- Applications are accepted via ORPAS beginning October 19
- The last day to submit an application is January 5
- Offers of admission are sent out beginning in mid-May
- The last day to submit final transcripts is June 30
- A four-year undergraduate degree with high academic standing from a recognized university
- Applicants whose first language is not English must show evidence of their proficiency in the use of the English language, with minimum scores:
- TOEFL - 105 IBT with a minimum of 23 on the speaking component and no other section below 20
- IELTS - minimum score of 8 out of 9 for each band
- The MScOT program is an intense program, offered on a full-time basis only therefore applicants must demonstrate their ability to keep up with a full-time workload
- In evaluating applications, the admissions committee considers both the applicants’ overall academic background and responses to two questions in the 'Personal Submission' section of the application
- Applicants with a sub-GPA of 3.7 (as calculated by ORPAS) or higher are considered competitive applicants
It is expected that applicants have researched the profession of occupational therapy in order to make an informed career choice. Exposure to the profession of occupational therapy through paid or volunteer work, observational visits or job shadowing in various health care settings is strongly recommended.
- International Applicants:
- Are not eligible to apply if their country offers a program in occupational therapy or if they have been trained as an occupational therapist
- Permanent Residents of Canada
- Are required to provide proof of Permanent Resident status in their application
- Applicants with Graduate Degrees:
- Grades from graduate course work will not be calculated into applicants’ sub-GPA
- Graduate course work is reviewed as part of the applicants’ academic history but focus is placed on undergraduate course work
- Indigenous Applicants:
- Two spots are reserved for Indigenous students who are Canadian citizens and have completed a four year undergraduate degree
- Consideration will be given to Indigenous applicants with a sub-GPA (as calculated by ORPAS) of 3.4 or higher
- Exchange Programs:
- ORPAS does not use marks from International Exchange courses (outside of North America) in the calculation of sub-GPA; however, Western will re-calculate your sub-GPA to include marks from these courses
- Applications will not be accepted from applicants who have been required to withdraw from a professional Rehabilitation Sciences program.
Calculation of an applicant's sub-GPA will be completed based on their final 40 units of university academic study (the equivalent of 10 full courses or 20 half courses) completed by December 31 of the application year. Such calculations will also include grades of the following courses:
- Summer
- Part-time
- Intersession
- Distance studies
- Exchange Program
- University courses that were failed
- Courses taken beyond the four-year undergraduate degree
If an applicant is currently enrolled in the fourth year of an undergraduate (baccalaureate) program, this calculation will start with 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 10 full courses, the average of that term (e.g., an applicant's second year) will be used.
Western does not include marks from the following types of courses in the calculation of applicants’ sub-GPA:
- Graduate degree
- Skill/activity (e.g., sports performance, music performance, arts performance)
- Bachelor of Education
- Certificate or diploma program
- Non-convertible grades (e.g., pass/fail)
- Practicum/Internship courses
There are no prerequisite course requirements for admission into the MScOT program. However, it is suggested that applicants have taken some undergraduate science courses (i.e., anatomy, biology, human physiology).
In addition to the academic criteria required for applicants to be accepted to the program, once admitted to the program, students must also meet/maintain various medical/non-medical requirements in order to participate in fieldwork placements.
