Application Requirements
PhD Program
Application Deadline for September 2013 Admission: January 31st, 2013 for early acceptance. Later applications will be considered if spaces remain.
Program regulationsIntake into the program will be once per annum, in September. Admissions will be recommended by the Committee on Graduate Studies. Students must have completed a Master's degree in Women's Studies, Feminist Studies or Gender Studies with a strong feminist theory component, and an average grade of A- (80%) or higher. Students may be admitted with a Master's degree from another field provided that they have an undergraduate Honors degree in Women's Studies and have a background in feminist theory. Although applications will be considered until the program is full, students must apply by January 31st for early acceptance.
To Apply:
- Applications are to be submitted electronically through the Ontario University Application Centre. Follow the link below to apply:
- Applicants who have transcripts from Ontario universities can arrange to have transcripts provided through the application process. Students from universities outside of Ontario must arrange to have an official set of transcripts (or certified copies) from all universities/colleges previously attended sent to us. Transcripts issued in another language than English must be accompanied by certified English translations. To be considered official, all academic records must be received in envelopes which have been sealed and endorsed by the issuing institution.
- Applicants must provide names and contact information for two academic referees. OUAC will contact the referees directly with forms and directions for submitting references electronically. A copy of the reference letter can be viewed by clicking here. Please note if you cannot submit the reference letter electronically, you can mail a hard copy or e-mail a pdf of the letter to Prof. Katherine McKenna at the address below.
- If English is not the applicant's first language, official TOEFL, IELTS or MELAB scores taken within the past two years are required.
- TOEFL minimum: 630 (paper), 267 (electronic) or 109 (internet)
- IELTS minimum: 8.0
- MELAB minimum: 91 overall, with a minimum of 85 on each of the 3 parts, plus the oral/speaking component
- All PhD applicants are required to submit a statement of 500-750 words (2-3 pages) detailing their area for a potential dissertation topic. This is a critical document that will facilitate finding a match with a faculty mentor. Acceptance into the program is based on the department's capacity to supervise a student's topic.
For list of available faculty supervisors click here. Applicants must indicate one or more areas of specialization in which their interests lie: 1. Feminist Theory; 2. Health, Sexuality and Embodiment; 3. Representation and Cultural Production; 4. Equity and Social Structures. This statement should be sent directly to the Graduate Chair. PhD applicants are not required to fill out the Statement of Academic Intent section of the on-line application.
- In addition to the research statement, Ph.D applicants must provide a sample of their scholarly writing. Please send what you consider to be your best work.
- Applications are not forwarded to Women's Studies until the form is completed and submitted by the applicant and the application fee of CAN $90.00 has been paid.
- All files will be considered by the Graduate Committee and early offers will be made starting in February, 2012. If you do not hear from us, it means your file is still under consideration. Please contact us if you have any questions about the application process.
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Please note that the deadline for submission of program applications for the Department of Women's Studies and Feminist Research through OUAC is January 31 and the OGS deadline is February 1. This means that you should plan to complete and submit your program application well in advance of the deadline so as to give yourself plenty of time to submit the OGS application by its deadline. For more information please check our student finances page.
Transcripts from non-Ontario universities and statement of interest for the Independent Research Project must be sent to:
Prof. Katherine McKenna
Graduate Chair
Department of Women's Studies and Feminist Research
Western University
Lawson Hall 3246
London ON N6A 5B8
Phone: (519) 661-2111 ext. 84751
Fax: (519) 661-3491
e-mail: kmckenna@uwo.ca