Application Steps
 

Step 3: Prepare Your Application → Information for International Applicants

English Language Facility | Financial Considerations | Transcripts & Degree Equivalency | Resources


English Language Facility

OISE reserves the right to require evidence of English language facility from any applicant educated outside Canada whose mother tongue or first language is not English.

Applicants must demonstrate their facility in English if their mother tongue or first language is not English and they graduated from a non-Canadian university where the language of instruction and examination was not English. (Read More …)


Financial Considerations

It is critical that an International Student (a student who is neither a Canadian Citizen nor a Permanent Resident) carefully and thoughtfully consider the serious financial implications of being an OISE graduate student over both the short term and the long term. It is very unfortunate when a student cannot continue in their program due to financial hardship.

The following information may be helpful to International Students in their financial planning (all amounts are in Canadian dollars; all fees and costs are subject to change):

• OISE cannot provide funding for all students to whom we offer admission
• International Students at the University of Toronto are eligible for very little financial assistance; generally if an International Student is not awarded a funding package at the time of admission there are negligible opportunities for financial assistance thereafter
• generally an International Student is subject to the International Student tuition fee, which is considerably higher than the Domestic Student tuition fee; for lots of detailed information about fees visit the official University of Toronto Student Accounts website
• in addition to the academic fee International Students must pay for the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP); the cost for twelve months coverage is approximately $684 for a single student, $1,068 for a family of two, and $2,136 for a family of three or more
• International Students should not depend on financing their studies nor their living expenses by working in Canada; eligible students may be permitted to work on-campus without a work permit, however such opportunities are relatively scarce; off-campus employment is possible for eligible students only after obtaining the applicable work permit
• the cost of living in Canada and in particular Toronto is high; when considering costs International Students should consult with their local bank to determine the current exchange value of the Canadian dollar relative to their home currency

The following estimate is the minimum amount of money a single student should have available for the first twelve months in Toronto (not including tuition or health insurance) to facilitate an adequate (but far from luxurious) standard of living:
- accommodation $7,300
- food $4,000
- clothing $1,200
- books $1,000
- local transportation $1,200
- miscellaneous $1,200
Total $15,900


Transcripts and Degree Equivalency

Occasionally, International Applicants experience difficulty obtaining official transcripts.
(Read More …)

Not all degrees from outside Canada are considered equivalent to an appropriate bachelor's or master's degree. Refer to the International Degree Equivalencies section of the University of Toronto School of Graduate Studies website for more information.


Resources

There are several resources at the University of Toronto which offer assistance to International Applicants and International Students.

Centre for International Experience 
The Centre for International Experience at the University of Toronto offers a variety of support services – around such things as preparing for arrival in Canada, orientation, living here, academic culture at the University of Toronto, and getting involved.

For more information contact:
Centre for International Experience
University of Toronto
Cumberland House 
33 St. George Street
Toronto, Ontario M5S 2E3
Telephone 416-978-2564
E-mail cie.information@utoronto.ca
Web www.cie.utoronto.ca/coming

OISE International Students’ Association (ISA)
Among other initiatives, OISE’s International Students’ Association arranges buddies for incoming students from abroad, hosts social events and activities, and organizes orientation, tours, and monthly get-togethers for academic and cultural exchange.

For more information contact:
OISE International Students’ Association
252 Bloor Street West, Room 8-107
Toronto, Ontario M5S 1V6 
E-mail isa@oise.utoronto.ca

Comparative Education Service
The University of Toronto’s Comparative Education Service evaluates university credentials from outside Canada, primarily for general and employment purposes. There is a fee for this service. It is important to note that credentials may be evaluated differently for the purposes of graduate studies admission.

For more information, contact:
Comparative Education Service
University of Toronto, School of Continuing Studies
252 Bloor Street West, Room 4-132
Toronto, Ontario M5S 1V6
Telephone 416-978-2400
E-mail learn@utoronto.ca
Web http://learn.utoronto.ca/ces.htm