About

Biomedical neuroscience is the study of molecular and cellular neuroscience, systems and sensory neuroscience, behavioural and cognitive neuroscience, neurophysiology and neuroanatomy.


Quick facts
  • Four-year degree
  • Full- or part-time program
  • You can enter this program directly from high school
  • You can begin this program off-campus

What you will learn

This program includes education in many of the major topics in neuroscience. This program includes necessary prerequisite courses for life science professional schools (e.g. medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nutrition, veterinary medicine, etc.). While this program focuses on neuroscience, it prepares students for graduate studies in many areas of the life sciences.

A first-year schedule sample

This degree program is flexible and offers you the opportunity to take courses in many different subject areas. Here’s what a typical first-year schedule might look like:

Course Description

Fall Term
BIOL 120a The Nature of Life
CHEM 112a General Chemistry I Structure Bonding and Properties of Materials
PHYS 115a Physics and the Universe
MATH 125b Mathematics for the Life Sciences
HIST 165c or INDG 107d History Matters Health and Society or Introduction to Canadian Indigenous Studies

Winter Term
CHEM 115a General Chemistry II Chemical Processes
PHYS 117a Physics for the Life Sciences
PHIL 140a Critical Thinking
PSY 120a Biological and Cognitive Bases of Psychology
BMSC 200a Biomolecules

a Required course for the major
b One of the course options to complete the Quantitative Reasoning Requirement
c One of the course options to complete the English Language Writing Requirement
d One of the course options to complete the Indigenous Learning Requirement

The Course and Program Catalogue has the complete and official listing of required classes and their descriptions for this program.

  • NEUR 301.3: Fundamental Neuroscience Intercellular Communication
    The focus of this course is on: 1) the ion channels that determine the electrical behaviour of neurons, 2) the mechanisms by which neurons and endocrine cells convert electrical activity into chemical signals, and 3) how those chemical signals act on neighbouring cells (ie. during synaptic transmission), and on distant target cells (ie. following endocrine release of hormones).

  • NEUR 334.3: Introductory Neuroanatomy
    An introduction to the anatomy of the human brain and spinal cord through lectures and laboratory dissections.

  • BMSC 220.3: Cell Biology
    An introduction to the biology of eukaryotic cells. Topics include organization of eukaryotic chromosomes; the flow of genetic information from nucleus to cytoplasm; cellular membranes and organelles; control of cell division; and signaling between cells. Contrasts between eukaryotic cells and prokaryotic microbial cells will be discussed, as well as distinctions between plant and animal cells.

Opportunities
This program provides an excellent foundation of knowledge in biomedical sciences if you are seeking subsequent admission into professional health science programs such as medicine, dentistry, physical therapy, chiropractic medicine, veterinary medicine or optometry.

This program also prepares you to be well-qualified to progress into more advanced biomedical research training at the master's and Ph.D. levels at various academic institutions worldwide.

Hands-on experience
You will receive a comprehensive education of neuroanatomy, physiology and pharmacology along with hands-on experience in experimental techniques.

Careers

Preparation for professional health science programs and graduate studies: The biomedical neuroscience program provides an excellent foundation in the biomedical sciences for students seeking subsequent admission into professional health science schools such as medicine, dentistry, physical therapy, chiropractic, veterinary medicine and optometry. Biomedical neuroscience program graduates are also well qualified to progress into more advanced biomedical research training at the master's and Ph.D. levels at various academic institutions worldwide.

Other careers:
(Note that some of the following positions may require further education or qualifications, depending on the hiring institution and the jurisdiction in which the position is found.)

Research and lab positions: A variety of technical positions are available in academia (e.g. universities and colleges), industry (e.g. biotechnology, private research firms, biomedical supply, and pharmaceutical companies), government (e.g. agricultural and food agencies and police forensic laboratories) and the healthcare system (e.g. medical labs).

Communications: Biomedical neuroscience studies may lead to a career in technical writing for textbooks and/or government and industry reports.

Business: Biomedical neuroscience graduates may obtain sales, consulting or management positions in science-related private sector companies such as pharmaceutical and biomedical supply firms.

Tuition estimates

Canadian students International students
Tuition $7,615 $31,983
Student fees $1,089 $1,089
Books $1,500 $1,500
Total $10,204 $34,572

Tuition will vary depending on the type and number of classes you take in a year. This estimate reflects a typical amount you could expect to pay in your first year if you enroll in a full course load, the maximum number of courses allowed (2023-2024 Canadian dollar rates).
Student fees are used to fund specific student benefits, including health, vision and dental coverage, a bus pass, recreational programs and fitness centre access.
The cost of books and supplies varies widely depending on the courses you choose. It is recommended that you budget between $1,500-$2,500 per year.

Program options

These degrees are offered jointly by the University of Saskatchewan's College of Arts and Science and College of Medicine:

You should consult with an academic advisor in the college when you begin your studies to decide if you want a four-year or honours degree.

Admission requirements and deadlines

Deadlines

Start term Application DeadlineInternational Deadline
Winter
January 2024
Dec 1, 2023
Documents due: Dec 15, 2023
Sep 1, 2023
Documents due: Oct 1, 2023
Spring
May 2024
Apr 1, 2024
Documents due: May 1, 2024
Feb 1, 2024
Documents due: Mar 1, 2024
Summer
July 2024
May 1, 2024
Documents due: Jun 1, 2024
Mar 1, 2024
Documents due: Apr 1, 2024
Fall
September 2024
Aug 15, 2024
Documents due: Aug 15, 2024
May 1, 2024
Documents due: Jun 1, 2024
Winter
January 2025
Dec 1, 2024
Documents due: Dec 15, 2024
Sep 1, 2024
Documents due: Oct 1, 2024

Ready to apply?

A non-refundable application fee of $90 CAD is required before your application will be processed.

Explore related programs

If you are looking for graduate level (Master or Ph.D.) programs please consult our graduate students' website.

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