We offer a highly-regarded 45-credit graduate program leading to the M.Sc. degree that prepares our students for scientific careers in many areas of biochemistry and related sciences.听
Completing the M.Sc.
All M.Sc. students are required to complete 45 credits for their degree, including:
- 36 thesis course credits (see below);
- complete the three (3) credit Research Seminar course (BIOC 696D1/D2) during the first year of residency, and each of the three Master's Research Project courses during the first three terms of residency. BIOC 696 is graded pass/fail, based on participation. It is the responsibility of all students registered in the Master's program to add these courses during their residency period;
- complete a minimum of six (6) complementary course credits. The Graduate Advisory Committee (GAC)听may stipulate additional course work depending on the background of the candidate (e.g. one or both of BIOC 450 and BIOC 454 for students who have not taken equivalent courses in their previous programs). Unless specific courses are stipulated, and after consultation with their research supervisor and the GAC, students may choose their courses from those offered by Biochemistry, Experimental Medicine, Biology, Chemistry and Physiology as well as other graduate courses in the medical and allied sciences.
Students must submit a thesis acceptable to referees selected by the Department and the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
Important Notes:
A Pass at the graduate level is B- (65%).
All biochemistry graduate students are required to attend all Department seminars in the unified series, and a minimum attendance of 70% is required to pass course BIOC 696. See Regulations & Guidelines for the attendance formula.
听Students are encouraged to provide documentation at the time they apply to demonstrate that they have completed previous course work equivalent to 黑料社鈥檚 BIOC 450 (Protein Structure and Function) and BIOC 454 (Nucleic Acids). Such documentation could include course descriptions from the University calendar or class synopses. The GAC will evaluate such documentation to determine course requirements.
List of master's-level courses
Students must complete 45 credits. Of the 45 Master's credits, 39 credits are thesis courses and the Research Seminar course. The other 6 credits are from 500-600 level complementary courses. Courses can be found in the 黑料社 Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Calendar available on the web.
Master of Science (M.Sc.); Biochemistry (Thesis) (45 credits)
Thesis Courses (36 credits)
BIOC 697. Thesis Research 1.
Credits: 9 Offered by: Biochemistry (Graduate Studies)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.
Description
Independent research work under the direction of the Thesis Supervisor and the Supervisory Committee.
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
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BIOC 698. Thesis Research 2.
Credits: 12 Offered by: Biochemistry (Graduate Studies)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.
Description
Independent research work under the direction of the Thesis Supervisor and the Supervisory Committee.
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
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BIOC 699. Thesis Research 3.
Credits: 15 Offered by: Biochemistry (Graduate Studies)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.
Description
Independent research work under the direction of the Thesis Supervisor and the Supervisory Committee.
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
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听Required Courses (3 credits)
BIOC 696D1. Seminars in Biochemistry.
Credits: 1.5 Offered by: Biochemistry (Graduate Studies)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.
Description
Seminars in biochemistry.
- Students must register for both BIOC 696D1 and BIOC 696D2.
- No credit will be given for this course unless both BIOC 696D1 and BIOC 696D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms.
- BIOC 696D1 and BIOC 696D2 together are equivalent to BIOC 696
- Restriction: Open to M.Sc. and Ph.D. Biochemistry students only.
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
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BIOC 696D2. Seminars in Biochemistry.
Credits: 1.5 Offered by: Biochemistry (Graduate Studies)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.
Description
See for course description.
- Prerequisite: BIOC 696D1.
- Students must register for both BIOC 696D1 and BIOC 696D2.
- No credit will be given for this course unless both BIOC 696D1 and BIOC 696D2 are successfully completed
- Restriction: Open to M.Sc. and Ph.D. Biochemistry students only.
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
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听Complementary Courses (6 credits)
At least 3 credits must be chosen from the following:
BIOC 670. Biochemistry of Lipoproteins.
Credits: 3 Offered by: Biochemistry (Graduate Studies)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.
Description
Structure, function and metabolism of lipids and lipoproteins as they relate to lipid storage diseases, obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
- Prerequisite: BIOC 311 or permission of instructor
- Restrictions: Open to graduate students only with permission of instructor.
- Winter
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
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BIOC 600. Advanced Strategies in Genetics and Genomics.
Credits: 3 Offered by: Biochemistry (Graduate Studies)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.
Description
Advanced technologies and methods in genomics research, presented by experts actively pursuing the experimental approaches discussed.
- Enrolment limited to 15 graduate students.
- Prerequisite: BIOC 454 or equivalent
- Restriction: Must take part in the Biochemistry graduate program
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
OVERVIEW: Advanced technologies and methods in genomics research, presented by experts actively pursuing the experimental approaches discussed. Topics covered include various next-generation sequencing and microarray strategies and techniques, bioinformatic aspects and their use for cancer genetics, functional genomics using RNAi and chromatin IP (ChIP), proteomics, phosphoproteomics and metabolomics, genome structure and 3D organization, advanced mouse model methods, microRNA target prediction, validation and more.
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BIOC 603. Genomics and Gene Expression.
Credits: 3 Offered by: Biochemistry (Graduate Studies)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.
Description
Examination of recent developments in analysis of eukaryotic cell genomes and control of gene expression during differentiation and growth control. Molecular genetics; genomics and the bioinformatics of analysis of genomic and functional-genomic data; mechanisms and signal-transduction pathways for regulation of gene expression; applications to human disease with a strong emphasis on cancer.
- Fall
- Prerequisites: BIOC 454 and permission of instructor.
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
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BIOC 604. Macromolecular Structure.
Credits: 3 Offered by: Biochemistry (Graduate Studies)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.
Description
X-Ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, Electron Microscopy. Theory and methods used to determine macromolecular structures will be covered. Several
practical sessions with hands-on experience for students are included.
- Prerequisite: BIOC 450 or equivalent
- Lectures in French and English
- Offered in the Fall term, in even alternate years.
- Offered in the Winter term, in even alternate years.
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
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BIOC 605. Protein Biology and Proteomics.
Credits: 3 Offered by: Biochemistry (Graduate Studies)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.
Description
Examination of recent developments in protein biology and proteomics analysis. Proteomics, modeling and biophysical approaches to characterize the functional interactions of biological macromolecules; applications to biological problems. Lectures and in-class discussions are supplemented by practical training in proteomics.
- Winter
- Prerequisite: BIOC 450 or equivalent, or permission of instructor.
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
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EXMD 615. Essentials of Glycobiology.
Credits: 3 Offered by: Medicine (Graduate Studies) Terms offered: Winter 2026 View offerings for in Visual Schedule Builder.
Description
Examination of the structure, function, and biosynthesis of glycoproteins, glycolipids and glycosaminoglycans, and the biological role of complex carbohydrates. Lectins, methods for elucidating carbohydrate structure, glycomics, and human diseases due to disorders of glycan synthesis.
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
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EXMD 635D1. Experimental/Clinical Oncology.
Credits: 3 Offered by: Medicine (Graduate Studies)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.
Description
The course will deal, on a site by site basis, with the incidence of cancer, present treatment, treatment outcome, underlying causes, current research and directions for development of new treatments. Chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy and nutrition as therapy and treatment of cancer will be included.
- Prerequisite: Students must request permission from the instructor.
- Students must register for both EXMD 635D1 and EXMD 635D2
- No credit will be given for this course unless both EXMD 635D1 and EXMD 635D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
- Previous solid knowledge in biochemistry and molecular biology required. Students will be required to write a long essay and give an oral presentation.
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
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EXMD 635D2. Experimental/Clinical Oncology.
Credits: 3 Offered by: Medicine (Graduate Studies) Terms offered: Winter 2026 View offerings for in Visual Schedule Builder.
Description
See for course description.
- Prerequisite: EXMD 635D1 and permission from the instructor.
- Students must register for both EXMD 635D1 and EXMD 635D2
- No credit will be given for this course unless both EXMD 635D1 and EXMD 635D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
- Previous solid knowledge in biochemistry and molecular biology required. Students will be required to write a long essay and give an oral presentation.
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
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Plus additional credits, to a minimum of 6 total complementary course-credits, of 500- or higher level courses in the biomedical and allied sciences.
Complementary courses are chosen in consultation with the research director. The GAC may stipulate additional coursework depending on the background of the candidate. It is highly recommended that all course work be completed within the first two semesters. Additional fees will be charged for courses taken which are not required.
Transfer to Ph.D. (fast-tracking)
Fast-tracking to a Ph.D. degree is granted to those students who have shown adequate research promise and a strong academic record (CGPA of 3.5 or higher).
Admission to the Ph.D. program for a student currently carrying out M.Sc. studies is formally decided by the GAC at the time the Research Seminar I (BIOC 701) is presented, during the M.Sc. year 2. At that time, the Committee will review the student's complete record, including performance in required courses. As a result of the review, the student will be asked to:
- write a Master's thesis and terminate his/her graduate studies at this level, or
- promote to the听Ph.D.听(Ph.D. year 2)
Students wishing to proceed to the Ph.D. must complete the following before transfer to Ph.D. 2 is allowed:
- BIOC 696 Seminars in Biochemistry, plus
- 6 credits of complementary courses, and
- BIOC 701 (Research Seminar 1)
听听听听听听听Students who wish to graduate with a M.Sc. and not fast-track should inform the Student Affairs Officer as soon as possible.
Thesis submission
Before thesis submission, the composition of the student's Research Advisory Committee (RAC) must be set, and the names of the committee members must be submitted to the Student Affairs Officer. A RAC meeting must also be held in the year preceding the thesis submission and a copy of the report showing approval to submit must be on file before submission will be allowed.
Guidelines for Master鈥檚 Thesis preparation, submission and examination are found under Doctoral Thesis, as many procedures are the same. However, an oral defense is not required for examination of a Master鈥檚 Thesis at 黑料社, unlike a Doctoral Thesis.
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