Cutoffs

4 programs, side by side

Rows marked with a dot are where these differ. Everything is each university’s own published wording; the “your average” row is yours, calculated the way each program does it.

Full

McMaster

Life Sciences Gateway

OUAC MLS

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Western

Medical Sciences

OUAC ESM

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Your average, their wayrequired courses forced in
Published rangetheir exact wording93–97%Mid-90s83–87%Mid 80s80–83%Low 80s83–90%Mid to high 80s
Required coursesforced into your top 6 — options are the row belowENG4USBI4UENG4UMCV4USBI4USCH4UENG4UMCV4UMHF4UENG4UMCV4USBI4USCH4U
Choose one ofany of these satisfies it
  • one of MCV4U, MHF4U
  • one of MCV4U, MHF4U, SCH4U, SPH4U
  • two of MDM4U, SBI4U, SCH4U, SES4U, SPH4U
Prerequisitesas published
  • English 4U
  • 1 of Advanced Functions 4U, Calculus & Vectors 4U
  • Biology 4U
  • 1 of Advanced Functions 4U, Calculus & Vectors 4U, Chemistry 4U, Physics 4U
  • Applicants without Calculus & Vectors 4U will be required to take an equivalent Calculus course in Level I.
  • ENG4U
  • MCV4U
  • SBI4U
  • SCH4U
  • 2 additional 4U/M course
  • English (ENG4U – min. 70%)
  • Advanced Functions (min. 70%)
  • Calculus and Vectors (min. 70%)
  • Any two of the following: Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Space Science, Mathematics of
  • Data Management, or Physics
  • English, ENG4U
  • Calculus and Vectors, MCV4U
  • Biology, SBI4U
  • Chemistry, SCH4U
  • Note:
  • +1 more on the program page
More than marks?supplementary applicationMarks onlyMarks onlyMarks onlyMarks only
Co-opAvailableAvailableAvailableAvailable
Degree
First-year intakewhere published1,0005701,000
What you studyAnimal ScienceBiological SciencesGeneticsMicrobiologyChemistryHuman BiologyPharmacology, Toxicology & PharmacyAnimal ScienceBiological SciencesBiologyBiotechnologyBiological SciencesChemistryHealth InformaticsHuman Biology
What it isLife Sciences Gateway is a first-year program where you explore core sciences—biology, chemistry, and math—before specializing in areas like genetics, microbiology, pharmacology, animal science, or psychology. It includes mandatory co-op work terms alongside your studies. This broad entry lets you test different life science directions before committing to a specific degree, rather than applying directly to a single specialized program.You study the chemistry of living things — how molecules work in cells and bodies, and how drugs and toxins affect them. This program combines chemistry and biology more deeply than a general life sciences program, with added focus on how substances interact with organisms. It suits students curious about medicine, pharmacy, drug development, or toxicology who want a stronger chemical foundation than biology alone provides.Life Sciences is a broad study of living organisms, their cells, genetics, and chemistry at the molecular level. You'll take core courses in biology, chemistry, and biochemistry, then choose a focus like microbiology, biotechnology, or human biology depending on your interests. The co-op option lets you alternate between school and paid work terms in research labs, hospitals, or biotech companies, giving you real experience alongside your degree.Medical Sciences is a four-year undergraduate program where you study human biology, chemistry, and related sciences to prepare for health professions or medical research. Unlike a general science degree, it focuses specifically on the foundational knowledge needed for medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, or graduate health programs. The program includes optional co-op work terms, letting you gain hands-on experience in labs, hospitals, or health settings alongside your coursework. It suits students drawn to understanding how the human body works and considering careers in health care or biomedical fields.
The door tomajors you reach through itbiochemistrybiologylife sciencesmedical sciencesmicrobiologyneurosciencebiochemistrylife sciencesmedical sciencesmicrobiologyneurosciencebiochemistrybiologylife sciencesmicrobiologyneurosciencebiochemistrymedical sciencesmicrobiologyneuroscience
Entrance awardsat this campus, by average5 published, 3 with no applicationfrom 75%See themNone published by average4 published, 3 with no applicationfrom 80%See them6 published, 5 with no applicationfrom 85%See them
SourceMcMaster University on OUInfoQueen's University on OUInfoUniversity of Waterloo on OUInfoWestern University on OUInfo

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Ranges are what each university publishes, not guaranteed cutoffs, and limited-enrolment programs often admit above them. Confirm anything you are about to act on with the university; each column links to its source.