Domestic Applicants

Domestic applicants are Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents. If you are neither, please refer to International Applicants. 

Admission for September 2024 and January 2025

Early deadline:  February 1, 2024
Final deadline:  April 30, 2024

The School of Graduate Studies Application System will open in mid September. SGS will be running a series of information session on "How to Apply for Graduate Studies", both online and in-person. Details and the links to join those sessions are posted on the SGS website.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. It is strongly recommended that you apply well before the deadline. The Department's graduate program has limited space in each field of interest.

Requests to submit an application after the deadline may be considered.  Send an unofficial electronic copy of your up-to-date transcripts, as well as a copy of your CV to chem.gradcoord@utoronto.ca for more information. 

We highly recommend applicants who plan to apply for the NSERC Canada Graduate Scholarship Master's 2023/24 program to submit their graduate studies application by January 2. We encourage competitive applicants to reach out to our research faculty to work together on a proposed research.

For entry to the Master's and Doctoral programs, applicants must have completed or be in their final year of an appropriate Bachelor's degree from a recognized university. For direct-entry PhD applicants, an average grade equivalent to A- or better in courses in the relevant discipline is required. For International Degree Equivalencies, please visit the School of Graduate Studies database.

Please note that applicants should meet the following minimum Grade Point Average requirements:

 

Country of Study
For admission into MSc program
For admission into PhD program
Canada

 

 

B+ (3.30)

 

 

A- (3.70)

 

 

China

 

 

83%

 

 

87%

 

 

Bangladesh

 

 

First Class (B+) or 65-70% or 3.25 Grade Point

 

 

First Class (A-) or 70-75% or 3.50 Grade Point

 

 

Iran

 

 

16/20

 

 

17/20

 

 

India, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan

 

 

70%

 

 

80%

 

 

Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia

 

 

85%

 

 

90%

 

 

Sri Lanka

 

 

78%

 

 

85%

 

 

Korea

 

 

89/100; 3.7/4.5; 3.3/4.3

 

 

93/100; 4.0/4.5; 3.7/4.3

 

 

Mexico

 

 

8.5/10

 

 

9/10

 

 

Pakistan

 

 

First Class or First Division

 

 

First Class or First Division

 

 

Turkey

 

 

3.62/4 (3.32/4 for Middle East Technical U), 8/10

 

 

3.74/4 (3.44/4 for METU), 8.5/10

 

 

United States of America

 

 

B+

 

 

A-

 

 

 

Applicants apply through the School of Graduate Studies Online Admission Application.

The Department pays for the application fee of domestic students. Payment will be processed by the Department when your application is complete and you have notified the department of the completion of your application. An application is considered complete once ALL required supporting documents have been uploaded (including: transcripts, letters of reference, letter of intent, and CV).

Application Checklist:

  • Completed SGS online admissions application
  • At least 2 letters of reference uploaded to application directly by referee
  • Transcripts from all post-secondary institutions
  • Statement of intent
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • English Second Language Scores directly to SGS (if applicable)

Upload to the SGS online system: 
1. Curriculum Vitae

  •  Include all post-secondary education, professional and/or research experience as well awards held, distinctions, conference presentations, volunteer work and publications (if any) 

2. Statement of Intent (1 page free form letter) to include:

  • Identify which sub-discipline(s) of chemistry research and prospective faculty interest you.  Access research profiles here
  • Provide examples from your research (academic/employment) experience indicating that you will be successful in graduate studies
  • Brief statement on career and academic goals 
  • Opportunity to provide context for any weaknesses in your application (eg. low grades early in undergrad)
  • Address challenges especially from members of underrepresented groups
  • Peruse the Writing at UofT for guide on effective admission letters

3. At least two official letters of recommendation

  • Acceptable referees are professors or scientists familiar with your academic AND research background. They must be able to provide assessment on your suitability for graduate studies and research.  
  • At least one letter of recommendation from your most recent thesis advisor, if applicable.
  • Letters of reference are submitted electronically. In exceptional circumstances hard-copy references may be submitted. Reference letters are uploaded to a secure applications website or, in the case of hard copies, sent directly to the graduate unit in signed and sealed envelopes. In cases where a referee does not have an institutional address, graduate administrators will take appropriate steps to verify the authenticity of the generic address.
  • The SGS admissions application online system will send an automated e-mail to your referees using the email address that you have provided in your application which includes the Reference Form (PDF). In addition to the form, your referees may add a supplemental (free-form) letter.  These documents are uploaded by the referees directly to the application on-line system. It is recommended that you confirm your referees' availability prior to submitting their contact details. A reminder to inform your referee to check the junk mail folder or set "utoronto.ca" or "sgs.utoronto.ca" as a safe sender. 
  • If your referees encounter any difficulties in uploading their documents, the Reference Form and letter may be email directly to the Graduate Office at chem.gradcoord@utoronto.ca 

4. Transcripts for all post-secondary studies

  • Upload one unofficial electronic or scanned transcript from each post-secondary institution attended.  Scanned copies of transcripts must be up-to-date and must include the transcript "legend" which is usually printed on the back of the paper transcript.  If you attended a Canadian university, you may upload a PDF copy of your academic history from your university's student web service.  Non-English language documents must include the English translation. 
  • An applicant may be asked to submit a paper copy before an admissions decision is finalized if the admissions committee deems the file incomplete.  Please wait for further instructions before submitting official paper transcripts.  
  • If asked to submit official paper copies of the transcript(s), please arrange to have the official copies (issued directly to University of Toronto) mailed to the Chemistry Graduate Office. Documents must be sealed in an envelope by the issuing institution. Previously opened envelopes, photocopied and faxed documents are not considered official.  All non-English language documents must be officially translated into English and submitted to the University of Toronto together with the originals
  • If asked to submit official electronic copies of the transcript(s) do so either directly from your own institutional website or through authorized/licensed third party providers (e.g. Parchment, MyCreds). A copy of the declaration of the issuing institution that its electronic transcripts (issued directly or by a specified third party provider) are official should be sent along with the transcript. 

Documents that cannot be submitted electronically to the SGS admissions application online system can be submitted via email to the Chemistry Graduate Office (chem.gradcoord@utoronto.ca).

 

GRE scores are not required for admission to the MSc or PhD programs.

It is mandatory for domestic applicants (Canadian citizens and permanent residents) who completed their most recent degree outside of Canada where English is not the primary language of instruction to provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application.  Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of their application.  Electronically reported scores should be sent directly by the testing agency to the University of Toronto (Enrolment Services).  More information on English language proficiency can be found under International Applicants including the minimum score requirements.

Exemptions

  • A Canadian citizen who studied at a Canadian university where the language of instruction is French 
  • Completed a degree in one of the following countries:  Australia,Ireland,  New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States of America 
  • Has obtained an undergraduate or graduate degree from an institution recognized by the University of Toronto and where the language of instruction and examination is uniformly English*

*Applicants should make arrangements for an official statement to be sent from their institution directly to the Chemistry Graduate Office confirming the use of English as the language of instruction and examination.  This official document should be sent through regular mail.  Note that the admissions committee may request for ELP testing if an applicant is deemed not to have the adequate English qualifications for entry into the program.