Icon for Bioinformatics & Computational Biology

Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (Specialist)

Please check the Arts & Science Calendar for program requirements: https://artsci.calendar.utoronto.ca/section/Cell-and-Systems-Biology

The genomic and post-genomic era brings opportunities for new insight into all aspects of biology and medicine, based on the computational analysis of very large datasets in a biological context. The Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Program is an interdepartmental, interdisciplinary Program of Study that balances computer-science and life-science courses towards that goal. As a Specialist Program it is designed to prepare students for graduate studies in the field.

The Program is formally administered by the Department of Cell and Systems Biology and co-sponsored by the Departments of Biochemistry, Computer Science, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and Molecular Genetics; all sponsoring Departments have clear trajectories to extend the Program into graduate studies in the respective Department.

Note: this program has deregulated fees, which are incurred after enrolment in the program. Please refer to Arts & Science Registration Instructions for more information.

Enrollment Requirements:

This is a limited enrollment program. Students must have completed 4.0 credits and meet the requirements listed below to enroll.

Variable Minimum Grade Average
A minimum grade average is needed for entry, and this minimum changes each year depending on available spaces and the number of applicants. The following courses must be completed:

To ensure that students admitted to the program will be successful, applicants with a grade average lower than 75% in these required courses will not be considered for admission. Please note that obtaining this minimum grade average does not guarantee admission to the program. While it is difficult to predict what will constitute a “competitive” grade average in a given year, based on previous years the estimate is =mid 80s.

Applications from students lacking a numerical grade in one of the specified prerequisites may be considered on the basis of their entire academic record and the availability of space in the program.

Cell and Systems Biology offers several courses that may be used towards the Bioinformatics and Computational Biology specialist program.  More detailed information about this program is available at https://bcb.csb.utoronto.ca/