Life Sciences (Health Sciences Stream)

University of Toronto · Scarborough

Biology and Life Science: blue ink subject illustration

4 years
Duration (years)
4 years
U of T Scarborough · Biology admissions and example first year
Optional paid co-op
Work experience
Published Health Sciences Stream examples across its three entry categories. Placement eligibility follows the chosen programme.
U of T Scarborough · Health Sciences Stream programmes and outcomes
~Mid 70s regular · High 70s co-op
Entering average
Published approximate guidance: Mid 70s regular · High 70s co-op. Fall 2027 published admission guidance. Approximate Fall 2027 category guidance for the regular and co-op options. The university publishes higher guidance for Biology and Neuroscience. The bulletin presents shared guidance across both admission streams.
U of T · 2027–28 domestic admissions bulletin, Scarborough

Deadlines

November 2026

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Next deadlineThursday, November 19, 2026

OUAC. Ontario high schools report midterm/final 4U/M grades
2027 entry
School deadline, not a student task. Universities receive these grades by November 26. Verbatim: "Deadline for the OUAC to receive all midterm or final grades available for 4U/M courses from Ontario high schools. Schools may report in-progress grades for full-year courses as soon as they are available." Universities receive these by the target date of November 26, 2026. This is a deadline on the high school, not on the student, but it governs which grades a university sees in the first round.
Official deadline

Other deadline details

No single OUAC deadline, deadlines are set by each university and sometimes by programOUAC Undergraduate application, applicants who are not Ontario high school students (Group B)2026 entry

No single OUAC deadline, deadlines are set by each university and sometimes by program
No single OUAC deadline
University, program, transcript, portfolio, interview, and audition dates still apply

Full source wording

Verbatim: "There is no specific Undergraduate application deadline if you are a Group B applicant. Deadlines vary at each university and sometimes depend on the program. Visit the university websites or contact the universities directly for their deadlines. If you are interested in a program but the deadline has passed, you may contact the university's admission office for help. Be aware of university-specific deadlines for submitting transcripts and portfolios, if required, and for arranging interviews and auditions. You must ensure the OUAC has enough time to process your choices before the universities' program deadlines." OUAC defines Group B as anyone who does not meet the Group A criteria, e.g. not currently taking an Ontario high school course, a Canadian outside Ontario, an international applicant, a postsecondary transfer student, or a mature applicant.

SourceChecked Aug 14, 2026

Requirements

Admission requirements

High-school prerequisites

ENG4UEnglish70% min.
SBI4UBiology

Complete an Ontario Secondary School Diploma and at least six Grade 12 U or M courses.
Provide proof of English proficiency if required.
Present one Grade 12 U mathematics course: MCV4U, MHF4U or MDM4U.
Chemistry (SCH4U) is recommended. Some programme choices require Calculus and Vectors specifically.
Apply directly from high school. Applicants with postsecondary study are ineligible for this first-year route.

Application steps

Entry terms · Fall (September)

Fall 2027 regular and co-op entry under OUAC code TXD.

Step 1Check the admission requirements
- Check the published entry route for your applicant category.
U of T Scarborough · Biology admissions and example first yearU of T Scarborough · Biology admissions and example first year
Step 2Apply through OUAC
- Create your application and select this program.
OUACOUAC
Step 3Secondary and postsecondary academic records
- Disclose all attempted secondary and postsecondary studies. Current full-time Ontario high school grades must arrive through OUAC; do not upload unsolicited Ontario transcripts. Applicants who completed Grade 11 elsewhere must also provide those results. Your portal lists the documents needed for your background.
U of T required application documentsU of T required application documents
Step 4Translations for documents outside English or French
- If your academic documents are in another language, submit notarized translations with the original records.
U of T document translationsU of T document translations
Step 5Select Scarborough and OUAC code TXD.
- Complete this item using the university’s applicant instructions.
U of T Scarborough · Biology admissions and example first yearU of T Scarborough · Biology admissions and example first year
Step 6Activate your JOINid when you receive U of T’s acknowledgment.
- Complete this item using the university’s applicant instructions.
U of T Scarborough · Biology admissions and example first yearU of T Scarborough · Biology admissions and example first year
Step 7Submit the required documents shown in JOIN U of T.
- Complete this item using the university’s applicant instructions.
U of T Scarborough · Biology admissions and example first yearU of T Scarborough · Biology admissions and example first year

Applicant pathways

Health Sciences eligibility

Direct high-school applicants

Choose the Health Sciences Stream on your first-year OUAC application.
Applicants who have already completed postsecondary studies are ineligible for this certificate route.
Choose an approved HBSc Major or Specialist to remain eligible for the certificate.

Biology and related programmes

Applicants choosing a Life Sciences programme

Biology, Human Biology, Conservation and Biodiversity, Neuroscience, Plant Biology, and Molecular Biology, Immunology and Disease list Biology and Grade 12 mathematics.
Integrative Biology and Molecular Biology and Biotechnology list Biology and Calculus and Vectors.
Check the course prerequisites for your chosen Specialist before first-year course enrolment.

Degree requirements

Credits and degree requirements

Complete 20.0 credits, including at least 10.0 at Scarborough, at least 6.0 at the C or D level, and at least 1.0 at the D level.
Declare a programme of study after first year. Biology Major, for example, requires at least 4.0 completed credits including biology, chemistry, and mathematics or statistics before applying.
The Biology Major contains 8.0 programme credits and includes two integrative projects. Other biological programmes have their own graduation and enrolment rules.
The certificate is added in first year. Remain in good standing in an approved HBSc Major or Specialist to retain eligibility.
Complete 2.0 certificate credits, including 0.5 credit from each of the four areas and at least 0.5 credit at the C or D level.
The certificate is recorded on the transcript. Complete the HBSc and programme-of-study requirements separately.

References

Grades and academic standing

Complete at least 0.5 credit in each of the five breadth areas and meet the 1.85 cumulative GPA requirement.
Complete one Specialist, two Majors, or a Major and two Minors, with at least 12.0 distinct credits. Individual programmes can require a higher GPA.

References

Program facts

Entering average~Mid 70s regular · High 70s co-op

Approximate Fall 2027 category guidance for the regular and co-op options. The university publishes higher guidance for Biology and Neuroscience. The bulletin presents shared guidance across both admission streams.

Co-opOptional paid co-op

Published Health Sciences Stream examples across its three entry categories. Placement eligibility follows the chosen programme.

Check work experience options

Majors & specializations

TXD is a direct high-school entry route. The certificate is available with the listed HBSc majors and specialists.

Biology

HBSc + Certificate

Study living organisms across cellular, organismal and ecological levels.

Published requirements Published courses

Courses

Verified courses for selected programmes of study. The first-year plan depends on the option chosen.

First-year example · Biology10 listed

Take BIOA01H3, BIOA02H3 and CHMA10H3, then CHMA11H3 or CHMA12H3 and 0.5 credit in approved mathematics or statistics. Other Life Sciences programmes have their own plans.

BIOA01H3Life on Earth: Unifying Principles0.5 credits
Cells, genetics, evolution and microorganisms.
BIOA02H3Life on Earth: Form, Function and Interactions0.5 credits
Organism physiology, population biology and biodiversity.
CHMA10H3Introductory Chemistry I: Structure and Bonding0.5 credits
Atomic structure, chemical bonds and reactions.
CHMA11H3Introductory Chemistry II: Reactions and Mechanisms0.5 credits
Equilibrium, thermodynamics, chemical kinetics and electrochemistry.
CHMA12H3Advanced General Chemistry0.5 credits
MATA29H3Calculus I for the Life Sciences0.5 credits
MATA30H3Calculus I for Physical Sciences0.5 credits
STAB22H3Statistics I0.5 credits
STAB23H3Introduction to Statistics for the Social Sciences0.5 credits
PSYA06H3Introduction to Data Analysis for Scientific Literacy0.5 credits

First-year additions · Neuroscience2 listed

Neuroscience also requires first-year biology, chemistry and calculus. See the individual study plan for the approved choices.

PSYA01H3Introduction to Biological and Cognitive Psychology0.5 credits
Research methods, neuroscience, perception and cognition.
PSYA02H3Introduction to Clinical, Developmental, Personality and Social Psychology0.5 credits
Development, personality, mental health and social behaviour.

Certificate choices · Complex systems, structures and settings3 listed

Choose 0.5 credit. Examples from the full calendar list.

GGRB28H3Geographies of Disease: Beyond Epidemiology0.5 credits
HLTC43H3Politics of Canadian Health Policy0.5 credits
HLTD40H3The Politics of Care, Self-Care and Mutual Aid0.5 credits

Certificate choices · Cultures, communities and care3 listed

Choose 0.5 credit. Examples from the full calendar list.

ANTC61H3Medical Anthropology: Illness and Healing in Cultural Perspective0.5 credits
HLTB41H3Social Determinants of Health0.5 credits
POLC43H3Prejudice and Racism0.5 credits

Certificate choices · Critical and creative thinking3 listed

Choose 0.5 credit. Examples from the full calendar list.

BIOB20H3Introduction to Computational Biology0.5 credits
HLTB15H3Health Research Methodologies0.5 credits
PHLB09H3Bioethics0.5 credits

Certificate choices · Communication and leadership3 listed

Choose 0.5 credit. Examples from the full calendar list.

ENGB02H3Effective Writing in the Sciences0.5 credits
HLTD49H3Global Health Governance: Thinking Alongside the World's Leaders0.5 credits
PSYC02H3Scientific Communication in Psychology0.5 credits