Application Steps
 

Step 2: Review Admission Requirements

Academic Requirements

OISE graduate programs operate under the umbrella of the University of Toronto School of Graduate Studies (SGS). The School establishes minimum admission requirements common to all applicants.

The current OISE Bulletin also includes minimum admission (and degree) requirements. Some programs have additional requirements (for example higher academic standing); these are also detailed in the OISE Bulletin, plus departmental websites.

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.


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.

Generally, if you completed an appropriate bachelor's or master’s degree at an institution where the official language of instruction and examination is English, you do not need to submit proof of English language proficiency. Sometimes determining whether the requirement is applicable or not can be complicated. The Registrar’s Office cannot provide a specific determination prior to submission of an application for admission.

If applicable, applicants are strongly encouraged to submit satisfactory evidence of English language facility as part of a complete application for admission. When evidence of English language facility is required, an offer of admission will not be issued until the requirement is fully satisfied. In addition, because available spaces in a program are limited a department may not reserve an offer of admission if the English language requirement is not satisfied at the time of application.

Evidence of English language facility must be demonstrated by providing satisfactory results of one of the following tests. Test scores must be forwarded directly from the testing service to the OISE Registrar's Office, Graduate Admissions Unit, to be considered official. Test scores are valid for two years from the date of testing.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) 
www.ets.org/toefl
Presently, the TOEFL is offered in two formats:
paper-based, on which a minimum total score of 580 is required (must include the Test of Written English component with a minimum score of 5.0)
or
internet-based, on which a minimum overall score of 93 is required (with a minimum score of 22 for both the writing and speaking components)

The OISE "Institution Code" is 0982.

Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB)
www.cambridgemichigan.org/melab
or
Toronto MELAB Centre
www.melab.ca

The minimum MELAB score required is 85.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
www.ielts.org
or
IELTS Testing Centre, Conestoga College (Kitchener, Ontario)
www.ieltscanada.ca

The minimum IELTS score required is 7.0 (applicants must undertake the academic module of this test).

The Certificate of Proficiency in English (COPE)
www.copetest.com

The minimum COPE total score required is 76 (with a minimum score of 22 in each component and a minimum score of 32 in the writing component).

The University of Toronto, School of Continuing Studies, English Language Program, Academic Preparation Course (Level 60 – Advanced)
www.learn.english.utoronto.ca

The University of Toronto, School of Continuing Studies, English Language Academic Preparation Course completed at Level 60 (Advanced) with a grade of at least ‘B’ is required.