Graduate Art History
 

Graduate Application Information

Applications for the 2024-2025 academic year will open on October 1, 2023.

Applications to the Department of Art History graduate programs must be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) through the online admission application portal. The department will consider your application only after you have completed all steps of the SGS online application.

Please visit the MA and PhD Program Requirements pages for specific admission requirements.

MA Program Requirements

PhD Program Requirements

Application Process and Timeline

Date Description
October 1, 2023

Applications open on October 1, 2023

  • If you have ever been given a UofT student number please include it in your application, to avoid problems with your student records.
  • Under "Proposed Area of Study" please indicate one (or more) of the following as your area of study: Ancient, Medieval, Early Modern, Modern/Contemporary, East Asian, South Asian, African, etc.
  • You may return at any time to confirm the status of your application.
  • As early as possible, complete the Recommendations page by submitting institutional email addresses for three referees. As soon as you submit their information, an email will be sent directly to each referee with a unique system-generated link to where they can upload their reference letters. You do not need to submit your entire application in order for them to receive this link. The deadline for your referees to submit their letters is the same as your application submission deadline: January 6, 2024.
January 6, 2024

By the January deadline:

  • Submit your application, including all supporting documentation:
    • Transcripts from all post-secondary institutions you've attended
    • Writing sample (10-30 pages)
    • Letter of Intent (1-2 pages)
    • CV
    • Proof of English Language Proficiency (if applicable)
  • Your transcripts and CV are required before you can submit the main application. Once you have submitted, you will be able to upload your letter of intent and writing sample.
  • Ensure that your three referees have uploaded their reference letters
  • Pay the application fee. Payment is made on the application site, and payment status will be visible on the application portal.
March 2024

You'll receive an email advising that an admission decision has been made and you can log in to view your admission decision letter.

Admissions are decided on a rolling basis from mid-March onward. Please see the Conditional Acceptance and Official Transcripts section below.

Application Checklist

All supporting documentation must be uploaded to the SGS online application system.

You must submit transcripts from every post-secondary institution you have attended.

Your transcripts must be in PDF format.

You may submit non-official transcripts as long as they show the name of the institution, your full name, and a transcript legend.

For non-English transcripts, English translations must be provided.

If the admissions committee determines that the transcript file is incomplete you may be asked to submit official paper transcripts instead.

All students who are offered admission to the graduate program will be asked to submit official paper transcripts; students whose official transcripts do not match their self-reported academic history may be denied admission.

You will be asked to provide institutional email addresses for three referees; personal email addresses (e.g., gmail, hotmail) are not permitted. Emails will be automatically sent to your referees once you have submitted their contact information on the Recommendations page of your application. You do not need to have submitted your entire application in order for the emails to be sent. 

The writing sample should be a research paper (or equivalent) of between 10 and 30 pages in length (either single- or double-spaced). PhD applicants should normally submit a paper in their proposed research area.

Your letter of intent should describe your academic interests and your plans for graduate study. It should be one to two pages in length (either single- or double-spaced). We especially want to know about your intellectual trajectory and your current research interests and methodologies. If you have special circumstances you would like the committee to be aware of, you can describe them briefly in this letter.

Your CV should include an overview of your academic history, research experience, scholarships and awards, professional experience, community involvement, etc.

Applicants from universities outside Canada where English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of their application. Please see more information about tests of English language proficiency on the SGS website.

 

Conditional Acceptance and Official Transcripts

If you are given a letter of offer, as a condition of admission, you will be required to submit complete official paper transcripts for all post-secondary institutions attended. The University of Toronto requires an official transcript from each post-secondary institution that you have attended. Each institution will have its own procedures for issuing transcripts, and in some cases, this can take weeks or even months. You must consider this timeline when requesting your transcript(s). All non-English language documents must be officially translated into English and submitted to the University of Toronto together with the originals. If you are unable to submit official documents, please contact the Graduate Office directly.

You may submit official transcripts in one of two ways:

  1. Instruct your institution(s) to mail an official transcript directly to the U of T graduate unit to which you are applying. The transcript must be issued directly to the Department of Art History and sent to our mailing address. Documents must be sealed in the original envelope from the issuing institution.
  2. Obtain an official, “issued to student” transcript from your institution and mail it to the Department of Art History yourself. Documents must be sealed in the original envelope from the issuing institution, with a signature across the seal. Photocopies, faxes, or documents arriving in previously opened envelopes will not be considered official.

Applying to a Collaborative Program and/or the PhD Program

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Collaborative Program

If you are applying to a collaborative specialization program, its application procedures may differ from ours. Please visit the appropriate website to review the application procedures and any special admission requirements for that program. When submitting documentation ensure that you submit what is needed for the collaborative program application as well.

University College Coat of Arms

PhD Program

It is strongly recommended that applicants to the PhD program (including Direct-Entry) visit the department and meet with the Director of Graduate Studies and the professor(s) in their area of interest.

Direct-Entry PhD applicants will automatically be considered for the MA program if unsuccessful to the PhD Program.

Applying for Government-Funded Awards

If you are in the process of applying to graduate programs for September, you should apply to scholarship programs such as the Canda Graduate Scholarships Programs (Master's CGS-M and Doctorial CGS-D) and the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS). Current University of Toronto students, especially fourth-year undergraduate students and MA students, should apply through the Department of Art History at UofT. If you are not a current UofT student, apply through your University, or, if you are not currently a student, apply directly to the granting agency's portal.

MA Scholarships and Awards

PhD Scholarships and Awards

Tuition and Fees

Tuition varies by program and by immigration status. Visit the Student Accounts website for the current tuition and fee schedules.

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Questions? Please refer to the FAQ page and/or contact the Graduate Assistant. Technical assistance with the online application system should be directed to the School of Graduate Studies (416-978-6614).

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