How to Apply to Biology at Simon Fraser University: Apply Directly to Biological Sciences in the Faculty of Science, with Molecular Biology and Biochemistry and Related Majors, Pre-Calculus 12 for BC Students, and Admission and Prerequisite Requirements for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

Simon Fraser University (SFU) is in Metro Vancouver. Its biology-related undergraduate majors are in the Faculty of Science, and all lead to a Bachelor of Science. Below is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on SFU's official pages, for domestic students (Canadian citizens and permanent residents), international students, applicants from China and transfer students.

1. Which biology majors there are and how to apply

• Biological Sciences: the program page describes the study of the entire biological world, with a focus on Cells, Molecules and Physiology or on Ecology, Evolution and Conservation, or a broad degree across the life sciences, preparing you for teaching, veterinary medicine, dentistry, medicine, conservation, research and more. The calendar (spring 2027 entry for the Biological Sciences major) says that after the lower division you choose one of three streams: cells, molecules, physiology (CMP); ecology, evolution, conservation (EEC); or an open stream. It says the EEC stream is accredited by the College of Applied Biology; see the department website for details.
• Molecular Biology and Biochemistry (MBB): the program page describes learning how life works from a biochemical, cellular and molecular perspective, with a flexible upper division that can meet entry requirements for medical, dental or veterinary school. It offers a major, minor, honours, a joint major with Computing Science, and certificate programs. The calendar area-of-study page also lists a Genomics certificate, joint majors (including with Chemistry, Business Administration and Computing Science) and a co-operative education program; their requirements were not read for this guide, so check the SFU calendar.
• Biomedical Physiology: the program page says the program builds a foundation in the study of the human body for medical, dental, veterinary or therapy studies and for research and lab work. It is one of SFU's newest programs, in the Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology. Details beyond the admission requirements were not read for this guide.
• Behavioural Neuroscience: the program page describes a joint program of the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences that combines physiology and psychology, with biology, physiology, kinesiology and psychology courses, leading to a Bachelor of Science in either faculty. Its detailed requirements were not read for this guide.
• The Faculty of Science list of majors says these can be applied to directly on the application. Other Faculty of Science majors (such as Chemistry and Kinesiology) and programs in the Faculty of Health Sciences are mentioned only in passing; medicine, nursing, pharmacy and public health are outside this guide, so see SFU's website.
• Surrey campus: the Biological Sciences, MBB and Biomedical Physiology pages all say you can start at the Surrey campus. The Biological Sciences how-to-apply page says to choose the Faculty of Science in section 4 of the EducationPlannerBC application and then Biological Sciences or Biological Sci - 1st yr Surrey.

2. Conditions for staying in the major, and structure

• Biological Sciences: the calendar says students who meet Faculty of Science admission requirements may receive direct entry to the major from high school or as transfer students; students already at SFU may apply once they complete all lower division requirements with a GPA of 2.0 or higher. To stay, you need good academic standing, a CGPA of at least 2.0 in the major requirements and no breach of SFU's course repeat limits. The program needs at least 120 units, 44 of them upper division; the upper division is at least 12 courses (at least 36 units), made up of three core courses plus nine stream courses, each with a C- or better. The lower division includes General Biology (BISC 101 and 102), Genetics (BISC 202), Ecology (BISC 204), Principles of Physiology (BISC 205), general and organic chemistry (CHEM 121, 281 and others), Molecular Biology and Biochemistry (MBB 222), Cellular Biology and Biochemistry (MBB 231), Statistics for the Life Sciences (STAT 201) and chosen options in calculus and physics; see the calendar for the exact combination. Transfer students can count at most two transfer courses toward upper division requirements.
• Molecular Biology and Biochemistry: the calendar says acceptance into and continuance in the major require a minimum 2.5 CGPA after the required lower division courses (not including the CMPT courses); secondary school students admitted by direct entry who do not reach 2.5 in the lower division requirements are withdrawn from the program. The program is 120 units, 44 of them upper division. The lower division includes biology, general and organic chemistry and MBB courses, with options in mathematics, physics and statistics.
• Labs, co-op and research: the Biological Sciences calendar requires techniques or lab courses in each stream and allows research-intensive courses (such as BISC 497W, 498 and 499; normally no more than two count toward stream requirements). The MBB calendar lists a Molecular Biology Laboratory (MBB 308) among its upper division courses. Co-op and a final project for Biological Sciences are not stated on the pages read here; please check the Department of Biological Sciences website.

3. Prerequisites

BC high school (the Biological Sciences requirements page; the MBB page is the same)

• Grade 11: two of Chemistry 11, Life Sciences 11 and Physics 11.
• Grade 12: at least five approved academic courses; one of English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12; at least two of Anatomy and Physiology 12, Calculus 12, Chemistry 12 and Physics 12; and Pre-Calculus 12 is required. The page also requires at least 70% in Language Arts 11, English 12 or an equivalent. Equivalent AP or IB courses can replace these courses.
• Admission uses all approved Grade 11 and 12 courses. For BC students, early admission decisions are usually released between November and January and standard admission decisions generally between February and April.
• Note: the admission requirements page does not make Biology 12 mandatory, but the calendar prerequisite for BISC 101 is Biology 12 and Chemistry 12 with at least a C (or the listed alternatives such as BISC 100, BISC 113, BPK 105 or HSCI 100 and chemistry alternatives). If you lack Biology 12 or Chemistry 12, ask the department about the route.

Ontario high school (the Ontario requirements page)

• For all Faculty of Science programs: Grade 11 ENG3U, one of MCF3M or MCR3U, SCH3U (Chemistry 11) and SPH3U (Physics 11); Grade 12 at least six U/M courses, including ENG4U (minimum 70%) and MHF4U, two 4U/M math or science courses (the list includes Biology SB14U, Chemistry SCH4U and Physics SPH4U), and two more courses from List A or List B.
• SFU says AP and IB courses may replace approved 4U/M courses and that the course lists are not exhaustive, so ask admissions about specific courses.
• SFU has separate pages for other provinces' high schools that were not read for this guide; check the Canadian high school requirements page for your province.

University-wide

• Quantitative and analytical skills requirement: at least 60% or a C in an approved Grade 11 or 12 math course; or 3 in IB Mathematics (HL/SL); or a D in GCE A/AS math or a C- in GCSE O-level math; transfer students can meet it with a C- in a 3-unit math or Q course. SFU adds that 70% in one of the math courses is needed to enrol directly in Q courses.
• IB Diploma: the historical admission grade ranges page says a minimum of 26 points is required for consideration for all programs, and the competitive minimum varies by program.

4. Application route, deadlines and fees (fall 2027 entry)

• Route: the apply page says all applications to BC post-secondary institutions go through EducationPlannerBC. The non-refundable application fee is $86 for domestic and $130 for international students (the page does not state the currency; check when you apply).
• High school applicants (the fall term dates page): the application opens on October 1, 2026 and closes on January 31, 2027. Early admission consideration for BC 12 applicants runs from mid-November 2026 to January 2027; decisions for most high school applicants are rolling from January to late April. BC applicants must submit the Student Transcript Service (STS) form by January 31; the document submission deadline for all high school applicants is February 28; most students must accept their offer by May 1; high school courses must be completed by June 30 to meet the conditions of an offer. The first day of classes for fall 2027 is September 7.
• Historical admission ranges (from the SFU page): for the past three years, the Faculty of Science (listed as "All programs") shows the mid 80s for Canadian citizens and permanent residents and the high 80s for students on a study permit. SFU stresses that meeting a range does not guarantee admission.
• Essays and references: neither the Biological Sciences page nor the apply page mentions an essay or reference letters. This is not stated on the pages read here; please confirm with SFU admissions.

5. International students, including applicants from China

General requirements for international students

• English (the English language requirement page): you can meet it through the language of your schooling or a test: IELTS Academic overall 6.5 with no part below 6.0; TOEFL iBT, for tests taken from January 21, 2026, overall 4.5 with no part below 4.0 (earlier tests: overall 88, no part below 20), in a single sitting; Duolingo 125; PTE 65 with at least 60 in each communicative skill; CAEL 70 with no part below 60; Cambridge B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency overall 176 with no part below 169; LanguageCert Academic 70 with no part below 65; IB Diploma including English A with a 3; GCSE O-level English grade 4 (or C); or 70% in a senior-level English after three years of full-time English-medium secondary school (four years at a recognized international school). Language tests older than two years are not accepted. SFU also says that first-year writing-intensive courses need higher grades than the admission grades.

Applicants from China (the SFU China page)

• Documents: the Senior Middle School Graduation Diploma, and a transcript with grades for all courses and the final grades for the first semester of Senior Year 3. Admission is calculated on Senior Year 3 academic subjects.
• Mathematics: at least 70% in Senior Year 2 or Senior Year 3 mathematics, based on a 60% pass scale.
• Gaokao: offers are conditional on receiving Gaokao results in July, and the required results depend on the program; applicants following an IB curriculum or taking GCE A-Levels do not need to submit Gaokao results. The page does not state a Gaokao score or percentage for the biology programs; please ask SFU admissions.
• Faculty of Science subjects: the China page lists the Faculty of Science (including Biological Sciences, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Behavioural Neuroscience and Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology) as needing Senior Year 3 Math plus two of Senior Year 3 Biology, Chemistry or Physics.
• Pathway: if you are missing a required course or do not quite meet the admission score, SFU points to the pathway program at Fraser International College.
• Interviews and recognition agencies for applicants from China are not stated on the pages read here; see the official China page.

6. Transfer students (including from colleges)

• The transfer requirements page says you need at least 24 units of transferable post-secondary work attempted and can transfer up to 60 units. With fewer than 24 units you are evaluated on your final high school requirements and grades, provided your post-secondary GPA is at least 2.00. You must be in good standing with at least a 2.00 GPA (60%). Admission is based on high school courses only for 0 to 8 units, usually on both high school grades and post-secondary GPA for 9 to 23 units, and on post-secondary GPA for more than 23 units.
• Faculty of Science (including the biology programs): at least 24 units of transferable course work including one transferable math course; for admission from Spring 2026, also two additional transferable Faculty of Science courses (can be from one subject such as CHEM, BISC, MATH or PHYS on SFU's list). Senior high school math or science courses may be used in place of transferable ones.
• Historical transfer ranges: for the past three years, the Faculty of Science shows C+ to B for Canadian citizens and permanent residents and B- to B for students on a study permit.
• Dates: for fall 2027, transfer applications are accepted from March 1 to April 15 (the apply page agrees) and the document deadline is May 15.
• BC Associate of Arts or Science degree holders get admission preference at a GPA 0.25 lower than regular transfer, but not below 2.00. The BC Transfer Guide lists transferable courses; courses not listed are not transferable. The Biological Sciences calendar entry says transfer students can count at most two transfer courses toward the upper division requirements; requirements for transfer students in the other biology programs are not stated on the pages read here, so please ask the department.

7. Fees and scholarships

• Fees (the fees and scholarships page): the page gives 2026/27 estimates for a typical Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences or Faculty of Science program, two terms and 10 courses (30 units): tuition and fees (including a transit pass) $7,675 for Canadian and $38,944 for international students; textbooks, technology and supplies $2,400; a single residence room with a meal plan $15,014; medical insurance $365 and $945; totals in CDN$ of $25,454 (Canadian) and $57,303 (international). SFU warns that current students' tuition may rise by up to 6% a year. Figures for 2027/28 are not stated on the pages read here; please check.
• USES entrance scholarship (the SFU page): open to domestic and international high school students admitted for the fall term; you must apply, with a minimum average of 90% or 31 IB points (excluding bonus points) in the courses required for admission. Awards run from $20,000 up to $60,000 for domestic students and $140,000 for international students, and further living-allowance funding may go to exceptionally talented students with financial need. Applications open October 1, 2026 and close December 15, 2026, with supporting documents due January 31. It also brings priority residence access and course enrolment priority.
• SFU also lists the Uggla Family Scholarship and other entrance scholarships, awards and bursaries, and offers guaranteed housing to first-year students entering from high school in the fall who accept an offer by May 1.

8. A few reminders

• Where a date on an SFU page has no year, check that it is for 2027 entry; this guide follows pages that say fall 2027.
• The biology program pages give no admission average of its own, only the Faculty of Science range, which is a guide and not a threshold.
• An inconsistency on SFU's pages: the admission requirements page lists Anatomy and Physiology 12, Calculus 12, Chemistry 12 and Physics 12 as "at least two of" for Biological Sciences and does not require Biology 12, while the calendar prerequisite for BISC 101 is Biology 12 and Chemistry 12 with at least a C (or the listed alternatives). Use the course prerequisite for planning courses and the admission page for applying.