Drug Safety and Pharmacovigilance (Master of Science (MSc))

Frequently asked questions

• How much does Drug Safety and Pharmacovigilance (Master of Science (MSc)) cost?

  CAD 39,720 / year.

• What English score does it need?

  IELTS 7.0 overall is the score listed for this programme.

• How long is it?

  3 terms, as listed by the university.

• What are the entry requirements?

  Programme admission requirements as published by Western: Both health related education and health related experience are important eligibility criteria. We are interested in candidates with the following profiles: • Individual who has earned at least a four-year undergraduate degree in a health-related field (from a recognized Canadian university or college or equivalent). • Registered or licensed health practitioner who has earned at least a four-year undergraduate health degree (from a recognized Canadian university or college or equivalent) and at least two years of healthcare related work experience (i.g., medical residents post PGY2). • Professionals from public health sector who has earned at least a four-year undergraduate degree (from a recognized Canadian university or college or equivalent) and at least two years of work experience in public health or public health policy. All candidates must also meet the following admission criteria: • Must have a minimum average of B+ (78% or higher) on the last 10 full courses or 20 half-courses completed (approximately 2 years of full-time study); • Successfully completed an undergraduate statistics course with a 75% (Canadian equivalency); and • Proof of registration or licensure from relevant regulatory organization if applying as a health practitioner. • Interviews in person or via teleconference may also be conducted to ensure fit between the student and the rigorous academic program. || SGPS university-wide minimum - Master's: 'Applicants must possess a four-year degree from a university, college or institute. The School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies requires at least a 70% average across courses taken in the last two full-time years of the undergraduate degree. Equivalent qualifications may be considered based on the standards of the discipline or profession.' Doctoral: 'Applicants must possess a Master's degree or equivalent from a university, college or institute, and provide evidence of research potential. The School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies requires at least a 70% average in the Master's degree, as determined by the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.' Source: https://grad.uwo.ca/admissions/international/index.html || English language proficiency: Applicants whose first language is not English must furnish evidence of their proficiency in the use of the English language by a satisfactory achievement within the last two years in one of the following: • The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) . The competitive score is 5 with no individual score below 4.5. Western’s TOEFL ID is 0984. • The International English Language Testing Service (IELTS Academic) . The competitive score is 7 out of 9 with no individual score lower than 6.0. • The Duolingo English Test . Applicants must attain a minimum score of 120. • The Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL Assessment) . The competitive overall score is 70 with 70 in both writing and speaking. The CAEL Assessment is offered in several countries throughout the world as well as Canada. • Western English Language Centre . The requirement is successful completion of the High-Advanced level. • Fanshawe College’s ESL Program . The requirement is graduation from Level 10, Advanced Academic Preparation, with a minimum 80% in all components. Students who are required to present evidence of proficiency in English must make their own arrangements to write the TOEFL, IELTS, MELAB or CAEL and to have the official results sent directly to the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies by the testing agency. Those who have completed the High-Advanced level at the Western English Language Centre must provide official proof of completion. Those who have graduated from Level 10 of the Fanshawe College ESL Program must provide official proof of graduation. · English: IELTS 7.0; Duolingo English Test 120 · English test waiver: Western does not publish a blanket country or medium-of-instruction waiver for graduate admission. SGPS states the requirement applies to 'Applicants whose first language is not English', and under 'Exemptions': 'Applicants may request an exemption by contacting their graduate program(s) of interest. For the French and Hispanic Studies programs only, evidence of proficiency in English is a degree requirement but not a requirement for admission.' Western also offers a conditional route instead of a test: the Western English Language Centre 'allows academically eligible students interested in pursuing a graduate degree at Western the opportunity to receive a conditional offer of admission to graduate studies without successful completion of an English language proficiency test', on condition the student completes the Centre's programme. Source: https://grad.uwo.ca/admissions/apply.html and https://grad.uwo.ca/admissions/international/index.html · Application fee: CAD 185.00 - 2026-2027 Application Fees Table 3, Graduate Programs: 'All other graduate programs 185'. Source: 2026-2027 Application Fees (Table 3), https://registrar.uwo.ca/student_finances/fees_refunds/2026-27-Application-Fees.pdf · Deposit: CAD 2,000.00 non-refundable - 2026-2027 Program-Related Tuition Fees (Table 2), General section, line 226 'Tuition Deposit, Full-time International Masters, non-refundable, 2,000'. Source: https://registrar.uwo.ca/student_finances/fees_refunds/2026-27-Program-Related-Fees2.pdf

• Is there a scholarship?

  Western Graduate Research Scholarship (WGRS), Graduate Teaching Assistantships, Graduate Fellowships and Graduate Student Assistantships are administered by the graduate programme; SGPS states 'Decisions regarding the structure, sources and annual amount of your graduate funding over the course of your program are made primarily at the Faculty and/or graduate program.' Doctoral funding guarantee, open to international students: 'For domestic and international doctoral students who start their program in September 2026 (September 1, 2026 - August 31, 2027), Western guarantees a minimum annual funding support package of $17,000, plus $6,487 for tuition, for a total of $23,487.' Average funding received from all sources: Doctoral CAD 35,476 (2025), Master's CAD 26,277 (2025). International students are eligible for Western's Graduate Bursary and for the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS). Western lists formalised international sponsorship partnerships with: CGS-Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplements, China Scholarship Council, Libya North-American Scholarship Program, Egypt Cultural and Educational Bureau, Mitacs Globalink Research Awards, Organization of American States Program, Rhodes Scholarships, Russia Global Education Program, Saudi Arabia King Abdullah Scholarship Program and the Vietnam International Education Development Program. Source View scholarship page