University of Guelph Animal Biology admission requirements: ENG4U, MHF4U, two sciences and an 86 to 92% cut-off range

Guelph asks Ontario applicants for an OSSD with at least six 4U or 4M courses. For Animal Biology these must include ENG4U, MHF4U, two of SBI4U, SCH4U and SPH4U, and two more 4U or 4M courses.

Guelph recommends all three sciences. If you're missing the third one, you take a replacement course in your first semester. First semester already includes chemistry, calculus and physics for life sciences, so SCH4U and SPH4U both help. Plan Grade 12 with our high school course planner.

Guelph lists an estimated cut-off range of 86 to 92% for Animal Biology. It says the range is based on past admission averages and is only a reference point. The real cut-off depends on how many people apply, how strong they are and how many spaces there are. An average in the range does not guarantee admission.

Guelph uses your top six 4U or 4M courses. Offers go out from November to May. Work out your own number with our Top 6 average calculator.

Guelph says that if you don't have the admission average for Animal Biology, it will consider you for Zoology. Zoology uses the same Grade 12 course list, with an estimated cut-off range of 80 to 85%.

You can also try to move into Animal Biology later. Guelph's calendar says students in another Bachelor of Science area can apply to the Department of Animal Biosciences by the last day of winter classes. After first year you need at least 4.00 science credits, including set courses, and a cumulative average of 75% or higher. Admission is competitive, and decisions come at the end of June.

Animal Biology has no supplementary application, essay, interview or portfolio. Guelph does encourage every applicant to send the Student Profile Form. It's where you can describe leadership and citizenship activities, and any illness or hard circumstances that affected your grades.

Write the form yourself and keep it honest. It is optional, but it gives Guelph context your marks can't.

Guelph's dates page for the 2026-27 calendar year lists January 15 as the application deadline for students in high school, and says later applications are still considered. The Student Profile Form is due April 1. The deadline to accept an offer through OUAC, and to send the residence application with a $750 deposit, is June 1.

If you want Guelph's large application based scholarships, the President's Scholarship and Lincoln Alexander Chancellor's Scholarship deadline is January 22. See our Ontario deadlines page.

Animal Biology is an honours major worth 20.00 credits. It covers the physiology, behaviour, welfare, nutrition, health and genetics of companion animals, wildlife and farm animals. First semester includes BIOL*1050, CHEM*1040, MATH*1080 and PHYS*1080. Second semester adds AGR*1350 on dairy, poultry and egg production, BIOL*1090, CHEM*1050 and PHYS*1070.

Later required courses include ANSC*2210 Principles of Animal Care and Welfare, ANSC*2340 Structure of Farm Animals, NUTR*3210, ANSC*3080 Agricultural Animal Physiology, ANSC*3040 Animal Reproduction and ANSC*3270 Animal Disorders. You must also take restricted electives in animal nutrition, animal breeding and genetics, and animal physiology and behaviour. Upper year choices include ANSC*4560 Pet Nutrition and ANSC*3180 Wildlife Nutrition.

Guelph's calendar notes that live animals or animal tissues are used in teaching in some courses.

Guelph's calendar lists Animal Biology as an honours major only, with no co-op version, and the requirements page does not mention co-op. Guelph's Animal Science requirements page does mention co-op, so look there if paid work terms matter to you.

Research is the hands-on option. Upper year electives include ANSC*4700 and ANSC*4710 Research in Animal Biology I and II. Guelph says you can work one on one with faculty on research in nutrition, genetics, behaviour or physiology.

Guelph's calendar says Animal Biology is built to meet the academic admission requirements for many veterinary medicine programs. The program page says it supports further study in veterinary medicine or graduate school.

Guelph's Doctor of Veterinary Medicine has its own deadline. The dates page lists December 1 for Canadian DVM applicants. Vet schools set their own rules, so check each one before you choose upper year courses.

Animal Biology is charged at Guelph's Arts and Science rate. For fall 2026, winter 2027 and summer 2027, tuition is $3,106.37 per semester for Ontario students and $3,886.87 for students from other provinces. Compulsory fees are $969.82 in fall and $673.71 in winter.

Our estimate, not a Guelph figure: an Ontario student taking fall and winter would pay about $7,856 in tuition and compulsory fees for 2026-27, before residence, meals and books.

For fall 2027, Guelph gives an automatic entrance scholarship to Canadian citizens and permanent residents entering post-secondary for the first time. An admission average of 90.0% to 94.9% earns $1,000, and 95.0% or higher earns $2,000. Guelph reviews eligible students again in May and August.

Animal Biology focuses on domesticated and farm animals as well as companion animals and wildlife, through physiology, nutrition, genetics and welfare. If you're more interested in human health and anatomy, our Guelph Bio-Medical Science guide covers that program, which uses the same Grade 12 course list.

Guelph also suggests Animal Science, Equine Management, Marine and Freshwater Biology, Wildlife Biology and Conservation, and Zoology to students looking at Animal Biology.

This is a direct entry science major with no essay or interview, so Grade 12 marks decide. The estimated range is high, but Zoology is a built-in second chance, and a later move into Animal Biology is possible at 75% or higher.

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