Eligibility and how to apply to the MHSc in Laboratory Medicine

Due to current circumstances, the Master of Health Science in Laboratory Medicine program is not accepting applications from international students at this time.  

Eligibility Criteria:  

• Applicants must be a Canadian Permanent Resident, Citizen or Refugee
• All applicants must:
  • have completed a 4-year Bachelor of Science degree (B.Sc.) in the Life Sciences from a recognized university.
  • have an average of at least B+ in the last two years of full-time study. 
• Applicants may only apply to 1 of the fields (PA or CE) at the University of Toronto. 

This program will prepare you for the study of biomedical science, for fluency in biomedical terminology, and for critical evaluation of biomedical literature. Courses in biology/life sciences, biochemistry, human anatomy immunology and physiology are desirable.   

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How to apply  

Deadline for completed applications: applications for the September 2023 intake closed on March 6, 2023

How to apply: through the School of Graduate Studies online application system

We will only assess applications after the deadline has passed.

Your application needs to contain:   

1. Official Transcripts (digital preferred)   
2. Curriculum Vitae (CV)   
3. Letter of Intent   
4. Two letters of reference, one of which should be familiar with the applicant’s scholarly activities.

To be considered, your application must be completed in full, and include all reference letters by the application deadline. 

You will be interviewed prior to final acceptance into the program by the Program Director and the Field Director to determine your fit with the program and your goals.   

We will base our acceptance decision on your:  

• academic record  
• individual statement   
• letters of reference  
• fit with the goals of the program and your interest in your chosen discipline through an interview.  

Annual important dates:

• First Monday of October: School of Graduate Studies open online application system
• First Monday of March: deadlines for application fee, CV, application form, transcript, letter of intent and reference letters
• No extension is allowed for application file and fee submission
• Third Monday of March: we start to review applications
• Interview dates: mid-April for Pathologists’ Assistant field (PA); early-mid May for Clinical Embryologist field (CE)
• Admission offers are sent out: end of April for PA, mid-end of May for CE

Shadowing opportunities for the Pathologists' Assistant field

The Pathologists' Assistant field offers several shadowing experiences for prospective students.

Email the program administrators lmp.grad@utoronto.ca to inquire about these opportunities, including your recent Curriculum Vitae.

1. Virtual Gross Rounds (weekly on Fridays at 9am EST): these rounds, conducted by pathologists and pathologists’ assistants from Mount Sinai Hospital, present and discuss challenging surgical pathology specimens virtually to a national audience.
2. Virtual pathologists’ assistant shadowing sessions:  these sessions, organized by pathologists’ assistants from University Health Network, shadow pathologists’ assistants virtually as they conduct their routine work and provide opportunities for prospective students to ask questions.
3. In-person pathologists’ assistant shadowing experiences: selected teaching hospitals may offer one-day in-person shadowing to a limited number of prospective students on a first-come-first serve basis. Please note that there may be additional fee and requirements as per policies of the individual hospital.