Studying Life Sciences in Ontario
You can’t always apply to life sciences directly. Some universities admit you straight into it; others admit you into a broad first-year category and you choose life sciences later. That difference is why searching for a major by name can make it look like a university doesn’t offer it.
Apply broad, choose life sciences later
Western University
Apply to Science (ES)
You choose life sciences at the end of first year, during Intent to Register in March.
Western has no program or module called 'Life Sciences' — that name belongs to McMaster, Queen's and Guelph. The equivalents here are Science (ES) if you want biology, genetics, ecology or biochemistry-adjacent modules, or Medical Sciences (ESM) if you are aiming at the BMSc and the health-professional route. Searching 'life sciences' and finding nothing does not mean Western lacks the field.
https://welcome.uwo.ca/what-can-i-study/undergraduate-programs/science.htmlMcMaster University
Apply to Life Sciences Gateway
You choose life sciences at the end of first year, ranking up to four Level 2 programs.
The OUAC choice is the Gateway; Honours Life Sciences is the Level 2 program you rank into afterward. First year is largely set for you — Biology 1A03 and 1M03, Chem 1A03 and 1AA3, Math 1LS3, Physics 1A03, Psych 1X03, plus 6 units of electives — and those courses are what unlock Level 2 programs across Biology, Chemistry, Earth & Environment, Math & Stats, Physics & Astronomy and PNB.
https://future.mcmaster.ca/programs/lifesci/University of Toronto — St. George
Apply to Life Sciences (including Psychology)
You choose life sciences at the end of first year.
Life Sciences is the admission category, not a program — there is no 'Life Sciences' program page. In first year you are not enrolled in any program at all; you take first-year courses then apply to something specific (Human Biology, Neuroscience, Health and Disease, Biochemistry, Psychology) at the end of first year, and most of those are limited enrolment.
https://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/future/ready-apply/admission-categories/life-sciencesUniversity of Toronto — Mississauga
Apply to Life Sciences
You choose life sciences after first year (4.0 credits).
Life Sciences is an admission category, not a degree — nobody graduates with a 'Life Sciences' degree. You take a common first year and then request Biology, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Ecology & Evolution or similar.
https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/future-students/programs/biology
Apply straight to life sciences
Life Science & Biochemistry (QL)
Queen's
Life Sciences is run by the Faculty of Health Sciences and is direct entry, which makes it fundamentally different from Biology (a plan you pick after first year through the Science pathway). Requires English 4U, Calculus and Vectors 4U, Biology 4U and Chemistry 4U. After first year you still choose between the Life Sciences Specialization, Major or General plan, plus a sub-plan (Neurosciences, Cancer Biology, Cardiorespiratory, Drug Development and Human Toxicology, Biomedical Discovery, Biomedical Sciences) — but there is no GPA threshold for direct-entry students.
U of T (Scarborough)
This is the broad category itself (TSL, or TXD for the Health Sciences stream). You apply to Life Sciences, then request Biology, Human Biology, Neuroscience, Integrative Biology, Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, Molecular Biology Immunology & Disease, Conservation & Biodiversity or Plant Biology on ACORN after first year — several of which are limited-enrolment. Biochemistry is not in this category; it is TSP.
Waterloo
Life Sciences is the admission code, not a degree you graduate with — you finish in Biochemistry, Biology, or Psychology, and you indicate which one when you apply. If you want a genuinely undecided science first year instead, Honours Science is a separate admission program and the flexible BSc where a large share of your science courses are electives.
Read off each university’s own admissions pages, and covering the seven campuses Ontario students apply to most. Entry structures change — confirm with the university before you build a timetable around one. Search all programs.