The MBS is a one-year coursework- or literature review-based graduate program that may include a major research project. This research project or literature review is completed under the supervision of a Faculty Advisor. The MBS program was designed to provide students with graduate training over a shorter duration than the MSc program, and without the requirement of a full, written thesis. Students entering the MBS program are often unsure of their desire to complete a thesis-based graduate degree or are upgrading their academic standing to increase their competitiveness for professional programs. For MBS students who gain or affirm an interest in academic research, there may be an opportunity to transfer directly into the MSc program at any point before their third semester, and earn a thesis-based MSc graduate degree.
Please note: In addition to the regular academic research-based MBS program, students may enrol within the specialized MBS program streams of Applied Reproductive Biotechnologies or Applied Toxicology. Information regarding these MBS program streams may be found by following the links on the right side of this page.
Admission Requirements
Applicants should have an Honours BSc in biological sciences or a degree in veterinary medicine (or equivalent), with a minimum average "B+" standing for the last two years of full-time study completed prior to entry into the graduate program. Letters of reference from two of the applicant's professors must be provided with the application. In addition, a short statement of the applicant's research interests and career goals, is required to assist in the selection of faculty advisors. Students may be admitted into the Fall, Winter or Spring semester.
Students who do not meet this "B+" minimum requirement but do meet the University minimum of "B-" may be admitted into a "provisional" category if there is additional evidence to suggest that the applicant is capable of successfully completing the graduate program (e.g., exemplary letters of recommendation, or evidence of prior work or research experience). Transfer to the "regular" category is recommended when the student obtains a minimum "B+" in two graduate courses approved by the Department's Graduate Program Committee in consultation with the student's Advisory Committee.
Application Process
Faculty Advisors:
A Faculty Advisor is mandatory before you can be admitted into any of our programs. You should begin contacting Faculty doing research in your particular area of interest to determine if they are taking on new students, prior to applying. You should begin contacting Faculty early to avoid disappointment. A list of Biomedical Sciences faculty can be found here: Biomedical Sciences Faculty
MBS students may have a Faculty Advisor from the following departments within the Ontario Veterinary College. It also is possible for MBS students to have a Faculty Advisor from a department outside of the Ontario Veterinary College, in which case they are required to have a Co-Advisor from within the Department of Biomedical Sciences.
Lists of faculty members within the Ontario Veterinary College may be found at these websites:
Biomedical Sciences Faculty
Clinical Studies Faculty
Pathobiology Faculty
Degree Requirements
- The MBS program requires a minimum of 3 semesters of study.
- It is expected that students graduate from this degree within 12 months of enrolment. Students who cannot finish within this time period may be allowed to continue to a later graduation date.
- Students are required to complete a minimum of 4.0 course credits. This includes the mandatory BIOM*6900 course which must be taken in the final semester of the degree (see program information below).
- MBS Program Outline (revised March 2023)
Contact us
MBS Graduate Coordinator: Craig Bailey
Office: Rm 2602
Extension: 54954
Email: baileyc@uoguelph.ca
Graduate Program Assistant: Heather Hamilton
Office: Rm 2509, Stewart Building, OVC (Building #45)
Extension: 54780
Email: bmsgrad@uoguelph.ca