How to Apply to Biology at Bishop’s University (Quebec, Canada): BSc Biochemistry, BSc Biology and BA Biology with Health Sciences (Pre-Medicine) and Biodiversity and Ecology Concentrations, Small Lab Classes, and Admission and Prerequisites for Canadian, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

Bishop’s University is in Quebec, Canada. Undergraduate biology sits in the Department of Biology and Biochemistry in the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. The faculty page lists Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, and Physics and Astronomy; Chemistry has no degree: the Academic Calendar says the Chemistry Department currently offers one program, the Chemistry Minor. For the most chemistry coursework, the BSc in Biochemistry is the closest route. Medicine (MD), nursing, pharmacy and similar professional degrees are outside this article: the faculty pages read do not list such undergraduate degrees, and they only say graduates go on to medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry and other fields; check the Bishop’s site. Below is what Bishop’s publishes for 2027 entry, organized for Canadian students, international students, applicants from China and transfer students.

1. Programs

• BSc Biochemistry (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Concentration): Honours (course-based or research-based), Major and Minor. The department says it gives a strong grounding in biology, biochemistry and chemistry, and graduates are prepared for graduate studies (MSc or PhD) or professional schools such as medicine, dentistry, physiotherapy and veterinary medicine.
• BSc Biology: students must choose one of two concentrations, Health Sciences (called Health Sciences and Pre-Medicine in the calendar) or Biodiversity and Ecology. Honours (course-based or research-based) and Major are offered. Bishop’s says the BSc requires a strong grounding in the core sciences (math, physics and chemistry) and is the best option for graduate or professional programs.
• BA Biology: the same two concentrations. It has fewer required courses, so students can complete a second major (the examples are Psychology and Environmental Studies); it suits students who like biology but lack a strong basic-science background.
• Minors: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Health Sciences, and Biodiversity. The department page says the Biochemistry and Biology minors each take eight three-credit courses.
• BSc Biochemistry versus BSc Biology: Bishop’s says the Biochemistry BSc has additional chemistry courses, while the Biology BSc has additional biology courses and a broader foundation in the biological sciences.
• Only one department program: the calendar says students may complete only one of the departmental programs.
• Neuroscience and similar: not among this department’s programs; the pages read do not list them, so check the Psychology pages and the calendar.
• Length: a first bachelor’s degree is a 4-year, 120-credit program; the calendar says up to one year (30 credits) of advanced credit may be granted, and in specific cases up to two years (60 credits).

2. Choosing a program and entering Honours

• What you choose when applying: the department page says incoming students can choose three degrees (BSc Biochemistry, BSc Biology, BA Biology), and Biology students pick one of two concentrations. The faculty also runs an entry-level option for a limited number of students: they register as Divisional Majors for at most two full-time semesters and must then enrol in a specific program; students not accepted into a regular program must see the academic advisor.
• Honours entry (Academic Calendar): finish all first-year science courses plus 24 additional credits that include BIO 201, BIO 208, CHM 111, PHY 101, and BIO 205 or BCH 210; a cumulative average of 75% or higher; 75% or higher in all 300- and 400-level Biology and Biochemistry courses (four credits, usually one lecture and one lab, may be exempted); and at least 75% in each honours course. Failing to maintain these moves a student to the corresponding Major. The department page adds that students enter Honours only in the year before their final year, based on marks and the availability of a suitable faculty supervisor, and that honours students plan, carry out and present an independent research project.
• First year of the BSc: in the calendar, the Biochemistry Honours first year is BIO 196 (Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology), CHM 191/192 (General Chemistry), MAT 191/192 (Calculus) and PHY 191/192 (Introductory Physics), plus one humanities course, one humanities or social sciences course and one free elective. BSc Biology’s first year also lists BIO 196, CHM 191/192 and MAT 191/192, and the Biodiversity and Ecology list also shows PHY 191. The BA Biology first year lists BIO 196 and CHM 191/192, among others. See the calendar for each program’s full list.
• Breadth requirement: the faculty requires 6 credits of humanities and 3 credits of humanities or social sciences for all majors and honours students (exempt from the first with 30 or more unassigned advanced credits, and from the second if the program combination exceeds 72 credits); the department page separately says two humanities courses, or one humanities and one social sciences course, plus three Skills and Perspectives courses.
• Lab credits: the calendar says many lectures have a co-requisite lab; lab credits do not count toward the 120 credits but the lab must be passed to get credit for the lecture.
• Pre-medicine: Bishop’s says the Health Sciences and Pre-Medicine and the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology programs provide the courses needed to apply to most major medical schools in Canada and the US and many other countries, and warns that entrance requirements vary greatly and change from year to year, so choose target schools first and check their requirements. In the calendar’s Biochemistry Honours option list, CS 211, PHY 206, PSY 101 and SOC 101 are marked as recommended for students applying to medical schools. Bishop’s does not award a medical degree.
• Hands-on work: Bishop’s describes strong lab and experiment-based teaching, with field and laboratory experience; facilities include biochemistry and molecular biology equipment, aquatic and terrestrial animal rooms, a greenhouse, incubators and research microscopes, plus the Peter Curry Marsh, surrounding woodland, canoe access to the Massawippi and St Francis rivers and the Johnville Bog; there are Biology and Pre-Medicine clubs. Co-op is not mentioned on the Biology and Biochemistry page (not published on the pages read).
• Entrance test or interview: none is listed for biology programs.

3. Prerequisites

• BSc (including Biochemistry): Canadian high school applicants need one Grade 12 math course among their approved courses plus two of Biology, Chemistry and Physics; the international page says university-entrance mathematics plus two university-entrance sciences (usually Biology, Chemistry and/or Physics).
• BA Biology: the Canadian page says BA applicants to Math, Biology or Computer Science need one approved Grade 12 math course; the international page says university-entrance mathematics for BA Science programs.
• MAT190 exemption: the chart lists the required course by curriculum, for example BC Pre-Calculus 12 and/or Calculus 12; Alberta, NWT and Nunavut Math 30-1 or Math 31; Ontario Advanced Functions 4U and/or Calculus & Vectors 4U; Saskatchewan 30-level math; IB Mathematics Analysis and Approaches and/or Applications and Interpretation; and Grade 12 pre-calculus and/or calculus (or equivalent) for the USA and other international curricula.
• AP credit (score of 3 or better; an official College Board report is required; exams written and planned must be declared on the application): Biology = BIO 196/BIL 196 (3 credits); Chemistry = CHM 191/CHL 191 + CHM 192/CHL 192 (6); Physics B or C = PHY 191 + PHY 192 (6); Calculus AB = MAT 191 (3), Calculus BC = MAT 191 + MAT 192 (6); Statistics = PHY 101 or BMA 140 + BMA 141.
• IB credit (score of 5 or better): Biology HL = BIO 196/BIL 196; Chemistry HL = CHM 191/CHL 191 + CHM 192/CHL 192; Physics HL = PHY 191 + PHY 192, Physics SL = PHY 191; Mathematics Analysis and Approaches HL or Applications and Interpretation HL = MAT 191; Applications and Interpretation SL = MAT 108. The transfer-credit page also says completing Grade 12 IB Mathematics exempts students from MAT190.

4. Timeline, fee and documents

• How to apply: complete the online application, pay the CAD 75 fee (non-refundable, no other processing fees, paid online by credit card), upload transcripts, language scores and other documents, then track progress in the myBU Applicant Portal. Once the file is complete, most applicants get an initial decision within 10 business days (master’s, music and competitive-admission programs excepted).
• Deadlines (page updated September 15, 2026): for Fall (September) 2027, May 1, 2027 for Quebec, other Canadian and US students, and March 1, 2027 for international students; for Winter (January) entry, November 1, 2026 for Canadian and US students and September 1, 2026 for international students (already passed). The page also says some programs have only Fall or Winter entry; the entry terms of the biology programs are not published on the pages read, so check the program page.
• Competitive: Bishop’s stresses that it receives more applications than spaces, meeting the minimum does not guarantee admission, and applicants below the minimum may be considered individually, with the Admissions Office possibly requesting more information.
• Extra documents: Bishop’s takes a holistic approach and may request a personal statement, letter of intent, letters of recommendation, an essay or a CV. Only the music programs require an audition and letter of musical background; no portfolio or test is listed for biology.

5. Canadian students (citizens and permanent residents)

• Who counts: students completing Grade 12 at a Canadian high school or a school following a Canadian curriculum, or who graduated within the last two years without studying elsewhere. IB students use the IB page.
• Minimum average: for British Columbia and Yukon, Alberta, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador, Bishop’s lists an estimated minimum admission average of 80% for all programs, as a guideline for being competitive.
• Course structure: five Grade 12 university-preparatory courses, including Grade 12 English. For example, BC needs English 12 (or English 12 First Peoples) plus four approved courses (Pre-Calculus 12, Calculus 12, Biology 12, Chemistry 12 and Physics 12 are on the list); Alberta needs English 30-1 plus other approved courses (including Mathematics 30-1/30-2/30-3/31, Biology 30, Chemistry 30, Physics 30); Ontario needs English 4U (ENG4U, EAE4U or NBE4U) with any other 4U courses and optionally one 4M; Saskatchewan needs English A30 and B30 (the higher grade is used); Quebec high schools need Grade 12 English plus other approved courses. See the Bishop’s page for each province’s full list.
• BSc subjects: one Grade 12 math course plus two of Biology, Chemistry and Physics among the approved courses (for example BC Biology 12/Chemistry 12/Physics 12, Ontario Biology 4U/Chemistry 4U/Physics 4U, Alberta Biology 30/Chemistry 30/Physics 30).
• Applying early: Grade 11 marks are used for the admission average. Ontario applicants with an OUAC reference number can enter it in the online application and Bishop’s receives transcripts from OUAC, but OUAC only starts sending transcripts in November, so send your latest transcript yourself for a faster decision.
• Credit: Canadian high school students get no advanced credit, but may receive a MAT190 exemption with an eligible math course. Students who complete a Quebec CEGEP DEC automatically receive 30 advanced elective credits; the CEGEP page has its own requirements, so check Bishop’s.
• Tuition (2026–2027, 30 credits, CAD): Quebec residents pay tuition of 3,117.60 plus compulsory fees of 1,913.85, a total of 5,031.45; other Canadians pay 9,730.50 plus 1,913.85, a total of 11,644.35. Bishop’s says the tuition category follows the documents submitted; Quebec residency eligibility is on another page that was not read. Which category applies to US students is not stated on the fees page; check with Bishop’s.

6. International students

• Who counts: students studying in, or who graduated within the last two years from, a secondary school outside Canada and the USA without studying elsewhere since.
• Credential and grades: normally 12 years of formal schooling and a secondary credential that gives access to university in that country; 11-year systems are evaluated individually. The minimum average varies by curriculum and transcripts are reviewed individually; Bishop’s gives no figure, so email admissions@ubishops.ca.
• Documents: proof of English proficiency, high school transcript (with mid-term grades if available) and identity documents (Bishop’s has a separate page on identification that was not read).
• English: required of all applicants regardless of citizenship. Exempt if you completed at least three years at a recognized secondary school where English or French is the main language of instruction (send that school’s transcript), or at least 30 credit hours (about one year) at a recognized post-secondary institution where English or French is the main language, or a Quebec CEGEP DEC (Quebec permanent code). Otherwise: IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no component below 6.0; TOEFL taken on or after January 21, 2026 4.5 overall with no score below 4.0 (before that, iBT 90 with no component below 20); PTE Academic 65 with no sub-score under 60; Duolingo 115 with no sub-score under 90; Cambridge English (B2 First, C1 Advanced, C2 Proficient) 176; LanguageCert Academic 70–74 with no individual score below 65. Scores must be sent by the testing organization; Cambridge scores are valid for no more than four years. IB applicants may meet the requirement with IB English (HL/SL). If English is below the minimum, Bishop’s suggests one of its partner English pathway programs.
• IB: completed diploma with a minimum predicted score of 30 (not counting EE/TOK/CAS bonus points); BSc programs need one math course (Mathematics HL/SL, Further Mathematics HL/SL, or in the new curriculum Analysis and Approaches HL/SL or Applications and Interpretation HL). The diploma earns 30 advanced credits, with specific exemptions for scores of 5 or higher. SAT or ACT scores are not required for IB students.
• A-level: three A-levels with no grade lower than C earn 30 advanced credits; individual A-levels at C or higher are exemption credits; AS-levels do not count.
• Other international curricula: international high school students are not normally entitled to advanced credit, but a completed calculus or pre-calculus course may earn a MAT190 exemption (assessed individually; a course description may be requested).
• Tuition (2026–2027, 30 credits, CAD): Cohort 2026 international undergraduate tuition for all disciplines is 29,510.43 plus compulsory fees of 1,913.85, a total of 32,221.28. International health insurance is billed per semester (443 in Fall, 358 in Winter, 530 for new students in Winter, 327 in summer for Spring starters; students outside Canada for a semester can request a waiver). Housing is about 5,900 and meals about 6,532 (based on 2025–26 rates, to be updated). Cohort-based tuition applies: for continuously enrolled students who do not change degree, annual increases are limited; compulsory fees rise each year. The fees page also lists Cohort 2021–2025 tables (2025 equals 2026).
• Scholarships: competitive admission scholarships are CAD 1,000–4,000 a year, some renewable; you are considered if your online application is in by March 31 and all documents by April 15 (the page prints no year, so confirm it applies to 2027 entry). Entrance awards and bursaries are CAD 500–12,000 a year, mostly one-time, with a separate application by March 31 (the form opens on the date of the annual Fall Open House), considering merit, leadership, activities and financial need. The Michael Goldbloom Excellence Scholarship is for Canadian citizens and permanent residents only. Whether international students can receive the competitive scholarships and bursaries is not published on the pages read. Bishop’s says about 55% of students receive some form of financial assistance.

7. Applicants from China

• No China-specific page: the pages read have no separate requirements for the gaokao, the Chinese high school proficiency exams or Chinese transcript formats. Chinese applicants use the International High School Students page: a 12-year secondary credential, transcript with mid-term grades, proof of English, and identity documents.
• Whether the gaokao is used, minimum averages, credential evaluators: not published. Bishop’s says the minimum average varies by curriculum; contact the Admissions Office (admissions@ubishops.ca, 819-822-9600 ext. 2680).
• Subjects: BSc programs need mathematics plus two sciences; BA Science programs need mathematics. Bishop’s says it considers each country’s secondary curriculum and these are general requirements.
• If you study IB, A-level or AP: credit follows the IB, A-level and AP rules above.
• Study permit: the fees page mentions a Canadian study permit and a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) only in the tuition-exemption notes for French and Francophone Belgian students. What Chinese applicants need is not published on the pages read; check Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and the Quebec immigration ministry.

8. Transfer students

• College transfer: attended at least one semester at a college, or graduated from a college program within the last two years without studying elsewhere. Evaluated individually; normally good academic standing in the latest semester; BSc applicants may be asked for proof of college-level or Grade 12 math. Documents: English proof, the latest college transcript (plus the final high school transcript if under one full year at college) and identity documents.
• University transfer: attended at least one full-time semester at a university within the last five years, or graduated within the last ten years (a second-degree applicant). Requirements are similar; BSc applicants may be asked for university, CEGEP or Grade 12 math.
• Credits: students with an academic (not technical or vocational) diploma from a North American college and a final GPA of 3.0 or equivalent may receive advanced credit depending on the program completed and the program applied to; courses covered by a formal articulation agreement get guaranteed transfer credit; otherwise a “50% rule” is used as a guideline (a two-year program with a GPA above 3.0 earns about one year). University courses with C or higher normally transfer. In all cases a maximum of 60 advanced credits toward a 120-credit program, and at least 50% of major requirements must be completed at Bishop’s; incomplete college programs earn no credit. Submit the final transcript and official course descriptions as PDFs (institution, course title, transcript code, official description, credit value).
• Second degree: those with a North American bachelor’s degree must complete all major requirements; electives are waived; a maximum of 90 advanced credits, with at least 30 credits and half the major requirements completed at Bishop’s. Graduates of non-North American universities must submit an Évaluation comparative des études effectuées hors du Québec or a WES equivalency to be treated as second-degree candidates; otherwise they are assessed as university transfer students with a maximum of 60 elective advanced credits.
• Other: transferred credits carry no grade and do not affect the Bishop’s GPA; credits more than ten years old are reviewed case by case. Rules for moving into the Faculty from another Bishop’s program are in the undergraduate academic regulations (“Change of Degrees or Degree Components”), which were not read.

9. Not published or not read

• Admission averages for individual biology programs: Bishop’s gives only the 80% estimated minimum and the statement that international averages vary by curriculum.
• Program-page entry terms, the co-op page, the partnership science programs with the Université de Sherbrooke, the CEGEP page, the US high school page, the A-level and identification pages, Quebec residency, the internal transfer regulation and the full program list were not read; check the Bishop’s site.
• Any restrictions for international students in labs, field work or placements are not published.

10. Checklist

• A 12-year secondary credential and transcript (with mid-term grades); BSc needs math plus two sciences, BA Biology needs one math course
• Proof of English (IELTS 6.5 with 6.0 in each component, or the new TOEFL 4.5 with 4.0, or meet an exemption)
• Apply for Fall 2027 by March 1, 2027 (international) or May 1, 2027 (Canadian and US), with the CAD 75 fee; for the competitive scholarships, check whether the March 31 and April 15 dates apply to 2027
• If you are aiming at medical school, check the target schools’ own requirements first, then choose a concentration

Sources: Bishop’s University, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics; Biology and Biochemistry; Courses and Programs; Chemistry; Academic Calendar; Calendar: Faculty (PDF); Calendar: Biology and Biochemistry (PDF); Calendar: Chemistry (PDF); Admission requirements; Canadian high school students; International high school students; IB students; College transfer students; University transfer students; Admission process; English proficiency; Tuition and fees; Scholarships; Goldbloom scholarships; Transfer credits; AP chart; IB chart; MAT190 chart. Information is for 2027 entry; check the Bishop’s website for the latest.