How to Apply to Biology at the University of Toronto: Honours BSc in Biology on the St. George, Mississauga and Scarborough Campuses, with Co-op and a Health Sciences Stream at Scarborough, and Requirements for Canadian, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

The University of Toronto (U of T) has three campuses in the Toronto area: St. George (Faculty of Arts & Science), Mississauga (UTM) and Scarborough (UTSC). The U of T Biology program page shows Biology as an Honours Bachelor of Science (HBSc) on all three, and U of T’s Health & Life Sciences area page groups biology, neuroscience and kinesiology under Health & Life Sciences. It covers Canadian applicants, international applicants, applicants from China and transfer students; medicine, nursing, pharmacy, public health and other health degrees are outside this guide.

1. Degrees and options

• Biology (HBSc) on three campuses: the program page lists Biology at St. George with Specialist, Major and Minor options (OUAC code TLG); at Mississauga with Specialist, Major and Minor (code TML) and a work-integrated learning option; and at Scarborough with Major and Minor (code TSL) plus Biology (Health Sciences Stream) (code TXD), also with a work-integrated learning option.
• Admission categories: U of T says that to study Biology in the Faculty of Arts & Science you apply to Life Science, then choose a specialist, major or minor at the end of first year. Scarborough Biology is in the Life Sciences category, with the Health Sciences Stream as a separate category that is direct entry from high school only (anyone with post-secondary study is not eligible) and allows a Certificate in Pathways to Health Professions.
• Biology (HBSc) at Scarborough: the U of T Scarborough Biology program page says: Honours Bachelor of Science, 4 years, Fall 2027 start, with co-op; a Major has almost half of its credits in Biology and a Minor about a quarter. The program covers topics such as medical science, biodiversity and food and energy supplies, with laboratory and field skills. First-year required courses: Life on Earth: Unifying Principles; Life on Earth: Form, Function and Interactions; Introductory Chemistry I; Introductory Chemistry II or Advanced General Chemistry; and 0.5 credit of mathematics or statistics (Calculus I for the Life Sciences, Calculus I for Physical Sciences, Statistics I or Data Analysis in Psychology). Sample electives include Microbiology, Genetics and a cell biology methods course.
• Related life-science programs: Scarborough Biochemistry (Major, with co-op, in the Physical & Environmental Sciences category, OUAC code TSP; U of T Scarborough Biochemistry program page) and Integrative Biology (Specialist, with co-op; Grade 12 English, Biology and Calculus & Vectors) appear as similar programs on the Biology page; they are only mentioned here, and details of other life-science programs (neuroscience, molecular biology and biotechnology, genetics and others) are not among the pages read.
• Faculty of Arts & Science at St. George: the degree structure (HBA/HBSc requirements in the Faculty of Arts & Science Academic Calendar (2026–27)) is an HBSc of 20.0 credits with a Specialist (10.0 to 14.0 credits), Major (6.0 to 8.0) or Minor (4.0), a cumulative GPA of at least 1.85, and enrolment in programs in the session in which you reach 4.0 credits. Programs are open or limited; for limited programs the minimum grade changes each year and no guaranteed minimum is published (“Understanding Programs and Certificates” page). The specific entry courses and grades for Biology at St. George are not among the pages read.
• Accreditation: professional accreditation for the biology degrees is not stated on the pages read; check each campus website.

3. Prerequisites: Canadian applicants

• General requirement: the Canadian high school requirements page says every program needs Grade 12 English (Ontario ENG4U / EAE4U or equivalent), and some programs have extra prerequisites. Conditional offers are made on available Grade 11 and 12 marks provided you are enrolled in all required Grade 12 courses; all courses and graduation requirements must be completed by the end of June of the year you apply. U of T reserves the right to take repeated courses and grades in specific subjects into account.
• Provincial diplomas: Ontario OSSD with six 4U/M subjects including English; Alberta and Saskatchewan five Grade 12 academic subjects (30/31 level); British Columbia six Grade 12 academic subjects; Manitoba five Grade 12 academic subjects, the rest at 40S or 40G, with Essential Math 40S not accepted. The page also has entries for New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, the Northwest Territories, Yukon, Nunavut and Quebec.
• Course equivalents: U of T states prerequisites with Ontario course codes and gives provincial equivalents. Biology SBI4U: Alberta Biology 30, BC Anatomy & Physiology 12, Manitoba Biology 40S, Saskatchewan Biology 30. Chemistry SCH4U: Alberta Chemistry 30, BC Chemistry 12, Manitoba Chemistry 40S, Saskatchewan Chemistry 30. Physics SPH4U: Alberta Physics 30, BC Physics 12, Manitoba Physics 40S, Saskatchewan Physics 30. Advanced Functions MHF4U: Alberta Math 30-1, BC Pre-Calculus 12, Manitoba Pre-Calculus Math 40S, Saskatchewan Pre-Calculus 30. Calculus & Vectors MCV4U: Alberta Math 31 or Calculus AP, BC Calculus 12 or Calculus AP, Manitoba Calculus 42U and others, Saskatchewan Calculus 30 or Calculus AP.
• Grade 12 prerequisites for Biology (the Ontario requirements by campus on the U of T Biology program page): St. George — English, Biology, Calculus & Vectors and Chemistry; Mississauga — English, Advanced Functions, Biology and Chemistry, with Calculus & Vectors recommended; Scarborough — English, Biology and any one of Calculus & Vectors, Advanced Functions or Mathematics of Data Management, with Chemistry recommended (Scarborough’s approximate grades: at least 70% in English, high 70s overall, and low 80s overall for co-op). Applicants from other provinces and international high schools use the equivalent courses in the table above; the campus-by-campus requirements for those curricula are shown on the program page only after choosing the curriculum there and are not among the pages read, so check them on U of T’s website.
• English course grade: the English course result is counted in your admission average (English language requirements page).
• How to apply, and Ontario versus other provinces: all undergraduate applications start with the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC), then you complete next steps in the Join U of T applicant portal (how to apply page). The Scarborough pages list fees separately for Ontario residents and for Canadian students outside Ontario; an Ontario resident is a dependent student whose parent’s primary residence is in Ontario, or an independent student whose primary residence is in Ontario and who lived there for the 12 months before becoming a post-secondary student. The admission requirements themselves are not differentiated by home province beyond the equivalents above.
• Standardized tests: the Canadian high school page does not ask for SAT or ACT; home-school applicants may include SAT, ACT or AP results among their materials.

4. International applicants

• General requirement: the international high school requirements page says all applicants must present a senior/Grade 12 English course and other prerequisites at the senior/Grade 12 equivalent level; conditional offers use the previous year’s grades and in-term results. Applications go through OUAC; U of T also has a full-time International Undergraduate Application for people who live outside Canada, have not studied in Canada and are not applying to another Ontario university, with a fee printed as $196, non-refundable (the page does not name the currency) (applications page). If you also apply to other Ontario universities you use the OUAC Undergraduate Application, whose fee is on OUAC and not among the pages read.
• Curricula: British-patterned education needs five IGCSE/GCSE/O-Level academic subjects plus three A-Levels (four AS subjects may replace three A-Levels), English at IGCSE/GCSE/O-Level/AS/A-Level for all programs, AS or A-Level Mathematics for programs with a Calculus prerequisite, and other prerequisites at AS or A-Level. IB needs the full Diploma including English HL or SL; prerequisites can be at Standard or Higher Level, assessed on predicted or final results (excluding bonus points); the IB Career-related Programme is not accepted. U.S.-patterned education needs an accredited high school diploma with prerequisites at senior-year or AP/IB level; most math, science, computer science and commerce programs require Calculus (AP Calculus AB/BC or one semester of college calculus; precalculus does not count). SAT or ACT scores may be submitted voluntarily.
• English: the English language requirements page says applicants whose first language is not English must show proof unless exempt. Accepted results include IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0 (including IELTS Online; the Indicator and One Skill Retake are not accepted, and scores must come from a single sitting); TOEFL iBT 4.5 overall with 4.5 in Writing and 4.0 in Speaking for the new scale (tests from January 21, 2026), and 89 total with 22 in Speaking and Writing for tests before that date (MyBest scores not used); Duolingo 120 overall and 120 in Production for tests from July 1, 2024; PTE Academic 65 with no part below 60; CAEL 70 with no part below 60; Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency 180 with at least 170 in each component; IB English A at 4 or higher; GCSE/IGCSE/O-Level English at B (6 in the reformed scale). Exemptions: four or more years of full-time study in a recognized school in Canada, or in an English-language school in a country where English is the dominant language; request the exemption in the applicant portal after applying.
• Credential evaluation and proof of funds: not stated on the pages read; check the applicant portal or ask admissions.
• Scholarships: see section 7.

5. Applicants from China

• Minimum requirement: the China entry on the high school requirements by country page reads: a Senior High School (Upper Middle School) Graduation Diploma issued by the Ministry of Education; the Academic Proficiency Test / Upper Middle School Graduation (Hui Kao) exam; and the Chinese National University Entrance Exam (Gao Kao). The page gives no gaokao score or percentage and does not say how gaokao results are used for a particular program.
• SAT, ACT and AP: applicants who have written the SAT or ACT and want it considered may submit scores; applicants who have written AP exams are encouraged to submit results.
• Dual-degree high schools: for Sino-US, Sino-UK, Sino-Canadian and similar systems, refer to the requirements for the accredited high school graduation diploma.
• International curricula: students in IB, A-Level or AP programs follow the requirements for that system in the previous section.
• English: U of T states that TOEFL Essentials, TOEFL ITP and TOEFL ITP Plus are not accepted for China; other English results are listed in the previous section.
• Interview, evaluation agency, and how huiKao documents are uploaded: not stated on the pages read; check the applicant portal and ask admissions.

6. Dates and fees (as printed by U of T)

• Deadlines for 2027 entry: the dates and deadlines page (“2027 admissions”) lists, for Arts & Science at St. George, U of T Mississauga and U of T Scarborough, a recommended early application date of November 7, 2026 and an application deadline of January 15, 2027; the document deadline is February 1 for all of them, and early applicants are encouraged to send the documents they have by December 1. Admission decisions are released from January to late May, and may also come in the summer depending on the program and applicant type. An application that reaches U of T from OUAC after the program closes is cancelled without refund.
• Supplemental application: the page lists a U of T Scarborough Supplementary Application Form due February 1, required for some program areas; whether Chemistry or Biology requires it is not stated on the pages read, so follow the checklist in your applicant portal.
• Start term: the Scarborough Chemistry and Biology pages give a Fall 2027 start; U of T Scarborough also offers January admission in select program areas to domestic applicants who have completed all academic activities; whether Chemistry or Biology is included is not stated on the pages read.
• One program area per campus: one application can name up to three different program areas or campuses, but not two program areas within the same faculty or campus; each is reviewed independently, so you can receive several offers at different times (how to apply page).
• Admission categories: for many programs you apply to an admission category and choose a specialist, major or minor later; U of T’s example is that to study Biology in the Faculty of Arts & Science you apply to Life Science.

7. Tuition and scholarships

• U of T Scarborough first-year estimates (printed on both the Chemistry and Biology pages for Fall 2027, in Canadian dollars, “not guaranteed until identity documents are verified”): core fees (tuition, school supplies, student fees, health insurance) CAD 10,220 to 11,220 for Ontario residents, 11,310 to 12,310 for Canadian students outside Ontario, and 67,700 to 68,700 for international students; co-op program fees CAD 1,010 to 3,032; optional housing and meal plan CAD 15,750 to 23,770.
• St. George and Mississauga tuition: the fees page says tuition depends on program, year of study, course load and campus, is usually finalized in the spring, and that you can look at the previous year’s amounts in your area; the fee schedules are on a separate site that is not among the pages read, so check them there. International students should also budget for UHIP health insurance.
• Entrance scholarships (everyone): eligible applicants are automatically considered for many admission scholarships, and others need a separate application or an Awards Profile. The Scarborough page lists the President’s Scholars of Excellence at CAD 15,000 (top 150 students entering any of the three campuses), U of T Scholars at CAD 10,000, and for domestic secondary students CAD 3,000 for an admission average of 95% and above, CAD 2,000 for 92.0% to 94.9% and CAD 1,000 for 90.0% to 91.9% (U of T Scarborough scholarships page).
• International students: the scholarships for international students page says international applicants are automatically considered for most admission awards during review. It lists the Arts & Science Global Scholarship (merit-based, financial need may be considered, valued at international tuition, incidental fees and UHIP for four consecutive years, residence not included), the Arts & Science International Undergraduate Entrance Award (non-renewable), the U of T Scarborough International Scholar Award (CAD 45,000 and CAD 25,000, renewable for three additional years; international applicants are encouraged to complete the International Financial Aid Profile in the portal), the UTM International Scholar Award, and the Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship, for which a high school must nominate you. U of T says it is publicly funded and cannot offer financial aid to international students.
• Financial aid for domestic students: the fees page points to OSAP (Ontario), UTAPS and other programs; check the conditions there.

8. Co-op and paid work experience

• The Scarborough Biology program page offers a co-op option: the same required courses as the non-co-op version plus two co-op preparation courses, and two or three full semesters (8 or 12 months) of paid, relevant work, completed in the same number of years. The U of T Scarborough co-op page says “12 to 16 months of full-time, paid experience”, a first work term in the fall, winter or summer of second year, and, for Arts & Science and Management co-op students, average earnings of CAD 12,000 to 16,000 per four-month work term; you choose a co-op admission category when you apply, need competitive marks (usually a 2.5 GPA), and if more people apply than there are places, preference is based on marks. The two pages give different durations (8 or 12 months versus 12 to 16 months), so confirm with admissions.
• International students: the page says international students on a study permit can choose a co-op option because the work is part of the education, and points to the Government of Canada website; the permit steps themselves are not described on the pages read.
• The Faculty of Arts & Science at St. George also lists an Arts & Science Internship Program (ASIP) and the Research Opportunities Program (ROP, in which second- and third-year students earn credit working on faculty research); UTM lists a Co-op Internship Program of 12 to 16 months. Their details are not among the pages read; check each campus website.

9. Transfer students

• From a Canadian university or college: the Canadian university or college transfer page says admission is based on the overall record, with emphasis on the most recent or highest level of study and on results in prerequisite subjects, which can be met at the high school or university level. Successful applicants are admitted to a program area; the specific program is decided by the faculty or department after transfer credits are assessed. Transfer credits are assessed after admission and cannot be declined. If you have completed more than two years at a recognized university you may not be allowed to transfer into the same field of study; a second degree must be in a different program from the first, with a maximum of 5.0 transfer credits.
• Programs closed to transfer applicants: the page lists Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, the Rotman Commerce Double Degree and the Paramedicine joint program (only for students who completed an Ontario college paramedic program) and, at U of T Scarborough, all Health Sciences Stream programs (TXD, TXH, TXF). Chemistry and Biology are not on that list, but the Health Sciences Stream versions are direct entry from high school only.
• From a college: the record is assessed as a whole; the college program should have sufficient academic content; prerequisites must be met at the senior high school level, and two full college-level semesters of an academic subject may satisfy a prerequisite. Transfer credit depends on the credential completed and the admitting division’s policy.
• From a university or college outside Canada: the international university or college transfer page says the same application process applies and there is no separate transfer application; pre-university, pre-degree and foundation-level courses are not eligible for transfer credit; credit is assessed only after admission, and a Transfer Explorer tool shows how courses were evaluated before, without guaranteeing credit.
• Internal transfer between campuses or faculties: use the University of Toronto Internal Application (fee printed as $98); changing programs within your faculty (for example Biology to Chemistry within U of T Scarborough) needs no application, only contact with the registrar’s office.

Checklist

• Choose your campus first: one application can name up to three program areas or campuses, but not two within the same one.
• Match your program’s prerequisites (English plus the required mathematics and sciences) to the equivalents for your province or curriculum.
• Apply through OUAC by November 7, 2026 for early consideration; January 15, 2027 is the application deadline and February 1 the document deadline; send the documents you already have by December 1.
• International applicants: check the English test requirements and exemptions; applicants from China should prepare the graduation diploma, huiKao and gaokao documents and ask admissions how they are used for each program.
• If you want co-op, choose the co-op admission category when you apply.

This guide is based on the University of Toronto’s public web pages; requirements, dates and fees are subject to U of T’s current pages and replies from the admissions office.