MSc(OT) Application and Admission Information

Application Process

Admission is based upon the admission average as calculated by ORPAS (see Calculation of Admission Average below). A complete application consists of:

A complete application consists of an on-line application (COMPASS.ORPAS) from the Ontario Rehabilitation Sciences Programs Application Service (ORPAS), which also includes submission of official transcripts sent directly from each institution to ORPAS, and the online personal submission section of the online application.

Please note that ORPAS updates their website approximately mid-October for access to the online application form and instruction booklet.

Application Deadline

The deadline for applications to ORPAS for admission to the School of Occupational Therapy for the Fall of 2014 is January 10, 2014*. Offers of admission will be sent mid-May each year.

If your country offers a program in Occupational Therapy or if you have been trained as an Occupational Therapist, you are not eligible to apply.

* The online application and information booklet is updated by ORPAS in mid-October of each year.

Visit ORPAS website.

MSc(OT) Admission Requirements

Requirements for admission include completion of a four-year degree. Students with a GPA 3.5 - 3.7 (as calculated by ORPAS), or better, would normally be considered competitive applicants for the program.

Applicants whose first language is not English require a minimum TOEFL score of 620 (paper-based), 105 (internet-based) or equivalent (e.g., MELAB or IELTS). Students who after admission, show an inadequate command of spoken or written English must improve their proficiency to the satisfaction of the School of Occupational Therapy. Students can be asked to withdraw from the program if their command of English interferes with their ability to provide quality professional services. Note: Test results must be sent directly to Western University.

Prerequisites

The School of Occupational Therapy at Western University has removed all prerequisite course requirements for the professional masters program, MScOT. Therefore, Canadian candidates will only be required to have a four year degree. However, it is suggested (not required) that applicants have some undergraduate science courses (i.e., anatomy, biology, human physiology).

Note: We do not conduct interviews as part of the application process.

Calculation of Admission Average

A calculation will be done based upon an applicant's final 60 units of university academic study (the equivalent of ten full courses or 20 half-courses) completed December 31st of the application year, and will include summer, part-time, intersession, correspondence and failed university courses taken beyond the four-year undergraduate year. For applicants currently enrolled in the fourth year of a baccalaureate program, this calculation will start with the applicant's final fall grades (completed December 31) and will move back in chronological order based on the order of courses listed on the transcript. Where grades must be extracted from a term to achieve the equivalent of ten full courses, the average of that term (e.g. applicant's second year) will be used. Western does not include graduate-degree course work, practicum/activity-type courses, Bachelor of Education, Certificate or Diploma program courses and non-convertible grades (e.g., pass/fail) in the calculation. Exchange program grades are included in the admission GPA if they are convertible.