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.

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McMaster

Life Sciences Gateway

OUAC MLS

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Your average, their wayrequired courses forced in
Published rangetheir exact wording83–87%Mid 80s93–97%Mid-90s73–80%Mid-70s (regular), high 70s (co-op)80–83%Low 80s
Required coursesforced into your top 6 — options are the row belowENG4UMCV4USBI4USCH4UENG4USBI4UENG4USBI4UENG4UMCV4UMHF4U
Choose one ofany of these satisfies it
  • one of MCV4U, MHF4U
  • one of MCV4U, MHF4U, SCH4U, SPH4U
  • one of MCV4U, MDM4U, MHF4U
  • two of MDM4U, SBI4U, SCH4U, SES4U, SPH4U
Prerequisitesas published
  • ENG4U
  • MCV4U
  • SBI4U
  • SCH4U
  • 2 additional 4U/M course
  • 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, MHF4U or MDM4U
  • SBI4U
  • SCH4U recommended
  • MCV4U for specific disciplines is required.
  • +2 more on the program page
  • 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
More than marks?supplementary applicationMarks onlyMarks onlyMarks onlyMarks only
Co-opAvailableAvailableAvailableAvailable
Degree
First-year intakewhere published1,000680570
What you studyChemistryHuman BiologyPharmacology, Toxicology & PharmacyAnimal ScienceBiological SciencesGeneticsMicrobiologyAnimal ScienceBiological SciencesBiotechnologyGeneticsAnimal ScienceBiological SciencesBiologyBiotechnology
What it isYou 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 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 science of living systems — cells, organisms, genetics, and disease — with flexible depth depending on which specialization you choose. The co-op option lets you alternate between classroom semesters and paid work terms at research labs, hospitals, or biotech companies, building real experience alongside your degree. This stream suits students drawn to biology and chemistry who want either a traditional path or the chance to test careers in health and life sciences before graduating.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.
The door tomajors you reach through itbiochemistrylife sciencesmedical sciencesmicrobiologyneurosciencebiochemistrybiologylife sciencesmedical sciencesmicrobiologyneuroscienceApplied to directlybiochemistrybiologylife sciencesmicrobiologyneuroscience
Entrance awardsat this campus, by averageNone published by average5 published, 3 with no applicationfrom 75%See them4 published, 4 with no applicationfrom 85%See them4 published, 3 with no applicationfrom 80%See them
SourceQueen's University on OUInfoMcMaster University on OUInfoUniversity of Toronto — Scarborough on OUInfoUniversity of Waterloo 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.