How to Apply

Applications for the September 2012 program are now open. Please send any documents to the program coordinator before the deadline indicated and clearly indicate the program you are applying for. Enquiries are welcome at anytime.

International student deadline: February 3, 2012

US or Canadian student deadline: OPEN

Required Application Documents:

• Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
• Official TOEFL score or equivalent (for students whose first language is not English) UBC Institution code: 0965  Department code: 99
• Three strongly supportive letters of reference (either sent directly from the Reference or enclosed in a sealed envelope with the Reference's signature across the seal)
• Bioinformatics Training Program application form (see below)

Additional materials or fees may be required once the student is accepted into the Bioinformatics Training Program, and is applying to be accepted at one of the Universities, SFU or UBC.

Download the application form for the Program:

• Application form in Microsoft Word format

In order to be accepted into the program, you must also be accepted into an affiliated graduate studies program at one of our two affiliated universities: University of British Columbia or Simon Fraser University. Acceptance by a graduate studies program can happen before or after your acceptance by the Program. We prefer to receive applications directly to the Program before you apply to a graduate studies program.

The graduate studies programs with which we are affiliated are:

• UBC Bioinformatics Graduate Program (College of Interdisciplinary Studies)
• SFU Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry (Faculty of Science)
• SFU School of Computing Science (Faculty of Applied Science)
• SFU Department of Mathematics (Faculty of Science)

Please note that entry to this program has proven to be highly competitive and we receive a large number of applications for a very small number of places. We regret that we cannot provide advance opinions as to whether your application would be competitive.

Apply to the CIHR/MSFHR Bioinformatics Training program directly:

1. Download the application form (see above), complete it and return it to the program (preferably electronically).  Send supporting documentation (see required application documents) by postal mail. Our postal mailing address is at the end of this page.
2. When we receive your transcripts, letters of reference and completed application form, we will open a file for your application and send it to our Admissions Committee. There is no fee associated with applying directly to the Program.
3. If you are accepted by the Program by our Admissions Committee, we will assist you in the process of applying to a graduate studies program. Our Admissions Committee will suggest the appropriate graduate studies program, after considering your educational background, desired career path and desired mentor/supervisor.  We will endeavour to accomodate the wishes of incoming students, but the program reserves the right to determine which university the student is enrolled at initially.
4. If you are not accepted by our Program, we will inform you as soon as possible by e-mail so you may apply directly to graduate studies of your choice at either UBC or SFU.  We will then forward your official documents to that University ONLY if requested.

Because the application process is expensive and time-consuming for both the applicants and the Program, before continuing we suggest that you evaluate your situation according to the following guidelines:

• Your overall university marks should be first class. The admission standards for the Bioinformatics Training Program are essentially at the same high level as would be required for admission to medical school, roughly a GPA of 3.5 or higher.
• Generally, successful applicants have significant experience in both computational science (mathematics, computer science, statistics) and life sciences (molecular biology, genetics). This experience can be academic or work-related.
• If your first language is not English, you should have taken the TOEFL exam during the past year. The Program requires a score of at least internet-based score of 100 overall. (MELAB 87-88, IELTS 7.0.)
• You will need to provide official academic transcripts and three original letters of reference (and an official TOEFL score if your first language is not English) before your application will be considered.
• GRE scores are not required for our program.
• You should be aware that places in our program are extremely limited and that we admit fewer than 5% of those who apply. (Medical schools admit approximately 15% of those who apply.)
• Support for graduate students is scarce. The bioinformatics program offers a basic stipend of CAN$21,000/year and students are expected to apply for other grants and funding agencies.
• If you are not a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant, please apply as early as possible in order to give the Program time to assess your educational qualifications.

We prefer communications in electronic format but can accept submissions by facsimile and postal mail. If large documents are to be submitted by facsimile, please contact us by e-mail in advance to arrange this.

Please note that applications from international students (outside Canada) or Canadian landed immigrants must be accompanied by a photocopy of a recent TOEFL result. The only exception to this rule is if your post-secondary education has been entirely in English and in an English-speaking country. There are NO other exceptions to this requirement. You will be required to provide an original TOEFL score directly from the testing agency to our affiliated university department, if you are accepted by our program.

Bioinformatics Training Program Coordinator
Ms. Sharon Ruschkowski<bioinformaticsprogram@bcgsc.ca>
Genome Sciences Centre
BC Cancer Agency
100- 570 West 7th Avenue
Vancouver, BC
Canada V5Z 4S6