These instructions are for applicants to the Department of Economics (MA) Master of Arts and (PhD) Doctoral Programs.
During peak times we process a large volume of application documents, and it takes us some time to note the receipt of documents in the online system. We review and assess application documents only after all personal and academic information has been entered in the online application, and the application fee has been paid. Please allow a minimum of four weeks (excluding holidays) after you have completed all these steps for the online status of your application to change from "Documents Pending" to "Under Review".
To take into account unexpected delays which may be beyond your control, please start submitting requests for all required official documents (transcripts and GRE and TOEFL test scores if applicable) well in advance of the application deadline of January 19, 2024. Note that we do not send electronic invitations with a request to your referees to complete a reference form until the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) has received your application fee.
If you have a degree from a Canadian university for which the language of instruction is French, you are not required to submit English translations of official transcripts in the French language. Otherwise, English translations from a recognized translation service must accompany all non-Canadian documents (e.g., transcripts) not written in English. Your obtaining translations may take time, so plan ahead in order to meet our deadline of January 19, 2024 for the receipt of all documents.
After you access the SGS admission application and enter your contact information, an applicant identification number and a password will be emailed to you. You can leave and return to your application at any point until you move to the payment stage. Once the payment is made you will be able to check on the status of your application. You may check the online application system periodically to confirm the receipt of documents and your application status (see processing time above).
As you progress through the SGS online application, you will notice links to "instructions". Click on these links to access instruction details and links to important resources you need to help complete your application correctly. Please ensure that you read all such instructions carefully and follow them exactly.
If the first and last name on the English language proficiency test or GRE are not the same as the first and last name you enter in the online application, considerable time can be lost in processing your application because your test scores will not be matched to your application. Make sure that the names match. (If the names do not match, notify MA | PhD Graduate Admissions of any differences and provide us with your applicant number, full name, and the program to which you are applying.)
If you are applying to the Law and Economics MA or PhD combined program, you must read the instructions on this page and in addition review the application procedures of the Faculty of Law and ensure that all required documents have been received by the Department of Economics and the Faculty of Law. Note that the application deadlines of the Faculty of Law may differ from ours.
In special circumstances, an applicant with a postsecondary degree may wish to apply to be a non-degree special student (part-time or full-time) to take economics graduate courses. Note that, in most cases, students from other fields looking to enhance their background in economics in order to apply to economics graduate programs are better off taking undergraduate courses as a non-degree special student, not graduate courses. Non-degree special students are not registered in a program of study that may lead to a degree.
A non-degree special student applicant must meet the minimum SGS requirements, as well as the Economics MA minimum requirements, and must submit a new application for admission for each academic year of study. As each case is unique, it is strongly recommended that you contact the Graduate Administrator prior to initiating an application. Please note that meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee an offer of admission since the number of qualified applicants far exceeds the number of places available. As a result, many well-qualified applicants cannot be accommodated.
Full-time special students pay the full-time academic fee. Special students enrolling on a part-time basis pay for each course or half-course. Refund dates are different for part-time special students; check the Student Accounts website for details. Tuition fees paid as a special student cannot be transferred to a subsequent degree program.
See the SGS website, www.sgs.utoronto.ca/resources-supports/visiting-exchange-opportunities/non-degree-special-students, for further information.
For information on topics on the SGS application system and admission process not provided on the website please ensure that you read thoroughly the information on our contact page and use the correct email address.
The files of applicants who meet the minimum requirements and submit all the required documents by the deadline will be reviewed by the Department of Economics Admissions Committee. Note: The meeting of these requirements is only a necessary condition, not a sufficient condition, for acceptance into the program. The Admissions Committee normally starts to make first round offers from mid-March through early April and may continue with subsequent rounds of offers until June. All applicants will be notified either with an offer of admission or rejection of their application by the end of June.
For further information, see the university's pages on frequently asked questions, the School of Graduate Studies admissions guide, getting started as a new student, how to apply, admissions, wellness portal, graduate wellness services at SGS, Accessibility Services, graduate housing, fee information, fee schedules, sessional dates, awards, and the Centre for International Experience. The website of the School of Graduate Studies, www.sgs.utoronto.ca, will also have critical information you need to know on topics such as COVID-19.