4. Admission Policies and Procedures
The university’s admission policies and procedures are designed so that students entering a graduate program may normally have the capacity and preparation necessary to meet the challenge of the program effectively. The School of Graduate Studies regulations for admission specify minimal requirements only. Many graduate units have additional requirements. Meeting the minimal requirements of the graduate unit and the School of Graduate Studies does not guarantee admission.
The university reserves the right to determine whether credentials of other degree-granting institutions meet the standards for admission to University of Toronto programs. Admissions decisions are final and are not appealable.
4.1 Academic Requirements for Admission
All applicants will be considered on their individual merits for admission to any graduate program at the University of Toronto.
4.1.1 Master’s Programs
An appropriate bachelor’s degree with high academic standing from a recognized university is required. Other qualifications may be specified by the graduate unit. See General Regulations (section 5 Admission Regulations) and Degree Regulations for further details.
4.1.2 Doctor of Philosophy Programs
An appropriate master’s degree or, in some programs, an appropriate bachelor’s degree, with high academic standing from a recognized university is required. See General Regulations (section 5 Admission Regulations) and Degree Regulations for further details.
4.1.3 Other Doctoral Programs
Normally, an appropriate master’s degree with high academic standing from a recognized university is required. See appropriate graduate unit entry for specific details. See General Regulations (section 5 Admission Regulations) and Degree Regulations for further information.
See Degree Regulations for specific details on degree transfers (master’s to PhD and PhD to master’s).
4.1.4 Diploma Programs
There are several types of graduate diplomas, including master’s level and post-master’s level. Some diploma programs involve concurrent registration with the degree program. The minimum requirements are as follows:
- A bachelor's degree is an appropriate degree for a master’s level or concurrent master’s diploma.
- A master's degree is an appropriate degree for a post-master’s diploma.
Other qualifications may apply, as specified by a graduate unit.
4.1.5 Special Students
Special students must submit an application for admission for each academic year of study.
Applicants accepted as special student, full-time, must have completed an appropriate bachelor’s degree with good academic standing from a recognized university. See General Regulations, section 5 Admission Regulations, for further details.
Applicants accepted as special student, part-time must hold an appropriate bachelor’s degree, or its equivalent, from a recognized university. See General Regulations, section 5 Admission Regulations, for further details.
4.1.6 Advanced Standing
Advanced standing refers to academic credit awarded upon admission to a program of study that enables direct entry to an identified higher academic achievement level of the program. Students are eligible for advanced standing if they meet a clearly articulated set of objectives and/or course requirements for an advanced-standing option as defined in the graduate program calendar entry. Not every program will offer an advanced-standing option. Consult the graduate unit regarding advanced-standing options.
4.1.7 Students Holding Graduate Degrees Registered as Graduate Students
The university may confer upon a person more than one graduate degree having the same title provided the degrees are completed in different fields of study.
4.1.8 Mature Students
Applicants who graduated five or more years ago but without achieving sufficiently high standing for admission to a graduate program may be considered for admission if, since graduation, they have done significant intellectual work and/or made a significant professional contribution that can be considered equivalent to a higher academic standing. This contribution and its impact on the profession must be detailed and documented (e.g., publications, research, professional advancement, development of new skills, responsibility, etc.) and presented as part of the application. Such applicants may be considered for admission if they have achieved qualifications at least equivalent to those stated in the preceding sections and if a graduate unit so recommends.
4.1.9 Eligibility of Members of Teaching and Administrative Staff
Members of teaching or administrative staff of the university or its federated or affiliated colleges who are engaged in graduate instructional and/or graduate administrative activities within the graduate unit offering the graduate program to which they are seeking admission are normally not eligible to be graduate students within that graduate unit at the University of Toronto. Exceptions may be granted by the SGS Admissions and Programs Committee when it is confident that the graduate program is sufficiently remote from the faculty or staff member’s usual work that academic impartiality is not compromised.
4.1.10 English-Language Facility
It is essential that all incoming graduate students have a good command of English. Facility in the English language must be demonstrated by all applicants educated outside Canada whose primary language is not English. This is a requirement of admission and should be met before application, but must be met before the deadline to register. This requirement may be satisfied using one of the English-language facility tests listed in the Admission Regulations.
Test results that are older than two years at the time of application cannot be accepted. In these circumstances, the applicant must retake the English-language facility test.