Master of Science

The FHS MSc program is rigorous and rewarding, preparing students for careers in a variety of fields in public health. Our faculty specializes in global health, environmental and occupational health, toxicology, maternal and child health, epidemiology and biostatistics, health promotion and disease prevention, infectious diseases, chronic diseases and aging, mental health and substance use, social inequities and health, adolescent and child development, reproductive health, and health policy.

Study: Full time

Length: Approximately six terms

Workload: Full-time

Coursework: Minimum of 12 credits

Cost: $2107/term x 6 terms = $12644 minimum total tuition, plus $395/term in ancillary fees. See this breakdown of the typical costs per term for graduate domestic and international students, and try the cost of living calculator. Graduate tuition and mandatory fees are subject to change. 

All MSc students in the Faculty of Health Sciences receive financial support either from scholarships, teaching appointments, or professors' research grants. The minimum MSc stipend is $21,000 per year for two years. More information is available in the full policy.

There are a variety of awards for incoming students, and deadlines are usually prior to program entry. Learn more

Courses

FHS courses and directed research experiences cover health issues from the level of cells, organisms, systems, communities and populations, encompassing and transcending strictly individual or clinical perspectives.

All MSc students complete a minimum of 12 units of graduate coursework, a thesis proposal, and write and defend their MSc thesis. To broaden their studies, students can choose at least two electives with approval from their supervisor.

Typical MSc course plan

Thesis proposal

MSc students must develop and present a research proposal to their committee before the end of the first year. Normally, the proposal reviews the relevant research literature, reflects original work and describes methodology appropriate to the principal research question(s).

Thesis

A written thesis is the final requirement for the MSc program. You must pass the formal thesis defence to earn your degree. It will typically include a background/introduction section, research materials and/or methods, results and analyses, and discussion. Students must note in the thesis that the appropriate ethics, bio-safety, and animal care and use approvals were obtained before conducting their research work.