PhD admission requirements

PhD admission requirements

A minimum admission average of A- (83%) in a Master of Arts (MA) degree is required. Direct admission following a BA degree is permissible only rarely and for outstanding applicants.

Applicants from outside Canada whose previous education cannot be assessed readily may be required to demonstrate their knowledge by other means, such as the Graduate Record Examination. Non-Canadian applicants whose first language is not French or English are required to submit evidence of proficiency in the English language or pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A net score of 600 is required.

All inquiries and applications concerning this program should be addressed to the Tri-University Graduate Program in History.

Application documents

Applicants apply to one of the three participating universities. Each school requires several documents which normally include:

• Transcript(s) from previous institutions
• Statement of research interest
• Resume
• Writing sample
• Proof of English Language Proficiency (if applicable)

Application details

Once you decide which university you will apply to, it is important to understand their specific requirements and procedures for the history program.

• University of Guelph
• University of Waterloo
• Wilfrid Laurier University

Application process

All applications are made through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC). Complete the online application for the school where your preferred supervisor is registered and follow their requirements for submission of required documents.

All applications will be processed by a single admissions committee. They will make every effort to consider the applicant's preference when determining admission. If the preferred supervisor is unable to accept new students, the admissions committee may recommend admission under a different supervisor which may be at one of the other two schools. 

Application deadlines

Priority consideration will be given to applicants who apply by February 1 application deadline. We recommend applying two weeks before the deadline to ensure sufficient time to upload your application documents and for referees to submit their reference forms.

Applications received after the deadline will be reviewed at the discretion of the admissions committee.