How to Apply

Graduate Program in Hispanic Studies:

Application Process

No application will be considered until it is complete. The responsibility rests with the applicant to ensure that all documents (i.e. transcripts, letters of reference, test results) are submitted by the program's deadline for application. The applications portal is open every around the 15th of October and it closes on the 31st of January of the following year.

Completed applications will be evaluated by the program's Graduate Committee, which makes the admission decisions. The School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies sends out offers of admission and handles all administrative aspects of registration.

For admission to the Master's program, applicants must possess a four-year degree from an accredited university. The program requires a minimum of a 78% overall average in the last two full-time years of the undergraduate degree. Equivalent qualifications may be considered based on the standards of the discipline or profession.

For admission to the Doctoral program, applicants must possess a Master's degree or equivalent from an accredited university and provide evidence of research potential. The program requires a minimum of an 80% average in the Master's degree. Equivalent qualifications may be considered based on the standards of the discipline.

Although applications are processed centrally, applicants are encouraged to contact individual faculty members to discuss their research interests. However, please note that individual faculty members do not directly admit students and that the Graduate Committee may request a virtual interview (via Zoom, Skype, or equivalent platform) before making a decision.

If you are interested in visiting the department after submitting your application, please contact the Graduate Chair, Constanza Burucua and the Graduate Assistant, Sylvia Kontra to make arrangements.

Online Application

To apply for admission, a completed application must be submitted, providing Western with the following:or emailed transcripts as official.

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

Online Application

1. Personal Information

We ask for basic information concerning your identity and contact information.

2. Academic History

We ask that you supply Western with a listing of all post‐secondary schools you have attended.

3. References

Two academic references are required (must be a former professor or academic instructor who can speak to your academic experience and background). We will email your referees within 24 hours of entering or updating your reference information. Each reference will be collected by Western and distributed alongside your application once it arrives. No paper reference letters are required.

4. Supplemental Questions

Our supplementary questions help us to determine if our graduate program and available resources are appropriate for your area of interest. The responses you provide are made available to the graduate committee during the assessment process. Please make sure to complete all supplemental questions.

5. Application Fee Payment

The application fee to the Hispanic Studies Program is $150

Western accepts two methods of payment in order to process your application:
- Credit Card (Visa/MasterCard)
- Money Order in Canadian Fund
- GlobalPay for Students
  For more details on payment options please visit the following link: https://www.registrar.uwo.ca/student_finances/fees_refunds/fee_payment_methods/index.html

6. Supplemental Documents

Western accepts your submission of supporting documents in a digital format. This includes:
1. A transcript from each post-secondary school you note in your Academic History,
2. English proficiency test results (if available, please note this is an exit requirement),
3. A sample of previous academic work (written work ie: previous essay),
4. Current CV,
5. Hispanic Studies Supplemental Application Form: this is a pdf form (with 8 questions) that needs to be submitted with your application. Applications without this form may not be reviewed.

Please note that this PDF is fillable and your web browser may not be able to display it. To use this form:

Right-click on the link.
In the menu that appears, click on "Save link as..." and save the file to your computer.
Open up Adobe Reader (or similar PDF reader).
Within Adobe Reader, click on the "File" menu on the top and choose "Open".
Locate the file you just saved, click on it to choose it, and then click on the "Open" button.

7. Proficiency in English Scores

English Language Proficiency is an exit requirement for the Hispanic Studies Program. However, to guarantee the successful completion of this requirement we encourage our applicants to have reached a minimum level of low/intermediate proficiency before coming to Western (50% of the exit requirement level). Ideally, students will be able to provide some form of documentation or evidence of their proficiency in the use of the English language.

Whereas to be accepted in the program we recommend that you can demonstrate a minimum of a low/intermediate level of English proficiency, please note that the following English-language proficiency tests and results are the minimum acceptable exit requirements for this program.

Applicants whose first language is not English and who have not obtained a degree at an English-language institution must furnish evidence of their proficiency in the use of the English language in order to graduate from the program.

The following English-language proficiency tests are currently accepted:

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Western's TOEFL ID is 0984. The minimum acceptable score is 86, with no individual score below 20 for the Internet-based version; 213 for the standard electronic version; or 550 for the paper and pencil version.
The International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) of the British Council. The minimum acceptable score is 6.5 out of 9.
The Duolingo English Test. Applicants must attain a minimum score of 115.
The Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL Assessment). The minimum acceptable score is 60.
CultureWorks Program at Western. The requirement is successful completion of the High-Advanced level.
Fanshawe College EAP Program. The requirement is graduation from Level 10 with a minimum 80% in all components.

8. Transcripts

Western accepts digital copies of original transcripts at the time of application. However, if the original transcripts are not in English an official translation will be required for the application to be evaluated. While Western accepts digital transcripts within your application, if you are offered admission you are required to provide one official academic transcript* from each post-secondary institution you have attended. These documents should be mailed directly to The School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. The address is as follows:

School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
IGAB 1N07
Western University
London, Ontario
Canada
N6A 3K7

*Western considers a transcript official only if it is received in an original 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.). We now accept transcripts as official if they are delivered through a secure download service by the issuing institution. We do not accept faxed or emailed transcripts as official.