Studying Neuroscience in Ontario
You can’t always apply to neuroscience directly. Some universities admit you straight into it; others admit you into a broad first-year category and you choose neuroscience 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 neuroscience later
Western University
Apply to Medical Sciences (ESM)
You choose neuroscience in Year 2 — you apply to the Honours Specialization in Neuroscience.
Western is explicit: 'Students do not apply to the Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience from high school.' Neuroscience appears on OUAC as a subject of interest under both Medical Sciences (ESM) and Science (ES), but that is only an indication of interest and guarantees nothing — you apply to enter the Honours Specialization in Year 2 after meeting the first-year requirements, and students entering through other faculties can apply too. The department's posted admission averages differ sharply by code: low 90s via ESM, mid 80s via ES.
https://www.schulich.uwo.ca/neuroscience/undergraduate/future_students/applying_from_high_school.htmlQueen's University
Apply to Life Science & Biochemistry (QL)
You choose neuroscience at Plan Selection after first year, when you choose the Neurosciences sub-plan of the Life Sciences Specialization.
Queen's has no standalone Neuroscience degree to apply to. Neurosciences is a sub-plan inside the Life Sciences Specialization (QL), confirmed alongside Cancer Biology, Cardiorespiratory, Drug Development and Human Toxicology, Biomedical Discovery and Biomedical Sciences. A psychology/cognition-flavoured route to the same interest runs through Arts or the Biological and Cognitive Sciences pathway instead. Requires Calculus and Vectors, Biology and Chemistry 4U.
https://healthsci.queensu.ca/liscbchm/life-sciences/degree-plansMcMaster University
Apply to Life Sciences Gateway
You choose neuroscience at the end of first year.
Two separate Level 2 programs use the word: Honours Neuroscience (run out of the Biology department) and Honours Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour. Both are limited enrolment at the end of Level 1, not guaranteed by finishing the Gateway. Check each one's Level 1 course list in the Undergraduate Calendar before you lock your first-year timetable.
https://future.mcmaster.ca/programs/lifesci/University of Toronto — St. George
Apply to Life Sciences (including Psychology)
You choose neuroscience at the end of first year.
Run through the Human Biology (HMB) program and limited enrolment: entry turns on BIO130H1 and CHM135H1/CHM136H1 (or CHM151Y1), with the calendar excluding anyone below 55% in BIO130H1 and the real cut-off moving each year. It is not a program you are admitted to from Grade 12.
https://future.utoronto.ca/program/neuroscience/University of Toronto — Mississauga
Apply to Psychological and Brain Sciences
You choose neuroscience after first year (4.0 credits).
Neuroscience sits with Psychology, not with Biology — the code is TMP, not TML. Prerequisites are ENG4U, MHF4U, SBI4U AND SCH4U, so unlike Psychology itself this one also requires Grade 12 chemistry.
https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/future-students/programs/neuroscienceUniversity of Toronto — Scarborough
Apply to Life Sciences
You choose neuroscience end of first year, on ACORN.
Neuroscience is a Life Sciences program (TSL), not a psychology one — do not apply through Psychology & Health Studies for it. Calculus & Vectors is required by second year if you did not take it in high school, and it is a limited POSt (roughly 2.5 CGPA at the Stage 1 application) where admission is not assured.
https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/admissions/programs/neuroscienceUniversity of Waterloo
Apply to Life Sciences
You choose neuroscience Biology is named when you apply; the Psychology (BSc) major is declared at the end of first year.
Waterloo has NO Neuroscience major and no Neuroscience admission program — it exists only as a Faculty of Science minor. Students who want neuroscience apply to Life Sciences, major in Psychology (BSc) or Biology, and add the Neuroscience minor. Remember the BSc Psychology route has its own continuation minimums (60% overall, 60% Science, 75% Psychology) before you can declare. If a named Neuroscience degree is what you want, Waterloo is the wrong school for it.
https://uwaterloo.ca/science/undergraduate/programs/minors-options-and-specializations
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.