Program Overview
The graduate program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology leads to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees.
The disciplines of ecology and evolutionary biology involve complementary perspectives on biological systems. Individual and collaborative research within the department covers the range of both disciplines and often involves study and synthesis across multiple levels of organization. Professors’ research interests include anatomy/physiology, behaviour, behaviour genetics, bioinformatics, community/population/ecosystem/landscape/evolutionary ecology, conservation biology, developmental biology, genetics/genomics, microbiology, molecular evolution, plant biology, taxonomy/systematics, and theoretical biology.
Professors who supervise graduate students are located on all three campuses of the University (St. George, Mississauga, Scarborough) as well as the Royal Ontario Museum.
Unfortunately at present we are not able to accept MSc applications from international students.
Quick Facts
| Domestic | International | |
|---|---|---|
| Application deadline | MSc, PhD: Fall 2026 Entry 09-Jan-2026 | PhD: Fall 2026 Entry 08-Dec-2025 |
| Minimum admission average | MSc: An appropriate bachelor’s degree from a recognized university, with an average grade equivalent to a University of Toronto B+ or better in the last year of the bachelor’s degree and a minimum B average in the previous year. PhD:Applicants to this pathway of the EEB PhD program may be accepted after completion of a four-year BSc degree in biology and a research-based MSc degree in the fields of ecology or evolutionary biology. Applicants must have a grade average equivalent to at least a University of Toronto A– during the MSc and an average of at least B+ in the final two years of the bachelor’s program. | PhD: Applicants to this pathway of the EEB PhD program may be accepted after completion of a four-year BSc degree in biology and a research-based MSc degree in the fields of ecology or evolutionary biology. Applicants must have a grade average equivalent to at least a University of Toronto A– during the MSc and an average of at least B+ in the final two years of the bachelor’s program. |
| Direct entry option from bachelor's to PhD? | PhD: Applicants may be accepted for direct entry into the PhD with a BSc degree with an average grade equivalent to a University of Toronto A– or better across the final two years of bachelor’s coursework and in any postgraduate work, including courses in ecology and evolutionary biology, and evidence of research potential. Applicants may be considered through this entrance pathway if they do not have a recognized research-based MSc degree in the fields of ecology or evolutionary biology, or if they completed a BSc in a discipline other than biology. | PhD: Applicants may be accepted for direct entry into the PhD with a BSc degree with an average grade equivalent to a University of Toronto A– or better across the final two years of bachelor’s coursework and in any postgraduate work, including courses in ecology and evolutionary biology, and evidence of research potential. Applicants may be considered through this entrance pathway if they do not have a recognized research-based MSc degree in the fields of ecology or evolutionary biology, or if they completed a BSc in a discipline other than biology. |
| Is a supervisor identified before or after admission? | MSc: Before PhD:Before | PhD: Before |
| If a supervisor is identified after admission (as per question above), is admission conditional upon securing a supervisor? | PhD: NA | PhD: NA |
| Is a supervisor assigned by the graduate unit or secured by the applicant? | MSc: Applicant PhD:Applicant | PhD: Applicant |
| Are any standardized tests required/recommended? | MSc, PhD: No | PhD: English Language required by SGS (e.g. TOEFL) |