Admission

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Deadline & Process

The application deadline for 2025-26 is Wednesday, January 8, 2025.

 

 

Application Fee Waivers

The department offers a limited number of application fee waivers for those who face financial barriers to attending graduate school. Waivers are granted on a case-by-case basis. Not all requests will be successful.

  • Fee waiver request deadline: Monday, December 2, 2024
    • Applicants can expect decisions by Thursday, December 15, 2024.
  • To be considered, complete the fee waiver form and follow the steps indicated.

 

Admissions Info Sessions

The Graduate Department of Philosophy offers online information sessions about common admissions questions and concerns. There are no sessions scheduled at this time.

Interested participants must register to receive the appropriate Zoom link. Sessions will not be recorded.

 

Graduate Programs

Note: Students who wish to be considered for both the MA and PhD programs should apply to the PhD program and indicate in their Statement of Interest their openness to being considered for both. It is not necessary to submit two applications.

Master of Arts: Philosophy

  •  One-year course-based MA program intended for those seeking a more comprehensive and concentrated training in philosophy than permitted by undergraduate study.
  • Admission Requirements
    • Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university with mid-B average in program overall
    • Strong background in philosophy (roughly equivalent to an undergraduate major) with A- average in philosophy courses
  • International students are rarely admitted to our MA program. We encourage international students to apply to one of our PhD programs.

 

Master of Arts: Concentration in Philosophy of Science

  • One-year course-based MA program intended primarily for those seeking a more comprehensive and concentrated training in the philosophy of science than undergraduate study permits.
  • Admission Requirements
    • Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university with minimum average of A-
    • A strong interest in philosophy evidenced in an excellent writing sample, personal statement, and letters of reference
    • A superior academic background in either philosophy or, typically, a subject in the natural or social sciences

 

PhD (four-year)

  • Four-year doctoral studies program intended primarily for those interested in teaching philosophy and doing advanced philosophical research.
  • Admission Requirements
    • MA degree in philosophy from a recognized university with an average grade of at least A-
    • Applicant must satisfy the Admissions Committee that they are capable of independent research in philosophy at an advanced level

 

PhD (five-year, direct entry)

  • Five-year doctoral studies program intended primarily for those interested in teaching philosophy and doing advanced philosophical research.
  • Admission Requirements
    • Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university with a strong background in philosophy (roughly equivalent to an undergraduate major)
    • Average grades of B+ in applicant’s bachelor’s program overall and A- average in philosophy courses
    • Applicant must satisfy the Admissions Committee that they are capable of independent research in philosophy at an advanced level

 

Required Materials

(To be submitted in PDF format)

Statement of Interest About 300 words indicating your reasons for wishing to pursue an advanced degree in philosophy (or in the particular area of philosophy you would like to work in, if already known). The statement also allows you to highlight or add information not already clear from your CV about your past and current preparation for this pursuit, as well as any exceptional circumstances you would like the selection committee to bear in mind.
Writing Sample A sample of your philosophical writing in English or French (an essay of roughly 20 pages, excluding notes and bibliography). Ideally a recent paper in your proposed area of interest, if known. NOTA BENE: The SGS application system platform will indicate a length of no more than 15 pages for the writing sample, but this is incorrect. The writing sample should be roughly 20 pages in length, as indicated on this webpage.
Transcripts We require transcripts from each postsecondary institution you have attended. For the application process, these can be unofficial, electronic or scanned. Only if you accept an admission offer will we require an official transcript.
GRE Scores Do not submit; GRE scores will not be considered
English Proficiency Tests An undergraduate or graduate degree at an institution recognized by the University of Toronto in which the language of instruction is English must satisfy the School of Graduate Studies requirements for English-Language Proficiency and (if different) the requirements for doctoral programs in Philosophy. Scores should be reported electronically to the University of Toronto (Enrolment Services) by the testing agency.
Letters of Recommendation Letters from two (2), preferably three (3), philosophy instructors. The online application system will automatically email an electronic submission request to each referee as soon as their information is entered on the Recommendations page of the application.

 

Letters are due by the application deadline, so it is important to request them as early as possible.

 

Please provide institutional email addresses provided for referees.

 

Referees using an institutional email may type or copy-and-paste a signed and dated letter of reference.

 

If one (at maximum) of your referees does not have access to an institutional email, please have them submit their letter as a PDF, signed and on institutional letterhead.
Curriculum Vitae (CV) List all postsecondary institutions you have attended on you CV, indicating if your studies there are active or have concluded, as well as any relevant training or experience.

 

Mailing Address

University of Toronto

Department of Philosophy

Graduate Administrator

170 St. George Street

Jackman Humanities Building, Room 410

Toronto, ON

M5R 2M8

 

Visiting and Special Students

Are you a graduate student interested in visiting the University of Toronto from an international institution? Please see information on applying to come as an International Visiting Graduate Student.

Are you a graduate student at another institution in Ontario interested in taking one of our graduate-level philosophy courses? Please see information on applying to take a course as an Ontario Visiting Graduate Student.

 

Need to reach the Director of Graduate Studies directly? Email them.

Ready to Apply?

Applications for the 2025-2026 cycle open mid-October, 2024!

SGS Online Admission