M.Sc. Epidemiology Admission Requirements
Deadline for Receipt of Completed Applications for Fall 2024
December 1, 2023
- Applicants to the M.Sc. Epidemiology programs must hold a Bachelor's degree in a related area.
- The M.Sc. Epidemiology programs require substantial quantitative skills. The Admission Committees for these programs will look for proof of quantitative proficiency such as good grades in undergraduate-level courses in differential or integral calculus or in statistics. Although the GRE is not required, GRE results with a strong score (160+) in the Quantitative score may strengthen your application.
- Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA): 3.0/4.0 overall or at least 3.2/4.0 over the last two years of study, based on GPA calculations done by the University. Most of our successful applicants have grade point averages well above these minimum requirements.
- Proof of competency in oral and written English (if applicable).
NOTES:
You are invited to include a statement outlining how your background, experience, and prior academic, professional, and personal contributions have demonstrated your commitment to the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion. This statement is optional.
Diverse perspectives are welcomed. Statements may focus on (but are not limited to) the following perspectives:
- How you have incorporated elements of equity, diversity, and inclusion in your work, academic career, community service, or other activities;
- How your experiences of inequity or disadvantage as part of a group that has been excluded, unrecognized, or historically marginalized has influenced your life and/or shaped your perspectives on equity, diversity, and inclusion;
- How graduate training at McGill could enrich your perspectives on equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Satisfaction of general requirements does not guarantee admission. Admission to graduate studies is limited and acceptance is on a very competitive basis.
Proof of Competency in Oral and Written English
- 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.
- Although McGill University allows Departments, at their discretion, to accept some other language tests, our Department accepts only the TOEFL or IELTS.
- Applications will not be considered if a TOEFL or IELTS test result is not received by the deadline.
Application and Required Documents
All application material and supporting documents must be uploaded directly to the McGill admissions processing system. See www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/how-apply for information and instructions.
All applicants to the Epidemiology 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 accounts website.
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/mentors/employers who are familiar with your academic or academic-relevant background. 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 November 1 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 address the following:
- What specific knowledge and skills do you hope to acquire during your epidemiology training?
- How will this knowledge and these skills enable you to attain your career objectives?
- What are your post-epidemiology training/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 thesis research?
- If you have a specific research question in mind, provide a brief outline.
6. Curriculum Vitae: an overview of your experience and other qualifications, including employment, academic credentials, publications, contributions, and significant achievements.
7. Quantitative Training Document: A single pdf document including a list of courses that address our quantitative requirement, including course outlines. Course outlines are not required for calculus courses or for McGill courses listed on our quantitative training requirements info sheet.
8. 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.
Important Information for applicants to the Intensive M.Sc. Program for Clinicians:
In addition to the above, applicants to the Intensive M.Sc. Program for Clinicians must provide the information listed below.
Applicants must also send a message to the Department via the Communication Module available on the uApply application system confirming they are applying for the M.Sc. Intensive Program for Clinicians. This will allow the Department to enter the additional requirements for their application on the application system.
• Name of proposed supervisor
• Thesis topic and structured M.Sc. thesis protocol
• A letter from their proposed supervisor confirming access to the dataset
• A letter from their Clinical Program Director confirming they will be free of clinical duties for the duration of the program
Application Status and Results
Please visit the admissions 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
Student Affairs Office
Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics & Occupational Health
McGill University
2001 McGill College - Suite 1250
Montreal, Quebec H3A 1G1
Canada
graduate.eboh [at] mcgill.ca
Tel.: 514-398-4229