Search Website
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Important Dates
| October 1 | Application system opens |
| December 1 | Application deadline for early admission for international applicants |
| January 20 | Final deadline for international applicants |
| February 1 | Application deadline for early admission for domestic and permanent resident applicants |
| May 1 | Final deadline for domestic and permanent resident applicants |
| September | Program begins |
Admission Requirements
All applicants must have, or be completing, the following admission requirements:
Degree
- A four-year bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized university or college.
- Three-year bachelor's degrees will also be considered
Minimum Average
- A minimum entrance average of 78%, calculated using the last 10 full credit or 20 half-credit course grades on your transcript (typically the final two years of study)
- Applicants with averages below 78% (but with at least a 70% average) may be considered if strong evidence of relevant work experience is presented.
Note: See "How is my average calculated?" in the FAQ for general guidance on using alternative scales.
When applying to the MES program, your online application must include:
Academic Documents
- Unofficial transcripts from all post-secondary insitutions attended (official final transcripts may be submitted later, if required)
- Diploma documentation for post-secondary programs completed outside of Canada
Reference and Statement
- Reference forms from two academic references*
- Statement of Academic Intent*
Additional Requirements
- Employment and/or volunteer list (maximum 6 entries)
- English Language Proficiency (ELP) Test Score, if required**
- Application fee payment ($170 CAD)
*See the Letters of Reference and Statement of Academic Intent sections for more details
** Mandatory for applicants whose first language is not English (see FAQ for exemptions)
As part of your application, you will need to provide contact information for two academic references. One reference from an employer is acceptable if employment experience is directly relevant to MES degress studies.
Once submitted, each referee will receive an email from Western with a link to complete an online reference form, which they will submit directly to the university.
Who Can be a Reference:
- Preferred: Professors or instructors you’ve had in class during the last two years of your degree
- Not Recommended: Postdoctoral fellows, teaching assistants, lab assistants/technicians or PhD students
- If you’ve been out of school for 3+ years: Employer or supervisor references are acceptable
Important Notes:
- General or outdated reference letters will not be accepted
- Digital reference forms are preferred, following the method stated above
- If submitting by mail, the letter must be:
- Sealed in an envelope
- Stamped or signed across the seal by the institution
The Statement of Academic Intent is your chance to share why you’re interested in the program and why you are a strong candidate.
What to Include:
- How the MES program aligns with your future career goals
- How it connects to previous academic studies
- How your work experience may contribute to your success in the program
- How the program could help you explore or expand personal interests
How it's Evaluated:
- Content – how well you explain your motivation and fit for the program
- Writing quality – including organization, clarity, grammar, punctuation and how effectively you express your ideas
Required Format:
- Document Name and Title (in page header): YOUR FULL NAME_STATEMENT_MES
- Style: Original prose format, written specifically for the purpose of applying to the MES program
- Length: 500 - 750 words (not including page header). Statements not within the word count will not be reviewed.
- Text: 12-point font, double-spaced on numbered pages (e.g., page 1 of 2)
- File format: Revisable-Form Text (.rft), Word Document (.doc) or PDF (.pdf) are preferred, scanned copies of other types of files are accepted
Applicants must provide an employment list containing a maximum of six employment and/or volunteer positions. Please select your most recent and relevant positions.
Required Format:
- File format: Revisable-Form Text (.rft), Word Document (.doc) or PDF (.pdf)
- Document Name and Title (in page header): Full Name_Employment List_MES
- Employer Details (for each employer):
- Employer Name (Company or Volunteer Organization):
- Start and End Dates: mm/yyyy to mm/yyyy
- Position Title
- Official Language of Business
- Full Address of Employer
Important Notes:
- Entries exceeding six positions will not be reviewed
- Resumes and CVs will not be reviewed
Information Sessions
Want to learn more about the program? Attend a live, online information session. In just one hour, you'll learn about the program, the application process and important deadlines, and have the opportunity to ask questions.
English Language Proficiency
Strong English proficiency is essential for success in the MES program. You'll use communication skills daily through class participation, written work, group projects and presentations. Group work and in-class participation also require advanced listening skills and a high level of language comprehension.
All applicants whose first language is not English must provide formal documentation demonstrating that they meet or exceed the MES program's English Language Proficiency requirements.
Specific documentation, test options and performance requirements are as follows:
- Completed undergraduate degree in a country where English is not the official language and/or where English is not the language of instruction: Must submit test results from within the last two years
- Studied two or more years at a university in a country where English is the language of instruction and English is one of the official languages: Must submit test results from within the last five years (the ELP results can be what you submitted for your undergraduate application)
- Completed two or more years of high school plus a four-year undergraduate degree in Canada or the USA: Exempt from ELP requirement - not required to submit ELP test results
Requirements:
- Academic test
- Minimum overall score of 120
- No individual score less than 100
Western University and the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies receive scores from Duolingo directly. When completing the Duolingo English Test, please select “Western University-Graduate Studies” from the Institution list to ensure your results are available.
Requirements:
- Academic test
- Overall score: ≥7 out of 9
- No individual score less than 6.5
Requirements:
- Overall score: ≥ 94
- Reading: ≥ 22
- Listening: ≥ 22
- Speaking: ≥ 26
- Writing: ≥ 24
Submit electronically using Western ID: 0984
Requirements:
- Overall score: ≥ 68
- Reading: ≥ 22
- Listening: ≥ 24
- Writing: ≥ 22
*Test taken July 2017 or later
Graduation from Level 10, English for Academic Purposes, with a minimum 80% in all components. Official proof of graduation required.
Successful completion of the program before application.
Ready to Apply?
Apply today for your best chance at admission.
What it Costs
Expenses usually include tuition, fees, housing, food and other necessities.
Learn more about MES tuition and fees, as well as the fee schedule.
Financial Support
Some financial support is available to students in the MES program. The funding model limits university-based funding to bursary assistance and Western’s Work Study program. MES students may also apply for Graduate Teaching Assistant and Graduate Student Assistant roles through the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
The MES program is an OSAP eligible program.
Plan Ahead
Managing your finances, time and overall wellness is critical to your academic success.
Use the Graduate Student Affordability Calculator to estimate how much money you will need to pay for your tuition, fees, housing, food and other necessities for a 12-month (three-term) academic year.
Frequently Asked Questions
The average is based on your most recent 10 full courses (or 20 half-course credits) from the last two full years of study. If you have more than one degree, your most recent 10 full credits from your latest degree will be used.
If you are still finishing your degree, you can apply with an incomplete transcript, that shows all your courses and grades except for your final term and your final term courses are listed. The transcript must include some final-year grades from your first semester. The same calculation will be made using the grades that are presented on the transcript at the time of application.
Note:
- If you are admitted with an incomplete transcript, your offer will be conditional. You will need to submit your final official transcript later and it must meet admission requirements.
- Always refer to the grading key on your transcript record when estimating your entrance average. A formal calculation of your entrance average is performed following submission of your application to the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Western’s calculation is final.
- WES International Credential Evaluations are not accepted in lieu of transcripts for application purposes but WES reports may be used as a general guide for estimating academic eligibility. Note again, the cumulative average calculation is not used and Western’s calculation of your entrance average is final.
Applicants with averages below the required 78% (but with at least a 70% average) will be considered if strong evidence of relevant work experience is presented. Applications with an average below 70% will not be considered for the MES program.
Applicants are automatically exempted from our English language proficiency requirement if their first language is English or they have completed at least two full-time years of post-secondary education in a degree program in an English-speaking institution located in a country whose primary language is English.
The list of eligible countries is as follows: Australia, Barbados, Botswana, Canada, Ghana, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Malta, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States of America, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
If you meet the above criteria, you will be exempt from our English language proficiency requirement and can leave that section of the application blank. Otherwise, you will be required to provide proof of English language proficiency.
As students in the MES program undertake a co-op, they are not eligible for entrance scholarships. However, students may be eligible to apply for bursary assistance.
Generally, applicants can expect a response within one month of the application deadline.
Yes, applicants may submit their applications before reference letters have been received. However, no application will be considered until it is complete. Applications will only be considered complete once all required documentation, including reference letters, have been submitted by the deadline. Once you have submitted your application you cannot make changes to it.
Western’s Digital Graduate Reference Process will email your referees within 2 hours of entering or updating your reference information within the application (even if the application is in progress and not yet submitted). You will be notified once each of your referees replies to our request.