*Please also see the FAQs at the School of Graduate Studies.
About the Department
In a typical year the DSR is likely to receive around 75 PhD applications and 50 MA applications. Approximately half of the doctoral applications are from international students.
The size of our admitted cohort varies from year to year, based on various institutional requirements. In recent years, the incoming cohort has consisted of around 7 PhD students and 5 MA students.
The PhD program is only offered full-time. It is possible to complete our MA program on a part-time basis; however it is not possible to complete program requirements if you are only available in the evening. There are very few evening classes. MA students who enroll part-time may be able to complete degree requirements in one year but will be assessed a “balance of degree fee” prior to convocation.
The MA program is at least one year but most students take 18-24 months.
For the PhD program, the department does everything possible to facilitate completion of the program within five years. Six years is the maximum length permitted, after which students must apply for a formal extension (maximum of four) in order to remain in the program.
Before Applying
We generally begin accepting applications in mid October for the following academic year. The deadline is the middle of December.
Yes, there is an application fee of $125 CDN. Normally, the application fee cannot be waived. However, the DSR will waive application fees for a limited number of students from the global south, based on financial need, diversity considerations, and contingent on the support of one of our faculty members. Please inquire for further details (religion.grad@utoronto.ca)
No, this is not one of our admission requirements.
No, all of our programs begin in September.
Please see the websites of the collaborative programs you are considering and review the application requirements detailed there.
The admissions committee takes a holistic approach that considers a candidate's academic references, the research proposal, the interest and availability of supervisors, and evidence of language proficiency, as well as GPA for previous degrees. All applicants must meet the university's English language requirement.
The study of religion is inherently interdisciplinary, and we welcome all applicants with significant background in the humanities and interpretive social sciences, although with preference for applicants with previous background in the study of religion. For applicants with limited exposure to the study of religion, the MA can be an especially appropriate degree option. If you have questions about your particular disciplinary background, the best person to contact is a faculty member in your research area.
In such cases, we recommend that you take several 400-level courses offered by the Department for the Study of Religion, as a non-degree student. Succeeding in these courses will demonstrate that you are capable of succeeding in our MA program.
Yes, please feel free to contact DSR faculty to discuss potential topics of research and the possibility of supervision.
Students applying with degrees completed in other countries sometimes have difficulty assessing their credentials. The University of Toronto has an equivalency list, which can help with a basic assessment, available at the SGS Portal.
After Applying
You can check online to see the status of your application. The online application system can be accessed via this link.
It is not uncommon for outstanding applicants to be refused admission. Admission to our program is very competitive, and meeting or exceeding the admission requirements does not guarantee admission. Unfortunately, we are not able to offer specific feedback on individual applications.
Tuition and Fees
See the graduate program fees web page for detailed information about tuition and other expenses.
All doctoral students are offered tuition plus a stipend of at least $21,750 for five years (this will go up to ~$31,000 as of fall 2025). Sixth-year doctoral students are eligible for the Doctoral Completion Award (values vary from year to year). Unfortunately we are not able to fund MA students. All students are encouraged to apply for external awards (SSHRC, OGS) and the DSR provides extensive resources in support of external award applications. Other potential sources of funding can be found on the graduate scholarships page and the tuition and funding page (for doctoral students)
Canadian students should consider applying for OSAP, the Ontario Graduate Scholarship, various SSHRC programs, SGS University Wide Awards and Restricted Departmental Awards. Deadlines are as early as October of the year preceding registration. International students should seek financial support from their home countries and should also apply for the Ontario Graduate Scholarship.
For Registered Students
The School of Graduate Studies publishes a list of important dates for the current academic year.
Our Graduate Director will meet with you and your advisor to discuss your program and course selection, in late August or early September. You may begin to sign up for courses electronically, on the university’s system (known as ACORN), starting mid August or you may wait until after your meeting. Graduate seminars are not normally oversubscribed, so we do not normally face the problem of students being excluded from classes that they wish to take. Students interested in taking graduate courses offered by other Departments may need to complete a Course Add/Drop form.
There are residences on campus dedicated to graduate students generally. Please visit the U of T Housing website to learn about various housing options. You should apply for admission to a graduate residence as early as possible.