# Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
**Source**: https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/biochemistry-and-molecular-biology-msc-thesis
**Parent**: https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/graduate/discover-opportunities/explore-programs
Master of Science (MSc)
Thesis-based program
[Start your application](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/how-apply)
## Program overview
Students with a bachelor’s degree who are looking enjoy a wide variety of research that is at the forefront of many fields should consider getting a Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (MSc Thesis) degree. Research can include everything from biochemistry to molecular research, as well as cellular and developmental biology. It also ranges from genetics and immunology to bioinformatics, with applications to cancer and clinical research. As they deepen their skills, students will get to enjoy the amenities of a large city near the outdoor leisure activities of the Rocky Mountains. Completion of the program usually takes two years of full-time study.
### Completing this program
- **Courses:** Courses may include Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Bioinformatic Resources for the Biologist.
- **Research Ethics:** Students are required to attend Research Integrity Day sessions in the first year of their program.
- **Sex & Gender Module:** Students are required to complete one of the CIHR sex and gender online training modules found at discoversexandgender.ca in the first year of their program.
- **Seminars:** Students participate in a journal club and work-in-progress seminars for their research group, and will present one seminar per year.
- **Thesis:** Students will be required to submit and defend an original research thesis.
### Specializations
[Bioinformatics](https://cumming.ucalgary.ca/gse/about/programs/biochemistry-and-molecular-biology/bioinformatics-specialization)
### Outcomes
Academic research; post-secondary and secondary teaching; industry research and consulting; business consulting, analytics, management, sales, research and marketing; scientific writing; IP and patent law; medicine (lab tech; physician; clinical scientist); veterinary medicine.
**A master’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology will give you the pre-requisite for a PhD.**
### Thesis-based program
Students are required to prepare a thesis and successfully defend in an open oral defense.
### Courses
Three core courses and one elective
[Learn more about program requirements in the Academic Calendar](https://calendar.ucalgary.ca/programs/MDBCMSCT)
### Classroom delivery
### Time commitment
Two years full time; four years maximum
### Supervisor
A supervisor is required, and must agree to oversee the student's research before admission will be granted
### Fees and funding
See the Graduate Calendar for information on [fees and fee regulations,](https://calendar.ucalgary.ca/uofcregs/tuitionandfeesoverview/grad) and for information on [awards and financial assistance](https://calendar.ucalgary.ca/uofcregs/studfinsupport/awardsgrad).
## Virtual Tour
Explore the University of Calgary’s (UCalgary) Foothills Campus from anywhere. Experience all that the Cumming School of Medicine has to offer for interested prospective graduate students. Explore this state of the art campus from wherever you are. Discover the buildings, student services and available programs all from your preferred device.
[Take the Foothills Campus Virtual Tour](https://virtualtour.grad.ucalgary.ca/ucalgary/foothills-campus)
---
## Supervisors
Learn about faculty available to supervise this degree.\
---
1. [Pierre Billon](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/supervisor/pierre-billon)
Seeking Students
Genetics, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and Cell Biology
2. [Janice Braun](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/supervisor/janice-braun)
Accepting Inquiries
Molecular Chaperones and Neurodegeneration
3. [George Chaconas](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/supervisor/george-chaconas)
Unavailable
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Lyme Disease
4. [Sarah Childs](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/supervisor/sarah-childs)
Seeking Students
Genetics of blood vessel development; precision medicine; developmental biology, Vascular patterning, Vascular stabilization, The zebrafish model
5. [Li-Fang (Jack) Chu](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/supervisor/li-fang-jack-chu)
Seeking Students
Genetic Regulation of Developmental Clocks, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Biology of species-specific pluripotent stem cells
6. [A.P. Jason de Koning](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/node/3056)
Accepting Inquiries
Computational biology, bioinformatics, and genomics, Systematic variant interpretation in human genetic disease, Bayesian statistics, large-scale inference, and machine learning, Human and computational population genetics, Molecular evolution
7. [Ina Dobrinski](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/supervisor/ina-dobrinski)
Unavailable
Biology of male germ line stem cells
8. [Antoine Dufour](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/supervisor/antoine-dufour)
Unavailable
Proteomics, proteases, systems biology, inflammation, immunity
9. [Augusto Faria Andrade](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/supervisor/augusto-faria-andrade)
Seeking Students
Brain tumors, Epigenetic, Cancer immunology
10. [Sabine Gilch](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/supervisor/sabine-gilch)
Accepting Inquiries
Prion diseases, cell biology of prion infection, chronic wasting disease, prion strains
---
Items per page
10All
## Admission requirements
---
#### GPA
A minimum of 3.3 GPA on a 4.0 point system, over the past two years of full-time study (a minimum of 10 full-course equivalents or 60 units) of the undergraduate degree.
#### Minimum education
A four year baccalaureate degree, or equivalent from a recognized institution.
#### Work samples
None
#### Documents
- A current C.V.
#### Reference letters
Two
#### Test scores
None
---
#### **English language proficiency (ELP)**
An applicant whose primary language is not English may fulfill the English language proficiency requirement in different ways. For accepted criteria, please refer to the program “Admissions” tab in the [Academic Calendar.](https://calendar.ucalgary.ca/programs/MDBCMSCT)
*\*Please contact your program of interest if you have any questions about ELP requirements.*
#### Deadlines
**For admission on May 1:**
- Canadians and permanent residents: Mar. 1 application deadline
- International students: Dec. 1 application deadline
**For admission on September 1:**
- Canadians and permanent residents: June 1 application deadline
- International students: Apr. 1 application deadline
**For admission on January 1:**
- Canadians and permanent residents: Oct. 1 application deadline
- International students: Aug. 1 application deadline
If you're not a Canadian or permanent resident, or if you have international credentials, make sure to learn about
[international requirements](http://www.ucalgary.ca/future-students/graduate/international)
## Are you ready to apply?
[Application process](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/how-apply)
## Learn more about this program
### Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
UCalgary Foothills Campus, Health Sciences Centre (HSC) Building, Office Suite G329, 3330 Hospital Drive NW,\
Calgary, AB T2N 1N4
[Contact the Graduate Program Administrator](mailto:bmbgrad@ucalgary.ca)
[Visit the departmental website](http://www.ucalgary.ca/bmb/)
### Cumming School of Medicine
Health Sciences Centre\
Foothills Campus, University of Calgary,\
Calgary, AB T2N 1N4
[Visit the Cumming School of Medicine website](https://cumming.ucalgary.ca/)
Learn more about UCalgary by taking a
[virtual tour](https://virtualtour.grad.ucalgary.ca/)
## Related programs
If you're interested in this program, you might want to explore other UCalgary programs.
#### [Biochemistry and Molecular Biology](#collapse2146161766)
[Thesis-based PhD](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/biochemistry-and-molecular-biology-phd)
#### [Biological Sciences](#collapse1096208494)
[Thesis-based MSc](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/biological-sciences-msc-thesis)
[Thesis-based PhD](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/biological-sciences-phd)
#### [Biomedical Engineering](#collapse2056892832)
[Thesis-based MEng](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/biomedical-engineering-meng-course)
[Thesis-based MSc](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/biomedical-engineering-msc-thesis)
[PhD](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/biomedical-engineering-phd)
#### [Cardiovascular and Respiratory Sciences](#collapse204279171)
[Thesis-based MSc](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/cardiovascular-and-respiratory-sciences-msc-thesis)
[PhD](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/cardiovascular-and-respiratory-sciences-phd)
#### [Chemistry](#collapse1800965020)
[Thesis-based MSc](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/chemistry-msc-thesis)
[Phd](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/chemistry-phd)
#### [Community Health Sciences](#collapse626784350)
[Thesis-based MSc](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/community-health-sciences-msc-thesis)
[PhD](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/community-health-sciences-phd)
#### [Computer Science](#collapse182227870)
[Thesis-based MSc](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/computer-science-msc-thesis)
[PhD](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/computer-science-phd)
#### [Immunology](#collapse295297232)
[Thesis-based MSc](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/immunology-msc-thesis)
[Thesis-based PhD](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/immunology-phd)
#### [Kinesiology](#collapse503581385)
[Course-based MKin](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/kinesiology-mkin-course)
[Thesis-based MSc](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/kinesiology-msc-thesis)
[Thesis-based PhD](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/kinesiology-phd)
#### [Microbiology and Infectious Disease](#collapse1614535723)
[Thesis-based MSc](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/microbiology-and-infectious-diseases-msc-thesis)
[Thesis-based PhD](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/microbiology-and-infectious-diseases-phd)
#### [Neuroscience](#collapse1147399002)
[Thesis-based MSc](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/neuroscience-msc-thesis)
[Thesis-based PhD](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/neuroscience-phd)
#### [Veterinary Medicine](#collapse1063690376)
[Thesis-based MSc](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/veterinary-medicine-msc-thesis)
[Thesis-based PhD](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/veterinary-medicine-phd)
---
## Highlights of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program
These stories from those involved in the program show what it's like to be involved yourself.
#### Carla Davidson, Owner - Endeavour Scientific Management and Consulting
"I learned a combination of critical thinking, clear communication and broad experience. My graduate degree gave me the willingness to start my own business."
#### Kevin Thorneloe, Director - Biopharm Translational Medicine
"The critical thinking skills I acquired during my PhD has been the foundation of my career in the pharmaceutical industry."
#### Nima Najand, Technology Analyst - Innovate Calgary
"UCalgary has been instrumental in providing me with skills to succeed in careers outside academia."
## Curious about the University of Calgary?
Located in the nation's most enterprising city, we are a living, growing and youthful institution that embraces change and opportunity with a can-do attitude.
[Learn More about student life at UCalgary](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/student-life)