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Updated August 9, 2023

These admission policies and procedures apply to both domestic (Canadian citizens and permanent residents) and international applicants.

• Entry Points into the First Year, JD Program
• Application Procedure for the JD Program

Black Student Application Process (BSAP)

International students, law school admission test (lsat).

• Personal Statement, Optional Essay, and Black Student Application Process (BSAP) Essay   

Ontario Law School Application Service (OLSAS)

• Deadline for Filing Applications
• Application Fee & Fee Waivers
• First Year Applicants: Late Applications

Entrance Scholarships and Bursaries

Deferral of admission, previous applications (re-applying), entry points into the jd program, for degree study.

• JD First Year - entry occurs once a year in August
• JD Upper Year - entry occurs once a year in September

For non-degree study

• Entry occurs in September. Visiting exchange or letter of permission students may be allowed to enter in January, but must apply by their standard deadlines.  

Application Procedure for the First Year, JD Program

This procedure applies to both domestic and international applicants . The Admissions Committee evaluates applicants on a continuous basis as each applicant's file is completed.

Required Documents

The following documents are required of general, mature and Indigenous applicants, and constitute a complete file. All of these items m ust be submitted directly to OLSAS only , do not submit to the law school.  

• Ontario Law School Application Service (OLSAS) application, including the autobiographical sketch and verifiers
• Official and original copies of all post-secondary academic transcripts 
• Law School Admission Test: LSAT report consisting of score(s) and LSAT Writing
• A personal statement (required for all), an additional essay (optional for all), and a BSAP essay (required for BSAP candidates)
• Mature applicants only: a resume in addition to materials in 1-4.

International Transcripts & Exchange/Study Abroad Transcripts

• International Transcripts Applicants who completed at least one academic year of courses at post-secondary institutions outside of Canada or the USA are required to provide a third-party course-by-course assessment of their transcripts from World Education Services  (WES Canada) for their applications.  Apply to WES Canada for transcript assessment, and instruct WES Canada to submit the results to OLSAS directly.  
• Student Exchange/Study Abroad: Host Institution Transcripts For applicants who have completed studies on a student exchange or study abroad experience that are tied to their academic programs, an official transcript of the courses taken directly from the host institution, must be submitted for the law school application, regardless of its treatment by the home institution. If course credit awarded for the exchange/study abroad courses (regardless of the exchange/study abroad grades obtained) appears on the home institution's transcript, and the home institution is in Canada or the USA, then a WES evaluation of the host transcript is not required. Otherwise, an official transcript is to be submitted from the host institution to WES Canada for a course-by-course evaluation.  It is customary for the home institution, on its own transcript to include the course credit granted, but exclude the grades obtained for host courses, thus the host grade performance will be assessed on its own merit using the host institution's grading scale on its official transcript.

English Language Proficiency Tests (TOEFL, IELTS etc.)

References & interviews.

Letters of recommendation are not required and, if submitted, will not form part of the applicant's file. Interviews are not used for selection.

• If the desired partner degree program has already been attained, then only the JD remains to be attained in its entirety. Therefore please review the admission requirements and application procedures for the JD only.
• If a JD or equivalent common law degree (e.g. LLB) has already been attained, the only the partner program remains to be attained in its entirety. Therefore apply to the partner program directly by its application procedures, deadlines and admission requirements.
• If both the JD and the partner program are to be attained then apply to each program independently of the other, by each program's application process and timelines. 
• If you intend to, or are contemplating whether to, study a JD combined program, then on the OLSAS application form, you must pick the JD-only selection and also the desired JD combined program selection.  Please ensure that the selections are made  before  the OLSAS application deadline , after which your ability to add a new program selection on the OLSAS application form is disabled.  The additional selection of the combined program at OLSAS enables the law school to check with applicants, later in the cycle, on the outcome of their application to the partner program. It does not influence the admission to the JD. An independent application to the partner program is still required, regardless of the combination selected at OLSAS.
• The law school will assess admission to the JD only, independently of the outcome of the application for admission of the partner program. If one is admitted independently to both the JD and the partner, then one may enrol in both programs as a combination. It is the enrolment after admission that is combined, and not the admission consideration.

See the  Combined Programs  web page for contact information for applying to the partner program.

Timing of Admission Decisions

The admissions cycle runs from November to late June. The Admissions Committee attempts to make decisions on applications as early as possible. Applications are reviewed after application deadlines, and decisions made on completed files. Notification of decisions will be made by email.  

• First Year Applicants We expect to make three main rounds of offers of admission: one round in early December, another round in mid-February, and a final round in mid-March. A few applicants with complete files may not receive notification of a decision until late spring or early summer. Applicants whose files are incomplete will be notified by the JD Admissions Office.   When all places in the class have been filled, a wait list is established to fill vacancies as they occur. Based on past experience, the Admissions Committee is able to fill the class by April 1.
• Upper Year Applicants (Transfers, Visiting/Letter of Permission, NCA) Offers are made on a rolling basis, as applications become complete and are reviewed. There is no wait list for upper year applicants.

More information on the assessment of academic records can be found in the Admissions Policies section.

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Regardless of admission category (general, mature, indigenous), Black candidates can opt to apply to this stream, which aims to increase Black law student representation at UofT Law.

BSAP applicants will have their personal statements reviewed by members of the Black community, including our staff, students, faculty and alumni.

You must meet the same LSAT and academic requirements for admission that we seek from all candidates. BSAP does not have a designated quota for admission.

To be considered for BSAP, apply to a UofT JD first-year or transfer program by our standard deadlines and procedures, and  also:

• Select the BSAP option in the School Submissions section  of the OLSAS application form
• Submit a BSAP Essay  highlighting why you chose the BSAP stream.

The official immigration status in Canada and not the place of residence determines if one is international or domestic.

International students are those who are neither citizens nor Permanent Residents of Canada , and will require a Study Permit from the Canadian government in order to study the JD. An offer of admission to the law school is required  before you can apply to the Canadian government for the Study Permit.

We welcome applications from international students. The admission requirements, criteria and consideration is the same for all applicants regardless of immigration status. The post-secondary academic institution(s) attended should be recognized and accredited, and an equivalent to the Canadian quantity of education should be attained. There are no quotas for any category or type of applicant.

Canadian government student loan programs and our JD Financial Aid Program are open to domestic students only.

The LSAT is a half-day standardized test designed specifically for admission to Canadian and US law schools. It is administered entirely by the LSAC, a nonprofit organization located in the USA. The LSAC creates, conducts and scores the LSAT. 

The LSAT is held online worldwide, and in some countries, in-person at a test centre. We do not have a preference and treat all scores the same. For UofT Law the LSAT is required of  all  JD degree applicants (first-year and transfer) without exception.

• The 'regular' LSAT is the only standardized aptitude test accepted , the GMAT and GRE are not accepted .

The Credential Assembly Service (CAS) provided by LSAC is  not to be used  for applying to UofT Law.

Which version of LSAT is accepted: 'regular' LSAT, LSAT Flex or the Specially-Designed LSAT?

Appropriate The appropriate tests for admission to JD program at UofT Law are the 'regular' LSAT test (online, paper, in-person) and the LSAT Flex (online) test, wherever in the world they are administered officially by the LSAC. Inappropriate The specially-designed test for entry into law schools located in India ( LSAT-India ), and the specially-designed Spanish-language test ( Spanish LSAT ) for law schools located in Puerto Rico. Note that the 'regular' appropriate LSAT (online) is also available in India and Puerto Rico.  

Test Frequency

• Effective from June 2021, i n Canada and the US the 'regular' LSAT is offered eight times annually , normally in June, August/September, October, November, January, February, March and April.
• A fewer number of test dates are held for candidates located elsewhere in the world. See  future test dates at the LSAC website.

When to take the LSAT? Acceptable Test Dates

Each LSAT score and each LSAT Writing is valid for five years only. Therefore prepare to take the test within the 5 years prior to your intended start year in the JD program, in accordance with the following acceptable test dates.

For entry into the law school in 2024

• First Year entry We will consider all LSAT scores from tests taken from June 2019 to January 2024 inclusively. Only those tests are acceptable, and applicants are strongly encouraged to take the test on one of the earlier dates during that period.  
• Upper Year entry (transfers, letter of permission) We will consider all LSAT scores from tests taken from June 2019 to April 2024 inclusively. Only those tests are acceptable, and applicants are strongly encouraged to take the test on one of the earlier dates during that period.

For entry into the law school in 2025

• First Year entry We will consider all LSAT scores from tests taken from June 2019 to January 2025 inclusively. Only those tests are acceptable, and applicants are strongly encouraged to take the test on one of the earlier dates during that period.   
• Upper Year entry (transfers, letter of permission) We will consider all LSAT scores from tests taken from June 2019 to April 2025 inclusively. Only those tests are acceptable, and applicants are strongly encouraged to take the test on one of the earlier dates during that period.

First Year Applicants: LSAT test after OLSAS Nov 1 Application Deadline

If you plan on taking the LSAT after the OLSAS application deadline, please still submit your application to OLSAS by its Nov 1 deadline . Do not wait to register for the test or for the test results, in order to apply to OLSAS, if it means that you will miss the deadline,

The OLSAS application form will ask you to specify which future tests you intend to take, even if they occur after the JD application deadline. You can return to your OLSAS application at any time to revise your future test dates.

Test Portions, Format and Score Release Timing: Multiple Choice sections & LSAT Writing

 The LSAT comprises of two portions, both of which MUST be completed in order for the test score to be available to law schools:

• a scored Multiple Choice portion with sections of multiple choice questions that test logic, reasoning and reading comprehension. Effective from August 2021, there are four sections for the standard LSAT online test (whereas, LSAT Flex comprised of three sections).  No legal knowledge or expertise in any subject is required, it is a test of thinking.
• an unscored LSAT Writing portion comprising of an essay that tests the ability to construct a persuasive argument.

It is necessary to pay close attention to where, when and how each portion is administered, and most importantly by when you should have the score be available for release to law schools. Please read the LSAC's  LSAT FAQ  and  LSAT Writing FAQ .

LSAT Scores: Submission, Repeats, Cancellations & Competitive levels

To submit your scores, on the online OLSAS application, provide your LSAC account number (obtained when registering for the LSAT). For scores that become available during the admission cycle, OLSAS will retrieve your LSAT score report automatically and provide it to the law school. Do NOT arrange with the LSAC to submit your scores. The LSAT score report displays all test attempts and outcomes within the five years prior to the date of the report. All scores listed on the report will be seen and considered by the Admissions Committee. Generally, we place emphasis on the highest LSAT score reported.

A test listed as cancelled on the report will indicate only that it was cancelled and not why it was cancelled. Therefore, a cancelled test provides no score information for use in our admissions. 

The most recent competitive scores for admission can be found in the  Admissions Policies  section.

  Prepare & Register for the LSAT

Refer to the LSAC directly for full information on the test format, cost, fee waivers, sample preparation tests, test dates, test registration and accommodations for the test for candidates with disabilities.

Law School Admission Council (LSAC)  662 Penn Street Newtown, PA 18940-0998 USA 

Tel: (215) 968-1001, Fax: (215) 968-1119 e-mail: lsacinfo@lsac.org Website: lsac.org

LSAC Law Hub & the Official LSAT® Prep

The test makers have extensive resources for preparing for the LSAT, including:

• a free online personalized preparation program in collaboration with the Khan Academy
• thousands of official practice questions from actual past tests.

At the LSAC web site please access the LSAT preparation resources .

UofT Law School Access Program (LSAP) The Faculty of Law offers an in-person, free LSAT preparatory course, once a year, from May-August for persons from low-income families. Please read the specifications of the Law School Access Program (LSAP) . 

Law School Prep Program at UofT Scarborough (LSPP @ UTSC) For its undergraduate students exclusively, the U of T Scarborough campus offers an in-person, free LSAT preparatory program once each summer. For details and ALL inquiries, please review the LSPP @ UTSC .

Personal Statement, Optional Essay, and BSAP Essay

Letters of recommendation are not required, and interviews are not conducted for admission selection. For this reason, applicants are encouraged to use the Personal Statement, Optional Essay and BSAP Essay to highlight their academic, personal and professional accomplishments, and share with the Committee a more three-dimensional picture of themselves and their vision for their own legal education at the University of Toronto.

All statements and essays of applicants who are offered admission are read independently by at least three (and as many as six) members of the Admissions Committee, which includes students, senior administrative staff and faculty members.

Personal Statement - Mandatory

5,000 characters (maximum), in plain text, including punctuation and spaces. The statement is part of the OLSAS application form, and is not submitted as a separate document by upload or hardcopy. The text is entered on the application form directly. 

The Personal Statement is part of the OLSAS application form, and not submitted as a separate document. You are encouraged to use the Personal Statement to share your “story” with the Admissions Committee. Indigenous applicants are encouraged to outline in their personal statements their interest in, identification with and connection to their communities. There is no template to follow as the statement serves as the means for self-expression and self-description. Successful statements tend to be those that feature clear and authentic writing.

• See some samples of the Personal Statement and Optional Essay

  Optional Essay

2,500 characters (maximum), in plain text, including punctuation and spaces. The Optional Essay is part of the OLSAS application form, and is not submitted as a separate document by upload or hardcopy. The text is entered on the application form directly. We strongly recommend the submission of the essay since it is an additional opportunity to provide specific information about yourself to bolster your personal profile. You may choose one of the topics we suggest, such as:

• a meaningful intellectual experience
• a vision of your future goals
• how you overcame obstacles to achievement
• how your identity, background and experiences will contribute to the diversity of the law school

Black Student Application Process (BSAP) Essay

2,500 characters (maximum), in plain text, including punctuation and spaces. The BSAP essay is part of the OLSAS application form, and is not submitted as a separate document by upload or hardcopy. The text is entered on the application form directly. In addition to the mandatory Personal Statement and the Optional Essay, Black Student Application Process candidates must submit a BSAP Essay.

The BSAP essay offers a unique additional opportunity to describe your strengths and accomplishments, vision for your own legal education, and to tell your story. There is no template to follow to express and describe yourself.  Sample topics include describing why you chose the BSAP stream, writing on an issue that you feel is important to the Black community or sharing your motivations and inspirations. Whether or not you choose to use or reference any of those topics, you should relate what you write about to a legal issue and/or the study/practice of law.

The processing of applications for admission to any Ontario law school will be handled centrally and entirely by the Ontario Law School Application Service (OLSAS) , which is a division of the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC) located in Guelph, Ontario.

OUAC processes applications for undergraduate full-time studies for Ontario's universities and for a number of second degree programs. OLSAS offers numerous benefits to applicants through a simplified application process and will also reduce duplication and processing costs at the universities. From late August applicants may apply online for entry in the following year.

Ontario Law School Application Service (OLSAS) Ontario Universities' Application Centre 170 Research Lane Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 5E2

Tel: (519) 823-1063 Fax: (519) 823-5232 e-mail: olsas@ouac.on.ca Website: http://www.ouac.on.ca/olsas/

Deadline for Filing Applications

Applications for admission to the JD first year in 2024 to the Faculty of Law must be submitted to OLSAS by 11:59 pm (Toronto time) on November 1, 2023.

OLSAS applications must be submitted by the deadline   even if supporting documents are not yet available.

The information required by applicants to provide on the application form by the application deadline include the autobiographical sketch, verifiers, personal statement, the optional essay and the BSAP Essay. Externally-sourced supporting documents such as the LSAT scores and official transcripts may arrive after the deadline. Missing documentation can be submitted to OLSAS as soon as it becomes available. Applications will only be reviewed after all required documentation has been received via OLSAS. 

• See JD Admission timelines

Application Fee

The OLSAS processing fee is CAD $200 plus a University Fee of $115 for each law school selection. All fees are non-refundable.

The University Fee, collected by OLSAS but remitted directly to the Faculty of Law, assists us in covering a portion of our costs associated with the admission assessment. Please see the OLSAS Application Guide  for detailed fee information.

Fee Waivers Information on fee waivers for the LSAT and the UofT University Fee for OLSAS applications is available at the Fee Waivers web page.

First-Year Applicants: Late Applications

The Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto is prepared to consider requests to submit late applications by email with attachments to admissions.law@utoronto.ca .

The Admissions Committee will be more receptive to requests for late application that are accompanied by the detailed reason(s) for missing the application deadline, unofficial copies of all post-secondary transcripts and LSAT score reports.

Virtually all of the Faculty's financial aid is in the form of needs-based funding, and thus is open to domestic students only.  A small number of merit-based entrance scholarships are available. All admitted students will be automatically considered for Faculty of Law merit-based scholarships without further application.

All admitted domestic students may complete the Faculty of Law JD Financial Aid Program application to be considered for bursaries and other needs-based financial aid. 

A list of available entrance bursaries and scholarships is available on the Faculty of Law website.

At the discretion of the Chair of the Admissions Committee, deferrals may be granted to applicants admitted into the JD first year only, except for admits promoted from the wait list.

If granted, an admission deferral allows a candidate to delay their admission by one academic year.

Requests for deferrals are considered only on an individual basis, by doing all of the following: 

• Accept the offer of admission to the JD first year by the instructions and deadline specified in the offer of admission
• Pay the non-refundable tuition deposit as per the instructions and deadline in the offer of admission
• Submit in writing, the reason(s) for requesting a deferral to JD Admissions at admissions.law@utoronto.ca ,please elaborate in your request the details

Consideration of requests will begin after May 1.  For requests received by May 1, notification of decisions should be made by May 15.  

All applicants who have previously submitted an application via OLSAS who wish to re-apply in a subsequent application cycle, must submit a brand new application through OLSAS.

All application information and supporting documents (e.g. personal statement, essays, LSAT, transcripts, autobiographical sketch, verifies etc.), must be re-submitted since OLSAS does not retain application materials after the end of an application cycle.

Application Fee Waivers

Information on fee waivers for the LSAT and the UofT University Fee of $115 for OLSAS applications is available at the Fee Waivers web page.

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The Department of Geography & Planning accepts applications for September admission only. There is no January admission.

Please read all instructions carefully before you start your application.

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Application opens - October 10, 2024 Application payment deadline - January 10, 2025 (11:59pm ET) Application document submission deadline - January 10, 2025 (11:59pm ET)

Register/log in to the  SGS online application . If you are a first time applicant, click “create an account” to begin your application. You will receive a verification code via email as part of the account creation process – after entering this code, you will create a new password.

You may save and return to the application at any point in the process. Complete each of the required sections of the application:

Once all sections above are completed, applicants can submit their application and proceed to application payment and upload of all supporting documents.

Application Payment

Submit payment of $125 CAD (payable by credit card). The deadline to complete the application payment is January 10, 2025 (11:59pm ET) . Your application will NOT be reviewed if the fee payment is not made by this date. Any fee payment made after this deadline will not be refunded.

Supporting documents can be submitted after completion/submission of online application sections (above). Submission of all required application documents below is required by January 10, 2025 (11:59pm ET) . Your application will NOT be reviewed if documents have not been submitted by this date.

Select the document type from the drop down and upload your file. Do not submit any materials in addition to those listed below . Additional materials will be rejected/deleted from your application review.

Please review the detailed instructions below for each component of the application.

Please review the detailed instructions for each of the required supporting application materials below. Refer to our application checklist to ensure you have submitted all required documents.

Reference Letters

Three letters of reference are required. Only submit names for three references . If additional references are listed, they will not be reviewed.

References from university instructors are preferred but employer references (or others) may be acceptable if the writer is in a position to evaluate your academic abilities and preparation for graduate studies.

We will only accept letters from referees with institutional email addresses. References from free email providers (such as @gmail.com, @hotmail.com, etc.) will NOT be accepted . If your reference does not have access to an institutional/employer email address, their letters must be mailed. Mailed letters must be on letterhead and include an original (ink) signature and include full contact information (address, phone, etc.). Letters must be sealed with the author’s signature across the seal. Mailed letters must be received by the document deadline January 10. We do not accept reference letters by email.

The University will contact your referees by email to complete their reference using an online web-based form. Please ensure you confirm your referees’ availability and contact information before listing them as a reference. Your reference will be asked to confirm their relationship to you (e.g. thesis supervisor, etc.), how long they have known you and to provide descriptive comments that will assist in providing a complete picture of your abilities and potential as a graduate student, focusing on research experience, capabilities and/or potential.

The university will not follow up when letters are outstanding, it is the applicant’s responsibility to monitor the status of their references online and to contact referees if letters are outstanding. The online application allows applicants to resend the email notification to their references and to change referee information.

Transcripts

Applicants are asked to scan and upload their transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended. This includes bachelor’s, master’s, PhD, certificate programs, nondegree or special student studies. You must list all institutions attended, even if a degree was not granted. Transcripts should meet the following criteria:

• Provide an official copy of each transcript.
• If your degree is in progress, you must provide a transcript that includes you most recent Fall grades.
• Do not upload a document that is password protected.
• A transcript legend/grade scale must be included for each transcript submitted.

Transcripts that are in a language other than English or French MUST be accompanied by an official English translation. The translation must be completed by the issuing university or by a certified translator. Both the original and translation copy must be provided.

Official mailed copies of transcripts are not required unless you accept an offer of admission to the program. If admitted, the department will request that you arrange to have official copies of transcripts sent directly to us from the issuing university (with the exception of U of T students) as a condition of admission prior to being allowed to register.

Personal Statement (MSc Planning only)

Your Personal Statement outlines the reasons you want to complete a professional graduate degree in planning. The document must be 1 page maximum (11pt font, single-spaced, 1” margins) – approximately 600-650 words.

Your statement should include the following:

• Previous academic, professional, or other experience: Describe how your academic, professional and personal experiences provide a strong foundation for undertaking a planning degree. Summarize academic achievements, as well as professional, volunteer and other experiences that inform your understanding of planning, and how you intend to build on them in graduate school.
• Why you want to pursue your graduate degree in the Department of Geography & Planning: Please indicate what area(s) of planning you intend to focus on, both in the Planning Program and beyond, after becoming a planner. Indicate how our graduate program fits these professional goals.

Research Statement (PhD only)

Your Research Statement outlines the research you are proposing to carry out during your graduate program. The document must be 1 page maximum (11pt font, single-spaced, 1” margins) – approximately 600-650 words. You may attach up to 1/2 for a reference list.

• Outline of the research you propose to do : Describe your research focus, how and why you chose this area of study. Provide an outline of your proposed research, including question(s), context, objectives, methodology and the significance of your research.
• Academic interests : Connect your research question(s) to your knowledge of the literature, theory, and methods.
• Previous academic or other experience : Describe how your academic, professional and personal experiences provide a strong foundation for undertaking your proposed research. Summarize academic achievements, previous research experience (e.g. thesis project, lab work), professional experience (e.g. project coordination, non-profit work), or pre-existing relationships you have with community (ies) you are proposing to work with. You can point to your equity statement if you have produced one, but you should not repeat all of its content here.
• Why you want to pursue your graduate degree in the Department of Geography & Planning : Connect your research interests to faculty members and research group interests in the department. You must list at least one and up to three potential supervisors in the form. Contact potential supervisor(s) and identify them in your statement.

Please review the Application Tips for additional information on the research statement and contacting supervisors.

Equity and Diversity Statement (Optional)

The Equity and Diversity Statement is an optional element of your application. While you may make reference to your research professional and academic goals, the Equity and Diversity Statement should not duplicate in detail the content of your Research Statement. The document must be 1/2 page maximum (11pt font, single-spaced, 1” margins) – approximately 300 words .

The Equity and Diversity Statement describes how your background and experiences relate to your decision to pursue graduate education in the Department of Geography and Planning. We are particularly interested in whether you have experienced barriers to accessing higher education – if so, what are they and how did you overcome them?

You may also include information about the following:

• How would you like to contribute to equity and diversity in the Department of Geography & Planning?
• Whether you have experienced economic or educational challenges/barriers and if so how have you overcome them?
• How have you come to understand social, economic and/or educational challenges/barriers experienced within other communities?
• Any examples from volunteer service or community leadership to advance equity and diversity.
• How your research methods and/or questions relate to under-represented populations or issues of inequality, if applicable.
• How will your Equity and Diversity Statement be used in the admissions process?

It will be read by all members of the admissions committee and potential supervisor(s) only.

Our goal is to align the admissions process with the Department’s Statement on Diversity and the University’s commitment to Equity, Diversity and Excellence .

CV or Resume

Upload your current CV or resume. This document should outline your education, relevant personal and work experience (paid and unpaid), publications, professional activities, awards, honours, grants and fellowships (as applicable).

English Language Facility Test Scores

If your primary language is not English and you graduated from a non-Canadian university where the language of instruction and examination was not English, you must submit acceptable English language facility test scores . Minimum scores must be reported on a single test (tests cannot be combined) and achieved by the application deadline.

TOEFL is the most commonly submitted test and scores are reported electronically by the testing agency to the university at your request (to report your score use 0982 for the university code and 70 for the department code). IELTS scores can be sent electronically – select “University of Toronto (undergraduate and graduate programs) from the list of options. The University of Toronto (Undergraduate and Graduate Programs) is an IELTS “STED RO”. This means that we subscribe to the electronic score-sending service and do not accept paper results. You may wish to advise your test centre, specifically, that U of T is an STED RO when you make your request to have your scores sent to us. You do not need to notify U of T once you have ordered your test results. U of T receives IELTS results on an ongoing basis. Other test scores can be mailed directly to Admissions, School of Graduate Studies by the testing agency.

Applications with missing test scores, or scores which do not meet the minimum requirements will not be assessed. There is no exception to the English language facility requirements. Minimum scores must be provided before the supporting document deadline.

Checking Your Application Status

It is the applicant’s responsibility to monitor the status of their application to ensure all required documents are submitted by the applicable deadlines, and to contact references to submit outstanding letters. We will not contact applicants or references for missing documents. The department will only review complete applications.

Please ensure that you have read and understood the application requirements, paid the application fee, and submitted all the necessary components of your application package.

Admission decisions are made by an Admissions Committee composed of planning program faculty members.

Program staff will review each completed application to make sure all components are completed correctly and to assess eligibility.

While under review, the application file will be made available to the Admissions Committee. For PhD applicants only, all faculty members, especially those who have been named as potential supervisors, are also invited to provide feedback on individual applications – however the ultimate decision on whether an applicant is offered a position in the graduate program is made by the Admissions Committee.

The Admissions Committee will consider the following aspects of each application:

• Awards, fellowships and honours
• Publications
• Letters of reference
• Experience relevant to the proposed program of study (e.g. language skills, work and volunteer experience)
• Quality of the statement of intent/research statement
• Availability of a potential supervisor willing to supervise the proposed topic (PhD only)

The committee meets on a rolling basis throughout February and March to make final decisions and send out admission offers.  All decisions are expected to be available by mid or late-April.

Please see our Frequently Asked Questions .

Email: [email protected]  

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Some advice on who to choose for references, what to write in your personal statement, and what your resume should include.

Curriculum Vitae/Résumé

Your résumé should outline work experience since university graduation.  Be sure to clearly identify:  firms/employers, locations, positions held, responsibilities and dates of employment.

You should also outline your participation in volunteer work or community organizations, board appointments, as well as any other relevant accomplishments or information you feel would help your candidacy. 

Please also include a complete summary of your post-secondary education, including any academic awards you have received. 

Purpose of Graduate Study (Personal Statement)

This is your opportunity to articulate (in no more than two pages/1000 words) why you want to be admitted to the GPLLM and why you would be a valuable asset to the program. 

Please address all of the following:

1.    Why have you chosen to apply to the GPLLM and what do you hope to achieve?    Please refer to your career and any other personal details that you think are relevant. 2. Please indicate the concentration(s) for which you wish to be considered and explain why you have chosen that concentration. 3. Please describe the extent and manner in which your current position requires you to engage with the law and legal or regulatory issues. 4.    If you are a lawyer, please explain why you are pursuing an executive legal education.    5. How will you contribute to a dynamic classroom experience?

Reference Letters

Reference letters are an  important  part of your application. Each recommendation should be from an individual who can comment on, and provide examples of your professional qualifications, academic promise and suitability for the program. Ideally, these are from individuals who have supervised you. Note that your referees will be asked to upload a letter - there are no form questions for them to respond to. 

Helpful Hints :

• A reference letter is compelling when the referee provides detailed reasons for supporting your application. A strong reference letter will be based on concrete examples to support the comments the referee is making about you, particularly examples of when the referee observed what they are stating. 
• Please refrain from soliciting references from peers, co-workers or direct reports.  Personal references are also ineligible (e.g. friends, family members, etc.).
• Please share the following questions with your referees to help guide their reference:

  Comment and provide examples on the following: 

•   Does the applicant have the academic capacity to succeed in the program? 
• Will the applicant benefit professionally from taking the program?
• Will the applicant contribute to the classroom and learning experience of others?
• Does the applicant have both the time and the motivation to succeed in the program?

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Important application dates.

The university application process starts in the fall of the year before you intend to begin your studies. Be sure to start looking into scholarships as well , as some have early deadlines.

Below is a list of our application and supporting document deadlines. We encourage you to submit your application, the appropriate application fee, and your supporting documents well in advance of posted deadlines. Admission decisions will be released starting in the new year and will continue through to late May. If we receive your application from OUAC after the program is closed, your application will be cancelled with no refund.

Approximately one week after we receive your application, we will send you an email acknowledgement including your JOINid/UTORid, your University of Toronto applicant number, and full information about the next steps in the application process.

Learn more about the different applications and which you are eligible to submit.

Application Deadlines for Undergraduate Programs

Full-time studies – undergraduate application/international/internal, part-time studies (summer and fall sessions), non-degree (summer and fall sessions), deadlines to submit supporting documentation.

Admission decisions will be released in rounds starting in the new year and through to late May. The document deadline is February 1, however we recommend that you submit your required documents by December 15. Applicants who submit required documents early are able to maximize their opportunities for admission consideration. Documents received after the published deadlines will be considered as space allows.

Find out which application you should use , depending on whether you’re a current Ontario high school student, an applicant from another Canadian province or territory, an international applicant, or in another circumstance.

Make sure you check the Important Application Dates to find out when your application, required documents, and other supplementary documents are due.

It depends on what you’re applying to, but most programs do not require additional applications. Some programs, colleges and campuses ask students to fill out an added application or profile. You should receive an email that will indicate if you need to fill out an application, where you can find it and what the deadline is. You can also find this information by looking up your intended program’s requirements in the Program Finder .

Find out about academic requirements for applicants from outside Canada .

Find out about U of T’s English Language Requirements and proof of English facility .

If you have completed college or university studies, AP, IB, GCE, CAPE, or French Bacc. examinations you may be eligible for transfer credit at the University of Toronto. Transfer credits are assessed after admission.

Find out more about transfer credits at U of T.

All changes to your application should be made before the application deadline .

If you have applied using the OUAC Undergraduate Application and wish to make changes to your initial application, you must do this by logging in to the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre website .

All other applicants (International/Internal/Part-Time/Non-Degree) should log onto JOIN U of T , click on Check Status, and follow the instructions for making changes to your application.

We do not accept any changes or corrections via email or telephone.

You will receive an acknowledgment from U of T, with login instructions for our applicant website, JOIN U of T , about two weeks after you submit your application.

Telephone & In-Person Inquiries We are available for telephone and in-person inquiries.

Email Inquiries Connect with us by email for:

• Admissions: apply.adm.utoronto.ca/register/questions
• Ask a Student: apply.adm.utoronto.ca/register/askastudent

Contact Client Services for financial aid inquires including:

• OSAP (Ontario Student Assistant Program) full and part-time
• BSWD (Bursaries for Students with Disabilities)
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• US student aid – for United States citizens (US Federal Student Aid loan opportunities, private loans (non-government), Veteran Affairs certification requests for benefits & education tax credit

Your feedback is important to us. Please take a couple of minutes to let us know how we did by completing our  University Admissions and Outreach Satisfaction Survey .

If you are unable to begin your degree studies in the fall, you may request a one-year deferral of your offer of admission. Deferrals are not guaranteed and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Check out further information on deferring an offer of admission .

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If you have a concern about a student service located on the St. George Campus, your first step is to talk to the Director of the service .

If your concern has not been resolved after taking this step, your second step should be to contact the Executive/Senior Director of the service .

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Craft your graduate school application.

Here are the steps to take to apply to graduate school(s):

1. Start early

It is important to start the application process early – it often takes more time than you think to gather your references, transcripts, writing sample, personal statement, resumé/CV, and any additional materials required.

Your first step is to contact individual schools for admission packages , which will detail everything you need to include in your application.

2. Prepare your references

References who make a strong case on your behalf can significantly add to your chances of getting into grad school. You will need between three and four references who can confirm your ability to succeed in and contribute to your program of study. References are usually professors and possibly people working in the field.

To ensure a strong reference, approach references early in the application process. If you are still an undergraduate, get to know your instructors and participate in class. Make yourself memorable to your potential references so that they can speak to your strengths later on.

Send a polite request email outlining how you know the individual and why you need the reference letter. Send them copies of your CV, transcript and remind them which of their courses you took. Ask them to highlight how your academic ability, accomplishments and experience match the area that you are interested in. Inform your references about which schools and programs you have applied to so that they will be prepared in case they are contacted. Thank your references.

3. Request transcripts

When ordering official transcripts from your college registrar, allow time for processing and take care to include complete addresses with your order.

4. Submit a Curriculum Vitae (CV) or résumé

Most programs will request a CV or resumé as part of the application. Although some programs specifically request a CV, not everyone is in a position to write a formal CV (which typically focuses on research and teaching experience). For students coming out of an undergraduate degree with little teaching or research experience, the required CV will most likely take the form of a modified chronological résumé targeted towards academia.

Refer to Create your academic CV and cover letter and Create your résumé and/or cover letter for help.

5. Write your personal statement

Most programs will require you to write a personal statement, also known as a letter of intent, personal essay, statement of purpose or application essay.

Refer to Write your personal statement for help.

6. Write admissions tests

Find out if your program requires an admissions test as a part of your application. If you need to take a test, you must write it in time to make sure scores are received by the admission deadlines.

Refer to Prep for graduate and professional school admissions tests  for help.

7. Excel in admission interviews

Finally, depending on your program, you may be asked to attend an admission interview. It’s important to prepare and know what skills, knowledge and experience are needed to enter into the program. Prepare examples from your experience that demonstrate your knowledge and abilities. Practice interviewing with friends, family or one of our career educators. Even if your program does not have a formal interview, you may be informally evaluated during on-campus visits. Be prepared to make a strong, positive impression every time.

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Apply to Vic One

To apply to Vic One, you must fill out a Vic One application . All first-year applicants to the Faculty of Arts and Science, Architecture, and Music are welcome to apply to Vic One regardless of college choice. We assess all applicants individually based upon their Vic One application and academic record.

To access the Vic One application, you must first apply to the University of Toronto. Students do not have to wait until they have received an offer of admission from U of T before completing the Vic One application.

We are currently accepting applications to all streams for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Round 1 Deadline: March 18 th  2024, 11:59 PM ET

Round 2 Deadline: May 5 th  2024, 11:59 PM ET

Round 3 Deadline: June 16 th  2024, 11:59 PM ET

Prospective students are strongly encouraged to apply early, as we cannot guarantee that there will be spaces available in all streams in later rounds of admission.

If you have any questions, please email us at  [email protected] .

Review of Application

• a) Describe three extracurricular activities that have enriched you over the past two years, OR b) discuss a challenging situation or circumstance that you have experienced.
• A personal statement must include a description of why you are interested in the Vic One program and the selected stream of study.
• When you select your stream of interest, a stream-specific short essay question will appear.
• Non-Ontario students must upload a copy of their report card/transcript.

Selection Process

We assess all applicants individually based upon their Vic One application, academic and extracurricular performance.

The selection process for Vic One is entirely separate from the selection process at Victoria College. As such, if you are selected for one, you may or may not be selected for the other.

Non-Academic Requirements

In addition to academic requirements , brief personal essays, autobiographical sketches, and references are used in assessing your non-academic qualifications.

Throughout the admissions process, we assess your non-academic attributes, activities and achievements in terms of the Faculty’s mission and values , as well as the MD Program competencies . Our aim is to select students who we believe will make the most empathetic and highly skilled physicians.

Specifically, we evaluate materials according to the following four clusters. These four clusters are based on the CanMEDS Framework  that identifies and describes the abilities physicians require to effectively meet the health care needs of the people they serve.

Your ability to use the English language will be taken into consideration and you may be requested to submit additional information to supplement the application form.

Specific requirements 

Brief personal essays.

You are required to submit two original brief personal essays, with each essay answering a specific question related to the Faculty’s mission and values . The Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s mission statement embodies social responsibility, and the Faculty’s values are reflective of this responsibility. Each brief personal essay must be 250 words or less (this word count does not include titles, references, or verifiers, if you choose to include these). We evaluate brief personal essays independently of all other materials submitted within your application.

The two questions for the 2024-2025 admissions cycle (2023-2024 academic year):

We will perform random checks of your brief personal essays through a plagiarism detection tool. You will not be informed that your essay has been submitted for comparison. Essays submitted will be included as source documents in the reference database, where they will be used solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism. If you do not consent to your essays being submitted through a plagiarism detection tool, you must  email [email protected] by January 3, 2024 . We will honour this request. 

Autobiographical sketch & statements

The autobiographical sketch (ABS) is a comprehensive list of your activities and achievements since age 16 which provide insight into who you are. These can include your:

• volunteer activities
• extracurricular activities
• awards and accomplishments
• research, and,
• other activities and achievements.

You are not required to have undertaken a specific number of activities or completed a set number of hours. There are also no specific activities that will give you an ‘edge’. We do not believe there is a specific medical student ‘profile’. We are looking for students:

• with diverse backgrounds and interests
• who are well-rounded
• who are community-minded
• who have gained skills and maturity from their experiences
• who can demonstrate time management skills
• who show evidence of the attribute clusters in their activities

Please see the Ontario Medical School Application Service (OMSAS) Application Guide for more information on the ABS.

In addition, you are required to write and submit one ABS statement that discusses the following:

• Write about an impactful experience from your Autobiographical Sketch that demonstrates your personal growth, character, and values. How did this experience prepare you for medical school?

Your ABS statement must be 500 words or less.  This word count does not include your activity title, references, or verifiers, if you choose to include these.

The ABS and the additional ABS statement will be evaluated as a whole. We evaluate ABS materials independently of all other materials submitted within your application.

In some cases, we may wish to verify additional information about activities that are described in either your brief personal essays or the ABS. Therefore, you must provide the name, address, and phone number of at least one contact person (verifier) for each activity. We perform random checks of applicants’ verifiers. Please notify your verifiers that they may be contacted by us. 

Note: Verifiers for ABS may or may not be the same as the verifiers you listed for your graduate studies or your references.

Let your verifiers know that they may be contacted by UME Enrolment Services.

You are required to arrange for three references to be sent to OMSAS as part of your application. Each reference includes a Confidential Assessment Form.

Note: You must not use family members, family friends, colleagues of family members, neighbours or someone who may be perceived as your peer as a referee, as we do not consider them to be objective. Letters written by a spiritual advisor are acceptable, provided the individual is not also a family member or close friend.

Applications from candidates with non-objective references will not be considered.

Referees may submit their confidential reference online. 

The deadline for receiving references is October 2nd, 2023. If OMSAS does not receive your reference by this date, your application to the University of Toronto’s MD Program will be incomplete and will not be considered. It is your responsibility to ensure that OMSAS receives your references by the deadline, so we advise you to confirm submission with all of your referees prior to the deadline.