About the Program
Biophysics combines fundamental courses in physics, mathematics, chemistry, and biology together with specialized courses in biological physics. This new program has been introduced in response to the growing demand for specialists with physics background in the areas of biology and medicine. Are you interested in understanding how the building blocks of biology, such as proteins, DNA and RNA, fit together and interact to form the living world around us? Maybe you would like to build an instrument that can rapidly identify blood-borne infections or diagnose and track the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Perhaps you’re interested in programming a computer to figure out the ideal way for a drug to target and attack a cancer cell. These are some of the challenges that biophysicists tackle every day.
Honours Bachelor of Science
After completing your first year, you'll be asked to confirm what program(s) you wish to study – your Programs of Study. They can be integrated in unique ways to obtain your U of T degree, but must be one of the following three combinations: one Specialist; or two Majors; or one Major and two Minors. You don't need to worry about that now, but if you'd like to learn more about this process, watch our handy video (7 min).
Admission Requirements
You apply to an admission category, which is a collection of similar programs. Once you've accepted an offer of admission to our campus, we go into greater detail about specific program and course selection options.
At the end of your first year, you will choose your program(s), which means that your first year is an excellent opportunity to explore the full breadth of offerings.
Regardless of what you study, remember that you will receive a prestigious University of Toronto degree when you graduate that tells everyone that you are ranked among the best in the world!
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The admission average is calculated with English (ENG4U) plus the next best five Grade 12 U or M courses. Meeting these minimum requirements does not guarantee you admission to the University. Admission is subject to space availability and competition.
The content in this section is based on requirements in the Ontario curriculum.
Find requirements to other common curricula:
- Canadian High School
- International Baccalaureate
- U.S.-Patterned Education
- British-Patterned Education
- French Baccalaureate
- Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE)
Please visit the Admissions section of our site for full requirements.
Discover Your Potential
On the afternoon of April 15, 2015, an earthquake rocked the Himalayas, causing widespread death and damage across Nepal, India and Tibet. The magnitude 7.8 quake—the strongest ever recorded in the region—rattled glaciers and ice falls along a ridge just to the west of Mount Everest.
A major shift in western Arctic wind patterns occurred throughout the winter of 2017 and the resulting changes in sea ice movement are possible indicators of a changing climate, says Kent Moore, a professor of physics at the University of Toronto Mississauga.
A new study from the University of Toronto aims to a unravel the mystery of why some tuberculosis cases fail to respond to medical treatment.
Student Experience
Courses You Would Love
A modular practical course that develops the experimental and computational skills necessary to get deeper insight in physical phenomena. Selected physics experiments and modeling that illustrate important principles of physics are applied.
An overview of electromagnetism leading to the study of radiation. A review of electrostatics, magnetostatics, and Maxwell's equations is followed by a discussion of propagating, non-propagating and guided waves.
Statistical methods for bridging the quantum behaviour of atoms and molecules to their macroscopic properties in solid, liquid and gaseous states. The course introduces partition functions, canonical ensembles, and their application to thermodynamic properties.
Planning Ahead
Whether you want to land your dream job, conduct groundbreaking research, or start your own business, we can get you there. Here are resources to help you explore your career options.
Career Options
Created by our Career Centre, the Careers by Major database identifies some potential career fields, how to gain related skills and experience, and useful resources and job samples. But always remember, your program of study doesn't have to determine your career!
Program Plans
Program Plans are quick and accessible overviews of the many academic and co-curricular opportunities available to help you get the most out of your UTM experience.
Tip Sheets
The Career Centre offers dozens of tip sheets with helpful information about topics related to searching for work, planning your career, and pursuing further education.
View to the U: An eye on UTM research
View to the U is a podcast that features U of T Mississauga faculty members from a range of disciplines who will illuminate some of the inner-workings of the science labs and enlighten the social sciences and humanities hubs at UTM.
Professor Ulli Krull is a prof in UTM’s Department of Chemical & Physical Sciences, he’s one of Canada’s leading experts in analytical chemistry, the AstraZeneca Chair in Biotechnology, and just an all-around prince of a guy.
Learn More About this Program
Other Programs to Consider
Biological Chemistry
Biological Chemistry deals with the chemical processes of and relating to living organisms. The program, with its solid core of chemistry, plus the required biology and biochemistry courses, provides an interesting and challenging interdisciplinary study experience. Biological Chemistry examines nature at the molecular level by using a combination of synthetic, inorganic, analytical and physical chemistry as well as the tools of molecular biology.
Environmental Geosciences
Completion of this program is intended to fulfill the knowledge requirements for certification as a Professional Geoscientist (P. Geo.) in conformity with the stipulations of the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario (APGO) and the Canadian Council of Professional Geoscientists (CCPG).