Prospective Students
MASTER'S PROGRAM Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission to the M.A. program, applicants must possess:
- A four-year degree from an accredited university with a minimum B+ (78%) average across courses taken in the last two full-time years of study
- B.A. in a field in the Humanities or Social Sciences (however, students holding other Honors degrees will also be considered)
- Some demonstration of theoretical and/or interdisciplinary study at the undergraduate level is helpful, though the Committee may also consider candidates with a more general interest in and aptitude for theoretical enquiry (as indicated through grades, essays and letters of reference).
DOCTORAL PROGRAM Admission Requirements
For admission to the Doctoral program, applicants must possess:
- A Master's degree or equivalent in a Humanities or Social Science subject with a minimum A- (83%) average
- Evidence of research potential and previous theoretical work, indicated by the applicant's course record and in writing samples, are submitted as part of the application.
HOW TO APPLY
Applications to the program are accepted once per year, for Fall admission.
*Applications for Fall 2013 admission become available October 4, 2012*
The deadline to apply is January 15. In the weeks following, applications are reviewed and candidates are recommended by the programs' Graduate Studies Committee. Late applications will be considered if spaces remain.
Applications are to be submitted electronically through the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies:
Online application requirements include:
- Transcript from each Ontario post-secondary institution attended
- Contact information for two academic referees
- Application fee:
- Credit card (VISA or MasterCard)
- Internet payment
- Cheque or money order (sent to OUAC)
Program-specific, hard copy application requirements include:
- Statement of intent/interest in the program
- Transcript from each post-secondary institution attended outside of Ontario (if the transcript is not in English, a certified translation must also be included)
- Two essays or other appropriate writing samples (20 page max. each)
Any hard copy documentation must be mailed directly to the program, and postmarked by the January 15 deadline:
The statement of intent/interest in the program (no more than 2 pp.) should indicate the range of the applicant's interests and preparation in theory, outline the kind of work they are interested in doing at the Centre, and may (but does not have to) indicate a possible area of interest for the thesis. Documentation should be sent to this address:
Centre for the Study of Theory and Criticism
University of Western Ontario
Somerville House, Rm. 2345A
London, Ontario N6A 3K7
Canada
*Proof of proficiency in English - Applicants whose first language is not English must provide proof of their proficiency in English with either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or other test score for English proficiency. TOEFL waivers may be granted if the applicant studied in an English-speaking country for at least two years (as determined by the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies). Minimum acceptable test scores can be found here. Applicants must have testing service send score electronically to Western.
Students will be notified of their admission results in late March.
