Molecular Biology, Biochemistry programs in Ontario
49 programs across 17 campuses, with published admission ranges starting at 70%. Sorted by the range each one publishes, lowest first, so you can see where you land.
Programs
49
Campuses
17
Lowest range
70%
What this leads to
The picture for molecular biology, biochemistry as of 2026-08-17, not a description of this particular program.
Research Laboratory Technicians support experiments in pharmaceutical, biotech, and university labs, running PCR, DNA analysis, and cell culture work. Many graduates move into graduate school immediately to become Research Scientists, Post-Doctoral Researchers, or eventually Principal Investigators at universities or companies.
In its favour
- Decent entry salary: lab technician roles start around $45K-$60K in Canada, with pharmaceutical and biotech companies paying toward the higher end.
- Strong industry growth in biotech hubs like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal—active hiring for lab roles across universities, CROs, and pharma companies.
- Research skills are genuinely in demand—wet-lab expertise combined with data analysis gives you options across multiple sectors.
Worth knowing
- Graduate school is almost required: most positions that actually use your degree require an M.Sc or PhD. Four years of undergrad gets you into junior tech roles, not senior scientist roles.
- Your core work is being automated now: robotic pipetting, automated sample handling, high-throughput screening, and AI-driven molecular design are replacing traditional bench work. Entry-level wet-lab jobs are shrinking.
- Starting salaries are modest for the education required, and competition is intense. You'll be competing against graduates with co-op experience and research publications.
- The field increasingly expects programming skills (Python, R, bioinformatics tools) alongside lab skills—most undergrads don't learn this.
How AI is changing this work
The automation wave is here. Robotic laboratories are compressing experimental cycles from months to days by automating physical assays, and AI models now predict molecular behavior, protein folding, and drug binding without requiring as much wet-lab testing. Entry-level bench work—the kind you'd do with a bachelor's degree—is disappearing fastest. However, the field isn't disappearing: it's splitting. If you can code and combine programming with biochemistry knowledge, you'll have options in bioinformatics, computational biology, and AI-driven drug discovery. If you're planning to stay in traditional wet-lab work without graduate training, you're entering a shrinking job market.
Where this came from (6 sources)
- 1. 105 molecular biology jobs in Canada, June 2026 | Glassdoor
- 2. 82 laboratory molecular biology jobs in Canada, May 2026 | Glassdoor
- 3. 46 molecular biology scientist Jobs in Canada, August 2026 | Glassdoor
- 4. 57 molecular biology Jobs in Canada | May 2026 | Adzuna.ca
- 5. Jobs – Canadian Society for Molecular Biosciences
- 6. 2026 AI, Automation, and the Future of Biochemistry Degree Careers | Research.com
All 49 programs
- 70–75%LakeheadApplied Life Sciences (Thunder Bay and Orillia)
- 70%LaurentianBiochemistry
- 70–75%WindsorBiochemistry
- 70%LaurentianBiochimie
- 70%LakeheadBiology (includes Environmental Science, Animal Sciences, Plant Sciences, and Biodiversity and Conservation) (Thunder Bay)
- 70–73%Ontario TechBiomedical Science (Co-op)
- 70%WindsorBiomedical Sciences
- 70%LakeheadChemistry (includes Medical Sciences) (Thunder Bay)
- 73–77%Laurier (Waterloo)Biology (BA or BSc)
- 73–80%York (Glendon)Biology (BSc, iBSc)
- 73–83%YorkBiology (iBSc - Co-op available)
- 73–80%U of T (Scarborough)Life Sciences - Health Sciences Stream (regular and co-op)
- 73–80%U of T (Scarborough)Life Sciences (regular and co-op)
- 74–76%CarletonScience – Major (4 years)
- 75%LaurentianÉducation concurrente avec Science – moyen/intermédiaire
- 75–80%OttawaBiochimie (4 ans)
- 75–80%OttawaBiologie (4 ans)
- 75%OttawaMusic and Biochemistry (5-year double degree)
- 75%OttawaMusique et biochimie (Double grade – 5 ans)
- 77–87%YorkChemistry (BSc - Co-op available)
- 78%CarletonScience – Honours (4 years)
- 80–85%GuelphBachelor of Science (BSc) General
- 80–91%GuelphBachelor of Science (BSc) Honours
- 80%OttawaBiochemistry (4 years) (French Immersion Stream is available)
- 80–87%YorkBiochemistry (BSc - Co-op available)
- 80–87%Queen'sBiological and Cognitive Sciences Pathway
- 80%OttawaBiology (4 years) (French Immersion Stream is available)
- 80–87%YorkBiology (BSc - Co-op available)
- 80–85%TMUBiomedical Sciences (Co-op Available)
- 80–87%YorkBiotechnology (BSc - Co-op available)
- 80–87%Queen'sEarth and Environmental Science Pathway
- 80–83%WaterlooHonours Science (Regular/Co-op)
- 80–87%U of T (Mississauga)Life Sciences
- 80–83%WaterlooLife Sciences (Regular/Co-op)
- 80–87%Queen'sPhysical and Chemical Sciences Pathway
- 80–83%WaterlooPhysical Sciences (Regular/Co-op)
- 80–83%WaterlooScience and Business (Regular/Co-op)
- 83%OttawaBiomedical Science (4 years) (French Immersion Stream is available)
- 83–90%WesternMedical Sciences
- 90%McMasterIntegrated Biomedical Engineering & Health Sciences I- Civil & Biomedical Engineering
- 90%McMasterIntegrated Biomedical Engineering & Health Sciences I- Discovery Track
- 90%McMasterIntegrated Biomedical Engineering & Health Sciences I- Electrical & Biomedical Engineering
- 90%McMasterIntegrated Biomedical Engineering & Health Sciences I- Engineering Physics & Biomedical Engineering
- 90%McMasterIntegrated Biomedical Engineering & Health Sciences I- Health Engineering Science & Entrepreneurship
- 90%McMasterIntegrated Biomedical Engineering & Health Sciences I- Materials Science & Biomedical Engineering
- 90%McMasterIntegrated Biomedical Engineering & Health Sciences I- Mechanical & Biomedical Engineering
- 90%McMasterIntegrated Biomedical Engineering & Health Sciences I- Mechatronics & Biomedical Engineering
- 90%McMasterIntegrated Biomedical Engineering & Health Sciences I- Software & Biomedical Engineering
- 93–97%McMasterLife Sciences Gateway
Other subjects
- Business Studies 203
- Interdisciplinary Studies 187
- Computer Science 135
- Education Studies 117
- Environmental Studies 116
- Psychology 109
- General or Integrated Engineering 104
- Law & Criminology 101
- Media and Communication Studies 98
- Economics 95
- Biological Sciences 92
- Others in Subjects Related to Medicine 92
Ranges are what universities publish, not guaranteed cutoffs. Work out your top 6 to see which of these you actually clear.