Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

You must send official transcripts for all previous degrees to the department upon acceptance to one of our programs.

No, we do not process or offer refunds for application fees. Please be aware of the application deadlines for your program(s) of interest prior to paying your application fee.

Yes, but these require separate applications, including fees, referees, and supporting documentation.

The MSc and PhD programs requires at least one academic reference letter per application. Please refer to the MFI and MScAC websites for information about their referee applications. 

Unfortunately, no. Due to the competitive nature of the program, we cannot provide personalized assessments on application eligibility and quality. Admission decisions are made in the context of all other applications in the same admission cycle. For this reason, the graduate office and individual faculty cannot respond to requests for evaluation of applications in isolation.

Submission of the GRE is not a requirement for admission to our programs.

If you wish, you may submit an official copy of any Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, including the Advanced Mathematics Examination, directly from the testing service to the department (Institution Code: 0705). An unofficial copy may be included with your application while waiting for the official one to arrive.  

This is suggested, but not required for international students.

An appropriate admitting degree is one that satisfies the following criteria:

  • the issuing institution must be recognized as having degree-granting authority by the appropriate jurisdictional authorities (e.g., Provincial / Territorial government or regional quality assurance body);
  • the degree must be the standard first entry degree that gives access to advanced research-based graduate programs in the country of origin (e.g. this is typically four years in North America or three-year Bologna compliant degrees. Please consult the SGS International Equivalencies Database for more information.)
  • where appropriate, have the required affinity or programmatic fit to the graduate program to which you are seeking admission.

All admission decisions are made on a case-by-case basis and are based on a composite of information which may include previous academic performance, comments from referees, relevant professional activities, proposed research statements, correspondence between research interests and available faculty expertise, and, in some programs, standardized test scores. Eligibility cannot be determined until a complete application is submitted.

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 citizenship status or country of origin. The School of Graduate Studies establishes English language proficiency requirements for admission.

No. Applications are evaluated based on transcripts uploaded at the time of application; we don’t revisit an application if new grades become available. If an updated transcript is required, we’ll let you know.

Deferral of Admission Requests

Admission to our graduate programs is highly competitive, and each offer of admission represents a carefully considered allocation of limited program space. As such, requests for deferral of admission are not granted automatically and must be supported by compelling, unforeseen, and time-bound circumstances.

A deferral request should be made only under circumstances that would genuinely prevent a student from commencing their studies in the year for which they were admitted. Acceptable reasons may include:

· Medical or Health-Related Issues: A serious illness or medical condition (supported by documentation) that would prevent the student from successfully beginning their studies.

· Visa or Immigration Delays: Unexpected and demonstrable delays in obtaining a study permit, despite the student having applied in a timely and responsible manner.

· Unforeseen Personal or Family Emergencies: Such as a bereavement or critical caregiving responsibilities that temporarily prevent relocation or full-time study.

Students should consider carefully whether deferring is truly necessary. Deferrals require considerable administrative effort and coordination. Students granted deferral must typically re-confirm their intent to enroll, may be subject to revised program conditions, and must not undertake other full-time academic study during the deferral period without prior approval.

Deferrals are not normally granted for the following reasons:

· To pursue employment or internship opportunities

· To explore alternative academic options

· Financial planning or funding uncertainties

· Lack of readiness or change of plans

We encourage admitted students to contact the Graduate Office as early as possible if they are considering a deferral, so we can advise them appropriately and ensure a timely and fair decision.

Deferral of Admission Request Form

 

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