M.Sc.and Ph.D. Biostatistics Admission Requirements

Deadline for Receipt of Completed Applications for Fall 2025

December 1, 2024 (the application system will open September 15, 2024)

All application material and supporting documents must be uploaded directly to the McGill admissions application system. See www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/how-apply for information and instructions.

Any applications that are incomplete (including letters of reference, scores from any required standardized tests and grades) by the application deadline will not be considered.

Please note that the Department only admits new students in the Fall term. Applications for the Winter or Summer terms are not accepted. It is important that you select the correct term when completing the application form. We will not be able to change the application term or refund your application fee if you enter the wrong term.

Admission Requirements

  • General: An undergraduate degree in mathematics or statistics or its equivalent (an honours degree is preferred but not required). At least three semesters of calculus, two of linear algebra, at least one but preferably two semesters of real analysis, and a full year course/sequence in mathematical statistics preferably at an honours level, e.g. MATH-356/357. Exposure to data analysis is an asset.
  • M.Sc.: Students admitted into the M.Sc. program will, in general, meet the requirements above. Transfer to the PhD program is possible after the first year, please see the academic information policies page.
  • Ph.D.: Students with the above qualifications in addition to an M.Sc. degree in Statistics or Biostatistics will be considered for Ph.D. admission. Exceptional candidates who do not hold an M.Sc. may apply to directly the PhD program. Students applying directly from an undergraduate degree are also encouraged to apply to the M.Sc. program where, as noted above, transfer is possible after the first year. Students who are not accepted into the PhD program can only be considered for the M.Sc. program if they have applied to both programs.
  • Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA): 3.0/4.0 overall, or at least 3.2/4.0 over last two years of study. Most of our successful applicants have grade point averages well above the stated minimum requirements.
  • Proof of competency in oral and written English (if applicable).

NOTES:

  • Satisfaction of general requirements does not guarantee admission. Admission to graduate studies is limited and acceptance is on a very competitive basis.
  • At the request of the Admissions Committee, some applicants to the Biostatistics programs may be contacted for an online interview.

Proof of Competency in Oral and Written English

Although McGill University allows Departments, at their discretion, to accept some other language tests, our Department accepts only the TOEFL or IELTS.

Applicants (including Permanent Residents of Canada) whose mother tongue is not English and who have not completed an undergraduate or graduate degree from a recognized institution where English is the language of instruction or from a recognized Canadian institution (anglophone or francophone), are required to submit documented proof of competency in oral and written English by appropriate exams:

  • TOEFL: a minimum score of 100 on the internet based test, or a score of 600 on the paper based version of the TOEFL test (or 250 on the older computer-based test). [TOEFL results are only valid for two years from the date the test was written]. Institution Code: 0935.
  • IELTS: a minimum overall band of 6.5.

Before acceptance, appropriate exam results must be submitted directly from the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing Systems) Offices. An institutional version of the TOEFL is not acceptable.

Applications will not be considered if a TOEFL or IELTS test result is not received by the deadline.

Application & Required Documents

All application material and supporting documents must be uploaded directly to the McGill admissions application system. See www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/how-apply for information and instructions.

All applicants to the Biostatistics programs must submit the following:

  1. Online Application for Admission form: www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply-now
  2. Application fee: Application fees and other charges are listed on the student account web page.
  3. Transcripts: your complete record of study from each university-level institution you have attended to date. Uploaded copies will be considered as unofficial; final, official copies will be required once you are offered admission.
  4. Reference letters: on the application form you must provide the names and email addresses of two professors who are familiar with your academic work. McGill will contact these referees and invite them to upload references on your behalf. Please note that although you can list public domain addresses such as Hotmail, Gmail, or Yahoo Mail on the application form, references uploaded from these addresses will not be accepted by the Department. Therefore you must list a valid institutional or corporate e-mail address for your referees.
    When planning your application submission, please be aware that referees are asked to respond within ten days. As our deadline falls close to the holiday break, please take this into account when communicating with your referees, and consider submitting by December 1 in order to give them ample time to respond. Your file is not considered complete until the referees responses have been received.
  5. Personal Statement: your statement should be no more than two (2) pages and may address the following:
    • What are your post-biostatistics training/career objectives?
    • What specific knowledge and skills do you hope to acquire during your biostatistics training?
    • How will this knowledge and these skills enable you to attain your career objectives?
    • What particular area(s), if any, would you like to study in your course work for the program?
    • What particular area(s), if any, would you like to pursue for your project or thesis topic?
    • If you have a specific research question in mind, provide a brief outline.
    • Are there any factors related equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility that you believe should be considered in our review of your application (e.g., any circumstances that may have affected your academic or research achievement)?
  6. Curriculum Vitae: an overview of your experience and other qualifications, including employment, academic credentials, publications, contributions, and significant achievements.
  7. TOEFL/IELTS, GRE results (if applicable): when registering for the test, please ensure that you request that results be sent directly to McGill University. McGill will then receive the results electronically, directly from the testing agency. Institution Code: 0935.

Application Status & Results

Please visit the admissions application portal to see which supporting documents have been uploaded.

You will be informed of your acceptance/non-acceptance by April. Please note that no feedback will be provided regarding the contents of applications or the rationale behind the Admissions Committee’s decision.

Contact Information

 

Admissions
Student Affairs Office
Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics & Occupational Health
McGill University
2001 McGill College - Suite 1250
Montreal Quebec H3A 1A2
Canada

graduate.eboh [at] mcgill.ca

Tel.: 514-398-4229

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