School of Graduate Studies
Queen's UniversityNeuroscience
M.Sc, Ph.D
The multidisciplinary graduate program in Neuroscience is educating the next generation of leaders who will build on our progress in reducing the impact of neurological disorders. Top students from across North America and beyond come to the Centre to learn in a collaborative environment where they can learn from the best minds in the field.
The Neuroscience graduate program is firmly rooted in research because our objective is to produce highly-trained graduates who will continue our efforts to prevent and treat neurological diseases. Our program offers studies at the master’s and doctoral levels spanning the full spectrum of neuroscience research, from cellular/molecular to clinical studies. The Centre’s widely-recognized research achievements and state-of-the-art facilities attract the best and brightest students from top universities.
Program Contacts
Lucy Russo-Smith
Graduate Assistant
Centre for Neuroscience Studies
Botterell Hall, Room 234
Queen’s University
Kingston, ON, Canada K7L 3N6
Phone: 613.533.6360
Fax: 613.533.6840
Web: http://www.queensu.ca/neuroscience
Application Deadline: February 1st to be eligible for internal awards.
Applications received after the deadline will be accepted based on supervisor availability.
"Right from the day I started my PhD at the Centre for Neuroscience Studies, it felt like family. The camaraderie and support you get is amazing – not just from other students, but from faculty and staff as well. The academic, administrative, and technical facilities are also impressive. I have no regrets choosing this program at Queen's and would highly recommend it to anyone considering a career in neuroscience."
Degrees Offered / Length of Program
- M.Sc.: 2 years
- Ph.D.: 4 years
Acceleration into the Ph.D. program via a Mini-Master’s is reserved for students who meet the criteria of the School of Graduate Studies.
Method of Completion
- M.Sc.: Research thesis plus 2.0 full credits
- Ph.D.: Research thesis, written and oral comprehensive exams
Degree Level Expectations & Learning Outcomes
Degree level expectations for M.Sc program (125KB)
Degree level expectations for PhD program (125KB)
Cross Disciplinary Aspects
More than 60 to 70 faculty members from 13 departments across the university can supervise our neuroscience graduate trainees. This provides an intensely collaborative, multidisciplinary research environment. For example, biologists and physiologists work alongside computer scientists and psychologists to produce leading-edge research and an outstanding cross disciplinary environment for our trainees.
Travel Opportunities
We currently have exchange opportunities with the University of Western Australia for trainees at both the M.Sc. and Ph.D. levels. In addition, supervisors are encouraged to provide neuroscience trainees the opportunity to attend internationally recognized scientific meetings worldwide.
Supervisors and Fields of Study
We strongly recommend you contact potential supervisors during the application process. An application that meets all the requirements but does not have an identified supervisor may not be offered admission into the program. In addition to contacting supervisors directly, you must submit a Statement of Interest Form indicating supervisors you are interested in working with. Offers will be made pending supervisor availability.
Fields of study:
- Cellular/Molecular Neuroscience - Research interests of faculty in this field include neuronal plasticity, neuronal degeneration and repair, neurophysiology and neuropharmacology.
- Systems Neuroscience - Research interests of faculty in this field include neural control of cardiovascular and gastrointestinal function, sensorimotor control mechanisms, pain and analgesia, neural and signal transduction and neuroendocrine regulations
- Cognitive/Behavioural Neuroscience - Research interests of faculty in this field include neural substrates of behavior, age-dependent cognitive decline, cognitive and behavioural deficits arising from prenatal brain injury, effects of drugs on cognition and behavior and the effect of disease and injury on cognition and behavior
- Clinical Neuroscience - Research interests in this field include Stroke, ADHD, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's Disease, psychotic illnesses and spasticity
Employment Opportunities
- Post-doctoral study/Academia
- Outreach Education
- Scientific Writing
- Biomedical Industry
- Pharmaceutical Companies
- Medical School
Funding Information
- M.Sc. Students: $21,000/year minimum
- Ph.D. Students: $23,000/year minimum
The Centre for Neuroscience offers numerous academic awards: $1,000 Outstanding Achievement Award, $300 Travel Awards, $2,000 M.Sc. Award for Excellence, $3,000 Ph.D. Award for Excellence The Centre does not guarantee the opportunity for a teaching assistantship. Financial assistance is available from several internal and external sources. Queen’s automatically issues a $5,000 top-up award to all federal government Tri-Council award winners.
Academic Prerequisites
- M.Sc.: Second-class standing with and overall B average after completing:
- Honours bachelor degree in Arts or in Science (or 4-year degree with lab experience)
- Bachelor degree in Applied Science
- Doctor of Medicine
- Ph.D.: A Master’s degree in Neuroscience, or in a field with a strong neuroscience and research component.
Other Requirements
- Statement of interest
- Current CV
Test Requirements
If required, TOEFL score of 600 (paper-based) or TOEFL iBT minimum scores of: writing (24/30); speaking (22/30); reading (22/30); listening (20/30), for a total of 88/120. Applicants must have the minimum score in each test as well as the minimum overall score.
Program Profiles
- Laura Smithson - keeping fit, keeping smart
- Neuroscience Outreach Program - student volunteers helping the Kingston community
- Ian Cameron - a pioneer
- Mohsen Omrani - I was not supposed to come for the long term...
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