Admission Procedures

Admission to the program is based on the record of undergraduate study and also on the match between the student's proposed program and the department's areas of expertise.

Applicants should have completed (by time of entrance) a Bachelors' degree in a field related to the proposed graduate work, with a GPA of at least B+ in the last two years of study. Applicants should also submit a Prospectus Statement that provides a clear statement of their study interests, a proposed subject for thesis research, their long-term goals and their reasons for choosing this department for graduate studies.

In the case of students whose research topic requires them to use original language materials, supervisors may require additional language courses or a period of study overseas either before admission or during the course of the program. The Department's English language requirements follow University regulations, including minimum TOEFL language scores if applicable.

The Department may conclude that an applicant requires additional preparation for Master's work, and in such cases may require that specific courses be taken in order to qualify for admission. Students should consult with the graduate advisor before submitting an application.

We encourage all students to seek out potential supervisors and discuss their possible research areas of interest prior to application.

Application Procedure

Application packages are obtained from the Faculty of Graduate Studies Website. All completed applications and supporting documents must be submitted directly to the Admissions Office, Faculty of Graduate Studies.

An application must include the following materials:

Application for Admission to Graduate Studies.
Two Academic References.
Application Fee ($100 for candidates with Canadian transcripts; $125 for applicants with any international documentation).
Official Transcripts of all Post-Secondary Studies.
TOEFL scores, if required.
One copy of a sample of the applicant's written work, up to a maximum of 10 pages (e.g. a third or fourth-year university paper).
One copy of a Statement of Intent maximum 500 words on:

background and qualifications in relation to the proposed program, including a detailed assessment of language competence as it pertains to the expected topic of study.
the expected topic of study, and a general outline of how the topic would be investigated.
reasons for proposing to study in this department.
long-term goals and objectives.
potential supervisor(s) and proposed Study Stream.
whether you wish to be considered for department Teaching Assistantships and Research Assistantships.
whether you wish to be considered for department fellowships and scholarships.

***Note to Students

The following email has been set up to receive document submissions from students that are not part of their official documents [graddocs@uvic.ca]
All documents not requiring official status can be sent digitally (pdf preferred) to this address including:

Sample of Written Work

Statement of Intent

It is imperative that, in the body of the email, the student include full name, student number (if they already have it), date of birth and entry point as well as indicating which specific items these documents are meant to be in their application requirements.

The subject heading should indicate their name and “supporting application documents for”, for example:

Subject: supporting application documents for John Q Gradapp, Sep 2011.

The entry date for the program is September each year. The deadline for submission of applicants with international transcripts is December 15; for applicants with Canadian transcripts, the deadline is January 15. Once all documents are processed, the applications are reviewed by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and by the Department's Graduate Admissions Committee. Applicants will be notified by the Faculty of Graduate Studies as soon as the results are available, and by March 31 at the latest. Students are expected to indicate acceptance by April 15th for entrance in September of that year.

More details about the Graduate Program:

[Admission Procedures]

[Important Dates and Deadlines]

[Program Description and Structure]