How to Apply to Biology at the University of Saskatchewan: Biology, Environmental Biology and Biochemistry B.Sc. Programs Open to High School Applicants, and Admission and Prerequisites for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

The University of Saskatchewan (USask) is in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Biology-related B.Sc. degrees sit mainly in the College of Arts and Science, and the biochemistry, microbiology and immunology stream is a B.Sc. (Biomedical Science) offered jointly with the College of Medicine. Below is what you need to know for September 2027 entry, for domestic students (Canadian citizens and permanent residents), international students (including those from China) and transfer students. Medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, veterinary medicine and nutrition are outside this guide; see the relevant program pages on the university website.

1. Degrees and streams

• Biology B.Sc.: a Department of Biology program in Arts and Science, described as a “three or four year degree” that you can enter directly from high school, full or part time, with the option to begin off-campus. The program page lists Four-year, Three-year, Honours and Double Honours with Biochemistry (the catalogue also lists a Biology Double Honours paired with another major). Topics named include genetics, cell biology, physiology, ecology, population biology, limnology, toxicology, conservation and parasitology; USask says biology suits students aiming at health science programs such as medicine, dentistry, nursing and veterinary medicine, which require a separate application.
• Environmental Biology B.Sc.: also in the Department of Biology, offered as Four-year and Honours; USask says the emphasis is biodiversity, conservation, ecological processes from genes to communities to landscapes, environmental contamination and applied ecology.
• Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology (B.Sc. (Biomedical Science)): offered jointly by Arts and Science and the College of Medicine as Four-year and Honours; USask says it can be entered directly from high school and covers microbial physiology and pathogenesis, protein structure and function, molecular biology, microbial genetics, virology, tumour biology and immunology. It is one major of the B.Sc. (Biomedical Science); the college’s major list also names Biomedical Foundations, Biomedical Neuroscience, Cellular, Physiological and Pharmacological Sciences and Interdisciplinary Biomedical Science, which this guide mentions by name only and has not checked page by page.
• Other biology-related majors on the college list: Palaeobiology, Toxicology and Food Science; the catalogue also mentions Agricultural Biology in the College of Agriculture and Bioresources. They are not covered here.
• Accreditation and work-integrated years: the pages read mention no outside accreditation for the biology programs and no co-op or placement year; ask the college. Undergraduate research opportunities are described below.

2. How admission works and when you choose the major

• Biology and Environmental Biology: high school applicants are admitted directly to the College of Arts and Science with no common first year that later splits; the college page says students often choose their major after the first year. The pages read state no enrolment cap and no entry grade threshold for either major.
• Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology (B.Sc. (Biomedical Science)): high school applicants can enter directly, but the 2027–28 requirements separately state Chemistry 30, Biology 30, Math Foundations 30 and Physics 30 (see below); selection is 100% academic average and no interview is listed. The catalogue adds that the ISAP-BMSC pathway, for Arts and Science students transferring into the program, takes no new admissions in 2026–27.
• Honours: applications for Honours are not considered until you have completed at least 60 credit units with a Cumulative Weighted Average of at least 70% overall and in the subject, and you should consult department advisors before registering for second year. At least 66 of the 120 credit units for the Honours degree must be senior level.
• Residency in the major: the catalogue says at least two-thirds of the major requirements (rounded up to a multiple of 3 credit units) must be completed at USask.
• Sample first year, Biology (program page): fall — BIOL 120 The Nature of Life, CHEM 112 General Chemistry I, MATH 125 Mathematics for the Life Sciences, HIST 155, INDG 107; winter — BIOL 121 The Diversity of Life, CHEM 115 General Chemistry II, BMSC 200, ARCH 112, PHIL 133. The catalogue strongly advises biology majors to take CHEM 112 and 115 before or with BIOL 120 and 121 and recommends attending the department’s seminars. The Environmental Biology sample includes BIOL 120/121, CHEM 112/115, MATH 125, STAT 246 Introduction to Biostatistics and GEOG 120; the Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology sample includes BIOL 120, CHEM 112/115, PHYS 115 or 117, MATH 125, PLSC 214 and BMSC 200.
• Biology degree structure (catalogue, 120 credit units): the Four-year major requirement is 42 credit units — BIOL 120, 121, 222, 224, 226, 228, 301 and 302, plus 18 credit units from a list (3 of them at the 300 level or higher); electives are 36 credit units. The Honours major requirement is 60 credit units — those eight courses plus BIOL 350, and 33 credit units from the list (9 at the 300 level or higher); electives are 18 credit units. There are also college requirements (English writing, Indigenous learning, quantitative reasoning) and a breadth requirement.
• Research and practice: the Biology program page says small-group teaching in all courses including first year, research-based courses accessible from second year, lab or field experience throughout the program, and a weekly seminar series. Course contents and seat numbers for the research courses are not published on the pages read.

3. Prerequisites at a glance

• Biology and Environmental Biology (Arts and Science B.Sc.): Grade 12 standing or equivalent; Foundations of Mathematics 30 or Pre-Calculus 30 (admission with a math deficiency is allowed); a five-subject average of at least 70%; proof of English. The requirements page lists no high school biology or chemistry, but the Nursing Prep note in the same document says Biology 30 is not necessary for admission to these Arts and Science programs yet is a prerequisite for BIOL 120, the core first-year biology course.
• Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology (B.Sc. (Biomedical Science)): Chemistry 30, Biology 30, Math Foundations 30 and Physics 30 (or equivalents), each at least 70%, no deficiencies; a five-subject average of at least 70%.
• These are Saskatchewan course names. How other provinces’ courses map to them is not listed on the pages read; subject requirements for Chinese and international curricula (IB, AP, A-level and others) are likewise not published, the IB conversion is in the China section, and for the rest ask Admissions.

4. How to apply, documents and fees

• How: create an admissions account on USask’s application site and apply online. USask says it takes about 30 minutes and you can save and return later. You will need your name and contact details, educational history (including previous post-secondary study) and planned program; first-time and transfer applicants to most bachelor programs can list a first- and second-choice program. After submitting, log in regularly to check your status and the list of supplemental items.
• Application fee: the Biology program page says a non-refundable CAD 120 fee is assessed when you submit, paid by Visa or Mastercard; the “How to apply” page says most programs charge at least CAD 120 and to check the program page.
• Documents: the “How to apply” page lists transcripts (used to calculate the admission average and check prerequisites and Grade 12 standing) and proof of English proficiency where needed. Neither the Biology program page nor the Arts and Science admission requirements list an essay, reference letters or standardized-test scores; check with USask if you need to confirm. Documents are due by the “documents due” date shown with each application deadline.
• Transcripts: Saskatchewan high school students have the Ministry of Education share transcripts through MyCreds (choose “organization” and leave the expiry date blank). Out-of-province and international students upload their latest report card after applying, and the school, school board or governmental organization sends the final official transcript directly to USask. To start in the fall term, out-of-province Canadian students must finish all courses by June 30; for international students the end of the school year varies by country and curriculum. IB students upload predicted scores after applying and have the IB send final results; AP students have the College Board send results (institution code 0980).
• Agents: USask says you are not required to use an agent; if you do, check your application status and offer on the official application portal before making any payment or applying for a study permit.

5. How the admission average is calculated

• Direct-entry colleges, including Arts and Science, use a five-subject average: one English, one math and three other approved subjects (at most two natural sciences, at most two social sciences or humanities, at most one fine or performing art). Marks from international high schools are converted to the Canadian grading system.
• Timing: from September to February 1 the average uses Grade 11 marks; from February 2 to June 30 it uses marks up to the end of Grade 12 Term 1; after June 30 only Grade 12 subjects count. For conditional offers USask rechecks the condition against final Grade 12 marks. High school graduates are assessed on Grade 12 subjects only.
• Provincial examples (the “Calculating your average” page lists every province): in Alberta English is English Language Arts 30-1 (30-2 not accepted) and math can be Mathematics 30-1, 30-2 or 31, and for each course USask uses whichever of the diploma exam mark or in-class mark is better for the student; in BC English can be English Studies 12 and math can be Foundations of Mathematics 12, Pre-Calculus 12 or Calculus 12, and the page says the better of the in-class or diploma-exam mark is used for English 12; in Ontario English is English 4U and math can be Mathematics of Data Management 4U, Advanced Functions 4U or Calculus & Vectors 4U.
• The math prerequisite in the Arts and Science admission requirements is written with Saskatchewan course names (Foundations of Mathematics 30 or Pre-Calculus 30). How other provinces’ and countries’ courses map to it is not published on the pages read for this guide, so ask USask Admissions (admissions@usask.ca).

6. Domestic students (Canadian citizens and permanent residents)

• Deadlines: for fall (September) 2027 the domestic application deadline is July 15, 2027 with documents due August 1. USask also says applying early gives access to early admission and scholarships, and some scholarship deadlines come before the application deadline. Other intakes (domestic): January 2027, December 1, 2026 (documents December 15); May 2027, April 1, 2027 (documents May 1); July 2027, May 1 (documents June 1); January 2028, December 1, 2027 (documents December 15).
• Saskatchewan versus out-of-province: the Arts and Science admission requirements do not distinguish Saskatchewan residents from other Canadians; the same average and math prerequisite apply. The differences are how transcripts are submitted (above) and the provincial course tables. The pages read do not describe any priority or guaranteed admission for Saskatchewan residents.
• Scholarships: high school students and graduates with fewer than 18 transferable credit units are considered automatically, based on admission average, for the USask Entrance Scholarships (600 a year, CAD 5,000 each) if the application, fee, transcript and other documents are in by December 1. The top Best and Brightest awards (for example the George and Marsha Ivany President’s First & Best Scholarship, CAD 40,000 paid over four years) also need a separate application in PAWS by December 15. Competitive entrance scholarships and bursaries need an admission application by February 15 and award applications in PAWS by March 1, and some awards ask for an activity list and reference letters. Canadian citizens and permanent residents completing the IB Diploma are considered automatically for a CAD 3,000 IB award (admission application by February 15).

7. International students

• Deadlines: for fall 2027 the international application deadline is May 1, 2027 with documents due June 1. Other intakes (international): January 2027, September 1, 2026 (documents October 1); May 2027, February 1, 2027 (documents March 1); July 2027, March 1 (documents April 1); January 2028, September 1, 2027 (documents October 1).
• English: if English is not your first language you may be asked for proof. Any one of these works: approved English-medium secondary study with the required years and Grade 12 English (at least 3 full-time years including Grades 10–12; or at least 2.5 years including Grades 11–12 with at least 70% in Grade 12 English; or at least 2 years including Grades 11–12 with at least 80%; students at overseas schools with a Canadian curriculum need at least 65% in Grade 12 English). The approved curricula listed are Canadian English-medium schools, overseas schools with a Canadian curriculum, US regionally accredited schools, the IB, India’s IGCSE and CBSE only, GCSE/GCE, NZQA, Australian curricula, CAPE, SQA, NQAI and WBQ; other curricula need another proof. Or a test: IELTS Academic 6.5 with 6 in each band; TOEFL iBT 4.5 with 4 in each section (the page uses the new score scale; older 0–120 scores from tests before January 21, 2026 stay acceptable for two years at 86 overall with 19 per component); Cambridge C1 Advanced 176; CAEL 70 with 60 per skill; Duolingo 120 with 100 per area (from January 1, 2026); PTE Academic 63 with 59 per skill. Qualifications such as AP English 4, IB English A or B Higher Level 5, GCSE/IGCSE/GCE O-Level English grade B or GCE A/AS/AICE English grade B also count. USask states that all scores must come from one test date and not be combined, and that scores are valid for two years; if secondary standing was completed more than five years ago, extra proof may be required.
• Study permit and deposit: most international students need a provincial attestation letter (PAL) from Saskatchewan for a study permit. USask states that since the 2024–25 cycle most international students, including undergraduates in Arts and Science, pay a non-refundable CAD 1,000 tuition deposit when accepting the offer (credited toward tuition; refundable only in limited cases); USask endorses you to the provincial government for a PAL only after you accept and pay.
• International awards: international students are considered for most awards on admission. With an admission application by February 15: the USask International Excellence Award (CAD 10,000, one award) and the IB Excellence Award (CAD 20,000, one award, for international students completing the IB Diploma). By May 1: awards by high-school province, namely Saskatchewan CAD 15,000 (four awards), Manitoba CAD 10,000, Alberta CAD 10,000 and British Columbia CAD 10,000, for applicants who will be temporary residents in their first year and awarded automatically on academic achievement; plus awards for Indigenous students from the USA (CAD 10,000, two awards, with documented verification of Indigenous membership).
• Work: USask says international students may be able to work in Canada while studying and after graduation, must follow regulations and might need a work permit; it has a page on this.

8. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the pages read for this guide do not say whether or how the Gaokao is used.
• Chinese transcripts and curriculum: USask says international marks are converted to the Canadian system; you upload your latest report card after applying and the school or education authority sends the final official transcript directly to USask. The “Requirements and deadlines” page has a lookup by country of high school (China is in the drop-down), but the China-specific average and prerequisite requirements are not published on the pages read for this guide; choose China on that page, or email admissions@usask.ca. Whether the Huikao records must be submitted is not published on the pages read.
• English: the list of approved English-medium secondary curricula does not include Chinese domestic curricula; applicants who did not follow a listed curriculum must give another proof (tests and qualifications in the International section above). The IB is on the list.
• IB: IB Diploma scores out of 45 (with bonus points) are converted to percentages, for example 45 = 99.9%, 36 = 93%, 30 = 87% and 24 = 79%; individual course scores of 7 = 100%, 6 = 93% and 5 = 87%. USask notes that some programs require a minimum score and that subjects and averages required vary by area of study.
• Interview and agencies: the pages read do not mention a separate interview for Chinese applicants, an accreditation body or a China country page.
• Partnership: the transfer-credit page says students who complete the second year of the Life Science, Biology stream at Capital Normal University are eligible for 57 credit units of transfer credit on transfer into the four-year or Honours Biology programs in Arts and Science.

9. Transfer students (from other universities and colleges)

• Which route applies: with 18 or more transferable credit units your admission average is calculated on your university record and you cannot be considered on high school marks; with fewer than 18 you apply as a high school applicant. For Arts and Science the average includes all attempted courses transferable to the college.
• Arts and Science transfer requirement: the 2027–28 admission requirements state a 60% average on all courses transferable to Arts and Science for applicants with 18 or more transferable credit units, plus Foundations of Mathematics 30 or Pre-Calculus 30 (admission with a math deficiency is allowed) and proof of English.
• Transfer credit: it is assessed during admission, and each institution you attended must send official transcripts directly to USask (transcripts emailed, delivered or mailed by the applicant are not official). Institutions in Canada are contacted if course outlines are needed; for institutions outside Canada you may receive general credit first, and if a deeper review is needed you provide institution-issued syllabi translated into English (weekly content, hours, assessments, credit units, textbooks, grading system). Transfer credit does not guarantee the credit counts toward your degree — the college decides, so talk to an advisor. Results can be viewed only after you accept the offer and submit final official transcripts.
• Transfer scholarships: transfer students who apply before May 1 are considered automatically if they transfer into a direct-entry program and completed at least 24 transferable credits in the preceding academic year (September–April): CAD 2,000 at an awards average of 85% or more, CAD 1,500 at 80%–84.9% and CAD 1,000 at 78%–79.9%; below 78% is not eligible. A CAD 2,500 award goes to the student with the highest average from selected institutions.
• B.Sc. (Biomedical Science) for transfer students: the 2027–28 requirements state that applicants with 18 or more transferable credit units also need Chemistry 30, Biology 30, Math Foundations and Physics 30 (at least 70% in each, no deficiencies) and a transfer average of at least 60%.
• Biology-related agreement: the transfer-credit page says graduates of the BioScience Technology Diploma at Saskatchewan Polytechnic receive 60 credit units of transfer credit on transfer into the four-year or Honours Biology program in Arts and Science.

10. Costs and scholarships

• First-year estimate (2026–27 Canadian dollars, full course load, from the Biology program page): tuition CAD 8,449 for Canadian students and CAD 40,894 for international students; student fees CAD 1,331.66 for both (covering health, vision and dental coverage, a bus pass, recreation and more); books and supplies CAD 1,500 (USask suggests budgeting CAD 1,500–2,500 a year); the totals given are CAD 11,280.66 for Canadian students and CAD 43,725.66 for international students. Tuition varies with the type and number of courses you take.
• Housing and food are not in these estimates; USask has a housing page and a cost estimator. The pages read do not mention a differential tuition or extra fee specific to Biology.
• Scholarships: see the domestic, international and transfer sections above; USask says international students are considered for most awards on admission.
• Co-op: the Biology program page and the Arts and Science program page do not mention a co-op program; this is not published on the pages read, so ask the college.

11. Inconsistencies and what is not published

• China-specific averages and prerequisites, and how the Gaokao and Huikao are used: not published on the pages read. Use the “Requirements and deadlines” page for your country of high school or contact USask Admissions.
• Whether the biology majors have an enrolment cap or entry grade threshold, co-op, outside accreditation, research-course contents, and any restriction on international students in lab and field courses: not published on the pages read.
• The “How to apply” page says most programs charge at least CAD 120, while the Biology program page says CAD 120; rely on the program page and the application system.
• Confirm that any fee without a printed year applies to 2027 entry; degree requirements come from the current catalogue year and may change.

Checklist

Domestic students: Biology and Environmental Biology need Foundations of Mathematics 30 or Pre-Calculus 30; Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology also needs Chemistry 30, Biology 30 and Physics 30 at 70% each; five-subject average of at least 70%; apply by July 15, 2027 with documents by August 1 for fall; apply and submit documents by December 1 to be considered for entrance scholarships.

International students (including from China): high school transcript (upload now, final official transcript sent after graduation); proof of English (for example IELTS 6.5 with 6 per band, or TOEFL iBT 4.5 with 4 per section); apply by May 1, 2027 with documents by June 1; pay the CAD 1,000 deposit on accepting the offer so USask can endorse your provincial attestation letter; check the “Requirements and deadlines” page for the China-specific requirements.

Transfer students: 18 or more transferable credit units with at least a 60% average on transferable courses (Biomedical Science also needs the four 30-level courses); official transcripts sent directly from every institution; apply before May 1 to be considered for transfer scholarships.

Sources: University of Saskatchewan, Biology program page, deadlines and costs; Environmental Biology program page; Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology program page; Catalogue: Biology; Catalogue: B.Sc. Four-year Biology; Catalogue: B.Sc. Honours Biology; How to apply; Requirements and deadlines; Calculating your average; English language proficiency; International students; IB students; Transfer credit; Scholarships; 2027–28 admission requirements; College of Arts and Science programs. Information is for September 2027 entry; tuition is the 2026–27 estimate and degree requirements come from the current catalogue year. Check the University of Saskatchewan website for the latest details.