Studying life is intriguing, and biology can satisfy our curiosity about living things. As a major life-sciences discipline, biology introduces students to cells, genes, organisms, evolution, ecosystems, and human health.
Biology is also a common academic pathway for students considering medicine, research, public health, teaching, biotechnology, environmental work, or graduate study.
Canada remains a major destination for international students. Biology majors will find Canada a suitable place to study because of its natural environments, research-intensive universities, and broad range of life-sciences programs.
Here is a closer look at some of the best universities for biology and life sciences in Canada. Read on and discover what their biological sciences departments have in store for you.
Top Schools Offering Biology in Canada
1. University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public university in Ontario with three campuses in the Greater Toronto Area. It offers more than 700 undergraduate programs and more than 300 graduate programs. U of T is recognized as Canada’s top university in several current global rankings, including the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, where it ranks 21st globally. Its life-sciences history includes the discovery of insulin and continuing contributions to stem cell research, making it a strong choice for biology.
At the St. George campus, Biology specialist, major, and minor programs are jointly offered by Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Cell and Systems Biology. Graduate options related to biology include Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, which leads to MSc and PhD degrees, with supervisors located across all three U of T campuses and the Royal Ontario Museum. Across U of T, students can build foundations in areas such as genetics, evolution, ecology, molecular biology, and field biology.
What Current Students / Alumni of University of Toronto Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Biology Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Dila Gulmez
BSc, Biological Chemistry Specialist
Mississauga campus | Studies metabolic pathways and molecular biology in the Biological Chemistry specialist program. She chose this specialization after her first year, when her interests shifted from biotechnology industry work toward an academic career. | — |
Verona Odhiambo
Bachelor’s in Molecular Biology and Genetics
St. George campus | In BIO260: Concepts in Genetics, she explored genetic diseases and inheritance through examples involving inbred families. The course shifted her interests from chemistry toward genetics by connecting problem-solving with the biological causes of conditions and traits. | She found the large, fast-paced university and adjustment to life far from home challenging, eventually taking a study break. Peer mentors and a close-knit student community provided emotional support during her transition. |
2. University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university with campuses in Vancouver and Kelowna. UBC describes itself as a global center for research and teaching and is consistently ranked among the top public universities in the world. In the 2026 Times Higher Education subject ranking, UBC ranks second in Canada for life sciences.
UBC’s Biology Program at the Vancouver campus is the undergraduate teaching program of the Department of Botany and the Department of Zoology. The program includes one major, two combined majors, eight honors options, and three combined honors options, and the academic calendar lists options leading to a major, honors, combined major, or combined honors in biology-related fields.
The biology program at UBC immerses students in subfields such as plant science, physiology, ecology, marine sciences, and more. Students may also pursue optional co-op, depending on eligibility and space.
Undergraduate and graduate students can study biology at this excellent biology institution. UBC Okanagan offers research-based MSc and PhD degrees in Biology, with listed program lengths of 24 months for the MSc and 48 months for the PhD. For 2026/27, official UBC tuition tables list international undergraduate Science tuition at CAD $53,082 for a first-year full course load at the Vancouver campus, while UBC Okanagan lists Science tuition at CAD $1,769.40 per credit for international students who commence in 2026 Summer or later. Students should check the campus-specific fee table before applying.
3. McGill University
McGill University is a prestigious public university in Montreal, Quebec. The university attracts international students for many fields, including medicine and science. In the 2026 Maclean’s medical-doctoral rankings, McGill ranks first in Canada, a position it has held for 21 consecutive years.
The McGill University Department of Biology emphasizes the versatility of biology and its significance in different sectors of society. Its graduate research areas include Conservation, Ecology, Evolution, and Behaviour; Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology; and Neurobiology and Behaviour. Alongside lectures, students develop laboratory, research, and communication skills.
McGill’s undergraduate Biology options include a liberal program, major, quantitative biology major, honors, quantitative biology honors, and minor in the B.Sc., as well as Biology options in the B.A. & Sc. multitrack program. The major can be combined with a minor in Science, Arts, or another area.
McGill University offers undergraduate Biology programs and graduate MSc and PhD programs. Tuition varies by residency, level, and program; for 2026/27, McGill lists a guaranteed tuition model for new international bachelor’s students and separate fee structures for thesis-based master’s and PhD students. Prospective students should use McGill’s current fee tables or calculator when estimating costs.
What Current Students / Alumni of McGill University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Biology Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Yeganeh Habibi
PhD in Chemistry
Research focus: enzyme dynamics and biosynthesis | Her doctoral research investigates how enzyme dynamics contribute to the biosynthetic pathways of natural products. This work connects her chemistry training with her interest in understanding life at the molecular level. | — |
4. University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is another one of Canada’s best biology universities. It is a comprehensive academic and research university in Edmonton, Alberta. The university appears in the top five in Canada for life sciences in the 2026 Times Higher Education subject ranking and ranks fourth in the 2026 Maclean’s medical-doctoral category.
The Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alberta is among the largest and most scientifically diverse departments of its kind in Canada. Its research spans areas such as ecology and evolution, entomology, genomics, immunology and infection, marine biology, microbiology, biotechnology, physiology, cell biology, plant biology, and systematics.
The department oversees both undergraduate and graduate biology programs. Undergraduate offerings cover a broad range of biological sciences, including molecular biology, genetics, genomics, bioinformatics, cell biology, developmental biology, and microbiology. Graduate programs in Biological Sciences lead to MSc and PhD degrees.
Tuition at the University of Alberta varies by program, student status, and year. Because fee structures are updated, prospective students should confirm current tuition through the university’s official tuition and fee pages or their offer of admission.
What Current Students / Alumni of University of Alberta Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Biology Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Felix Ayiera
PhD in Food Science
Research focus: biofilm inactivation | Researches plasma nanobubble systems for inactivating biofilms, addressing microbial contamination in food, medical, and water systems. Finding a suitable doctoral supervisor required reviewing research and contacting hundreds of prospective supervisors across institutions, with many unanswered emails or rejections before securing his Alberta position. | — |
5. McMaster University
McMaster University, or simply Mac, is a public research university in Hamilton, Ontario. McMaster University oversees six academic faculties providing both undergraduate and graduate degree programs. In the 2026 Maclean’s medical-doctoral ranking, McMaster is tied for fifth in Canada, and it remains a strong option for students interested in biology, biomedical research, and future medical pathways.
The Faculty of Science at McMaster University oversees the Department of Biology. This research-intensive department offers training opportunities for undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows. Biology students explore broad subfields with faculty who bring current research perspectives into classrooms and teaching laboratories.
Alongside building students’ knowledge of biological theories and applications, the Department of Biology applies its research through interdisciplinary channels. The department’s research spans Integrative Biology and Wetland Ecology to Functional Genomics and Neurobiology, Theoretical Population Genetics, and Applied Infectious Disease and Cancer Research.
Undergraduate students can pursue honors biology and related programs at McMaster, while graduate students can pursue MSc and PhD degrees in Biology. The department lists over 30 faculty research labs, with average program lengths of two to three years for the MSc and four to five years for the PhD. Tuition is charged by unit and varies by faculty, program, course load, and student status; McMaster’s 2026/27 cost estimator notes that estimated fees are subject to change and do not include ancillary fees.
6. University of Calgary
The University of Calgary is located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Its Department of Biological Sciences, within the Faculty of Science, offers undergraduate and research graduate programs. Students can explore biology across molecular, cellular, organismal, and ecological scales, with opportunities to combine broad biological training with a more focused academic interest.
The Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences is available as a major or honors degree. The major requires 120 units, including substantial coursework within the biological sciences. Students can complete a formal concentration in Biodiversity and Conservation, Biotechnology, or Genetics and Evolution; these are concentrations within the degree rather than separate qualifications. Laboratory and field-based courses provide practical experience working with organisms, tissues, cells, and biological molecules.
Graduate students can pursue a thesis-based MSc in Biological Sciences, normally requiring two years of full-time study, or a thesis-based PhD, normally requiring four years. Both degrees combine supervised research with coursework and seminars and culminate in an oral thesis defense. Applicants must secure a supervisor’s agreement before admission, making alignment with an available research group an essential part of the application.
What Current Students / Alumni of University of Calgary Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Biology Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Dr. Yiota Gregoriou
PhD in Biophysical Chemistry
Research focus: nanoscale systems in biological environments | During her PhD, she studied how nanoscale systems move, interact, and behave in biological environments. Her research examined how their size, composition, and surface characteristics affect their function, shaping her later work on nanotechnology-based drug delivery. | — |
If you are an aspiring biologist or are looking into the medical field, Canada could be a strong option for your studies. The country is popular among international students, and its research universities offer many routes into biology, medicine, environmental science, biotechnology, and public health.
Hopefully, this article on the best biology universities in Canada was helpful. If you are interested, explore Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees for International Students!
