Degree and Diploma Programs by Graduate Unit
2014-15 SGS Calendar
Medical Biophysics
Faculty Affiliation
Medicine
Degree Programs Offered
Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7
Canada
Degree Programs
Medical Biophysics—MSc, PhD
Medical Biophysics
Collaborative Programs
Master of Science
The following collaborative programs are available to
students in participating degree programs as listed below:
1. Cardiovascular Sciences
 Medical Biophysics, MSc, PhD
2. Genome Biology and Bioinformatics
 Medical Biophysics, PhD
3. Neuroscience
 Medical Biophysics, MSc, PhD
Overview
The Department of Medical Biophysics, an interdisciplinary
department with three fields—Cellular and Molecular
Biology, Medical Physics, and Molecular and Structural
Biology—is located primarily at the Princess Margaret
Cancer Centre, the Toronto Medical Discovery Tower, and
the Sunnybrook Research Institute.
The department offers opportunities for research—leading
to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy
degrees—in a variety of problems in medical science;
projects which cut across the conventional boundaries of
biology, physics, engineering, chemistry, and medicine are
encouraged. The department emphasizes basic and
applied research related to cancer. Projects include the
following areas: tumour biology, radiobiology, membrane
function, molecular interactions, gene expression, cell
differentiation and growth control, viral and chemical
carcinogenesis, cellular and molecular immunology,
hemopoiesis, macromolecular structure via x-ray
crystallography, NMR spectroscopy and electron
microscopy, the physics and engineering of diagnostic
imaging and radiation therapy, development of imaging
and therapy systems using x-rays, ultrasound, nuclear
magnetic resonance, light and electron optics. For detailed
information, please visit the departmental website.
Contact and Address
Web: http://medbio.utoronto.ca
Email: medio.info@utoronto.ca
Telephone: (416) 634-8751 or (416) 634-8755
Department of Medical Biophysics
MaRS Centre, Toronto Medical Discovery Tower
101 College Street, Suite 15-701
2014-2015 School of Graduate Studies Calendar
www.sgs.utoronto.ca/calendar
Minimum Admission Requirements
 Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations
of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also
satisfy the Department of Medical Biophysics' additional
admission requirements stated below.
 Successful applicants with BSc degrees are enrolled in
the MSc program; qualified students can reclassify into
the PhD degree program during their second year.
 Applicants with diverse backgrounds are encouraged to
apply.
 Applicants holding bachelor's degrees from nonCanadian universities are required to provide Graduate
Record Examination (GRE) scores (General and
Subject) with their application.
Program Requirements
 Students must successfully complete all degree course
requirements as outlined in the MBP Graduate Student
Handbook. Course requirements depend on the subject
chosen for study and on the student's background.
 Successful completion of an oral examination on the
thesis topic.
Program Length
6 sessions full-time (typical registration sequence:
F/W/S/F/W/S)
Time Limit
3 years full-time
Doctor of Philosophy
Minimum Admission Requirements
 Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations
of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also
satisfy the Department of Medical Biophysics' additional
admission requirements stated below.
 Applicants are admitted via one of two routes:
o reclassification from the MSc program
o completion of an MSc degree program in biological,
physical, chemical, or medical sciences from a
recognized Canadian university
Medical Biophysics
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Degree and Diploma Programs by Graduate Unit
 Admission to the PhD program is highly selective and
attainment of minimum admission requirements does not
guarantee acceptance into the PhD program.
Program Requirements
 Because of the broad range of topics available for thesis
research and because of the different backgrounds of
students admitted, each student, in consultation with his
or her supervisor, will plan a program of study that
provides the appropriate background for the area of
investigation.
 All students must complete the required four full-course
credits as outlined in the MBP Graduate Student
Handbook by the end of Year 3 of the PhD program.
 Students who transfer/reclassify into the doctoral
program or who have completed an MSc degree in
Medical Biophysics will receive credit for all courses
taken during their MSc program in Medical Biophysics.
Students who completed their MSc degree in a
department other than Medical Biophysics may request
one full-course credit for that degree. These students
must still complete or be formally exempt from the
required courses for the Medical Biophysics MSc
degree. Exemption from a required course does not
reduce the number of courses required; students must
substitute another course equivalent in place of the
exempted course.
 All PhD students are expected to participate in MBP
1015Y Biophysics Seminar Course regardless of
whether they previously received credit for it or not.
 Except by special arrangements, students are required
to be at the research institute or on campus and
participating full-time until all program requirements are
completed.
MBP 1015Y0
Biophysics Seminar
MBP 1018Y
Oncology
MBP 1022H
Advanced Cell Biology for Physical
Scientists
MBP 1023H
Clinical Radiation Physics
MBP 1024Y
Advanced Medical Imaging
MBP 1026H
Clinical Imaging for Physical
Scientists
MBP 1027H
Advanced MRI: Signal, Acquisition
and Reconstruction (prerequisite:
MBP 1024Y Advanced Imaging or
equivalent)
MBP 1028H
Optical, Thermal and Radiation
Biophysics
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Course that may continue over a program. The course is
graded when completed.
Program Length
4 years full-time; 5 years direct-entry; 5 years transferfrom-master's
Time Limit
6 years full-time; 7 years direct-entry; 7 years transferfrom-master's
Course List
MBP 1001Y
Advanced Cell Biology
MBP 1007Y
Fundamentals in Molecular and Cell
Biology
MBP 1010H
Quantitative Biology—Statistical
Methods
MBP 1011H
Foundations of Bioinformatics (not
currently offered; suggested
alternative is JTB 2010H
Proteomics and Functional
Genomics)
2014-2015 School of Graduate Studies Calendar
www.sgs.utoronto.ca/calendar
Medical Biophysics
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