Developmental Biology (Collaborative Specialization)

Frequently asked questions

• What English score does it need?

  IELTS 6.5 overall is the score listed for this programme.

• What are the entry requirements?

  Programme admission requirements as published by Western: The Collaborative Program in Developmental Biology has members from both the Faculty of Science and the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry. To enroll in the program, complete the following steps. Step One The student must be accepted into the graduate program of one of the specialization's host departments. These are currently: Faculty of Science • The Department of Biology Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry • The Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology • The Department of Biochemistry • The Department of Microbiology and Immunology • The Department of Physiology and Pharmacology • The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Step Two Be working with a supervisor that is a member of the Program (see People ). Step Three Submit a completed application form to the Director of the Collaborative Program outlining your interest in the Collaborative program and your interest in Developmental Biology. At this stage, we are really looking for a demonstrated interest in the discipline such as a course or research experience that has sparked your interest. Applications to the Developmental Biology program can be done at any time after acceptance into the home department graduate program and approval by the supervisor. Applications should be sent to: Dr. Katherine Willmore, Director c/o Karen Burrell, Administrative Assistant CHRI, LHSC-VH A5-107A 800 Commissioners Road East London, ON N6C 2V5 karen.burrell@lhsc.on.ca || Western requires concurrent enrolment in one of the participating home degree programmes: Anatomy and Cell Biology PhD; Biochemistry MSc; Biochemistry PhD; Biology MSc; Biology PhD; Biomedical Engineering MESc; Biomedical Engineering PhD; Microbiology and Immunology MSc; Microbiology and Immunology PhD; Neuroscience MSc; Neuroscience PhD; Physiology and Pharmacology MSc; Physiology and Pharmacology PhD; The purpose of the Collaborative Specialization in Developmental Biology is to create a community of graduate students with an interest in Developmental Biology and to provide specific courses to support and teach that community. Our aim is to train Developmental Biologists who will go on to make significant contributions to the field.; Our program represents a wide range of interests within Developmental Biology. We have scientists working with embryos during their earliest stages of development as well as a strong group of researchers looking at the development of the late term fetus. Students can be studying the development of invertebrates, fish, amphibians or mammals within the specialization. This diversity will give students a broad and comprehensive experience in the study of how organisms are formed and how these early events can influence later life.; . || 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: This programme page publishes no English Language Proficiency section. The scores shown are Western's SGPS university-wide minimum. Western's School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (SGPS) university-wide minimum, from grad.uwo.ca 'How to Apply' / 'International Applicants': TOEFL iBT overall 86 with no section below 20 for tests taken before 21 January 2026, or overall 4.5 with no section below 4 for tests taken on or after 21 January 2026 (Western's TOEFL ID is 0984); IELTS Academic 6.5 out of 9; Duolingo English Test 115; CAEL Assessment 60; or successful completion of the Western English Language Centre High-Advanced level, or graduation from Level 10 of Fanshawe College's ESL English for Academic Purposes with a minimum 80% in all components. Western states: 'Programs at Western may require a higher minimum score than those listed above.' · English: IELTS 6.5; TOEFL iBT 86; Duolingo English Test 115 · 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: Western publishes no tuition deposit for this programme in the 2026-2027 Program-Related Tuition Fees (Table 2). The only general graduate deposits listed there are line 226 'Tuition Deposit, Full-time International Masters, non-refundable, 2,000' and line 222 'Admission Deferral Deposit, non-refundable, 500'. 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