PhD Admission Requirements

Please submit your online application for our Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program through the School of Graduate Studies Online Application Portal between September 22 and November 22 each year.

 

PhD Admission Requirements

Successful candidates have a strong background in mathematics, statistics, or a related field. Outstanding performance in their course work, outstanding letters of recommendations and well-thought-out statements of intent are an asset. Prior research experience is also valuable.

You must meet all admissions requirements to be considered for entry into the program. In addition to our admissions requirements for each program, please familiarize yourself with the minimum requirements, rules, and regulations of the School of Graduate School Studies.

Please also review the School of Graduate Studies Admission & Application Requirements.

We receive many outstanding applications, and admission to our program is competitive. Unfortunately, we cannot offer admission to all qualified applicants.

Students can be accepted through one of two routes:

You hold an appropriate master’s degree in statistics from a recognized university with at least a B+ average standing. A standing that is equivalent to at least B+ (U of T 77 ‐ 79% or 3.3/4.0) in the final year of study.

We also consider applicants with graduate degrees in biostatistics, computer science, economics, engineering, mathematics, physics, or any discipline where there is a significant quantitative component.

You hold a bachelor’s degree in statistics from a recognized university with at least an A- average standing. A standing that is equivalent to at least A- (U of T 80 ‐ 84% or 3.7/4.0) in the final year of study.

We also consider applicants with graduate degrees in biostatistics, computer science, economics, engineering, mathematics, physics, or any discipline where there is a significant quantitative component.

For more information on admissions to our PhD program and program requirements, visit the School of Graduate Studies calendar.

 

Your Application Package

Please note that we do not accept any hard copies of your application or hard copies of supporting documents.

Please send a summary of your experiences in education, work, travel, volunteering, and other relevant areas. The maximum length is two pages, single-spaced.

As part of your application, please submit a letter of intent or personal statement online outlining your goals for your graduate studies.

Electronic copies of transcripts are required at the time you apply online. Only if you are successful at gaining admissions will we require official copies to be submitted to the department.

Due to COVID we are currently only accepting official e-transcripts. We will notify admitted candidates once the receipt of mail-in paper transcripts will be accepted.
International transcripts: Please use International Degree Equivalencies Tool to ensure that you meet the minimum admissions requirements.

We do not require a credential evaluation assessment by a third-party, such as WES.

You will need three letters of recommendation, to be submitted online by your referees through the online application system prior to the supporting documentation deadline.

Note: The online application system will automatically email an electronic reference request to each referee when the application form is submitted. Referees will have until the deadline to upload supporting documentation to submit their reference letter. It is highly recommended that applicants contact their referees ahead of time to inform them of the supporting documents deadline and confirm both their availability and their preferred institutional email address.

As English is the primary language of instruction and communication at the University of Toronto, applicants must demonstrate an adequate level of proficiency in English, regardless of their citizenship status or country of origin. It is important that these students follow SGS policies on ELP testing requirements and take one of the required tests for admission to a graduate program.

Applicants from universities outside Canada where English is not the primary language of instruction must 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.

Please submit official copies of your English proficiency scores (Institution Code: 0982). You can include unofficial copies with your application while waiting for the official ones to arrive.

Learn more about ELP Testing here.

Please do not send the results to our department. Students must arrange for their score to be reported electronically to the University of Toronto (Enrolment Services) by the testing agency. Please check SGS ELP Testing website above for more detail.

The non-refundable application fee is currently CAD $125 per application.

Note: You may apply to more than one program. Each program will require a separate application and application fee. Applicants will not be considered for a program that they did not apply for.

PhD applicants will be able to select up to three potential supervisors at the time of their application. Supervisors of successful applicants are matched based on research areas of interest.

Learn more about our faculty.

Applicants will also indicate their interest in applying to the Multi-Disciplinary Doctoral Training Program (MDoc) through the cover sheet.

Interested in multi-disciplinary research? Learn more about the MDoc.

Start your application today

 

Having trouble?

Please review the School of Graduate Studies Admissions Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

 

Want to know more?

If you have additional questions that have not been answered by the above information, please book an appointment during Prospective Student Office Hours to speak with a member of the Graduate Team or send us an email.