The University offers an interdisciplinary specialization in Biostatistics at the master’s and doctoral levels through the following Faculties and graduate programs:
Cumming School of Medicine; Community Health Sciences
Faculty of Science; Mathematics and Statistics
The student will receive the degree offered by the home program:
Master of Science in Mathematics and Statistics (thesis-based)
Master of Science in Community Health Sciences (thesis-based)
PhD in Mathematics and Statistics
PhD in Community Health Sciences
2. Admission Requirements
In addition to the home program requirements, all applicants must meet the following requirements:
In the case of the MSc Biostatistics Specialization, a bachelor's degree in statistics, or its equivalent, is usually required.
In the case of the PhD Biostatistics Specialization, a master's degree in statistics, or its equivalent, is usually required.
Students must also have a letter from a faculty member in the home program indicating an agreement to supervise the applicant. Students are strongly encouraged to approach potential supervisors in advance of applying for entry into the home program and Biostatistics specialization.
The applicant should make requests for advanced credit at the time of application, as part of the admissions process. See Advanced Credit for further information.
In addition, PhD students in the Mathematics and Statistics program must pass two Preliminary Examinations in Statistics based on material for two of the following courses: Statistics 701, 721, 631, 635, 641.
N.B. PhD required courses (or equivalents) are based on courses taken across graduate studies; i.e., if the student has taken equivalent courses in an MSc program, they are not required to retake these courses.
Relevant topics courses and directed study courses (e.g., Community Health Sciences 710), and courses from other programs, may be approved by the graduate program director in consultation with the supervisor.
Relevant topics courses and directed study courses (e.g., Statistics 601), and courses from other programs, may be approved by the graduate program director in consultation with the supervisor.
6. Additional Requirements
Students in the Community Health Sciences program must attend all CHS departmental seminars.
7. Credit for Undergraduate Courses
See requirements of home program.
8. Time Limit
Expected completion time is two years for full-time students in a thesis-based master's program and four years in a doctoral program.
The maximum completion time allowed for a thesis-based master’s program is four years. The maximum completion time allowed for a doctoral program is six years.
Faculty members associated with the Biostatistics specialization have wide-ranging research interests. See the Biostatistics webpage for more information.
Research topics for thesis-based MSc and PhD applicants should be decided in discussion with supervisors.