Philosophy Program Specific Application Checklists:
M.A. / Ph.D.

  

General Admissions Information -
How to apply to all graduate programs at Western:

How to Apply

Submitting Your Application

In order to apply to graduate studies at Western, it is important that you understand the essential elements of the Western graduate school application. No application will be considered until it is complete. The responsibility rests with the applicant to ensure that all documents (e.g., transcripts, letters of recommendation, test results such as TOEFL scores, GRE scores) are submitted by the program’s deadline for application.

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Application Due Dates

	Fall Term	Winter Term	Summer Term
Master's (Domestic)	January 7	N/A	N/A
Master's (International)	January 7	N/A	N/A
Doctoral (Domestic)	January 7	November 30	N/A
Doctoral (International)	January 7	November 30	N/A

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The Application 

The application process begins with the receipt of the application along with all application requirements. In order to be considered for admission to our graduate program, the following information must be submitted and on file for consideration in the department by the stated application deadline. These documents become part of Western's files and will not be returned to or copied for the applicant. All application requirements, aside from the application, must be submitted directly to our program. Transcripts and test scores must be official.

To apply for admission, a completed application must be submitted, providing Western with the following:

• Biographical information
• Contact information
• Statement of academic intent (if applicable)
• Academic background
• Electronic transcripts from Ontario universities/colleges
• Professional background (if applicable)
• References
• Proficiency in English Scores, if applicable (You must have the testing service send your score electronically to Western.)
  • The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Western's TOEFL ID is 0984.
  • The International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) of the British Council.
  • The Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) of the University of Michigan.
  • The Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL Assessment).
• Test Scores (GRE) (if applicable). Western's GRE ID is 0984.
• Application fee

Additional Content

In addition to the application, please provide Western with the following:

• official transcripts for any postsecondary institutions previously attended or currently attending outside the province of Ontario -- to be considered official, transcripts must be in sealed envelopes as issued by the institution
• a writing sample (e.g., a recent essay or thesis chapter, approx. 15-20 pages, double-spaced) -- MA applicants are invited, but not required to submit a writing sample; PhD applicants are required to provide one

How to submit Additional Content:

With the exception of transcripts, it is strongly preferred that additional documents be e-mailed to the Graduate Affairs Assistant (gradphil@uwo.ca) in either .pdf or .doc format.

Out of province transcripts should be mailed to:
Graduate Affairs Assistant, Department of Philosophy, The University of Western Ontario, Stevenson Hall 3146, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 3K7

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Transcripts

To support your application, you must forward one official academic transcript* from each post-secondary institution attended. These documents should be mailed directly to the programs at Western to which you are applying.

• Past or current students of The University of Western do not need to provide transcripts for their academic history at Western. This information will be obtained internally.
• If you have attended or are currently enrolled at any Ontario university or college other than The University of Western Ontario you may use the electronic application process in order to request transcripts. These transcripts will be delivered electronically to each of the programs to which you are applying.
• All other transcripts must be forwarded in hard copy to the graduate program(s) you are applying to at Western to complete your application.

*Western considers a transcript official only if it is received in a university envelope that is sealed and signed on the flap by the official person in the office issuing the transcript. If the transcript and degree certificate are not in English, a certified translation must also be included. (Non-English transcripts from institutions within Canada do not require a translation.)

All documents and transcripts submitted to The University of Western Ontario become the property of the University and will not be returned.

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Electronic References

Upon receiving an application from OUAC, our electronic Reference System will obtain referee information and send reference form information directly to your referees. Submission of the reference will, in turn, be collected electronically and distributed alongside the application once it arrives at Western. No paper reference letters are required.

Access to the reference system can be found online. You will require your Login ID and Access Key as provided to you in an email titled "Your Application to Graduate Studies; Important Information," which should arrive 2-3 days after you’ve submitted your application. Accessing the Reference System will allow you to makes changes and updates with regards to your referees.

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Readmission/Reactivation

Students who have voluntarily withdrawn or who have been withdrawn and wish to complete their program must formally re-apply for admission via our application. Credit for previous work completed must be approved by the program and SGPS.

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Admission Decision

Applicants who have been offered admission to the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies can accept or decline their offers of admissions online through the Western Student Center.

1. Login into the Student Center with the information provided with your Western Personal Computer Account and locate the Admissions grid
2. Select "Accept or Decline" to begin the decision process