Requirements for applying to the Collaborative Specialization in Bioethics

If you’re interested in applying to the CSB, you must first apply to and be admitted to a graduate degree program in one of the collaborating units. Please keep in mind that admission into a collaborating graduate unit does not guarantee admission into the CSB. Your CSB application is separate from your graduate degree application. If you apply to more than one unit, a copy of each file must be submitted to the collaborative specialization administrative assistant, Terry Yuen. Full details on how to apply can be found under the CSB application page.

You don’t have to apply to the CSB program in the first year of your graduate studies – it can be done in any time in the following years as long as you have enough time to complete the CSB’s requirements in addition to your home unit’s workload.

You will be expected to meet the requirements of your home graduate unit as well as those of the CSB. You should check with your home graduate program on whether CSB course requirements may be counted towards your degree.

Master’s level program requirements

You must complete the following:

• SRM 3333Y – a credit/no credit graduate seminar series in bioethics
• PHL 2145H – a review of the philosophical foundations of bioethics. If you have completed an equivalent graduate course in philosophical bioethics you may apply to the CSB Director to have this requirement waived
• Bioethics-related 0.5 full-course equivalent (FCE), normally from the related courses

Master's programs require either a thesis or equivalent research project as determined by your home unit. Your thesis will be supervised by a thesis committee which includes a supervisor and two other members, at least one of whom is identified as an affiliated CSB faculty member. Your thesis will be evaluated according to the procedures and standards of your home graduate unit and must fall within the broad area of bioethics. Non-thesis projects require supervision and the requirements for those projects will be determined by your home unit.

Doctoral Level program requirements

You must complete the following:

• SDM4444Y (PhD level), a credit/no credit graduate seminar series in bioethics
• PHL 2145H, a review of the philosophical foundations of bioethics. Students who have completed and equivalent graduate course in philosophical bioethics may apply to the CSB Director to have this requirement waived
• Bioethics-related 0.5 full-course equivalent (FCE), see related courses

All doctoral candidates must complete a thesis. Your thesis will be supervised by a thesis committee including a supervisor and normally two other members, at least one of whom is identified as an affiliated CSB faculty member. Your thesis will be evaluated according to the procedures and standards of your home graduate unit and must fall within the broad area of bioethics.

Courses included in Collaborative Specialization in Bioethics

We encourage you to consult the School of Graduate Studies calendar for the most up-to-date list of bioethics-related courses.

When can I apply to the CSB?

You can apply to the CSB any time after you’ve been admitted to one of the 12 collaborating graduate units. The deadline for your application to the CSB for a Fall 2022 start is June 10, 2023.

Tuition and fees included in applying to the specialization

There are no additional tuition or fees to enrol in the CSB, since the bioethics specialization is like completing an undergraduate major. However, each collaborating graduate unit has their own fee structure for general tuition and fees. You will need to check the appropriate collaborating unit website to find out what their tuition and fees are.

Additional funding opportunities

While we don’t provide additional funding for the CSB, you can find out what funding might be available through your home unit. We recommend that you contact your graduate unit directly, since each home unit has its own funding deadlines. For information about graduate funding opportunities, please see the School of Graduate Studies and your relevant graduate unit websites.