Each campus is well equipped for a wide range of biological research; some major equipment and facilities include transmission and scanning electron microscopes, spectrophotometers, liquid scintillation and other radioactivity counters, high performance liquid and gas chromatographs, amino acid analyzer, preparative and analytical ultracentrifuges, electrophysiology equipment, tissue culture, animal and plant growth facilities, controlled environment cabinets and on-line computer access. State-of-the-art facilities for research in genomics and bioinformatics are available at the new Centre for Advanced Research in Environmental Genomics (CAREG). Students also benefit from the resources of nearby government laboratories and libraries (for example, Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada, Environment Canada, Health Canada, the National Research Council and the Canadian Institute for Scientific and Technical Information). Several staff members of both universities are involved in joint projects with scientists in government laboratories and with other scientists in fields of research such as biotechnology.

Students wishing to pursue studies in the biological sciences at the master's and doctoral levels in the Ottawa area do so in a co-operative program that combines the resources of the Departments of Biology of the University of Ottawa and Carleton University. The two universities have a joint committee which supervises the programs, regulations, and student admissions.

The program operates within the general framework of the "Regulations and Procedures for Joint Graduate Programs" (www.ocjip.ca) and the general regulations of the graduate faculty at each of the two universities.

Students are admitted for graduate work in Biology under the general regulations of the Institute. Additional criteria for admission include academic performance, research experience and referees' appraisals. The student must also be accepted by a faculty member who will supervise the research project. The choice of supervisor will determine the primary campus location of the student. It will also determine which university awards the degree. The student's advisory committee will normally include faculty members from both universities.

An honours BSc or equivalent degree at a standard acceptable to the two universities is required for admission to the master of science program. Applicants with acceptable standing in a non-honours degree may be admitted to a qualifying program which will be determined in each case by the institute committee.

A master in science from a recognized university is usually required for entry into the doctoral program. However, an applicant with a first-class BSc and excellent references may be admitted directly to the doctoral program. A student already registered for the master of science may be permitted to transfer to the doctoral program following a recommendation by the departmental graduate committee and successful completion of the qualifying examination required of doctoral candidates.

All candidates must demonstrate a fluent knowledge of either English or French.

Requests for application forms and information, and completed application forms, should be sent to the Director of Graduate Studies in Biology, University of Ottawa.

Second-language Requirement

For the doctoral degree, knowledge of a second language may be specified as a program requirement.

Examinations and theses may be written in English or in French. Courses are offered in both English and French (see course descriptions).

Transfer from Master's to Doctoral Degree

A master's student may, on the recommendation of the student's advisory committee and departmental graduate committee, transfer to the doctoral program providing the student has completed one year of graduate studies and has successfully completed the doctoral qualifying examination. This examination must be passed within 18 to 24 months of entry into the master's program.

Change of Program

At the University of Ottawa, a student who wishes to proceed from one level of studies to a higher level (qualifying to master of science) in the same department, must apply to the department and may enrol in the new program only upon receipt of a new certificate of admission.

Ottawa-Carleton Collaborative Program in Chemical and Environmental Toxicology

The Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Biology is one of the participating units in the collaborative program in chemical and environmental toxicology. For further details, please consult the brochure on chemical and environmental toxicology published by the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

PhD Degree Requirements

1. Registration at the University of Ottawa for two years and completion of the doctoral seminar BIO 8900.
2. Completion of the courses at the graduate level specified by the admissions committee and the student's advisory committee. A minimum of six credits are required (in addition to BIO 8900) for students admitted to the doctoral program with a master of science, and a minimum of twelve credits are required (in addition to BIO 8900) for students admitted to the doctoral program without a master of science. Only courses at the graduate level may form part of the candidate's course requirements. The passing grade for all required courses is 70% or equivalent and the student is not allowed a supplemental examination. The institute committee or the student's advisory committee may also direct the student to take or to audit additional courses to complement the student's background or research program.
3. Completion of an oral qualifying examination normally within approximately 12 months of the student's entry into the program. This examination will cover the candidate's area of research and general biology. Its format will be established by the departmental graduate committee and approved by the institute committee. The examination committee will generally be composed of faculty members from both universities.
4. Presentation of at least one public seminar on the candidate's thesis research.
5. A thesis incorporating the results of original research carried out under the direct supervision of an approved faculty member.
6. Normally, the completion of at least six sessions as a full-time student resident at one of the two universities (or nine sessions if admitted without a master of science).
7. Successful oral defence of the thesis before an examination board of at least five faculty members, with representation from both universities, and including an external examiner from outside the two universities who is an authority on the thesis research area.