ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Applicants are accepted under the general regulations of the School of Graduate Studies, provided that they also satisfy the Departmental requirements for each of the degree programmes listed below. Applications are considered with respect to undergraduate preparation for study in the field, academic promise, areas of interest and available instruction, and supervisory capacity within the Department. Upon acceptance students will be assigned an academic advisor with whom they should consult regarding their programme of study.
Requirements for Admission to the Master of Arts Degree Programme
The requirement for admission to this degree will be a four-year B.A. in a relevant programme from a recognized university with an average of at least B+ or equivalent in the final year. Applicants for admission to all programmes in the Department must have prior background in ancient Near Eastern and/or Islamic civilizations. In addition, applicants for admission to the Middle Eastern and Islamic programmes are expected to have adequate reading knowledge of at least one of the primary source languages: Arabic, Persian and/or Turkish. Applicants for admission to some programmes in ancient Near Eastern studies also may be required to have prior training in a primary source language.
Depending upon the amount of their undergraduate preparation, applicants may be enrolled in either a two-year or a one-year Master's programme, with a normal course load of three courses per year. The Department may recommend enrolment with Special Student Status to those applicants without sufficient preparation.
Graduate students in the Department of History who are interested in Middle Eastern and Islamic history may take courses in Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations and work under the supervision of a faculty member in the Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations.
Requirements for Admission to the Doctor of Philosophy Degree Programme
Before being considered for admission to the Ph.D. programme, applicants must normally have obtained an M.A. degree in a relevant programme from a recognized university with at least an A- average or the equivalent in the courses taken for the M.A. programme and must also satisfy the Department of their ability to do independent research. In addition, candidates must have sufficient relevant background in Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations and, when required, training in the appropriate primary source languages. The Department, at its discretion, may offer direct entry to exceptionally qualified students from a bachelor’s degree to the Ph.D. programme.
Application Procedures
Please follow these instructions carefully:
The application for graduate study at the University of Toront is an on-line application. The application fee for the NMC Graduate Program is Cdn$110.00.
Applications to the Graduate Department of Near & Middle Eastern Civilizations must be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) through the on-line admissions application which is housed on a secure server at the University of Toronto. The department will consider your application only after you have entered your personal academic information in the online application, paid the application fee, and uploaded supporting documentation.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: JANUARY 15, 2013 - firm deadline
Link to on-line application: https://apply.sgs.utoronto.ca/. Should the applicant not have access to the web, please contact the Graduate Administrator at (416) 978-3181, or you may e-mail Anna Sousa at anna.sousa@utoronto.ca.
The Department admits students only in September.
Supporting Documentation Required to Complete Application
Once you have paid the application fee, the following supporting documents can be uploaded to your application:
1. Two supporting letters of reference.
Please advise your referees that they will receive an electronic invitation to submit an academic reference in support of your application. The electronic invitation will be sent as soon as you pay the application fee. It is important that you provide an up-to-date institutional email address for your referees in the on-line application form.
2. A statement of intent/Proposed Plan of Study.
The statement outlines the applicant’s academic and vocational goals; educational, professional or other background which prepares the applicant to undertake the proposed programme of study; language facility; what the applicant expects from the Department; and any other relevant information that might help the Admissions Committee when considering the application.
3. Writing Sample (PhD Applicants Only).
Applicants must submit a writing sample, in length no longer than 12 double-spaced pages including footnotes. A piece of work submitted as part of your previous coursework, especially one that addresses a topic related to your research interests in the graduate program, if available, would be especially appropriate.
4. Official Transcripts.
Applicants are asked to provide one single electronic document which includes scans of academic results or "issued to student" transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended. Official transcripts will be requests from students who are short-listed for admission. You will be contacted by the department. Applicants who attended universities outside North America will be asked t provide notarized English translations to accompany all foreign documentation not written in English.
5. Demonstrated Facility in English. 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, then you must demonstrate your facility in English using one of the following methods. This requirement should be met at the time you submit your application.
1. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
2. Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB)
3. International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
4. The Certificate of Proficiency in English (COPE)
5. UofT School of Continuing Studies Academic Preparation Course
For complete information please see the UofT School of Graduate studies web page on English Facility Requirement.
Certified English translations of all documents must be submitted to the department at the time of your application.
- Application Deadline - January 15, 2013 - FIRM
Admission to the Doctor of Philosophy Degree Programme
An admitted student will be assigned an Academic Advisor. The students programme of study will be determined in consultation with their Advisor and the Graduate Coordinator and will include written and oral General Examinations. The entire Ph.D. programme, including the completion of the thesis and its defense, shall normally be concluded within five to six years. Please see Programme Requirements and Timetable for an outline of the Doctoral Programme below. Extensions beyond Ph.D. 6 require the approval of the School of Graduate Studies and are granted only in exceptional circumstances.
REGISTRATION AND ENROLMENT
Students are encouraged to visit the university's School of Graduate Studies web site for information regarding registration: www.sgs.utoronto.ca/current/register/. The School of Graduate Studies will mail fees invoices to students. To avoid being charged a late fee students are encouraged to pay their fees by August 31.
Conditional Admissions: If you have been admitted with conditions, please ensure that all conditions have been met prior to registration in September in compliance with the School of Graduate Studies requirement.
Fees: The fee structure of the School of Graduate Studies differentiates between students who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents (non-visa) and students from other countries (visa). Part-time master’s students should be aware that they may be required to pay additional academic fees in order to equal the total minimum fee paid by a full-time student in the same program. This Balance of Degree Fee is assessed just prior to graduation. For information on tuition fees for 2007-08, please refer to www.fees.utoronto.ca/.
U of T Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) is a compulsory health insurance plan for all international students, exchange students, new permanent residents and returning Canadians who are not covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) (http://www.health.gov.on.ca). Please note that since the plan is compulsory, students are advised not to purchase another health insurance plan to cover them while in Canada. UHIP is also compulsory for all eligible dependents, including a partner, spouse and/or children. Please refer to the International Student Centre's website at www.library.utoronto.ca/isc and select "UHIP Health Insurance" for more details regarding enrollment, coverage and accessing services and/or email the UHIP Office at uhip.information@utoronto.ca or call 416-978-0290.
Payment of Fees: Fees can be paid at any chartered bank in Canada. Students outside of Canada may forward payment by certified cheque or money order to the Fees Department, Office of the Comptroller, University of Toronto, 215 Huron Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A2.
Deferred Payment: Students who have been awarded a University of Toronto Fellowship or an external award (OGS, SSHRCC) may temporarily defer payment of fees. In order to defer payment of fees, students must present their fee invoice along with supporting documentation to the Department or to the Fees Department. For further information on deferring payment you may refer to the website at www.sgs.utoronto.ca/current/fees.
Fellowships and Scholarship Installments: The September installment cheque for students who have been awarded a fellowship or scholarship will be available at the Department in September. Please note that fellowship or scholarship recipients must first either pay or defer their fees before collecting their cheques.
Late Registration Fee: For detailed information, please refer to the website by clicking here.
Registration and Enrolment: After paying or deferring (in the case of those receiving an award) fees, students must come to the Graduate Administrator’s office to obtain an enrolment form, and the School of Graduate Studies Handbook. Students will be required to present the paid portion of the fee invoice before receiving the above items. Enrolment forms must be completed by all graduate students and returned to the Graduate Administrator’s Office prior to September 28, 2007. These forms are used to enrol formally in courses. You are encouraged to consult with the faculty members of courses in which you expect to enroll as soon as possible, even as early as the Spring prior to commencing the course.
Part-time Studies: The Department makes it possible for students who wish or need to pursue graduate study at the M.A. level on a part-time basis to do so, although no special provisions are made for part-time study. There is no difference in programme requirements for part-time students. The delivery of a part-time programme differs from the equivalent full-time programme only in the number of courses taken per year, which may be less than the normal course load of three full-year courses or the equivalent. A part-time programme therefore takes longer to complete than the full-time programme. For further information regarding part-time studies, see the School of Graduate Studies 2012-2013 Handbook.
Student TCard: All new students will be required to have the photo-ID card. It provides access to other resources like the campus libraries, the Athletic Centre, Hart House, the Housing Service and can be used for other services like photocopying and network printing. To obtain a TCard students must take their letter of admission or fees invoice to 130 St George Street, Room 2054, second floor, Robarts Library. To avoid long line-ups in September students may wish to get their TCard during the summer. For additional information and TCard office hours visit the web site at www.library.utoronto.ca/services/card/.
Course Schedules and Enrolment: Many course times and locations have already been set and are listed in the departmental Graduate Handbook as well as on this website. Please see the course instructor if no time and location are listed. Please see the Graduate Administrator for course enrolment forms.
Web Access to Student Information: Student information may be accessed on-line on the Repository of Student Information (ROSI). Students may view their academic history and account information as well as order transcripts, change their addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses using the web at www.rosi.utoronto.ca.
Commencement of Classes: In the 2012-13 academic year courses will begin on Monday, September 10.