2025-2026 Application Information

Application Deadlines

PhD Program A CV, statement of intent, writing sample and transcripts must be submitted by December 6, 2024.
Letters of reference must be received by December 6, 2024.
MA Program A CV, statement of intent, writing sample and transcripts must be submitted by January 17, 2025.
Letters of reference must be received by January 17, 2025.

 

Application Instructions

All applicants must submit an online admissions application through the School of Graduate Studies (SGS). Supporting documents are also submitted online. Instructions for the online application can be found on the SGS website. If you have any questions during the application process, please do not hesitate to email Norma Escobar, Undergraduate and Graduate Assistant.

Please note that the application system opens in mid-September.

Required Materials:

  • A curriculum vitae (CV).
  • Statement of Intent: Statement of approximately 500 words (two pages) setting out your main fields of interest and proposed course of study.  This is the chance for the applicant to introduce themselves as a future MA or PhD student of East Asian Studies. They are expected to describe the training(s) they have received, their interested area(s), proposal of their research project if any, and the goal they seek to achieve through graduate studies. An ideal proposal will outline a clear research focus or an original topic and the applicant's credential to carry it out. Applicants may also describe how their research interests intersect with our faculties or, how graduate courses at East Asian Studies will assist fulfilling their educational and intellectual need.
  • A 10- to 15-page sample of the applicant’s academic writing in English.
  • References: three reference letters for PhD applicants; two letters for MA applicants. Letters should be written personally by academic faculty familiar with your work. Referees’ letters must be uploaded on the online system. Referees will be automatically contacted within 24 hours after payment of application fee. Please note that you should complete your application and pay the fee sufficiently before the above deadline to allow your referees time to submit their references by the deadlines. 
  • Transcripts: All applicants are required to upload one electronic or scanned transcript from each post-secondary institution attended. Scanned copies of transcripts must be up to date and must include the transcript “legend” which is usually printed on the back of the paper transcript. The admissions committee will make its decision about your application based on this scanned transcript. Please ensure that the file is complete and readable before submitting.
    Please note that hard official copies of transcripts are not normally required until an applicant has received a letter of offer from the Department. If an offer is made, it will be conditional on receipt of official transcripts. In some cases, the department may request official transcripts during the admissions process.
  • Non-native speakers of English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Applicants taking the paper-based TOEFL must achieve a minimum score of 600 and 5 on the Test of Written English (TWE). Applicants taking the Internet-based TOEFL must achieve a minimum score of 100/120 and 22/30 on the writing and speaking sections. Comparable scores on similar tests are also acceptable. If you graduated from a post-secondary institution in which the language of instruction and examination was English, you do not need to submit an English- language proficiency test score. For instructions on submitting the English test scores, please visit the SGS website.

Once all documents are received your application can be reviewed by the Graduate Admissions Committee. It is your responsibility to monitor the status of your documents in the online application and to follow up with your referees if references are not received in advance of deadlines.

Notes on the application system:

•    If you are a first-time applicant, click the link to Create an Account to begin your application. You will receive a verification code via email as part of the account creation process. After entering your verification code, you will create a password for your account.
•    You may save and return to the application at any point in the process.
•    You will be required to enter information for [# of referees] referees. Your referees will automatically receive a notification email that they have been requested to complete a reference for your application, along with instructions to submit their reference letter in the application system. 
•    If you need to change your referees, please get in touch with the graduate administrator.
•    If you need to send a reminder email to your existing referees, you can do so through your applicant portal after submitting your application.
•    To view the status of your application, including outstanding requirements, please log in to your account to view your applicant status portal. 
•    You can upload application materials, including unofficial transcripts, statements of intent, writing samples, and more, through your applicant status portal after submitting your application. 

Collaborative Specializations

The following collaborative specializations are available to students in participating degree programs as listed below:

Collaborative Master’s Program in Contemporary East and Southeast Asian Studies (CESEAS) (formerly Asia-Pacific Studies or MAPS)

Students wishing to apply for admission into the Collaborative Master’s Program in Contemporary East and Southeast Asian Studies (CESEAS) must apply to (and be accepted into) both the Department of East Asian Studies and the Collaborative MA program in East and Southeast Asian Studies. You should also email the Collaborative Program Office or call 416-946-8832 to determine the admissions deadlines and to see if they require any additional documentation.