Admission requirements for direct entry into the BHSc honour's degree program:
Applicants applying for the BHSc program with previous university experience (exception: Second-Degree Applicants, see below) require:
- a minimum GPA of 2.7 for all university courses taken
- the high school prerequisites as outlined in the High School Applicant section (or university level courses in the same disciplines).
If you have completed less than 24 units (8 one-semester courses) at the university level: apply as a First-Year Applicant through the Queen's Webapp.
If you have taken 24 units (8 one-semester courses) or more at the university level: apply as an Upper-Year Transfer Applicant through the Queen's Webapp for the online BHSc degree program (fall, winter, or summer entry), or as an Upper-Year Transfer Applicant through OUAC for the on-campus BHSc degree program (fall entry only).
If you have completed a previous Bachelor's degree: If your previous degree is determined to be substantially different from the BHSc degree (as outlined by the Second Degree Regulations), you would apply as a Second Degree Applicant for the online BHSc program through the Queen's Webapp. We currently do not accept second-degree applicants to the on-campus BHSc program. Second-degree applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7, which will be calculated from the most recent 48.0 Queen's equivalent units(16 single term courses) taken. The high school prerequisites are not required.
Transfer credits: All applicants who have previous university-level education may be eligible for transfer credits. The BHSc program accepts up to 24 units of transfer credits that can count towards the degree requirements. All 24 units may be transferred as elective courses, or can be made up of a combination of core, option, and elective units, up to a maximum of 12.0 units for core courses and 6.0 units for option courses. Courses can be submitted for transfer credit assessment upon acceptance to the program.
Students transferring from another program at Queen’s University can apply their previously taken Queen’s courses to their online BHSc degree. If previously taken Queen's courses are considered core or option courses in the BHSc curriculum, then they will count as such. If previously taken Queen's courses are not part of the BHSc curriculum, then they will count towards the 24.0 units of electives. If additional courses were taken outside of Queen’s, students may be eligible for up to an additional 24.0 units of transfer credits. Transfer credits will be assessed upon acceptance to the program. It is highly recommended that Queen's transfer students make an appointment to meet with an academic advisor to determine which Queen’s courses will apply to their BHSc degree.
Have a question? Our advisors are here to help.
Note: If eligible, all students are admitted into the honours program (4-year degree) as a full-time student. If you would like to be a general (3-year degree) student or a part-time student, these changes can be made once you have accepted your offer of admission within the BHSc Office.
Other Queen’s Degrees
PRIMARY (FIRST) DEGREE | ELIGIBLE TO TAKE BHSC (4-YEAR) HONOURS DEGREE? |
Nursing | No |
Chemical Engineering | Yes |
Engineering Chemistry | Yes |
BA Health Studies | Yes |
BAH Health Studies | No |
BSc Biochemistry | Case by case |
BScH Biochemistry | Case by case |
BSc Life Sciences | Case by case |
BScH Life Sciences | No |
BScH Environmental Life Sciences | No |
BSc Biology | Case by case |
BScH Biology | Case by case |
BCMP Biomedical Computing | Case by case |
BCMPH Biomedical Computing | Case by case |
Students who have graduated with any other program at Queen’s University are eligible to apply to the 4-year BHSc program as a second degree. If interested in whether you are eligible for the 3-year BHSc general degree program, please see the BHSc Admission Regulations. Students transferring from another program at Queen’s University can apply their previously taken Queen’s courses to their online BHSc degree. If previously taken Queen's courses are considered core or option courses in the BHSc curriculum, then they will count as such. If previously taken Queen's courses are not part of the BHSc curriculum, then they will count towards the 24.0 units of electives. If additional courses were taken outside of Queen’s, students may be eligible for up to an additional 24.0 units of transfer credits. Transfer credits will be assessed upon acceptance to the program. It is highly recommended that Queen's transfer students make an appointment to meet with an academic advisor to determine which Queen’s courses will apply to their BHSc degree. |
Degrees from other Universities
INSTITUTION | PRIMARY DEGREE | ELIGIBLE TO TAKE BHSC (4-YEAR) HONOURS DEGREE? |
Athabasca University | Bachelor of Sciences (Online) | Case by case |
University of Alberta | BSc Biological Sciences | Case by case |
University of Alberta | BScH Biological Sciences | No |
University of British Columbia | BSc (3-year) degree from the following programs: Biochemistry, Microbiology +/- Immunology, Cellular, Anatomical & Physiological Sciences, Pharmacology, Biotechnology | Case by case |
University of British Columbia | BScH (4-year) degree from the following programs: Biochemistry, Microbiology +/- Immunology, Cellular, Anatomical & Physiological | No |
University of Ottawa | BSc (3-year) degree in the following programs: Biochemistry, Biomedical Science, Biopharmaceutical Science | Case by case |
University of Ottawa | BHSc(H) (3-year or 4-year) Health Sciences or BScH in the following programs: Biochemistry, Biomedical Science, Biopharmaceutical Science | No |
University of Saskatchewan | BSc (3-year) degree in the following programs: Anatomy and Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Biotechnology, Microbiology and Immunology, Microbiology and Immunology, Physiology and Pharmacology, Toxicology | Case by case |
University of Saskatchewan | BScH (4-year) degree in the following programs: Anatomy and Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Biotechnology, Microbiology and Immunology, Microbiology and Immunology, Physiology and Pharmacology, Toxicology | No |
University of Toronto | BSc (3-year) degree in Life Sciences | Case by case |
University of Toronto | BScH (4-year) degree in Life Sciences | No |
University of Waterloo | BSc (3-year) degree in Biochemistry or Biomedical Sciences | Case by case |
University of Waterloo | BScH (4-year) degree in Biochemistry or Biomedical Sciences | No |
University of Waterloo | BSc Science (Online) | Yes |
Western University | BHSc(H) (3-year or 4-year) Health Sciences | No |
Western University | BMSc(H) (-year or 4-year) Medical Sciences | No |
All other programs will be assessed on a case by case basis. If you fall into the category of “Case by Case”, please contact a BHSc Advisor to be assessed for your eligibility. Applicants who would like to transfer to Queen’s online BHSc from another institution can transfer a maximum of 24.0 units from their first degree program. All 24.0 units may be transferred as elective courses, or can be made up of a combination of core, option, and elective units, up to a maximum of 12.0 units for core courses and 6.0 units for option courses. Transfer credits will be assessed upon acceptance to the program. |
Our interest student stream is designed for students who are interested in getting an online degree, but don’t yet meet our admissions requirements. To be eligible to apply as an interest student, you must be over 21 years of age in the calendar year of admission, or have already completed at minimum the Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent. Please note that the Interest category is not intended as a pathway for students who wish to apply to on-campus studies.
Here’s how it works:
- Apply as a "non-degree interest student" to the online BHSc program through the Queen's Webapp. You will NOT be asked to submit any transcripts.
- Take up to 2 courses per semester. Start by taking these courses:
- PHGY 170
- ONE of ANAT 100 or PHAR 100
- ONE of GLPH 171 or IDIS 173
- Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (with a minimum GPA of 2.3 in each course, excluding repeated courses) in those first three courses to be eligible to enter the degree program. Repeat courses cannot be used for the accelerated progression route, but can be used in the alternate progression route.
Still have questions? Contact us: bhscadvisor@queensu.ca
We offer Indigenous candidates an additional and alternative pathway for admission to the first year of a full-time, first-entry undergraduate degree program, known as the Indigenous Admission Policy. Indigenous candidates apply through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) and self-identify as having Indigenous ancestry. Candidates must meet the general admission requirements for each program and deadlines for undergraduate admission, including completion of the Personal Statement of Experience (PSE).
Candidates seeking admission consideration under this policy should submit a separate letter to the Indigenous Community Liaison stating that they wish to be considered under this policy along with proof of Indigenous ancestry (First Nation, Status/Non-Status, Métis or Inuit). Admission to Queen’s University will depend on the assessment of the student’s program pre-requisites (or equivalencies) as well as the student’s overall average and submission of the PSE and/or SE. The number of students admitted each year under this policy will be determined in the annual enrolment plan upon consultation with the faculties and schools.
Queen’s encourages participation in post-secondary education by First-Generation students. A first-generation student is a student who is within the first-generation of their family to pursue post-secondary education in Canada.
A student could be eligible for this pathway if:
- Their parents did not pursue a post secondary education
- Their parents pursued a post-secondary education outside of Canada
- They have a sibling that has attended a post-secondary institution and their parents have either not pursued a post secondary education or have done so outside of Canada
- For more information about who qualifies for this pathway, visit https://www.queensu.ca/admission/pathways-and-policies/first-generation
For more information, please contact 1gen@queensu.ca to get in touch with our First-Generation Recruitment Representative. The first-generation Recruitment Representative is available to support you from the moment you consider applying to the summer before you start your first year.