Study Masters in Biotechnology in Canada: Universities & Fees

MS Biotechnology in Canada is a 1.5 to 2-year program offered by a number of top-ranking universities in the country. Students get four options to pursue this research-oriented program in Canada: full-time, part-time, online, and fast-track course. The overall cost of studying MS in biotechnology in Canada is around 37,000 to 71,800 CAD. 

Students must have bachelor’s degrees in fields like biology, genetics, chemistry, or molecular biology in order to apply for MS biotechnology courses in Canada. Post-completion of the degree, students are also required to submit a thesis. Moreover, some Canadian universities provide internship opportunities to students in the field of biotechnology.

Best Universities in Canada for MS in Biotechnology

A limited number of Canadian universities offer a master’s degree in biotechnology. Moreover, a few universities in Canada also provide PG diplomas and certificate programs in this field. Shown below are the top universities in Canada for MS biotechnology, along with other necessary details:

University	THE Rankings 2022	Degree Offered/Course Duration	Application Deadlines
Masters in Biotechnology
University of Toronto (Mississauga)	#1	MBiotech (24 months)	January 7
McGill University	#44	MScA Biotech Applied Masters (16 months)	July 15
University of Guelph	#501-600	MBiotech (24 months)	February 15
Brock University	#201-300	MSc Biotech (24 months)	Rolling
Graduate Certificate/Diploma in Biotechnology
McGill University	#1	Graduate Certificate (6-8 months)	July 15
Centennial College of Applied Arts and Technology	-	Graduate Diploma in Biotechnology Advanced Diploma in Biotechnology (12 months)	September 12
Durham College	-	Advanced Diploma in Biotechnology (12 months)	April 30
Concordia University	#601-800	Graduate Diploma in Biotechnology and Genomics (12 months)	February 1
Specialization in Biotechnology
University of Windsor	#601-800	Masters of Medical Biotechnology (16 months)	May 1 (Fall) September 1 (Winter) January 1 (Spring)
University of Lethbridge	#1201+	Masters in Agricultural Biotechnology (24 months)	June 1 (Fall) October 1 (Winter) February 1 (Spring)
Brock University	#201-300	Masters in Gene Biotechnology Masters in Chemical Biotechnology (24 months)	Rolling

Course Structure of MS in Biotechnology in Canada

Biotechnology involves the invention and development of products and processes that utilize biological resources. The course curriculum of MS biotechnology in Canada focuses primarily on these core subject

• Molecular biotechnology
• Innovation and management
• Communication in science and business
• Biodiversity and biotechnology

The course curriculum may also include subjects such as DNA technologies, microbiology, bio-fuels/energy, data science, drug development, etc., depending on the department that offers the course.

List of Masters in Biotechnology Courses in Canada

Top universities in Canada offer a diverse range of courses in the biotechnology field. Post completion of these courses, students can pursue careers in pharmaceutical, environment, chemical, food industries, etc. Listed below are the top masters in biotechnology courses offered by Canadian universities:

1. Master of Biotechnology (MBiotech)
2. Honours Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
3. Master of Science, Applied (M.Sc.A.) Biotechnology
4. Biotechnology Co-op (B.Tech.)
5. MSc and PhD in Biotechnology Science
6. Doctorate of Philosophy in Biotechnology
7. Master of Biomedical Technology (MBT)
8. Master of Science in Biology (Thesis)
9. Doctorate of Philosophy in Biotechnology
10. Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology
11. Graduate Diploma in Biotechnology and Genomics
12. Doctorate of Philosophy in Molecular Biotechnology and Biochemistry

MS Biotechnology in Canada Admissions

International students who hold bachelor’s degrees in disciplines like chemistry, biological sciences, biochemistry, agriculture, molecular biology/genetics, etc., are eligible to apply for MS in biotechnology in Canada. Let us look at the eligibility criteria of the program in detail:

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for MS biotechnology courses in Canada differ from one institution to another. However, some of the standard prerequisites are listed below:

• A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field with a minimum grade of B, which means a GPA of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 (78-81%)
• GRE test scores
• English language proficiency scores
• Students need to qualify for the interviews conducted by the science and business departments of Canadian universities.

University-Specific Admission Requirements

Tabulated below are some of the institute-specific requirements to apply for MS biotechnology in Canada:

University	GPA	Minimum Score Requirements	Supporting Documents
University of Toronto	3.0/4.0	TOEFL: 93, IELTS: 7.0 GRE scores are required.	Letter of intent, updated CV, and 3 LORs
McGill University	3.2/4.0	TOEFL: 86, IELTS: 6.5 GRE scores are optional.	2 LORs
University of Guelph	3.0/4.0	TOEFL: 89, IELTS: 6.5	2 LORs, updated CV/resume
Brock University	3.0/4.0	TOEFL: 80, IELTS: 6.5	3 LORs, updated resume, statement of research interest

As a result of strict admission policies and a large number of applicants, admissions to the University of Toronto and McGill University are extremely competitive. In comparison to McGill, the University of Guelph has a higher graduate-level proficiency requirement. Moreover, Brock University is a good choice if you do not have a high score on the ELP tests.

Why Study MS in Biotechnology from Canada?

Home to top-ranked universities, Canada provides abundant opportunities in the field of biotechnology. The following facts by BioTalent Canada highlight the benefits of pursuing MS biotechnology in Canada:

• The Canadian bio-economy is composed of around 5000 companies, making it a world leader in this field.
• In the biotechnology and life science industry, 33% of employers report a shortage of skills.
• The biotechnology and life sciences sectors in British Columbia are among the largest in the country, with around 310 organizations.
• According to BIOTECanada, 75% of the employees in the biotech sector hold a master's or bachelor's degree in biotechnology. The study also found that individuals with master's degrees were offered 29% more salaries than those with bachelor's degrees.
• The Canadian government offers co-up wage subsidies worth 7000 USD to bio-economy employers for recruiting students enrolled in business and STEM programs in Canada.

Cost of Studying MS Biotechnology in Canada

There are several expenses associated with studying in Canada, such as application fees, tuition fees, food expenses, accommodation charges, etc. The expenses can be classified into three categories: pre-arrival, tuition, and post-arrival costs of living. 

Pre-Arrival Costs

An applicant pursuing a master's degree in Canada will be required to pay for health insurance, travel expenses, entrance tests, and visa applications. Here is a rough estimate of these costs:

Type of Expense	Cost (in INR)
Application Fees	INR 7,000-9,200
Canada Study Permit Application Fees	INR 14,531
Health Insurance	INR 618000
IELTS Fees	INR 11,400-11,700
TOEFL Fees	INR 9,900-15,450
GRE Fees	INR 12,600-14,220
Airfare	INR 27,800-86,500

Tuition Fees

Students can expect a variation in tuition rates of Canadian universities offering master’s programs in biotechnology. The table below presents the tuition fees structure of top universities for MS in biotechnology in Canada:

University	Tuition Fees (INR)
University of Toronto (Mississauga)	26.49 Lakhs
McGill University	9.54 Lakhs
University of Guelph	16.14 Lakhs
Brock University	27.71 Lakhs
Centennial College of Applied Arts and Technology	9.08 to 18.17 Lakhs
Durham College	7.84 Lakhs
Concordia University	11.9 Lakhs
University of Windsor	15.84 Lakhs
University of Lethbridge	11.84 Lakhs

Cost of Living in Canada

Living expenses in Canada include accommodation costs, transportation charges, food expenses, recreational costs, etc. Here we have provided an overview of the estimated living expenses in Canada:

Type of Expense	Annual Cost (INR)
Books and Supplies	Up to 9 Lakhs
Food and Beverages	2.3 to 3.89 Lakhs
Accommodation	3.44 lakhs to 8.02 Lakhs

MS Biotechnology in Canada with Scholarships

The University of Toronto offers certain course-specific scholarships to overseas students pursuing MS biotechnology in Canada. However, other Canadian universities do not provide specific scholarships for this program. Let us now discuss some of the top scholarships in Canada for MS in biotechnology:

• Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS): UToronto and the University of Guelph offer the OGS program, under which international graduate applicants receive an amount of 5,000 CAD per session. This scholarship is awarded to students who have exceptional academic records.
• Merck Graduate Scholarship in Biosciences: International students enrolled in UofT’s graduate courses are eligible to apply for this scholarship award. It offers an annual amount of 2000 to 3000 CAD.
• MBiotech Impact Award: It is available to 2nd-year students of UofT attending the MS biotechnology program. This scholarship provides an amount of 1100 CAD per year.
• School of Graduate Studies University-Wide Scholarships: International students applying to the UToronto school of graduate studies can apply for up to 15 such awards.
• Vanier Graduate Scholarship: It is designed to provide financial support to international graduate students in Canada. Through this scholarship, an amount of 37,800 is offered for a maximum of 3 years.
• Brock Scholars Award: Brock University offers this award based on the grades of international graduate applicants. The amount of this scholarship varies between 3,000 and 16,000 CAD.

Job Opportunities After MS Biotechnology in Canada

Approximately 33% of employers in the biotech and life sciences industry report a skill shortage. As a result, skilled labour is in high demand within the industry. With a number of top-tier universities, hospitals, and companies, Canada is a world leader in the field of biotechnology. 

Canada offers ample opportunities to postgraduates in all four sectors of bio-economy: Bio-health, Bio-energy, Bio-industrial technology, and Agricultural biotech. A few of the most popular jobs for graduates with an MS in biotechnology in Canada are tabulated below, along with the median salary details:

Job Title	Salary Per Year (USD)
Quality Control Analyst	$67,500
Quality Assurance Analyst	$72,500
Pharmaceutical Sales	$50,930
Chemical Engineer	$80,000
Clinical Research	$55,900
Business Development	$77,900
Laboratory Analyst	$42,000
Product Development Engineer	$92,300
Research Scientist	$80,000
Technical Writer	$92,300