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Plant Biology

University of Calgary

Blue ink botanical study of leaves, roots and seed structures
Image source

AI-generated ink illustration

Conceptual study artwork, not a photograph of teaching facilities.

Unidex · generated with ImageGen

Checked 2026-11-10

Deadlines

March 2027

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Next deadline

  • Apply to UCalgary

    September 2027 entry · Fall 2027 direct high-school applicants

    Submit the application and pay the application fee.

    Official deadline
Other deadline details
March 1Application: Fall undergraduate admissionRecurring annual · Every year
  • March 1
  • Verbatim: "Deadline to submit your application, including paying your non-refundable application fee
  • Deadline to make changes to your program choices."
  • The Student Access Process application deadline and the Bachelor of Health Sciences supplemental documentation deadline are the same day
SourceChecked
No central deadline published by ApplyAlbertaApplyAlberta, deadlines are set per institutionRecurring annual · Every year
  • No central deadline published by ApplyAlberta
  • ApplyAlberta handles applications, but each institution publishes its own deadlines and fees
Full source wording

ApplyAlberta publishes NO deadline dates at all on its public pages. Its How to Apply page describes the process only: verbatim, "Now you will 'Start a New Application' at the institution of your choice. You will be directed to the institution's application portal where you will apply and pay any application fees", and "All application fees are paid directly to the institution you are applying to. Each institution has its own unique application fees". Deadlines must be read from each of Alberta's 26 publicly-funded institutions.

SourceChecked
Oct. 1Domestic application opens. Fall undergraduate admissionRecurring annual · Every year
  • Oct. 1
  • Canadian citizens / permanent residents
  • Undergraduate awards application also opens Oct
  • 1
SourceChecked
Aug. 15International application opens. Fall undergraduate admissionRecurring annual · Every year
  • Aug. 15
  • For students requiring a study permit
SourceChecked
March 15Document deadline. Fall undergraduate admissionRecurring annual · Every year
  • March 15
  • Unofficial transcripts and supporting documents
  • Indigenous citizenship/membership documents and the Student Access Process personal statement share this date
SourceChecked
May 1Acceptance deadline. Fall undergraduate admissionRecurring annual · Every year
  • May 1
SourceChecked

Requirements

Admission requirements

High-school prerequisites
  • ENG4UEnglish
  • MHF4UAdvanced Functions
  • SBI4UBiology
  • SCH4UChemistry
  • One approved course or option.
  • Only one approved Fine Arts subject may count in the admission average.
  • Meet the university’s English language requirement.
UCalgary · Plant Biology · Fall 2027 Ontario admission
Application steps

Entry terms · Fall (September)

Fall 2027 direct entry to the named major.

UCalgary · Plant Biology · Fall 2027 Ontario admission
  1. Step 1Check the admission requirements
    • Check the published entry route for your applicant category.
    UCalgary · Plant Biology · Fall 2027 Ontario admissionUCalgary · Plant Biology · Fall 2027 Ontario admission
  2. Step 2Apply through ApplyAlberta
    • Create your application and select this program.
    ApplyAlbertaApplyAlberta
  3. Step 3Academic transcripts and requested supporting records
    • Applicants authorize retrieval from Alberta Education and participating Alberta institutions where applicable. Other applicants upload unofficial copies for review. Final official records must come from the education authority, institution or secure transcript delivery system to finalize an offer.
    Calgary calendar: undergraduate supporting documentsCalgary calendar: undergraduate supporting documents
  4. Step 4Certified English translations, if applicable
    • Any supporting record in another language must be accompanied by an English translation prepared by a certified translator.
    Calgary undergraduate document language rulesCalgary undergraduate document language rules
  5. Step 5Select this BSc major on the UCalgary application.
    • Complete this item using the university’s applicant instructions.
    UCalgary · Plant Biology · Fall 2027 Ontario admissionUCalgary · Plant Biology · Fall 2027 Ontario admission
  6. Step 6Check Student Centre for your documents.
    • Complete this item using the university’s applicant instructions.
    UCalgary · Plant Biology · Fall 2027 Ontario admissionUCalgary · Plant Biology · Fall 2027 Ontario admission
Applicant pathways
Honours admission

Students already enrolled in Science

  • From Fall 2027, start in the major and complete at least 30 units before applying to Honours.
UCalgary · Fall 2027 Science major and Honours entry approval

Degree requirements

Credits and degree requirements
  • Complete 120 units, including 51–66 units in the named major field.
  • Complete at least 18 units outside Science and the major field, including at least 6 units in Arts.
ReferencesUCalgary · Plant Biology · 2026–27 Academic CalendarUCalgary · Plant Biology · First-year degree guideUCalgary · Plant Biology · Fall 2026 sequencing guideUCalgary · Faculty of Science major, Honours and co-op requirementsUCalgary · Fall 2027 Science major and Honours entry approvalUCalgary · Biology · Calendar course title referenceUCalgary · Biochemistry · Calendar course title referenceUCalgary · Chemistry · Calendar course title referenceUCalgary · Plant Biology · Calendar course title reference
Required courses and electives
  • The current major lists 54 specified units and 66 units of options, including breadth and any program-specific choice rules.
ReferencesUCalgary · Plant Biology · 2026–27 Academic CalendarUCalgary · Plant Biology · First-year degree guideUCalgary · Plant Biology · Fall 2026 sequencing guideUCalgary · Faculty of Science major, Honours and co-op requirementsUCalgary · Fall 2027 Science major and Honours entry approvalUCalgary · Biology · Calendar course title referenceUCalgary · Biochemistry · Calendar course title referenceUCalgary · Chemistry · Calendar course title referenceUCalgary · Plant Biology · Calendar course title reference
Grades and academic standing
  • Maintain a GPA of at least 2.00 in both the major field and the degree overall.
ReferencesUCalgary · Plant Biology · 2026–27 Academic CalendarUCalgary · Plant Biology · First-year degree guideUCalgary · Plant Biology · Fall 2026 sequencing guideUCalgary · Faculty of Science major, Honours and co-op requirementsUCalgary · Fall 2027 Science major and Honours entry approvalUCalgary · Biology · Calendar course title referenceUCalgary · Biochemistry · Calendar course title referenceUCalgary · Chemistry · Calendar course title referenceUCalgary · Plant Biology · Calendar course title reference

Program facts

Entering average~Low 90s

Estimated competitive admission average for Ontario high-school applicants.

UCalgary · Plant Biology · Fall 2027 Ontario admissionUCalgary · Plant Biology · Fall 2027 Ontario admission
Co-opOptional Science co-op

The designation requires at least two work terms totaling eight months and both co-op courses.

University work-study information
UCalgary · Science co-op entry and work termsCheck work experience options

Majors & specializations

Honours is a later application. Any listed concentration or emphasis is a study option within the major.

Plant Biology Honours

BSc

Pursue the honours degree in Plant Biology.

Published requirements

Courses

Current Fall 2026 course sequence and degree rules. Later course rows are selected from the official guide.

First-year course plan6 listed

Choose one introductory calculus course. The first-year guide also requires Science breadth, non-Science options and a non-major-field option.

  • BIOL 211Biomolecules and Cellular Systems
  • BIOL 213Ecology, Evolution, and the Biosphere
  • CHEM 201General Chemistry: Structure and Bonding
  • CHEM 203General Chemistry: Change and Equilibrium
  • MATH 249Introductory Calculus
  • MATH 265University Calculus I
UCalgary · Plant Biology · First-year degree guide
Second-year course plan8 listed

Choose CHEM 341 or CHEM 351.

  • BIOL 311Principles of Genetics
  • BIOL 313Principles of Ecology
  • BIOL 315Quantitative Biology I
  • BIOL 331Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology
  • BIOL 371Comparative Biology of Plants and Animals
  • BCEM 393Introduction to Biochemistry
  • CHEM 341Organic Chemistry for Life Sciences
  • CHEM 351Organic Chemistry I
UCalgary · Plant Biology · Fall 2026 sequencing guide
Later-year courses5 listed

Examples from the later Plant Biology options. See the sequence for required selections.

  • PLBI 403Plant Physiology
  • PLBI 421Plant Cell Biology and Anatomy
  • PLBI 543Plant Signaling and Development
  • BIOL 435Biology of Fungi
  • BIOL 505Medicinal Plant Biochemistry
UCalgary · Plant Biology · Fall 2026 sequencing guide

Careers

Career sectors

4
  • Plant biotechnology
  • Agriculture
  • Forestry
  • Pharmaceuticals
Career sectorsUCalgary · Plant Biology · Fall 2027 Ontario admissionUCalgary · Science co-op entry and work terms
Scope and qualifications

Further professional or graduate study may be required for some career paths.

Career sectors listed by UCalgary for this major.

Costs

Plant Biology · Group A course

Published cost estimate

2026–27 · One 3-unit course · CAD

Canadian example · Choose your category

Tuition per 3-unit course$738.66
Books and suppliesUnpublished
Residence
Not estimated
Meal plan
Not estimated
Estimated subtotalNot available

Published 2026–27 Group A tuition per 3-unit course. Actual charges depend on course selection. Incidental fees and co-op are separate.

Housing and meals are outside this estimate.

Last updated

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