How to become a pharmaceutical sciences graduate student

Pharmaceutical sciences researchers at the Leslie Dan faculty of Pharmacy explore a wide variety of interests in the fields of biomedical sciences and clinical, social, and administrative pharmacy.

Sign-up to our application newsletter

Our five areas of research

The Graduate Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy offers students in the physical, biological, clinical, and social sciences challenging and rewarding research-intensive programs leading to:

• Master of Science (MSc) in Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Master of Science in Pharmacy (MScPhm)

The Graduate Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences offers a wide-range of specialty courses designed to inform the research of graduate students. Additionally, graduate students are free to take courses offered by other faculties at the University of Toronto that pertain to their research interests.

View courses

Applicants to the Master of Science (MSc) in Pharmaceutical Sciences must have:

• A completed four-year BSc or BA degree in Natural/Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Engineering, Social Sciences, or Health Profession such as Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing or Pharmacy from a recognized University.
• A minimum B (75%) average, or its equivalent, in each of the last two years of full-time study in a completed four-year undergraduate program.
• Interest in a potential supervisor within the department of pharmaceutical sciences at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy currently accepting graduate students. Applicants are encouraged to contact prospective supervisors in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. The supervisor must hold a Graduate Appointment at the Faculty as well as at the School of Graduate Studies.

Additionally:

• The Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Admissions Committee considers the applicant's background and accomplishments, academic standing, and financial support from the potential supervisor.
• Applicants whose primary language is not English and who graduated from a university where the language of instruction and examination is not English are required to write the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with the following minimum scores:
• ​​​paper-based TOEFL: 600 and 5 on the Test of Written English (TWE)
• internet-based TOEFL: 100/120 and 22/30 on the writing and speaking sections.
• If the undergraduate degree was not obtained from a recognized Canadian or US university, the applicant must write and achieve scores at the 50th percentile ranking or better on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE; General Test).

Applicants to the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Pharmaceutical Sciences must have:

• Completed (or be in the final year of) a four-year BSc or BA degree or a two-year MSc (or its equivalent) in the Natural/Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Engineering, Social Sciences, or Health Profession such as Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing or Pharmacy from a recognized university.
• A minimum B+ (77%) average, or its equivalent, in a Masters degree program OR
• A minimum of A- (80%) average, or its equivalent, in senior level courses relevant to the program in a four-year undergraduate program. The applicant is expected to have completed an undergraduate research project.
• Interest in a potential supervisor within the department of pharmaceutical sciences at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy currently accepting graduate students. Applicants are encouraged to contact prospective supervisors in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. The supervisor must hold a Graduate Appointment at the Faculty as well as at the School of Graduate Studies.
• Applicants to the flex-time PhD program must also provide a completed Letter of Support from Employer.

Additionally:

• The Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Admissions Committee considers the applicant's background and accomplishments, academic standing, and financial support from the potential supervisor.
• Applicants whose primary language is not English and who graduated from a university where the language of instruction and examination is not English are required to write the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with the following minimum scores:
• ​​​paper-based TOEFL: 600 and 5 on the Test of Written English (TWE)
• Internet-based TOEFL: 100/120 and 22/30 on the writing and speaking sections.
• If the undergraduate degree was not obtained from a recognized Canadian or US university, the applicant must write and achieve scores at the 50th percentile ranking or better on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE; General Test).

Applicants to the Master of Science in Pharmacy (MScPhm) must have:

One of the following:

• License to practice pharmacy (any Canadian jurisdiction) or a
• Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy or PharmD degree or equivalent from an accredited (CCAPP) Canadian Pharmacy program or an accredited (ACPE) American Pharmacy Program or a
• Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy or PharmD degree or equivalent from any International Pharmacy School and successful completion of the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) Evaluating Exam.

As well as:

• Pharmacy practice experience. Completion of a Year 1 Pharmacy Residency program is preferred.
• The equivalent of a University of Toronto B+ (77-79%) in each of the last two years of study.
• A clinical area of focus and a potential primary supervisor within the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy (see Clinical Areas of Focus and Program Supervision). Applicants are strongly encouraged to reach out to potential supervisors before submitting their application.

Applicants are encouraged to contact prospective supervisors in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. The supervisor must hold a Graduate Appointment at the Faculty as well as at the School of Graduate Studies.

The following researchers are currently accepting students for a 2024-2025 start date:

Explore our graduate faculty members and their research interests below:

Graduate Faculty

It is the applicant’s responsibility to contact faculty members to discuss potential research projects. An offer of admission will only be granted upon securing a supervisor.

The Graduate Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences offers all Full-time degree students financial support in the form of stipends. Students cannot be self-funded. This support may be provided through several resources including departmental funds, bursaries, supervisors’ grants, and scholarships.

Below is the current 2023-2024 Graduate Student Base Stipend, and tuition cost.

Visit the link below for more on financial support for graduate students at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy.

Learn more

Application Deadlines: MSc + PhD Pharmaceutical Sciences

Applications Open: September 22, 2023

Application Deadline: December 11, 2023

*Please note that all documents must be uploaded by the deadline to be considered for entrance awards.

Application Deadline: Master of Science in Pharmacy (MScPhm)

Program availability will be filled with a deadline of March 31, 2024 for September 2024 admissions.

Subscribe below to receive important program information, application updates, and more.

*By subscribing to this list, you will receive occasional emails from the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto containing news and promotions about the program. You may withdraw your consent at anytime by unsubscribing.