Application Process

DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY

Students interested in applying to the MBB program must meet the following criteria in addition to the General Admission Requirements listed on the SFU Graduate Studies website.

  • Applicants must have completed a BSc with a minimum GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.33 scale). International students should check the Academic Requirements.
  • TOEFL score greater than 100 for international students from countries where English is not the primary language OR IELTS score of 7.0.

PLEASE NOTE: 

  • Applicants must have found a Supervisor who has agreed to consider your application in order to be considered for admission to the program.

FINDING A SUPERVISOR

A key part of your graduate experience is your relationship with your supervisor. Learn about faculty available to supervise this degree. Please do not spend the on-line application fee until you have found a supervisor (see Guidelines in Finding 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, research experience and interests (and possibly references) and agreed to take you into their lab.

Our Supervisor Info 

APPLY ONLINE

The Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry accepts new students throughout the year. Apply online at the Graduate Studies site. Note that there is an application fee which you must pay by credit card (Mastercard or Visa) in order to apply online.

Deadlines for receipt of complete online applications, including supporting documents, are:

  • October 1st for Spring (January 1st) term
  • February 1st for Summer (May 1st) term
  • June 1st for Fall (September 1st) term

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

1.  Required Documents

You need to upload the following required documents online:

  • A current copy of your Curriculum Vitae. Be sure to include any publications you may have.
  • Copies of unofficial transcript(s) from all post-secondary institutions attended. Official one(s) will be requested when you receive an offer of admission. Applicants who completed their former degrees at SFU are not required to submit an official SFU transcript to Graduate Studies.
  • 3 strongly supportive Letters of Reference. The online admission system will instruct you on how to request the reference letters.
  • A brief (approx. 300 words) description of your research interests and research experience.
  • A piece of academic writing sample. It should demonstrate your proficiency in analyzing a topic in the related field of the program for which you are applying. It can be a copy of your BSc/MSc thesis, a university level course paper, journal article, capstone project or research paper.

2.   Transcripts - After Offer of Admission

Copies of transcripts and the English language test score (if applicable) are sufficient for the online application, but in order to be admitted official copies will be required.

  • Official transcripts showing degree completion from all post-secondary institutions, other than SFU, should be sent directly from the institution to Graduate Studies.

    Physical transcripts should be sent to:
    Maggie Benston Centre 1100
    8888 University Drive
    Burnaby, BC Canada V5A 1S6
  • Electronic transcripts must be sent via a secure delivery service (such as Parchment) directly from the official institution to: gradap@sfu.ca

3.   English Language Requirements

Official TOEFL or IELTS score is required for students whose first language is not English. International applicants will not be required to complete an English-language test if they have completed a bachelor’s degree or higher at an institution where the language of instruction and examination was in English in a country where English is the primary language. Test scores must have been taken in the last two years and be sent directly from the test centre.

Jamie Chen
Graduate Program Assistant

Email: mbb@sfu.ca
Office: SSB 8166
Tel: (778) 782-5631

 

Admissions Handbook

The Graduate Student Handbook provides useful information about the policies and procedures you will need to know as a graduate student at Simon Fraser University.