Calculus and Biology Requirement

Psychology is a Life Science program at the University of Toronto.

Ontario students applying to Life Sciences for Psychology at St. George campus must have completed MCV4U (Calculus & Vectors). In addition to Calculus, SBI4U (Biology) is required for all Psychology programs for all students who enrolled at U of T in the fall of 2019 or later.

Students who did not attend high school in Ontario must complete the equivalent course(s). Students educated at a Canadian high school outside of Ontario can consult the Canadian equivalency chart to see if they meet the necessary requirements. 

International students can find more information about equivalencies below or at: https://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/future/ready-apply/admission-requirements.

Please read the following information carefully:

  1. Students without the Calculus and/or Biology prerequisites must complete the missing course(s) prior to applying for admission to our programs. Proof of completion in the form of a transcript, certificate, or statement of accomplishment submitted to the Psychology Department at psy.ug.assistant@utoronto.ca is required. We do not waive these requirements under any circumstances.
  2. We do not factor your Calculus and Biology grades into your Psychology program admission - all we require is a passing mark.
  3. Pre-Calculus high school courses do not meet the Calculus requirement.
  4. Calculus and Biology at the Gr. 9 and 10 levels are not considered equivalent, so we will not accept them.  If your high school only offered either of these courses up to Gr. 11, please email us a link to your high school’s curriculum and we will assess your eligibility.
  5. Psychology programs are "Limited Enrolment" meaning there is a finite number of spaces and not all who apply and meet the requirements will be accepted. Completing the Calculus and Biology admission requirement does not guarantee acceptance.

More equivalency options are listed below.

 

Calculus Equivalents

  • Complete MCV4U (Calculus & Vectors) through the TVO Independent Learning Centre, Virtual High School, Ontario Virtual School, Ontario eSecondary School, or any other Ontario institution offering this course.

    • Please note that you may be required to complete the MHF4U prerequisite first, if you haven't already.

  • Acceptable IB/AP Calculus courses taken in any Canadian province, the U.S., or international school:
    • ­    Calculus 12
    • ­    AP Calculus (AB or BC)
    • ­    IB Mathematics HL or SL (for students who completed the IB diploma up to 2021) 
    • ­    IB Math Analysis & Approaches SL and HL 
    • ­    IB Math Applications & Interpretations HL  
  • Canadian High School equivalents
  • A Calculus course offered through any of UofT's three campuses (for example, MAT133Y1, MAT135H1, MAT136H1, MAT137H1, MAT237Y1, MATA29H3, MAT132H5, etc.).  One half-course (0.5) is adequate and there is no grade requirement other than a pass or CR (if the course is taken as a Credit/No Credit option).
  • University of Toronto St. George Campus Math Department: Preparing for University Mathematics Program Level 1 (PUMP)
  • Saylor Academy Calculus course MA005 with proctored exam option. At Saylor, the "Direct Credit" courses are proctored, so please be sure to choose this option. Final transcripts should be directed to us via the email below. 
  • Any community college or university course in Calculus. 

If you find a Calculus course not on the above list, please send information about the course in question to psy.ug.assistant@utoronto.ca to determine its eligibility. If it's on the list above, it has already been approved.

Proof that you have completed the Calculus requirement should be sent to the Psychology Undergraduate Office at psy.ug.assistant@utoronto.ca. Please include your UofT student number in your correspondence.

 

Biology Equivalents

Courses should cover the biology of humans. Here are a few equivalency options you can explore:

  • Complete SBI4U (Biology) through the TVO Independent Learning Centre, Virtual High School, Ontario Virtual School, Ontario eSecondary School, or any other Ontario institution offering this course.
  • Acceptable IB/AP Biology courses taken in any Canadian province, the U.S., or international school:
    • ­    Biology 12
    • ­    AP Biology
    • ­    IB Biology SL or HL
  • Canadian High School equivalents
  • The following courses at U of T will also be accepted: BIO120H1, BIO130H1, BIO152H5, BIO153H5, BIOA01H3, BIOA02H3, CSB196H1, CSB201H1, EEB214H1, HMB204H1 and BIOA11H3 (UTSC course equivalent to Gr. 12 biology). One half-course (0.5) is adequate. There is no grade requirement other than a pass or CR (if the course is taken as a Credit/No Credit option).
  • Saylor Academy Biology course BIO101 with proctored exam option. At Saylor, the "Direct Credit" courses are proctored, so please be sure to choose this option. Final transcripts should be directed to us via the email below. 
  • Any community college or university course that covers the biology of humans. 

If you find a Biology course not on the above list, please send information about the course in question to psy.ug-assistant@utoronto.ca to determine its eligibility. If it's on the list above, it has already been approved.

Proof that you have completed the Biology requirement should be sent to the Psychology Undergraduate Office at psy.ug.assistant@utoronto.ca. Please include your UofT student number in your correspondence.