Application Deadlines and Requirements
The Institute of Medical Science offers programs in a Master of Science (MSc), a Doctor of Philosophy Direct Entry (PhD U), and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Learn more about the programs on offer here.
We highly recommend you find a supervisor early. Learn how to find a supervisor here.
Please note that all email inquiries should be initiated from institutional email addresses.
Application Deadlines
September 2025 applications – open as of November 1st 2024
September 2025 early consideration deadline – February 1st 2025
January 2026 applications – will open August 31st 2025
Domestic Applicants |
International Applicants |
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September 2025 Admission
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June 1, 2025 |
April 15, 2025 This will allow processing time for the application and provides ample time for your study permit application. |
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January 2026 Admission
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October 15, 2025
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September 15, 2025 This will allow processing time for the application and provides ample time for your study permit application. |
The early consideration admission deadline for Fall 2025 registration is February 1st 2025. If you are applying for September 2025 early consideration you must submit a complete application by this date.
The IMS Admissions Committee meets regularly to review completed applications. You are strongly encouraged to submit a completed application as soon as possible. Once an application has been reviewed by the Committee, you will be notified both via email and through the online application portal of a decision.
Only completed applications will be considered by the IMS Admissions Committee.
All applicants to the MSc, PhD Direct Entry, and PhD programs must submit:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) that must include (max 5 pages)
- Post-secondary Education
- Research Experiences
- Academic Productivity (manuscripts and publications, conference presentations and abstracts, etc.)
- Employment
- Volunteer Work, Internships, and Extracurricular Activities
- Letter of Intent (MSc applicants 1-2 pages; PhD and PhD Direct Entry applicants 5-7 pages)
- If you are a PhD or PhD Direct Entry applicant, you must also include a Research Proposal. The Research Proposal must be combined with the Letter of Intent on the online application
- Research questions/specific research area that interests you
- Preparation for the research area to which you applied
- Career plans, professional goals
- List potential supervisors you have been in contact with
- Other pertinent information (gaps in your academic records, extenuating circumstances for poor grades, leadership roles you have undertaken, collaborative experiences of note, etc.)
- Reference letters
- If you are a MSc applicant, you must submit two references from a faculty member
- If you are a PhD or a PhD Direct Entry applicant, you must submit three references from a faculty member
- Each required reference must be a faculty member (assistant professor, associate professor, full professor) at a recognized university
- At least one of these references must speak to your research experience
- A graduate student, teaching assistant, research assistant/associate, manager, sessional lecturer, adjunct professor, or post-doc fellow are not eligible referees for a required reference
- If you are a MSc applicant, you can provide an optional third reference from a non-faculty member (some examples include a lab manager, post-doc fellow, university coach, music instructor)
- Academic transcript(s)
- If you are/were a University of Toronto student, you do not need to provide an official transcript for the application. Please upload a copy of your academic record from ROSI/ACORN as the electronic transcript to your online application
- The IMS does not require official transcripts for an application to be considered, unofficial transcripts are fine. However, if successful, the IMS requires official transcripts to come directly from the issuing institution for registration in the program
- Per University of Toronto policy, for transcripts to be considered official, they must come directly from the issuing academic institution to the IMS Office
- The IMS prefers official transcripts to be sent electronically via email to adm.medscience@utoronto.ca, but transcripts can also be sent to the IMS Mailing address (see end of page)
- If applicable, Supervisory Letter (must be uploaded by the applicant)
- If you are a PhD, PhD Direct Entry, or an International MSc applicant, you must have a supervisory letter at the time of application
- If you are a MSc domestic applicant, you do not need a supervisory letter at the time of applying. However, if successful, you must have supervisor in place before initial registration in the IMS program
- If you have secured a supervisor at the time of your MSc application, it is strongly recommended that you upload a Supervisory Letter to your online application
- Should include your proposed supervisor's ability to supervise and fund you for the length of the degree (Master's 2 years, PhD 5 years, and PhD Direct Entry 6 years). It should also include the funding sources. Any additional information that faculty member wishes to include
- If applicable, Letter of Protected Time
- If you current are in, or will be in a fellowship, clinical training, or residency program the IMS requires a letter confirming that you will be given at least 80% protected time for your graduate research
- This can come from your proposed supervisor (either in a separate letter, or part of the Supervisory Letter), or department head
- If applicable, Certified English translations of all documentation written in a language other than English or French
- If applicable, English Language Proficiency Test
- Testing results must be sent directly from the testing centre to the University of Toronto, School of Graduate studies. If you take the TOEFL test, the code for forwarding your results is 0982.
- More information on English Language Proficiency Tests can be found on the SGS website here
The benefits of submitting an early application for consideration are:
- More time to secure research supervision
- Consideration for early awards offered through the School of Graduate Studies
- Consideration for entrance awards offered through the IMS
- Consideration for the RHSE Entrance Scholarship and Temerty Entrance Scholarships
- Advantage of departmental initiatives
- More time to secure housing if you are coming from outside of the GTA
Please see below all the relevant application information, including forms.
Application Forms
Application to the Institute of Medical Science graduate program is available online via the School of Graduate Studies https://admissions.sgs.utoronto.ca/apply/
Your application will be considered after payment of the application fee is received by the School of Graduate Studies and the complete application (including all applicable documentations) is received by the application deadline. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
It is your responsibility to make sure that all required documents are submitted to the application by the due date. The following checklist items are to be completed via the online application website:
- Upload your updated CV, Letter of Intent, and copies of your academic transcript(s) from previous institution(s) attended.
- Reference submissions by referees.
- If you are a domestic or international applicant applying for entry into the PhD/PhD Direct Entry program, or if you are an international student applying for entry to the MSc program, you must upload a letter from the potential supervisor indicating acceptance of supervision and funding commitment.
Additionally, you must request your academic institution(s) to mail official copies of your academic transcript(s) to the IMS office address listed on the transcript request form.
English language testing results must be sent directly from the testing centre to the University of Toronto, School of Graduate Studies. If you take the TOEFL test, the code for forwarding your results directly to the University of Toronto, School of Graduate Studies is 0982.
Supervisory Letter
All international and PhD applicants must upload a supervisory letter to their online application.
Domestic applicants applying to the MSc program do not require a supervisory letter at the time of applying. However, if you have secured a supervisor at the time of application, it is strongly recommended that you upload a Supervisory Letter to your online application
Letters of supervision should include:
- Confirmation that your proposed supervisor will be supervising you for the length of your degree (MSc 2 years, PhD Direct Entry 6 years, PhD 5 years)
- Funding sources
- Research topic/project
- Any additional information your proposed supervisor deems relavent
Letter of Intent/Statement of Interest
A letter of intent/statement of interest, once completed, should be uploaded to your application profile on the SGS Online Application System. It should briefly describe your previous research experience, outline your future goals, research interests and other pertinent information such as:
- Research background – Summer/Undergraduate research
- Potential research area – with identified/approached supervisors, if applicable
- Other information – {e.g. accessibility services, medical issues, extenuating circumstances, low grades, gap in educational history (i.e. medical reasons, employment), lack of research/opportunity, etc.}
- PhD applicants must also provide a research proposal
Interview
You may be invited for an interview with a member of the Admissions Committee to discuss your application (either by telephone/Zoom), prior to receiving a decision on your application.
Admissions Committee Review
The Committee meets once per month from February to July to review completed applications received for September registration. Only completed applications will be sent to the Admissions Committee for review.
The decision of the Admissions Committee is based on the overall evaluation of the application, including transcripts, letters of reference, Letter of Intent/statement of interest, assessment of the applicant’s qualifications according to the standards set by the Institute of Medical Science and the School of Graduate Studies, and assessment of the potential for success in the graduate program.
The Committee’s decision is not based on any single factor but on the overall evaluation of the application.
All Admission Committee decisions are final.
Notification
You will be notified via email after your application has been reviewed by the Admissions Committee. You are advised to schedule a meeting with one of the Graduate Coordinators if you have any questions on the outcome of your application at the end of the admissions cycle.
Decisions on admission suitability by the Admissions Committee are final and appeals will not be considered.
After Acceptance
Conditional offers of admission must be cleared by the set deadline. This allows you to pay your fees and register in the graduate program in a timely fashion.
It is mandatory for all incoming students attend the "New Student Orientation" session. Routine communication from IMS is sent out throughout the year via email and through the website.
More information can be found on our After Acceptance page.
Residency Policy
Period of Residence
IMS requires that students must be in a geographical location in proximity to the University's campus to fully participate and benefit from the graduate program.
Residence provides the student with an opportunity to become immerse in the intellectual environment of the University.
International students and students who will be moving to Toronto must be in a geographical location at the time of registration and remain there until thesis defense.