Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education

• Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies.
• ​A relevant MEd or MA degree, or its equivalent, with an average of at least B+ or demonstrated comparable research competence. In individual cases, students with a highly relevant master’s degree or other equivalent graduate degree may be admitted, but additional courses in Higher Education may be required.
• To be admitted on a flexible-time basis, applicants should be active professionals who demonstrate connections between their professional work and their proposed course program, and/or between their professional work and their proposed research. Applicants should have the capacity to secure blocks of time to enable concentrated study.

All applicants must submit:

• Transcript(s) from each post-secondary institution attended.
• Two letters of reference (one academic and one professional).
• Resumé that provides clear and complete information about the applicant's work or field experience related to their proposed studies.
• Answers to faculty admissions questions (applicants are to answer each question in an essay format).
• Applicants must submit written evidence of their ability to define research question or problem, devise a research design, and analyze and report research findings - all in an academically rigorous manner. This sample of written work may be an undergraduate or master's thesis, long essays or papers written for master's-level courses, reports and studies written as part of employment, or other documents that demonstrate the ability to conduct research at the doctoral level.

Applicants are to answer each question in an essay format (bullet points are not acceptable).

• Please address the following (2000 words max):
  • Describe your relevant academic background, professional experiences, community service and any other relevant experiences and how they relate to your chosen program. Why is this program a good fit for you? Why are you a good fit for the program? Our strongest candidates speak to specific academic interests and professional experiences, rather than a love of education broadly. If your academic background is not in education or a related social science field, you are encouraged to describe how your experiences have prepared you for the program.
  • Highlight your research interests and/or state the research question you wish to investigate. You should highlight how your proposed research relates to the course offerings and expertise of faculty in the Higher Education program. You may want to cite core scholars that orient your research in this field.
  • Discuss any prior research experiences, graduate studies, or relevant skills and experiences that make you a strong candidate for a research-stream program. For example, mention any prior conference presentations, publications, advocacy work, or other forms of knowledge dissemination.
  • Please speak to your academic and professional goals and how pursuing a doctoral degree in Higher Education will advance these goals.
  • The Higher Education Program seeks to maintain a diverse, inclusive, and engaged learning community. Please identify any unique or special contributions you will bring to this community.
• Indicate the faculty member(s) you would like to work with in the program and why. How will the faculty member’s expertise and/or area of study support your proposed research and/or area of study? Note: you do not need to secure a supervisor prior to applying. Please visit the Higher Education website and read through faculty profile. (1500 words max)
• If applicable - (PhD full time applicants only) If you will have funding from your home government, international organization or funding agencies, please provide details (Name of funding agency, value and duration). (1500 words max)
• (PhD flex time applicants only) Applicants to the flexible-time program should be active professionals who demonstrate connections between their professional work and their proposed research. Professional activities may include consulting, community organizing, self-employment, contractual work, or equivalent. Please briefly describe how your professional work meets this requirement. If your professional work is not located in the Toronto area, please explain how you will meet the in-person study requirement while remaining an active professional (for example, working remotely). (1500 words max)