Health Sciences

For students considering future opportunities, health care is a safe bet with the near guarantee of employment. Canada needs an additional 20,000 family doctors by 2031, along with 28,000 registered nurses, 14,000 licensed practical nurses and 2,700 nurse practitioners, according to federal reports. Health-care workers in fields like physiotherapy, pharmacy and occupational therapy are also in high demand. As the Canadian population continues to age—the number of seniors in the country is expected to exceed 11 million by 2043—the corresponding demand for health-care services will soar. 

Health sciences degrees are a good foundation for students who aspire to do hands-on work in health care. Grads go on to be doctors, nurses, paramedics, pharmacists, lab technicians, anesthesia technicians, respiratory therapists, cardiovascular technicians, radiation therapists and more. Others work in adjacent fields, fulfilling roles such as health education specialist, medical equipment and pharmaceutical sales rep, claims reviewer, medical writer, health-care analyst, policy adviser, community health worker and health services manager. 

Health sciences programs can be tough to get into, often requiring strong grades in high school biology, chemistry, English and math. Many programs also require students to submit supplementary applications in the form of essays or video interviews. 

In addition to the basic science of the human body, programs focus on understanding the ever-changing societal context in which health services are delivered. Students study biochemistry, anatomy, physiology and biology alongside courses in psychology, anthropology and ethics. Through this range of disciplines, students are encouraged to think about how health is affected by geography, culture, religion and upbringing, preparing them to work with a diversity of patients. 

As students progress through their degree, they choose elective courses that complement their interests. Someone who wants to work in gerontology, for example, might focus on palliative and end-of-life care, while a student interested in mental health may choose courses in addiction and recovery, social media and health or mental illness and healing. 

Many health sciences programs incorporate co-op work placements into academic terms. The University of Waterloo, for example, offers a co-op in which students alternate between work and school every four months. Co-op students land roles such as lab assistant, health and safety specialist, genetic counselling assistant, patient flow facilitators, clinical researchers and health information data analyst. 

It’s a particularly exciting moment to enter health sciences, thanks to rapid developments in artificial intelligence. AI is already revolutionizing health care in everything from data management to imaging, and the industry will continue to harness its power in ways that, just a few years ago, the health-care industry couldn’t even begin to imagine. 

The sheer breadth of possibilities for a health sciences grad is thrilling, but it can also be overwhelming. When picking a program, prospective students should zero in on the ultimate goal, whether that’s—for example—to become a technician, a hospital administrator or a policy analyst. To ensure that students pick the right program for them, they should consider the educational environment that’s offered, including class size and opportunities for research or co-op placements.

Standout Health Sciences Programs

Our standout programs are based on research by our team of journalists who speak to industry experts, educational consultants and others to develop a selection of programs worth considering. This is not a ranked list.

McMaster University

Degree type: Bachelor of health sciences
Co-op: No

First-year students in McMaster’s four-year honours program are introduced to small-group, problem-based learning through inquiry courses, which encourage students to think critically about health problems and collaborate with colleagues to find answers, much as they would in a real-life health-care setting. Not only do students learn how to work with people and collaborate, the open community and peer support help alleviate the anxiety and pressure of entering university.

Queen’s University

Degree: Bachelor of health sciences
Co-op: No

Queen’s multidisciplinary program, offered on campus and online, is designed to align with the competency framework used by medical schools and other health programs. The curriculum covers topics as diverse as biohacking, infectious disease, pharmacology and human anatomy. On-campus students learn via a flipped classroom, studying course content through online modules then applying the material when they come to class. 

Western University

Degree type: Bachelor of health sciences
Co-op: No

Western’s first-year students explore areas such as biology, functional anatomy and social and personal determinants of health. As they advance in the program, they choose an area of specialization or major. The health sciences module offers courses in health promotion, health ethics, health-care law, health in aging populations, youth and adolescent health and social media and health, among others. Students can gain hands-on experience through practicums. 

University of Toronto Scarborough

Degree: Bachelor of science
Co-op: Yes

U of T Scarborough offers more than 50 programs in health sciences in multiple areas of study, including neuroscience, population health, psychology, medicinal and biological chemistry and molecular biology, immunology and disease. Students have the opportunity to complete paid full-time work or research through eight to 12 months of co-op, gaining real-life, hands-on experience before entering the workforce.

University of Ottawa

Degree: Bachelor of health sciences
Co-op: Yes

Offered in both English and French, the University of Ottawa’s health sciences program combines biological, social and environmental health science. Students specialize in one of three areas: population and public health, technologies and innovation in health care and integrative health biosciences. Students can land co-op placements at health agencies, non-governmental organizations and community health programs. Through dual fast-track programs, students can simultaneously earn a bachelor of health sciences degree and a master’s degree in occupational therapy, audiology, speech-language pathology or physiotherapy over five years.

University of Calgary

Degree: Bachelor of health sciences
Co-op: No

In the University of Calgary’s inquiry-based, research-focused four-year honours program, students select between three majors: bioinformatics, biomedical sciences and health and society. The program is designed to help students excel in communication and health research, no matter which health stream they choose. 

Simon Fraser University

Degree: Bachelor of science in health sciences
Co-op: Yes

SFU’s four-year program blends the scientific and social aspects of public health with an emphasis on biological science and developing lab skills. The program combines hands-on laboratory experience, on par with medical sciences, with the chance to do experiments in pharmacology, toxicology, immunology and virology.