SFU.CA Burnaby | Surrey | Vancouver

Entrance Requirements for Graduate Studies

Students interested in applying to the MBB program must meet the following criteria in addition to the general admission requirement.

  • All applicants must have completed a B.Sc.with a minimum GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.33 scale)
  • Applicants must have found a Senior Supervisor who has agreed to consider your application in order to be considered for admission to the program.
  • TOEFL score greater than 100 (or 600 for the paper-based test or 250 for the computer adapted test) for international students from countries where English is not the primary language. OR IELTS score of 7.0.
  • GRE scores are strongly recommended.

How to Find a Senior Supervisor

Please do not spend the on-line application fee until you have found a supervisor who has agreed to take you into their lab.

Applicants should contact MBB Faculty members or MBB Associate/Adjunct Faculty members directly to discuss their research interests and confirm the availability of funding and space in their research group. This does not mean that you have simply e-mailed/contacted a professor. The proposed supervisor will have reviewed your transcripts (and possibly references) and agreed to take you into their lab.

If you have not already found a Supervisor, please contact the Graduate Program Assistant to request a Pre-Application form.

Applying for Admission

Applications will not be considered until you have found a potential supervisor.

  1. Apply online at the Dean of Graduate Studies site. Note that there is an application fee which you must pay by credit card (Master Card or Visa) in order to apply online.
  2. Submit the following backup documents by mail to the MBB department. Please reference the online application number.
    • A copy of your application
    • One set of official transcripts from all Post-Secondary Institutions attended (must come either directly from the educational instituion or in a sealed envelope with the rest of your application; please do not send opened transcripts).
    • 3 strongly supportive Letters of Reference (on our reference form in PDF format), a letter on letterhead or a combination of the two; references must be sent directly from the Reference or enclosed in a sealed envelope with the Reference's signature across the seal).
    • A current copy of your Curriculum Vitae. Be sure to include any publications you may have.
    • A brief (less than 300 words) description of your research interests and research experience
    • Evidence showing completion of B.Sc./M.Sc. degree(s). If the degree is not complete at the time of application, evidence of its completion is required at time of registration.
    • For International applicants, an official copy of your diploma.
    • official TOEFL or IELTS score (for students whose first language is not English). Exams must have been taken in the last two years and be sent directly from the testing centre. Photocopies will suffice during the application process but in order to be admitted official copies will be required. SFU's institution code is 0999 and MBB's department code is 034
    • Official GRE scores (strongly recommended) - SFU Institution code is 0999, and MBB department code is 0206
    • For Ph.D. only - Evidence of your ability to undertake substantial original research is required (i.e. a copy of your B.Sc/M.Sc. thesis, particulars about research work over the past 18 months, who you have been affiliated with, copies of research reports or papers authored or co-authored).

Please send all materials directly to the Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Department:

Simon Fraser University
Dept. of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
SSB 8166, 8888 University Drive
Burnaby, BC Canada V5A 1S6
Attn: Nipuni Sedara, Graduate Program Assistant

Application Deadlines

The Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry accepts new students throughout the year; as such there is no firm deadline for receipt of applications. Semester starts at SFU are Spring (January), Summer (May) and Fall (September). The following should be considered as minimum time limits:

  • Canadian Applicants (or Permanent Residents): submit all application materials to the Department at least 3 months* prior to desired start semester.
  • Foreign Applicants (anyone requiring a student visa): submit all application materials to the Department at least 6 months* prior to desired start semester. It can often take 6 months or more for student authorizations to be processed by Canada Immigration.

*Please note: Those students intending to apply for Entrance scholarships must ensure that all application materials are received by the Department no later than the entrance scholarships deadlines in January. Those students intending to apply for Graduate Fellowships must ensure that all application materials are received by the Department no later than April 15.

Potential applicants are encouraged to apply for national scholarships in Fall of the last year of their B.Sc. or M.Sc. program. Students holding scholarships will be given admission priority.