phd botany in canada

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University of Manitoba

University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada, R3T 2N2

Plant Science (PhD)

The Plant Science (PhD) program educates students in basic plant sciences and applied crop production. Research in the department is focused on developing superior cultivars and new production systems suited to the changing needs of producers and the agri-food industry.

Program details

Admission requirements.

• Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences • Faculty of Graduate Studies

• Doctor of Philosophy

Expected duration

• 3 to 4 years

Leading research:

The Department of Plant Science is a leader in agricultural research in Canada, having created the first canola variety and the first hybrid rapeseed variety. The department is also a leader in canola and cereal breeding, cytogenetics and plant biotechnology.

Some of our fields of research include:

• Agronomy and plant protection
• Plant breeding and genetics
• Sustainable cropping systems
• Plant physiology-biochemistry
• Plant biotechnology, genomics and bioinformatics

Department of Plant Science research

The Plant Science PhD program is a thesis-based program consisting of coursework and a substantial research component.

Doctor of Philosophy (Plant Science)

Expected duration: 3 to 4 years

Tuition and fees:  Tuition fees are charged for terms one and two and terms four and five. A continuing fee is paid for term three, term six and each subsequent term. (Refer to Graduate tuition and fees .)

Coursework:

Students must complete a minimum of 12 credit hours of coursework at the 7000 level.

All students are required to take PLNT 7420: Advanced Plant Science Seminar

Students must demonstrate competence in completing thesis research and pass an oral examination relating to their thesis subject.

Sample course offerings

• PLNT 7120: Special Problems in Plant Science
• PLNT 7162: Plant Genomics
• PLNT 7164: Genetic Mapping in Plants
• PLNT 7170: Advanced Plant Breeding
• PLNT 7340: Advanced Weed Science
• PLNT 7420: Advanced Plant Science Seminar
• PLNT 7480: Epidemiology of Plant Disease
• PLNT 7610: Topics in Plant Physiology
• PLNT 7612: Advanced Plant Physiology
• PLNT 7620: Topics in Agronomy
• PLNT 7630: Topics in Plant Pathology
• PLNT 7660: Advanced Crop Production
• PLNT 7670: Quantitative Genetics and Plant Breeding
• PLNT 7690: Bioinformatics

For full course descriptions, please visit the Academic Calendar.

The following are minimum requirements to be considered for entry into the Plant Science PhD program. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the program.

To be considered for admission to the Doctor of Philosophy (Plant Science) program, you must have a minimum of:

• A Master of Science degree.

Meeting these requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the program. Admission decisions are based on the qualifications of the applicant as well as the ability of the Plant Science (PhD) program and the University of Manitoba to serve the applicant’s intended program of study and area of specialization.

In addition to the admission requirements described here, all applicants must meet the minimum admission and English language proficiency requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies .

How to apply

The Plant Science (PhD) program has three application deadlines per year. Applications must be completed online and include several parts:

• Application fee (non-refundable)
• Unofficial copies of transcripts
• Curriculum vitae/resume
• Two letters of recommendation (must be requested from within the application)
• Proof of English Language Proficiency if required

Please read the Faculty of Graduate Studies online application instructions before beginning your application.

Please contact the Department of Plant Science before submitting an application for admission. Applications without the support of a research supervisor are likely to be rejected.

Please note: Students must enter the name of their preferred advisor at time of application.

Application deadlines

Applications are reviewed on a  rolling basis .

Applications open   up to 18 months prior  to start term.

Applicants must submit their online application with supporting documentation and application fee by the deadline date indicated.

Start or continue your application

Our researchers are working in creative ways to address the complex challenges facing the agricultural industry and the broader environmental and health-related challenges facing our society.

Scholarships and awards

The faculty offers nearly $900,000 in awards and bursaries each year, as well as support for student-led programming and initiatives.

Tuition and fees

Learn about tuition and fee requirements for graduate studies at UM.

Academic calendar

Explore program requirements and detailed descriptions for required courses throughout the Plant Science (PhD) program.

Explore the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences

The Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences is continuously evolving to meet the changing needs of our world. Our mission is to develop people, ideas, knowledge and practices to support the provision of food, bio-resources and services that are healthy and sustainable for society, the environment and the agri-food sector.

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Explore the Faculty of Graduate Studies

Discovery happens here. Join the graduate students and researchers who come here from every corner of the world. They are drawn to the University of Manitoba because it offers the opportunity to do transformational research.

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Keep exploring

Discover more programs

With over 140 programs across multiple faculties, schools and colleges, the University of Manitoba offers more learning, teaching and research opportunities than any other post-secondary institution in the province.

• Soil Science (PhD)
• Biosystems Engineering (PhD)
• Food Science (PhD)
• Animal Science (PhD)
• Entomology (PhD)

Join students from around the world in a diverse and supportive community.

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Be adventurous, challenge yourself and make a difference.

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We offer state-of-the-art facilities with 140 years of history.

Admission and application inquiries

Faculty of Graduate Studies Room 500 UMSU University Centre 65 Chancellors Circle University of Manitoba (Fort Garry campus) Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada

[email protected] Phone: 204-474-9377

Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Program inquiries

Department of Plant Science 222 Agriculture Building University of Manitoba (Fort Garry campus) Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2

Email: [email protected] Phone: 204-474-8223 Fax: 204-474-7528

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Department of Botany

The Botany Department is one of the largest and strongest Botany Departments in North America, offering a wide range of research and educational programs. Specializations range from the organismal to the molecular level.

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Hannes Dempewolf

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Ready to take the next step.

Graduate Funding

Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies-Graduate Funding is responsible for the awarding and processing of many fellowships in support of McGill’s graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.

Our M.Sc. and Ph.D. programs are research-based and focus on problems relating to applied and theoretical aspects of crop improvement and plant biology in a wide range of plant species. The subject areas covered are:

• Bioinformatics
• Conservation and evolutionary biology
• Crop and vegetable production
• Crop physiology
• Environmetrics
• Horticulture
• Molecular plant pathology
• Plant biochemistry
• Plant breeding
• Plant-insect/pathogen interactions
• Tissue culture
• Weed biology and control

Requirements for the M.Sc. Degree

Requirements for the ph.d. degree.

Students must complete a 45-credit course and research program established by their supervisor and advisory committee. The program will consist of:

• MSc Letter of Understanding, to be completed with your supervisor and uploaded to myProgress as a “Milestone”, by the end of your first semester
• Two 3-credit graduate level courses (6 credits total)
• PLNT 664 - M.Sc. Thesis 1
• PLNT 665 - M.Sc. Thesis 2
• PLNT 666 - M.Sc. Thesis 3
• Presentation of thesis research project progress/results at “Research Horizons” (weekly graduate student and invitational seminar) PLNT 690 - Research Horizons: Plant Sci 1
• Weekly attendance at invitational seminar “Research Horizons”
• Submission of research thesis

Additional courses may be required at the discretion of the student's supervisor and advisory committee. Plant Science research programs at the Master’s level normally require two years for completion.

Students will follow the program of study established by their supervisor and advisory committee. This program will consist of:

• PhD Letter of Understanding, to be completed with your supervisor and uploaded to myProgress as a “Milestone”, by the end of your first semester
• PhD comprehensive examination PLNT 701 - Doctoral Comprehensive Exam , which must be taken within 15 months of first registering in the program
• Presentation of thesis research project progress/results at “Research Horizons” (weekly graduate student and invitational seminar) PLNT 691 - Research Horizons: Plant Sci 2
• Submission and oral defense of research thesis.

Looking for a research supervisor?

Explore our faculty profiles to find your area of interest

Important documents for graduate students

Graduate Student Handbook          Student-Supervisor Letter of Understanding Form          Research Tracking Report Form

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Department and University Information

Department of plant science.

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The Department offers graduate degree programs at both Doctoral and Master’s level. Graduate students are an active and engaged part of the UBC Botany department. In the Department of Botany, we are looking to admit graduate students who are passionate about learning and exploring the plant, algal, fungal and protist sciences. We are committed to the continued development of our diverse and collegial community of people, ideas, and approaches through our missions of research, education, and public outreach. 

70 Best universities for Botany in Canada

Updated: February 29, 2024

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Below is a list of best universities in Canada ranked based on their research performance in Botany. A graph of 7.22M citations received by 222K academic papers made by 70 universities in Canada was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of Toronto

2. University of British Columbia

3. University of Guelph

4. University of Alberta

5. McGill University

6. Laval University

7. University of Saskatchewan

8. University of Calgary

9. Western University

10. Queen's University

11. University of Manitoba

12. University of Montreal

13. University of Waterloo

14. McMaster University

15. Dalhousie University

16. Simon Fraser University

17. University of Ottawa

18. Carleton University

19. University of Victoria

20. York University

21. University of Quebec in Montreal

22. Memorial University of Newfoundland

23. University of New Brunswick

24. University of Sherbrooke

25. Concordia University

26. Lakehead University

27. University of Windsor

28. Brock University

29. University of Lethbridge

30. Trent University

31. Polytechnic School of Montreal

32. University of Quebec, Trois-Rivieres

33. University of Regina

34. University of Quebec at Chicoutimi

35. Ryerson University

36. University of Northern British Columbia

37. Laurentian University

38. University of Prince Edward Island

39. Wilfrid Laurier University

40. Mount Allison University

41. University of Quebec in Rimouski

42. Acadia University

43. St. Francis Xavier University

44. University of Quebec, Abitibi-Temiscamingue

45. University of Winnipeg

46. Saint Mary's University

47. University of Moncton

48. Brandon University

49. Royal Military College of Canada

50. School of Higher Technology - University of Quebec

51. HEC Montreal

52. University of Quebec in Outaouais

53. Ontario Tech University

54. Thompson Rivers University

55. University of Quebec

56. Cape Breton University

57. Algoma University

58. Mount Saint Vincent University

59. Vancouver Island University

60. MacEwan University

61. Bishop's University

62. Nipissing University

63. British Columbia Institute of Technology

64. Mount Royal University

65. Trinity Western University

66. Royal Roads University

67. University of the Fraser Valley

68. Quest University Canada

69. Kwantlen Polytechnic University

70. Northern Alberta Institute of Technology

The best cities to study Botany in Canada based on the number of universities and their ranks are Toronto , Vancouver , Guelph , and Edmonton .

Biology subfields in Canada