The Department of Sociology encourages domestic and international students to apply for graduate study. Students who are accepted into our graduate programs are provided funding packages. We are a welcoming and inclusive academic community that especially encourages students from backgrounds that have been historically under-represented in sociology to apply. Please see our Funding page for more information about the Graduate Distinction Scholarship available to incoming Black and Indigenous Students.
The online admissions application opens on October 1st annually. The deadline to complete the application process (with payment and all supporting documents) is December 1st. We do not make any exceptions for missing the deadline. Note that there is a $125 application fee. See more detailed application information.
Potential Supervisors
Applicants are not required to secure a supervisor prior to admission. As part of the application process applicants are asked to list faculty they would be interested in working with (up to three). Additionally, the Statement of Interest provides an opportunity for applicants to lindicate any faculty they wish to eventually be supervised by and/or work with.
MA Program
The objective of the MA program is to guide students in developing strong theoretical foundations in sociology alongside great research design and methodological expertise. The program provides excellent training for those who plan to work in positions requiring research and analytic skills in the public and private sectors. It also provides a fantastic foundation in sociological training for those who plan to pursue a doctoral degree in sociology. Students achieve the objectives of the MA program by successfully completing a well-designed sequence of courses, participating in seminars organized in the department, and often working as research assistants or teaching assistants to professors. Some of our MA students also complete the Master’s Research paper, a thesis which is of publishable quality.
Admissions
We admit about 12-14 students into the MA program each year and typically have over 100 applications. We are structurally limited in the numbers of international MA students we admit; thus for international applicants, gaining admission to the MA program is extremely competitive.
To be admitted, you should have a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university. Most students that we admit achieved an A average in their undergraduate studies and have some research experience. Many, but not all of them, have BAs in Sociology. We prefer students who have taken at least five full year courses (or 10 half-year courses) in Sociology at the undergraduate level. We like to see a good background in statistics and some sociology coursework, especially Sociological Theory.
Almost all students do the MA program on a full-time basis. Full-time MA students have 12 months to complete the program. However a part-time option is possible - if you wish to request the part-time option, email the graduate office at sociology.graduate@utoronto.ca. Part-time students are required to complete all course requirements within five years from date of entry. Part-time students must be able to take courses during normal working hours, as this is when most courses are offered. Note: The program begins in September; we do not admit new students to the January term.
Students may apply to do a collaborative MA by applying to Sociology and to one of our collaborative programs.
PhD Program
The objective of the PhD program is to prepare candidates as experts in the field of sociology by providing them training to conduct theoretically informed and methodologically sophisticated state-of-the-art sociological research. Graduates from the program will be able to independently design and conduct exceptional research and to communicate their research in a variety of contexts. To this end, the program is designed to provide both a broad knowledge of the discipline, depth in key subfields and deep training in the research process. Students acquire autonomy in conducting research, preparing scholarly publications, and participating in professional conferences and become mentors to those junior to them. Our PhD students also gain experience in teaching undergraduate students in the field. The objective is achieved through a combination of course work, participation in seminars, preparation and successful achievements in passing two comprehensive examinations, paid work as research and teaching assistants, conference presentations, and supervised dissertation research. Our PhD students have exciting potential career pathways upon graduation!
Admissions
We admit about 14-16 students into the PhD program each year and typically have over 100 applications. We are structurally limited in the numbers of international PhD students we can admit; thus for this group admissions is especially competitive. To be admitted, you should have an MA in Sociology or a related degree from an accredited university with an overall average of at least A-.
Although extremely rare, the Department may recommend admission directly after completion of a four-year BA degree. Direct entry of this kind will only be recommended for outstanding students who have provided a clear and detailed plan for thesis research. Students who enter the doctoral program directly from a four-year BA will be required to take the three half-courses that are required at the MA level in addition to the standard PhD requirements.