Transcript:
You will be required to upload one electronic or scanned transcript from each post-secondary institution you 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. If you attended a Canadian university, you may upload a PDF copy of your academic history from your university’s student web service. Printing to PDF directly from your web browser is ideal; if this is not possible you may copy and paste the information into a word processing program and print to PDF from there. Where possible, the file should include the university’s grading legend and your name. Some universities do not include the same information on the student web service as they do on the transcript (e.g., class size or average). If the admissions committee determines that the file is incomplete you may be asked to submit a copy of the transcript instead.
Curriculum Vitae:
1-2 page CV:Include such information as education; awards, scholarships and distinctions; conference presentations; professional and/or work experience; and/or volunteer experience)
Personal Statement:
Statement of interest:In 500 words, describe your general area of historical investigation and your specific research interests. An ideal proposal will outline an original topic, and describe how you have or will obtain the training to carry it out. Many applicants also describe how their research interests intersect with those of faculty at U of T. When reading these statements, the Admissions Committee will look for originality, imaginativeness of approach, awareness of theoretical issues, quality of writing. You need to articulate a feasible program of study with the understanding that it may evolve as you progress through the program. Many of our students end up working on a thesis topic different from the originally proposed one.
Recommendation Letter:
Three referees:Be prepared to submit their institutional email addresses. Be sure to inform your referees that you are doing this and that the University of Toronto’s School of Graduate Studies will contact them by email. Note that due to high volume of applications, the department cannot accept references in paper format. The online submission process is described in the Frequently Asked Questions section. If referees do not have/use an institutional email address, an alternate email may be accepted. Contact the Graduate Office for instructions.
Writing Sample:
You will be asked to upload a sample of academic writing: maximum 3,000 words for MA applicants and maximum 6,000 words for PhD applicants, including footnotes, bibliography, etc. The writing sample should be applicant's very best paper. The ideal is to submit an essay that would demonstrate one's potential as an emerging historian. DO NOT EXCEED THE MAXIMUM WORD LIMIT. It is acceptable to provide an excerpt of a paper including a short paragraph to explain the assignment and what was cut for length.