof of English Language Proficiency (refer to English Language Requirement ). Any one of the following is acceptable:
- verified completion of an undergraduate or graduate degree with an English curriculum;
- TOEFL score of at least 100 with at least 22 per section (Internet-based), or equivalent
- IELTS score of 7.5 or higher with at least 6.5 on each band
The Department of Physiology requires that applicants identify a supervisor who has committed to supervise the student for the duration of their program.
All applicants are also required to submit the following
- a CV
- a statement of interest
- three letters of reference (with at least two from academic referees).
Additional application information can be found on the Department of Physiology website.
All applicants must apply for admission online prior to the following cut-off dates:
- July 1 for September admission
- November 1 for January admission
- March 1 for May admission
- May 1 for July admission
Academic Standing Requirement
Graduate students in the Department of Physiology must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 throughout their program.
Failure to maintain the required cumulative GPA will normally result in a recommendation by the Graduate Coordinator to FGSR that the student be placed on academic probation or required to withdraw.
Financial Assistance
Financial assistance may be available through various awards, including:
- Department of Physiology Recruitment Scholarship (year 1 only)
- Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry Awards
- Faculty of Graduate Studies & Research Awards
- External funding agencies (e.g., AIHS, CIHR, NSERC, WCHRI)
The Department of Physiology does not offer teaching assistantships, but Graduate Research Assistantships are usually available from the student’s supervisor.
Information regarding tuition fees for MSc and PhD programs can be found on the Faculty of Graduate Studies & Research website.