Why study this program?
The Department of Physiology offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. The Department is well equipped with facilities for many fields of physiological research, including:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Cellular and Molecular Physiology
- Cellular and Systems Neurophysiology
- Endocrinology
- Fetal/Neonatal Physiology
- Membrane Physiology
- Renal Physiology
Inquiries about this program should be directed to the Graduate Program Administrator in the Department of Physiology. Complete details of the programs and their requirements are available in the Physiology Graduate Program Manual.
Entrance Requirements
See Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry Graduate Program Entrance Requirements.
Since research in Physiology generally requires a broad background from several fields, completion of courses in the following areas is highly recommended for all applicants:
- PHYSL 210A(online), PHYSL 210 or PHYSL 212, or an equivalent full year course in Human Physiology.
- BIOCH 200 and one of BIOCH 310, BIOCH 320, BIOCH 330, or an equivalent full year course in Biochemistry.
- Introductory courses in basic Physics and Calculus are recommended.
- An introductory course in Statistics is recommended.
Additional application information can be found on the Department of Physiology website.
Program Core Competencies
The following are the program-specific requirements to satisfy the FoMD’s Program Core Competencies (See Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry Program Core Competencies):
1. Professional Development and Ethics
See GPS Ethics and Academic Citizenship Training Requirement and GPS Professional Development Requirement.
2. Communication
Students are required to attend and participate in the Physiology Seminar series (organized for Physiology Graduate Student Association, PGSA) as well as the seminar series specific to their research areas, journal clubs, or others as recommended by their supervisor or the advisory committee. Students are required to attend and participate in Physiology Research Day every year.
3. Critical Reading/Thinking
Students have the option to further develop competency in critical reading/thinking through courses such as PHYSL 506, where the topics covered in the course can be tailored to the student’s interests and goals.
Thesis
Registration in 900-level THES. Students are required to prepare and defend a thesis on a topic approved by their supervisor and supervisory committee.
Courses
Graduate Courses can be found in Course Listings, under the subject heading Physiology (PHYSL).
Financial assistance may be available through various awards, including:
- Department of Physiology Recruitment Scholarship (year 1 only)
- Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry Awards
- Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies Awards
- External funding agencies (e.g., AIHS, CIHR, NSERC, WCHRI)
The Department of Physiology does not offer teaching assistantships, but Graduate Research Assistantships are usually available from the student’s supervisor.
Information regarding tuition fees for MSc and PhD programs can be found on the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies website.
For general information, please visit the Tuition and Fees page on the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research site.The Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research administers over $29 million each year in scholarships, awards, and financial support for graduate students, as well as financial and loan advising. Additional scholarships are also available for specific faculties and programs.
Please refer to the detailed program information or email gradphys@ualberta.ca.
General inquiriesPlease check out some of our most frequently asked questions (FAQS) to see if your question has been answered, or contact the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) during our office hours.
Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research (FGSR)
Killam Centre for Advanced Studies
2-29 Triffo Hall
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E1