Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies

Grad Students' Words of Wisdom

Portrait of graduate student Ashleigh Weeden (PhD, Rural Studies) in the atrium of Mac Donald Stewart Hall at the University of Guelph

Ashleigh Weeden

I am a proud second-generation Gryphon and University of Guelph alumna, having received an Honours Bachelor of Arts in International Development from the U of G in 2008, following in my father's footsteps (Agricultural Engineering '71 and MSc '86). Coming back to Guelph to pursue a doctorate has felt like coming home in all the best ways.

Portrait of graduate student Minhajul Haque Minar

Minhajul Haque Minar

Advice for Prospective Grad Students...

If any student wants to get research experience, he/she should get into this graduate school. The University of Guelph has unique and fully equipped laboratory facilities. Any grad student can take a long step on their desired research path. Meanwhile, coursework will also help students for learning the different disciplines.

Dendra Hillier

Dendra Hillier

Thoughts about UofG...

At the University of Guelph, they care about your education; you will never be just a number.

Food Safety & Quality Assurance at U of Guelph MSc candidate Vijay Thomas Issac

Vijay Thomas Issac

Advice for Prospective Grad Students...

From my experience as an international student, I would request every prospective grad student to understand the core details offered by every course in the food safety and quality assurance program. I know every course is research-intensive and requires dedication and time management, but trust me, if you are passionate to establish yourself in the industry and want to ensure consistent delivery of safe food to the customers, you will develop a strong interest in the course. The application-level offered in the assignments is a reflection of how it is applied in an industrial setting and helps you crack the real-life hurdles faced in the rapidly growing industry and globalization. I would also suggest the prospective graduate students engage themselves in thoughtful conversations with their peers and develop a strong sense of food safety leadership to facilitate those conversations. It is also highly recommended to attend the food safety seminars provided by the department.

Headshot of University of Guelph Graduate student Serena Viola

Serena Viola

Advice for Prospective Grad students...

My advice for prospective grad students is to reach out to people. When I was looking at the CDE program, I reached out to a couple of graduated students in different fields to talk about their experience in the program. This information was very valuable and helped me to make a confident choice. If you have any questions about the program or my experience please feel welcome to reach out.

Portrait of graduate student Shannon French (PhD, Pathobiology) in the atrium of the Albert A. Thornbrough Building, University of Guelph

Shannon French

About being a grad student at U of G… 

Being a graduate student at U of G is a wonderful opportunity. There is a fantastic support system here to help you progress and succeed in research, made up of faculty, support staff and other graduate students.

U of G MBS student Sophie Langlois in the lab

Sophie Langlois

Advice for prospective grad students

I recommend taking the time to thoroughly research potential graduate programs and supervisors to find one that is a great fit. It is important to work with a supervisor whose interests align with your own, as passion for your research will help you succeed in academia, especially when things get tough! If you are passionate about reproductive health and fertility, I wholeheartedly recommend the MBS program.

Shayne Johnston portrait

Shayne Johnston

Advice for Prospective Grad Students...

If I could give advice to a prospective grad student, it would be to never be afraid to say "I don't know".

Portrait of graduate student Abdalla Albeely

Abdalla Albeely

Advice For Prospective Grad Students… 

I'd tell them that at U of G you'll benefit academically and you will get to enjoy being part of such a great community.