Graduate School Admissions Requirements

IMPORTANT:  There is a non-refundable $110.00 application charge. Please read through the entire list of requirements before advancing to the application procedures.

Due to the large numbers of applications received in the Department of Mathematics each year, serious consideration will only be given to applicants with a strong background and with first class academic standing. In addition, only a small number of openings is available for international applicants.

Listed below are the minimum admission requirements set by the School of Graduate Studies.

1)    Applicants to a Master's Program at the University of Toronto must hold an appropriate four-year Bachelor's degree with a final year average of at least a mid-B from the University of Toronto, or its equivalent from another recognized university. Applicants to the Ph.D. program must have an appropriate University of Toronto Master's degree, or its equivalent, with an average of at least A-, or demonstrated comparable research competence.  (Direct enry from the bachelor's to the Ph.D. is possible for some eminently qualified applicants - optional). All applicants must satisfy the admission requirements of the Department, which will take into account the background and accomplishments of the student as well as their academic achievements.

2)    If you are an international applicant, please review the International Degree Equivalency chart. This chart will help you determine if your international degree is considered equivalent.  Qualifications from a number of educational systems around the world are listed and the academic standings indicated are normally accepted as equivalent to a University of Toronto mid-B grade average if the degree obtained has been awarded from an institution which is recognized by the School of Graduate Studies.

4)    Official transcripts of your academic record from each university attended are required for admission. Applicants who attended universities outside North America must provide notarized English translations to accompany all foreign documentation not written in English.  It is the applicant's responsibility to arrange for transcript(s) to be sent directly from their institution to the graduate department.  Academic records must be enclosed in an envelope provided by the institution(s) concerned and sealed or signed across the back of the envelope. Do not open.  Note that faxed records are not considered official and that documents submitted will not be returned to the student.

If academic records are interim pending completion of studies in progress official final academic records indicating that the degree has been conferred must be submitted to the Graduate Department as soon as possible and before admission can be finalized. The School of Graduate Studies includes instructions about clearing these conditions on the Offer of Admission.

5)    At least THREE supporting letters of reference are required.  Referees are automatically contacted via e-mail when you submit their name and contact info on the on-line application form. Letters of reference will be part of the official student academic record; they are confidential and applicants/students will not have access to them. Please note there are no reference forms.

6)    A letter of intent or personal statement to be up-loaded on the on-line application form.

7)    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 requirement is a condition of admission and should be met before application. There are four ways to satisfy this requirement:

• The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
  - paper-based test, minimum score 580, with   TWE (Test of Written English), minimum score 4.0
  - computer-based test, minimum score 237, with Essay Rating, minimum score 4.0
  - internet-based test (iBT), minimum score of 22/30 for both the Writing and Speaking sections, with an overall minimum TOEFL score of 93/120
  (The ETS institution code for the University of Toronto is 0982.)
• The MELAB (Michigan English Language Assessment Battery), minimum score 85
• The IELTS (International English Language Testing System), minimum score 7.0
• The U of T School of Continuing Studies Academic Preparation Course
  (600 level), minimum grade of B

English Facility Testing

Information on English Facility testing can be obtained by writing directly to the following addresses or by visiting the test websites:

TOEFL/TSE Publications
P.O. Box 6151, Princeton, N.J. 08541-6151 U.S.A.
Tel: (609) 771-7500
Web: www.toefl.org

IELTS - International English Language Testing Service
University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate
1 Hills Rd., Cambride, U.K. CB1 2EU
(or contact the nearest British Council Office)
Web: www.ielts.org

MELAB - Michigan English Language Assessment Battery
English Language Institute, University of Michigan
3020 North University Building, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA 48109-1057
Web: www.lsa.umich.edu/eli/

COPE
P.O. Box 1164, Toronto, Ontario M4T 1K2
E-mail: info@copetest.com
Web: www.copetest.com

To continue, see Application Procedure.

Last updated: July 7, 2009