The overall procedures for admission to a graduate program are listed below.
Yellow Lady's Slipper. (photo: P. Ryser)
Step 1. The student contacts the Department, Graduate Coordinator or an individual faculty member about the possibility of joining our M.Sc. or Ph.D. Programs. If they contact the Department or Graduate Coordinator, they are encouraged to carefully examine our Biology Website and contact a faculty member with whom they would like to work. Contacting a faculty member directly and establishing communication leads to discussions on potential thesis topics, availability of funding and an opportunity to explain the Laurentian University programs.
Step 2. Once the student indicates a desire to register, they are requested to go directly to Laurentian University's School of Graduate Studies on-line application site and apply on-line.
Step 3. Once the Admissions Office receives all information and the application is deemed complete, they scan it and send a copy electronically to the Department. The Department prints a hard copy and gives this to the potential supervisor. If a potential student submits an application without first contacting a faculty member, then the Graduate Coordinator takes/sends the dossier, supplied to us by the Admissions Office, to the faculty they feel most appropriate.
Step 4. The potential supervisor calls an Acceptance Committee meeting and the dossier is examined to make sure the candidate is suitable for the program. The potential supervisor writes a letter to the Graduate Coordinator, signed by two other faculty members, indicating the suitability of the candidate. An Admissions Form, obtained from the Biology Graduate Coordinator, is completed, including the amount of funds that will be made available to the student. The potential supervisor then gives the hard copy of the application, signed letter, and completed Admission Form to the Graduate Coordinator. The Graduate Coordinator checks the dossier and if all is considered satisfactory, signs the form and submits it to the Graduate Studies Office. Graduate Studies checks the dossier and if satisfactory, the Dean sends the student an offer. If accepted, a Permit to Register is sent to the candidate.
You are urged to also visit the main Laurentian site for Graduate Studies' Admission information.