Machine Learning in Health and Biomedical Sciences (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: • Successful admission to a graduate program that is part of the Collaborative Specialization. • A proposed thesis topic that is eligible with respect to the Collaborative Specialization is required for admission. The thesis title and topic (in form of a one-page abstract) needs to be submitted to the CS steering committee prior to admission to the collaborative specialization. || Western requires concurrent enrolment in one of the participating home degree programmes: Anatomy and Cell Biology MSc; Anatomy and Cell Biology PhD; Biochemistry MSc; Biochemistry PhD; Biomedical Engineering MESc; Biomedical Engineering PhD; Computer Science MSc; Computer Science PhD; Electrical and Computer Engineering MESc; Electrical and Computer Engineering PhD; Epidemiology and Biostatistics MSc; Epidemiology and Biostatistics PhD; Health and Rehabilitation Sciences MSc; Health and Rehabilitation Sciences PhD; Kinesiology MKin; Kinesiology MSc; Kinesiology PhD; Mechanical and Materials Engineering MESc; Mechanical and Materials Engineering PhD; Medical Biophysics MSc; Medical Biophysics PhD; Microbiology and Immunology MSc; Microbiology and Immunology PhD; Neuroscience MSc; Neuroscience PhD; Pathology and Laboratory Medicine MSc; Pathology and Laboratory Medicine PhD; Physics MSc; Physics PhD; Psychology MSc; Psychology PhD; The Collaborative Specialization in Machine Learning in Health and Biomedical Science is an interdisciplinary training field that is designed to enable students apply modern machine learning approaches to improve human health and well-being. It is recognized by the Vector Institute as delivering a curriculum that equips its graduates with the skills and competencies sought by industry.; The specialization provides a solid foundation in machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques, and its application to problems in health and biomedical sciences. Special training is provided in project development, end-user engagement, and a reflected practice that considers the ethical implication of the developed techniques.; Students are required to pass one foundational and at least one applied machine learning course, and to complete a thesis in their home program that is relevant to the field. The core-seminar provides Entrepreneurial, communication, ethical, and project management training that prepares the students for a career in this rapidly growing sector of the Canadian industry.. || 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 numeric English Language Proficiency requirement of its own (it states: '• Requirements of the student’s home degree program need to be met.'). The scores shown are Western's SGPS university-wide minimum. • Requirements of the student’s home degree program need to be met. · 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