Musculoskeletal Health Research (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: • Current enrollment in a thesis-based graduate program at Western University in one of the participating programs listed on the program website. • Student must be in good academic standing in their home department. • Student should be within the first year of study in the home department program. • Permission of home department supervisor to participate in the Collaborative Specialization. || Additional requirements: • Student must be completing research in the home department that is relatable or has definable impact on musculoskeletal research, as identified and defined by the student. || Western requires concurrent enrolment in one of the participating home degree programmes: Anatomy and Cell Biology MSc (Research); Anatomy and Cell Biology PhD; Anthropology MA; Anthropology PhD; Biochemistry MSc; Biochemistry PhD; Biomedical Engineering MESc; Biomedical Engineering PhD; Chemical and Biochemical Engineering MESc; Chemical and Biochemical Engineering PhD; Chemistry MSc; Chemistry 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 MA; 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; Pathology and Laboratory Medicine MSc; Pathology and Laboratory Medicine PhD; Physiology and Pharmacology MSc; Physiology and Pharmacology PhD; The Collaborative Specialization in Musculoskeletal Health Research will develop scientists with the research and leadership skills necessary to build transdisciplinary research teams focusing on integrated therapeutic, surgical and rehabilitative approaches for the management of bone and joint diseases. Specifically, the program's purpose is to:; Enhance the number of trainees involved in transdisciplinary musculoskeletal health research; Support the career advancement of trainees; Foster the development of future leaders in Canadian health care, science and technology; The Collaborative Specialization in Musculoskeletal Health Research is an add-on to the already well-established graduate programs participating with our specialization.. || 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