Admission & Application

• 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 in the final year of their bachelor's degree must provide proof of degree completion (ie. degree conferral) by June 30
• 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
• Maximum 5000-character response to Statement of Intent questions
• Completion of a CASPer test, resulting in a competitive Z score
• Submission of all postsecondary transcripts, including a competitive sub-GPA

CASPer Test

All applicants to the School of Occupational Therapy's Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MScOT) program are required to complete the CASPer Test (Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics) to assist with the selection process. Successful submission of CASPer is mandatory in order to maintain admission eligibility.

CASPer is an online test which assesses for non-cognitive skills and interpersonal characteristics that are deemed by the School of Occupational Therapy to be important for successful students and graduates of the MScOT program, and will complement the other tools that are used for applicant screening. In implementing CASPer, the School of Occupational Therapy is attempting to further enhance fairness and objectivity in the selection process.

In order to take CASPer, applicants are be responsible for securing access to a computer with audio capabilities, a webcam, and a reliable internet connection on the selected test date. CASPer can be taken practically anywhere that can satisfy the aforementioned requirements. No exceptions will be provided for applicants unable to take CASPer online due to being located at sites where internet is not dependable due to technical or political factors.

Applicants should visit www.takeCASPer.com to sign up and reserve a test using their personalized OUAC/ORPAS reference number (provided after application submission) and a piece of government-issued photo ID. Applicants will be provided with a limited number of testing dates and times. Please note that these are the only testing dates available for the CASPer test. There will be no additional tests scheduled. Applicants should use an email address that is checked regularly as there may be updates to the test schedule.

Please direct any inquiries on the test to support@takecasper.com. Alternatively, applicants may use the chat bubble in the bottom right hand corner of the screen on the www.takeCASPer.com website.

The CASPer test is comprised of 12 sections of video and written scenarios. Following each scenario, applicants will be required to answer a set of probing questions under a time contract. The test typically takes 75 to 90 minutes to complete. Each response is graded by a different rater, giving a very robust and reliable view of personal and professional characteristics important to the MScOT program. No studying is required for CASPer, although applicants may want to familiarize themselves with the test structure at www.takeCASPer.com, and ensure they have a quiet environment to take the test.

CASPer test results are valid for one admissions cycle. Applicants who have already taken the test in previous years will therefore be expected to re-take it.

International Applicants

• International applicants are eligible to apply
• Internationally trained occupational therapists are not eligible to apply

Permanent Residents of Canada

• Permanent residents of Canada are required to provide proof of Permanent Resident status in their application

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 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 an applicant's sub-GPA to include marks from these courses

Relevant Experience

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.

NOTE: 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 60 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
• Graduate
• Distance studies
• Exchange Program
• Courses taken beyond the four-year undergraduate degree
• Failed university courses

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 duration/year to achieve the equivalent of 10 full courses, the average of that duration/year (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:

• Skill/activity (e.g., sports performance, music performance, arts performance)
• Bachelor of Education
• College certificate or diploma program
• Certificate or diploma program (except for graduate diplomas)
• 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.

Fees and tuition for the MScOT program are established by the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.