Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

We in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) are a curious, inspired, and welcoming community of world-class scholars and advocates. We research, teach, and consult on all aspects of earth's organismal diversity, from genomes to ecosystems, and all plant, animal, and microbial species. Individual and collaborative research by members of the EEB department covers the range of the complementary disciplines of ecology and evolutionary biology, employing all technical approaches ranging across field work, lab work, molecular biology, bioinformatics, eco-informatics, computer simulation, statistics, and mathematical theory. Our research often involves study and synthesis across multiple levels of biological organization. Faculty research interests include population/community ecology, ecosystem/landscape ecology, evolutionary ecology, conservation biology, genetics, evolutionary genetics, genomics, molecular evolution, bioinformatics, behaviour, behaviour genetics, theoretical biology, plant biology, animal biology, taxonomy/systematics, developmental biology, anatomy, and physiology.

• Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology's additional admission requirements stated below.

• Applicants will not be admitted until they have secured an agreement with a graduate faculty member to sponsor and supervise the student's research and the applicant has been offered a graduate position by EEB.

• Applicants to this pathway of the EEB PhD program may be accepted after completion of a four-year BSc degree in biology and a research-based MSc degree in the fields of ecology or evolutionary biology. Applicants must have a grade average equivalent to at least a University of Toronto A– during the MSc and an average of at least B+ in the final two years of the bachelor's program.

Duolingo English Test:Tests completed on or after July 1, 2024: Overall score of 120 with a score of 120 in production.

Tests completed before July 1, 2024: Overall score of 120, with no subscore below 100.

International Baccalaureate English:A minimum score of at least 4 (predicted or final) in Higher Level or Standard Level English A: Literature or English A: Language and Literature. English B Higher Level is not acceptable. Learn more about IB English.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS):The minimum requirement is an overall band of 6.5, with no band below 6.0. Results from IELTS (Academic) for UKVI test sittings are accepted. Learn more about IELTS.

Note: We do not accept the IELTS Indicator test or results from the IELTS One Skill Retake. Applicants must achieve the scores listed above on a single date.

Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic:The minimum requirement is an overall score of 65 with no part below 60. Results from PTE (Academic) UKVI test sittings are accepted. Learn more about PTE.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL):Tests completed before January 21, 2026:

- The minimum requirement is a total score of 89 with 22 in each of Speaking and Writing
- Applicants must achieve the scores listed above on a single date. TOEFL MyBest (super-scored) results will not be used.

Effective January 21, 2026 there will be a new TOEFL scoring format. Admission requirements for the new scale are under review and will be posted once finalized.

Paper based test: Tests will be reviewed on an individual basis. Learn more about TOEFL

We do not accept TOEFL Essentials, TOEFL ITP or TOEFL ITP Plus for China for admission purposes.