Cutoffs

Queen's Biological and Cognitive Sciences Pathway

Queen's University

The published admission average for Biological and Cognitive Sciences Pathway at Queen's University is 80–87% for September 2027 entry, under OUAC code QSB.

This program combines biology, chemistry, and psychology to explore how living systems work at both the molecular and mental levels. You'll study everything from cellular and genetic processes to brain function and behaviour, with the option to gain work experience through co-op placements. It suits students interested in medicine, neuroscience, pharmaceutical research, or any field that bridges the physical and behavioural sciences.

Plain-English summary. The universities publish requirements but not an explanation of the program, so this one is written for you and checked against the official listing above. Read the university’s own page before you decide.

Admission average

80–87%

OUAC code

QSB

Study options

Co-op

Queen's University publishes this as “Low to Mid-80s”

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Co-op available

What’s the Queen's Biological and Cognitive Sciences Pathway acceptance rate?

Queen's University doesn't publish an acceptance rate for Biological and Cognitive Sciences Pathway, and no Ontario university publishes one for any program. What it publishes is the admission average: 80–87% for September 2027 entry. Queen's acceptance rate, program by program

Admission requirements

Required
ENG4U, MCV4U
Choose two of
SBI4U, SCH4U, SPH4U

Queen's’s own wording

  • ENG4U
  • MCV4U
  • 2 of SBI4U, SCH4U, or SPH4U
  • 2 additional 4 U/M courses
  • See Ontario high school course codes.

How many other programs require these outright:

Also required

  • A high school transcript is just 1 piece of information Queen's University uses when making an admission decision. Each applicant to Queen's has a personalized To Do List, detailing exactly what is needed to complete their application. Students can review their To Do List (and associated due dates) on their Queen's SOLUS Student Centre. Students will receive instructions for accessing SOLUS after they apply.
  • Alternative Offers
  • Queen's does not make alternate offers of admission. Applicants will be considered only for the program(s) to which they have applied (or amended) via the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC) by the published deadlines.

What it costs

First-year tuition at Queen's is $6,204.60 for an Ontario student in arts and science in 2026–27. Commerce, years 1–2 ($16,613.19) and Engineering and Applied Science ($12,152.92) cost more. Queen's tuition, program by program

Source: Queen's University on Ontario Universities’ Info. Grade ranges change year to year and are not guarantees — confirm with the university before you apply.

What this leads to

The picture for biological sciences as of 2026-08-17, not a description of this particular program.

Most graduates start as research technicians or lab associates in government agencies (Environment and Climate Change Canada, Fisheries and Oceans), hospitals, or biotech companies, preparing samples and entering data. With a master's degree, you move into positions like biologist or ecology technician doing actual research on wildlife, fisheries, or environmental issues.

In its favour

  • Federal government biology positions pay $72,500–$150,000 depending on level, with job security and benefits hard to find elsewhere.
  • If you add programming or data analysis skills, you're in demand—AI-related biology roles are expected to grow over 40% by 2028.
  • The work often involves fieldwork and real problem-solving on things like fisheries management or conservation, not just lab drudgery.

Worth knowing

  • Entry-level work is heavily repetitive: sample prep, data entry, logging specimens. This is exactly what robotic automation and AI are replacing fastest.
  • Nearly 40% of routine lab tasks could be automated in the next decade; technician roles are being hit hardest right now.
  • Most meaningful research roles (biologist level) require a master's degree minimum. A bachelor's alone leaves you stuck in automating-away positions.
  • Entry-level pay out of high school is low: research technicians start around $41–$56K, and many positions have slow advancement without further credentials.

How AI is changing this work

The split is real. Routine lab work—sample prep, data entry, quality checks—is already being automated and will keep shrinking. But analysing data, designing experiments, interpreting results, and fieldwork that requires judgment are not being replaced yet. If you plan to just do entry-level lab work without upgrading your skills, you're betting on a shrinking pool. If you learn data analysis or programming alongside biology (or pursue grad school), you're moving into roles that AI creates rather than kills. The field itself isn't vanishing, but the jobs that don't require either advanced education or computational skills are.

Where this came from (6 sources)
  1. 1. Biology & Life Sciences jobs in Canada | May 2026
  2. 2. 239 biology jobs in Toronto, ON, July 2026 | Glassdoor
  3. 3. Life Sciences jobs in Canada
  4. 4. BI Salary & Rates of Pay Oct 2025: $72K–$150K | Government of Canada | FedPay.ca
  5. 5. 105 molecular biology jobs in Canada, June 2026 | Glassdoor
  6. 6. 94 master of science biology Jobs in Canada, May 2026 | Glassdoor

Deadline reminders

Application dates move, and supplementary deadlines land before the January OUAC one. We’ll email you before the ones that apply to Biological and Cognitive Sciences Pathway.

We send your email address and the programs you’ve starred, so the reminders are the right ones. Your marks and your average are never sent — they stay in this browser. Deadline emails only, a week before and the day before each date, and every one has a link to stop them.

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