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Postgraduate Biological Sciences

02 November 2023

A postgraduate degree in Biological Sciences helps prepare you for a career across a wide range of areas. From Genetics and Ecology to Bioinformatics and Plant Science, you'll find our courses exciting, challenging, and cutting edge. Learn more about postgraduate Biological Sciences at UC.

HOW TO APPLY

Our staff are actively engaged in research, ensuring your projects are relevant and employ the latest methods. We have emerging and established strengths across a wide range of areas including Genetics, Evolution, Ecology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Bioinformatics, Plant Science and Cell Biology. We also have a large cohort of new staff, including three Rutherford Discovery Fellows, who bring new ideas and enthusiasm to the school.

The school runs a weekly seminar series on Thursdays at noon. Seminars are an important part of your postgraduate education.

Applying for postgraduate study

  • Go to our postgraduate advice and forms page for detailed information how to enrol.聽
  • Monitor your email as the course advisor may need to contact you.
  • Once you have been approved for聽entry聽you will receive a letter of offer and fees invoice.

Qualifications

PgDipSc

The Postgraduate Diploma of Science is a one-year program equivalent to the first year of an MSc. Students take eight 400-level courses, including聽聽BIOL411聽(Research Preparation) and聽BIOL412聽(Research Proposal), but do not carry out research.

The PgDipSc is a great option if you are unsure whether you want to commit to an MSc or if you want to extend your theoretical grounding in biology prior to entering the workforce.

It is common for students enrolled in a PgDipSc to transfer to MSc part II providing they achieve a B average or better in their 400-level courses.

Entry Requirements

Normally a B- average (GPA 4) for your 300-level science courses.

How is my grade calculated

Class聽 聽聽Letter Grade聽 聽聽GPA

Distinction聽 聽A-, A, A+聽 聽7鈥9

Merit聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 B+聽 聽6

Pass聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽B-, B聽 聽4鈥5

Transferring from a PgDipSc to MSc part II

If you are interested in progressing into MSc part II you need to decide on a research project and complete a research outline and proposal (see below). Don鈥檛 wait until you receive your grades before organising a project and supervisor.

Things you need to know

  • To transfer to MSc part II you need to obtain a B average (GPA 5) across your 400-level courses.聽
  • If you are awarded a PgDipSc then your MSc result is determined on thesis only and you are not eligible for MSc with Honours. However, you can still be awarded an MSc with Merit/Distinction.
  • Your聽MSc research outline聽forms part of the assessment of聽BIOL 411聽and is聽due in late April.聽This brief statement tells us that you are intending on doing an MSc research project, that you have spoken to a prospective supervisor, that they have agreed to take you on as a student and that you have a provisional topic. This topic might change later.
  • Your聽MSc Thesis Proposal聽forms part of the assessment for聽BIOL 412聽and is聽due in late September.聽This is a more detailed document outlining the main aims and methods of your proposed research and contains details on what permits, equipment and funding you might need.聽
  • Both of these documents need to be signed by your potential supervisor and submitted to the School of Biological Sciences office.
MSc

A Master of Science degree comprises one year of coursework (part I) and a 12 month research project (part II).

The MSc degree provides a solid grounding in the scientific process and provides sought after research skills applicable to a wide range of careers. Read the regulations here to find out current requirements on the programme.聽

Entry Requirements

  • MSc part I:聽B average (GPA 5) in 200- and 300-level science courses.
  • MSc part II:聽B average (GPA 5) across your 400-level courses and an accepted research proposal.

Things you need to know

  • You must enrol and pay fees in February every year of your degree.
  • You must include聽BIOL 411聽(Research Preparation) and聽BIOL 412聽(Research Proposal) as two of your 4th year courses.
  • All papers must be passed at the first attempt but if no more than one paper is failed, a pass in the year as a whole may be recommended, provided that a B- average (GPA 4) is attained including the failed course. However it should be noted that normally a B- would be insufficient to allow progress from MSc part I to MSc part II. If your grades are not sufficient for progress to MSc part II, but you have passed MSc part I, you will be awarded a PgDipSc.
  • Your聽MSc Research Outline聽forms part of the assessment for聽BIOL 411聽and is due in聽late April.
    This brief statement tells us that you are intending on doing an MSc research project, that you have spoken to a prospective supervisor, that they have agreed to take you on as a student and that you have a provisional topic. This topic might change later.
  • This brief statement tells us that you are intending on doing an MSc research project, that you have spoken to a prospective supervisor, that they have agreed to take you on as a student and that you have a provisional topic. This topic might change later.
  • Your聽MSc Thesis Proposal聽forms part of the assessment for聽BIOL 412聽and is聽due in late September.
    This is a more detailed document outlining the main aims and methods of your proposed research and contains details on what permits, equipment and funding you might need.聽
  • This is a more detailed document outlining the main aims and methods of your proposed research and contains details on what permits, equipment and funding you might need.聽
  • Both of these documents need to be signed by your potential supervisor and submitted to the School office.
MSc Part II
  • The recommended commencement date for MSc part II is 1st March. However, preliminary work can be started earlier (e.g., summer fieldwork) and so we encourage students to enrol in聽BIOL 401/402聽(summer research courses) prior to the start of MSc part II.
  • Your research proposal is due two months after commencement, and your progress report is due at six months.聽
  • You must complete your thesis in the equivalent of 12 months (full-time) to be eligible to graduate with honours聽
  • If you take a break between Part I & Part II and enrolment is not completed by March 1st or August 1st then a start date must be registered.
  • In exceptional circumstances it may be possible to complete Parts I and II concurrently. For more information contact the 4th Year Course Advisor.

BSc (Hons)

Honours is an intensive one-year programme designed for high achieving students seeking to fast-track to a PhD.

Honours students must take six 400-level courses, including聽BIOL 411聽(Research Preparation) and聽BIOL 412聽(Research Proposal), and a research project.

We recommend this option only for students with an A- average (GPA 7) or higher at 300-level.

Entry Requirements

B average (GPA 5) for 200- & 300- level science courses and an accepted research proposal

Things you need to know

  • The research project is worth 30 points (20% of your Honours year grade).
  • You must pass all your courses (including the project) on the first attempt.
  • Your Honours thesis is due on November 1st. Exceptions may apply if you are taking courses outside of Biology.
  • You should be contacting prospective supervisors by July or August of the year聽before聽your honours year officially starts.

How is my grade calculated

Class聽Letter Grade聽GPA
1st聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 A-, A, A+聽7鈥9
2nd Div 1聽 聽 聽B+聽6
2nd Div 2聽 聽 B-, B聽4鈥5
3rd聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽C+聽3

PhD

The PhD at UC is a research degree that typically requires three, but no more than four years of study. It is the highest academic qualification available at the University. Completing a doctorate is a mark of academic achievement and requires self-discipline and commitment.

A PhD prepares you for an academic or research career and the skills you gain are increasingly sought after in the international job market.

Entry Requirement

BSc (Hons) or MSc with a B+ average (GPA 6).

Things you need to know

  • Entry is competitive and grades do not guarantee acceptance into the degree programme.
  • UC and external doctoral scholarships are available for domestic and international students. For more information see the UC scholarships webpage.
  • You need to arrange a supervisor and decide on a research project
  • A detailed research proposal must be submitted and accepted within six months of beginning your PhD.聽
  • After 12 months there will be a Doctoral Confirmation where we will confirm that you a capable of undertaking a PhD, that you understand the science behind the project and that you have begun to make significant progress towards you PhD.
  • Progress reports are due every 6 months.

Research Proposal

A research proposal is a detailed document that describes the questions your intended research project will address, how you will address them, and why answering these questions is scientifically important.

Make sure you start writing your proposal well before its due date, allowing time for your supervisors to comment on one or two drafts. It is not unusual for your proposal to go back to your supervisors several times before it is polished enough to hand in.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

GPAs are rated as follows:

骋谤补诲别听骋笔础听笔别谤肠别苍迟补驳别
A+聽 聽 聽 聽 9聽 聽 聽89.5+
A聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽8聽 聽 聽84.5鈥89.4
A-聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 7聽 聽 79.5鈥84.4
B+聽 聽 聽 聽 聽6聽 聽 74.5鈥79.4
B聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 5聽 聽 69.5鈥74.4
B-聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 4聽 聽 64.5鈥69.4
C+聽 聽 聽 聽 聽3聽 聽 59.5鈥64.4
C聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 2聽 聽 54.5鈥59.4聽聽
C-聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽1聽 聽 49.5鈥54.4
D聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 0聽 聽39.5鈥49.4
E聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽-1聽 聽 <39.5

Honours

Master's

  • A full description of MSc processes and milestones, is available from the聽.

PhD

  • A full description of PhD processes and milestones, including how to apply and all forms, is available from UC's聽postgraduate web pages.

Employment opportunities

  • Postgraduate students in Biological Sciences can be employed as demonstrators in undergraduate laboratories. A full list of labs including numbers required will be updated at the beginning of every academic year. 聽See聽聽for details.
  • A certain number of lab supervisors are also required every year. 聽Contact the school administration office for information.
  • Postgraduate students can sometimes be employed on a fixed term contract as a research assistant depending on demand and funding.聽

Scholarships

There are a number of small grants and scholarships that are offered to ongoing postgraduates to help with research costs, travelling to conferences, or just a top up of personal money. If your supervisors are from different departments or institutions you may be eligible to apply for scholarships from all of those departments/institutions. Some societies, such as the聽,聽provide grants to conferences. Also, conferences themselves often offer travel grants to students who are presenting.

  • Search the聽Scholarships and funding聽database for all scholarships.
  • 聽offer grants for New 茄子视频app官网graduate students to study or research in the US.

Biological Sciences Postgraduate Handbook 2022

Download (application/pdf, 2 MB)
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For all enquiries about postgraduate study please contact:

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