A degree in microbiology can facilitate students to gain knowledge and expertise on structure, functions, classification of microorganisms, metabolic processes, and its shapes in microscopic and sub-micro scoping organisms.
The Master of Microbiology in Canada comprises of-
- Analyzing behaviour or microorganisms
- Ecology
- Physiology
- Biochemistry
- Pathology of diseases caused by microorganisms.
The theories and science behind microbiology can be applied to various aspects of human activities, such as
- Agriculture
- Chemistry
- Nutrition
- Pharmaceutical
- Biotechnology
- Genetic engineering and more.
Even research has revealed that clinical microbiology has been crucial in understanding COVID-19, with laboratories discovering the structure and effects of coronavirus globally.
With the help of nuclear physics and molecular biology, there have been an enormous boost and upliftment in the development of microbiology.
With advancements in technology and improvement in laboratory settings, microbiologists are working in vast arrays of production, medicine, hospitals, private companies, professor, research, and environmental science.
Why study Master of Microbiology in Canada?
- This degree in Canada will facilitate students to get superior quality education, state-of-the-art technology, world-class laboratories, resources, an updated curriculum, and industry experts.
- Every year, students choose to study in Canada mainly due to the country’s academic excellence.
- Canada has been securing a top position regarding the quality of life, internationally recognized education, vibrant cities, multicultural diversity, healthy life and a welcoming community.
- The graduate program in microbiology and immunology in Canada offers the foundation to thrive in a competitive research environment as its teaching methodology is highly tailored towards producing industry-ready graduates.
- GRE is not required in universities to study Master of Microbiology in Canada.
What do we study under Master of Microbiology?
It is a broad discipline consisting of studying protein and gene levels of microbes (molecular biology), cell biology and physiology, public health, ecology and epidemiology.
Students interested in applying for microbiology will have to study various aspects of microbiology genetics, virology, infectious diseases, microbial pathogens and ecology, parasitology and more.
Under microbiology, there are eight branches such as:
- Bacteriology
- Immunology
- Mycology
- Nematology
- Parasitology
- Psychology
- Protozoology
- Virology
All of these aspects require in-depth knowledge of viruses and diseases. Other significant areas like immunology, public health, environment, genetic engineering, and biotechnology are the sub-disciplines in microbiology.
Throughout the course, students will be focused on refining their skills to implement statistics and extract core information to make an improved decision.
Under this field, graduates will be able to understand the core of diseases, their occurrence, the development of medicines to combat them, and their significance in biotechnology.
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Top Colleges and Universities for Master of Microbiology in Canada
According to US News and World Report, the best universities for studying microbiology in Canada in terms of their reputation and their research in the field are listed below.
College/ University |
Program Name |
Acceptance rate |
Tuition Fee (In-CAD) |
University of Manitoba |
Master of Science in Medical Microbiology and infectious Diseases |
52% |
$18,285 per annum |
University of British Columbia |
Master of Science in Microbiology and Immunology |
76.19% |
$9,131.31 per annum |
University of Alberta |
MSc in Medical Microbiology and Immunology |
58% |
$7,680 per annum |
Dalhousie University |
MSc in Microbiology and Immunology |
60-70% |
$9,753 per annum |
Queens University |
Microbiology & Immunology |
42% |
$12,927.45 per annum for 3 terms |
University of Saskatchewan |
M.Sc. in Applied Microbiology |
72.3% |
$8,096.13 per annum |
University of Victoria |
Master of Science in Biochemistry or Microbiology |
63% |
$7764 per annum |
University of Calgary |
Master of Science in Microbiology and infectious diseases |
15% |
$8,081.o4 per annum |
McGill University |
MSc in Microbiology and Immunology |
46.3% |
$9,330.90 per annum |
Canadian University Requirements for Master of Biology in Canada
University of Manitoba
- Course duration: 2-3 years
- IELTS/TOEFL Requirement: IELTS with 6.5 overall, CAEL with 60 overall and 60 in each band, Internet-based TOEFL with 86 overall and 20 in each band, or PTE with 61 overall.
- Academic Requirement: Applicants must have earned honours or significance in science, medicine, dentistry or veterinary medicine with at least 12 credit hours of microbiology coursework. Or a four-year bachelor's degree or equivalent from a recognized college or university with a minimum B average (3.0) in the last 60 credit hours or equivalent. GRE/GMAT depends on students’ academic history.
University of British Columbia
- Course duration: 2 years
- IELTS/TOEFL Requirement: IELTS with an overall 7.0 with 6.5 in each band; Internet-based TOEFL with an overall 100 and 25 in each band.
- Academic Requirement: At least 4 years of bachelor’s degree with first division in engineering, forestry, or Medicine.
University of Alberta
- Course duration: 2 years
- IELTS/TOEFL Requirement: a minimum TOEFL score of 96 (Internet-based) TOEFL: Overall 90 with a score of at least 21 on each of the individual skill areas (internet-based) or equivalent; or IELTS: 6.5, with at least 6.0 on each test band; or CAEL: overall 70 with at least 60 on each subtest; or PTE Academic: 61 with a minimum band score of 60.
- Academic Requirement: Applicants must have an undergraduate degree in a related discipline with an admission GPA of at least 3.3 on the 4-point scale or an equivalent qualification.
Dalhousie University
- Course duration: 2-3 years
- IELTS/TOEFL Requirement: A minimum score of 100 on the internet-based TOEFL (Academic iBT); A minimum score of 7.5 on the IELTS;
- Academic Requirement: Applicants must have a four-year Bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 3.3 in the last 60 credit hours of study from a recognized institution.
Queens University
- Course duration: 2 years- full time
- IELTS/TOEFL Requirement: a TOEFL score of 600 (paper-based) or TOEFL iBT minimum scores of 24 in writing; 22 in speaking; 22 in reading; 20 in listening, for an overall 88.
- Academic Requirement: Applicants must have an Honours B.Sc. or M.Sc. in a related field or Doctor of Medicine, with 75% in both the 3rd & 4th years of the undergrad program across all courses
University of Victoria
- Course duration: 2 years full-time
- IELTS/TOEFL Requirement: A minimum score of 90 from the internet-based TOEFL (IBT) with at least 20 points each in the listening, speaking, reading and writing sections; Or a minimum overall band score of 6.5 on the IELTS with no individual band lower than 6.0
- Academic Requirement: Applicants must hold a four years bachelor’s degree with a sufficient background in biochemistry or microbiology.
University of Calgary
- Course duration: 2 years
- IELTS/TOEFL Requirement: TOEFL score of 105, IELTS score of 7.5, Or PTE score of 75 or higher.
- Academic Requirement: Applicants must have a minimum of 3.3 GPA on a 4.0-point system over the past two years of full-time study (10 full-course equivalents or 60 units) of the undergraduate degree or equivalent from a recognized institution.
McGill University
- Course duration: 2 years
- IELTS/TOEFL Requirement: TOEFL Internet-Based Test with a minimum overall score of 86 (no band less than 20 in each of the four components); Or IELTS with a minimum overall band score of 6.5.
- Academic Requirement: Applicants must have a B.Sc. degree in microbiology and immunology, biology, biochemistry, or another related discipline with a minimum CGPA of 3.2/4; Applicants with the M.D., D.D.S., or D.V.M. degrees are also eligible to apply.
Duration of Master of Microbiology - How many years does it take to Master of Microbiology in Canada?
The master’s degree in microbiology typically takes two to three years to complete the program, implementing hybrid (online and offline) learning models to help students achieve work-academic balance.
During this period, students will get hands-on opportunities to collaborate and mentorship with the faculties and industry experts.
Admission Process for Master of Microbiology in Canada
To enrol in the Master of Microbiology, students must check their admission eligibility and documents available from the following table.
Students with prior undergraduate degrees in a related or different field need to complete foundation courses depending on their area of specialization under microbiology.
Requirements |
Eligibility |
Admission Requirements |
1. IELTS/TOEFL or any other proof of English Proficiency. Minimum scores: TOEFL: 83, 560 IELTS: 6.5 Overall CAEL: 70 PTE: 56 2. B.Sc. (Honours), four-year B.Sc. (Major) or equivalent degree B.Sc. (Honours), in science, medicine, dentistry or veterinary medicine. 3. 12 credit hours of microbiology coursework 4. GRE NOT REQUIRED 5. Minimum GPA- 3.3 |
Documents required |
1. Official Transcripts of previous academics. 2. 2-3 Letters of recommendation. 3. A clear Statement of Purpose. 4. Resume. 5. English version of native-language Transcripts. 6. Evaluation of transcripts by an accredited agency. |
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Master of Microbiology Scholarship Opportunities in Canada
Unlike undergraduate degree, scholarship opportunities in Canada for master’s degree is highly dependent on previous academic results, leadership initiatives, and extracurricular and notable achievements in the related field of study.
There are both internal and external scholarship opportunities available for students in Canada. The following scholarship for a master’s degree in Canada is highly tailored towards international students.
College/University |
Scholarship |
Details |
University of Manitoba |
Howard Lees Scholarship in Microbiology |
Award valued at $2,850, Based on highest academic standing |
University of British Columbia |
Outstanding International Student Award |
Based on outstanding academic achievement and strong extracurricular involvement |
University of Alberta |
University of Alberta entrance scholarships |
Based on academic history |
Dalhousie University |
Dalhousie University Scholarships |
Valued From $6000-$30000; Based on academics |
Queens University |
Minimum Funding and Entrance Scholarships; Ontario Graduate Scholarships |
Based on academics and extraordinary achievements |
University of Saskatchewan |
Dean's scholarship; University of Saskatchewan Graduate Scholarships (UGS) |
Amount valued up to $18,000; 16,000 |
University of Victoria |
University of Victoria Graduate Awards and Fellowships |
Amount valued up to $10,000 |
University of Calgary |
Scholarships for international students |
Amount valued from $1000 to $20000 |
McGill University |
McCall MacBain Scholarship; Entrance scholarship |
Full tuition fee plus monthly stipend; Entrance scholarship values at $3000 |
Scope and Salary Range of Master of Microbiology in Canada
Microbiology graduates have diverse career opportunities, be they biological scientists, laboratory technicians, researchers, forensic scientists, microbiologists, or advisors. Most of the jobs in microbiology require at least a bachelor’s degree in microbiology or a related field.
But, a master’s degree in microbiology will open up opportunities in the positions of advisor, consultant, administrator, and laboratory director.
The following information on salaries range in the microbiology field has been extracted from recognized job portals in Canada, such as indeed.com and ca.talent.com
Positions |
Average Salary (Per annum) |
Microbiologists |
$78,142 |
Clinical Laboratory Scientists |
$83,957 |
Food Scientists and Technologists |
$79,443 |
Immunologists |
$255,000 |
Mycologists |
$75,220 |
Parasitologists |
$29,250 |
Personal Care Product and Cosmetic Scientists and Technologists |
$96,794 |
Pharmaceutical Scientists and Technologists |
$112,000 |
Science Writers |
$68,966 |
Virologists |
$80,000 |
Biotechnologists |
$62,618 |
Microbiologists have been playing crucial roles in our lives, from ensuring safe food, preventing and treating diseases, and building green technologies to identifying the role of microbes in climate change.
There isn’t any specific career or field for microbiologists, as the theory and practicality of studying microbes can facilitate graduates to choose an array of industries, be it labs in universities, industrial companies, communications, business, agriculture and food security, environment, climate change or investigation of microbes.
With a master of microbiology in Canada, a rewarding career with ample opportunities awaits you!