Do I need a Bachelor's degree?

Yes, you need a four-year undergraduate degree before you can apply for our Master’s degree. Please review our admission criteria and prerequisites for further information.

What type of undergraduate degree do I need?

A Bachelor of Science (BSc) or Bachelor of Arts (BA) are the most common types of degrees held by our students (approximately 80% of the students accepted hold Bachelors of Science degrees). But we have accepted many students from a diversity of undergrad programs (e.g. engineering, nursing, history, English, etc.) as long as they have completed our prerequisite courses.

How do you calculate my GPA?

Candidates must have obtained a minimum B average (73-76%) in the final two years of undergraduate education. However, two notable points to consider: We select only the best applicants, and that decision is largely influenced by a candidate’s overall cGPA. In addition, scholarships and other sources of funding are primarily associated with academic achievement. In other words, the higher the GPA the better.

Do I need a background in art?

Part of the application process to this program requires that you have a strong portfolio of visual work. This can result from full-time study, evening, weekend, or summer courses, or your own personal interest. Formal study is not necessary (though it may, in many circumstances, be helpful).

What about the English course prerequisite?

Taking an English course is not essential. However, you do need to have taken a course which requires long-form academic writing, such as Sociology, Psychology, English Literature, Art History, History, etc.

What are the characteristics of a successful candidate?

When reviewing a student’s transcript, we take particular note of marks in Biology, Histology, Cell Biology and Physiology, as they are required courses to enter our program. If your transcript reflects low marks in several of these areas it could indicate that you will experience some difficulty with the basic science parts of our curriculum, such as the anatomy, neuroanatomy, or pathology courses. These courses are a mandatory part of our curriculum. When we review a student’s portfolio we are looking for originality and creativity, and visual problem-solving ability. Motivation and dedication are also very important.

How do I know if I am a suitable candidate?

If you are interested in applying to the BMC program, but are unsure of your suitability or readiness for the program, you may seek a review of your portfolio and transcripts. This feedback may be requested between April and August. (Requests for review will not be considered during the application period September to December or during adjudication, January to March.) To request a portfolio review, email 5 to 6 small (approx. 200kb each) jpeg samples of your artwork, and an unofficial copy of your transcript, to the graduate program administrator. Include samples of the five required illustrations and an unofficial transcript. Your materials will be forwarded to one of the BMC faculty for review and feedback. After a portfolio review, and between April and August before the program begins to accept applications in the fall, you can also request a visit or online meeting with one of our faculty and seek advice on how best to prepare to apply to our program in the future. You can contact the graduate program administrator or any of the faculty directly to set up a meeting.

Once I have had the review, how do I officially apply?

If you have been encouraged to apply, complete the online SGS Application Form. The SGS application for our program is online at: http://apply.sgs.utoronto.ca/. Note that the BMC program is listed under Program of Study > Graduate Units > Medical Science.  

What computer technologies do you use during the 2-year curriculum?

We use a broad selection of technology and development platforms. This includes current versions of the Adobe Creative Cloud, Unity, Cinema 4D, Maya, Horos, ZBrush, and Chimera, among others. We have two computer labs for the exclusive use of our students, with large displays, current CPUs running the Macintosh OS or Windows, and graphics tablets, as well as access to 2D and 3D scanners, a 3D stereolithographic printer, and mobile devices.

How many students apply and are accepted each year?

Approximately 130 candidates contact us annually. As many as 120 students formally apply. We accept 18 candidates into the program each year.

Are there any scholarships available?

We offer an entrance award to our highest ranking applicant: the Nancy Joy Entrance Award. Awards are based on available funding, and subject to change without notice. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply for any external awards for which they may be eligible well in advance of applying for admission. Other funding information is available here.

What is the job market like for a graduate of your program?

The job market is very good for successful graduates of the MScBMC program. Our graduates are hired by companies that specialize in: textbook and journal illustration; medical legal visualization; interactive media design for patient education, online science courses, and continuing education courses for professional certification; 3D animation for pharmaceutical and medical advertising; medical gaming and comics, etc. In addition, a number of our graduates pursue careers in academia or continue their education in MD and PhD programs.