Application Procedures

Applicants to the Department of Molecular Genetics must first apply to the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) through the online admissions application housed on a secure server in the University of Toronto. Your application will be considered only after entering your personal and academic information in the online application, submitting the application fee, and submitting all required supporting documents.

Required Supporting Documents

1. Before you start, download the Applicant Checklist. Use this checklist as a reference when completing your application to ensure that you are submitting all required documents and that they are in the correct format.

   International MSc Applicants only – A faculty sponsor must also fill out the sponsorship form found here.

2. A minimum of two reference reports from professors or lab heads who know you, your work/study habits, and your research capabilities. At least one of the letters should be from a professor who has supervised you directly in a laboratory where you performed an independent research project. Letters typically describe the relationship of the referee to you, the research project(s) you undertook, and a candid assessment of your intellectual capacity, aptitude for laboratory research, ability at interpreting and presenting scientific data, motivation, organizational habits, and communication and interpersonal skills. Any additional information that will inform the admissions committee regarding your suitability for postgraduate education and a career in research is welcome.

   A third letter is optional but may be helpful. It can be from someone less familiar with your research skills - for example, a professor who knows you from a course, but not in a research capacity; a non-faculty researcher who has worked with you, a former employer or work term supervisor, etc. These letters should nonetheless address your attributes that are relevant to graduate study in Molecular Genetics.

   An institutional email address is required for each of your referees. If you are submitting two references, it is imperative that both referees' institutional email addresses are provided. Should you choose to include three references, the department is open to considering one non-institutional email address. However, if you opt for a reference with a non-institutional email address, we kindly request that you reach out to us at mgy.info@utoronto.ca, providing the referee's name, title, institution, phone number, relationship to you, and a non-institutional email address.

   All applications are reviewed electronically; therefore hard copies of reference letters cannot be accepted.

3. A scan of your unofficial transcripts (submitted online). Official transcripts are not required at this point.

4. Your CV (submitted online).

5. A letter of intent (submitted online). This letter should briefly describe your previous research experience, outline your future goals, and research interests (e.g., tell us which professors in our department you would be interested in working with and why).

6. English Facility Exam score (only students who have completed their post-secondary education in a language other than English or French). The Letter of Intent should be a maximum of 2 pages (normal Word formatting).

All documentation must be submitted online by the document deadline date.

Detailed Instructions

1. Log in to the online application at https://admissions.sgs.utoronto.ca/apply/.

2. 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.

3. You may save and return to the application at any point in the process.

4. You will be required to enter information for [# of referees] referees. Be prepared to submit contact information for TWO referees. A THIRD referee is optional, but you must have this information on hand if you wish to provide a third reference. Be sure to inform your referees that you are doing this and that the University of Toronto School of Graduate Studies will be contacting them by email. 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.

   An institutional email address is required for each of your referees. If you are submitting two references, it is imperative that both referees' institutional email addresses are provided. Should you choose to include three references, the department is open to considering one non-institutional email address. However, if you opt for a reference with a non-institutional email address, we kindly request that you reach out to us at mgy.info@utoronto.ca, providing the referee's name, title, institution, phone number, relationship to you, and a non-institutional email address.

   All applications are reviewed electronically; therefore hard copies of reference letters cannot be accepted.

5. If you need to change your referees, please contact the graduate administrator at mgy.info@utoronto.ca.

6. If you need to send a reminder email to your existing referees, you can do so through your applicant portal after submitting your application.

7. To view the status of your application, including outstanding requirements, please log in to your account to view your applicant status portal.

8. You can upload application materials, including unofficial transcripts, Letter of Interest, writing samples, and more, through your applicant status portal after submitting your application.

9. A valid email account is needed to complete the online application, as the University will correspond with applicants using email. Enter your personal data and contact information on the SGS online application and an applicant identification number (Applicant #) and a secure password will be emailed to you. You can leave and return to your application at any point. Note: You cannot change personal data after the application fee is paid.

10. Pay the application fee of $125 Canadian. This fee is non-refundable. The School of Graduate Studies (SGS) must receive your application fee before the Department of Molecular Genetics will review your application. When you have submitted the fee you will be able to check the status of your application. Please allow time for processing the payment by the School of Graduate Studies.

    The application fee can be paid online by VISA or Mastercard. This payment method is secure as the transaction is handled by Mirapay, a third party authorized by VISA and Mastercard. Mirapay provides the School of Graduate Studies with payment confirmation only. SGS and the University of Toronto will not have access to your credit card information. Please note that the process requires that popup blockers on your web browser be disabled.

11. You will be asked to submit one electronic or scanned transcript from each post-secondary institution you have attended. Scanned copies must be up to date and must contain the transcript legend (usually printed on the back of a paper transcript). Transcripts submitted without a legend will not be accepted. For transcripts that are not in English, an English translation must be provided. The admissions committee will make a decision about your application based on the scanned transcript. Please ensure that the file is complete and readable before submitting it. You will not be required to submit official paper copies of your transcripts until after the committee has made its decision. If admitted, you will be required to submit an official transcript; verification of your paper transcript will be a condition that must be satisfied before registration.

12. A Curriculum Vitae or Resume that briefly outlines all of your previous education, work experience, and interests, must also be submitted electronically through the online application system. Please save your file as a PDF before uploading it to your online application.

13. Once you have paid your application fee, you will be able to upload other supporting documents. A letter of intent must be submitted electronically through the online application system. Please save your file as a .pdf before uploading it to your online application.

14. If your primary language is not English and you graduated from a non-Canadian university where the language of instruction and examination was not English, you must submit acceptable English language facility test scores. Applications with test scores that do not meet the minimum requirements will be rejected. Minimum scores must be achieved at the time of application. For more information on acceptable tests and minimum score requirements see Language Requirements. Test scores are reported electronically to the university at your request. Use the institutional code 0982-00.

Applications missing any of the above components will be considered inadmissible.

Application fee waiver

Applicants may request an application fee waiver, which will be considered on a case-by-case basis. If approved, the Department will pay the application fee to the University (currently $125 CAD). As funds are limited, the Department will only issue fee waivers if (a) the request is based on financial need or exceptional circumstances (e.g. applicants from regions experiencing war and civil unrest, particularly Iran, Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Syria, as well as refugee and asylum seekers), and (b) the process below is followed:

1. Confirm that you meet the minimum admission requirements for the program.
2. Contact a member of the graduate faculty and ask them to confirm with our office that your knowledge and training appear sufficient to enable you to succeed at academics and research in the department. Research degrees require finding a lab to support you after the rotation period. We recommend reading faculty research profiles, identifying someone who will appreciate your accomplishments, and including your CV and transcript in an introductory email that explains why you are qualified and will succeed in our department. Faculty receive many such requests, may not respond to what appear to be bulk emails, and may not respond at all if they are not taking students. Please use the subject line “Student interested in ____ requests support for an admission fee waiver”. Fill in the ____ with a topic or research area, to indicate that you know who you are writing to, and what they work on. (You will not be obligated to rotate with this faculty member or join their lab).
3. Fill out the first part of the SGS application form, including the CV, transcript, and language proficiency.
4. Contact mgy.info@utoronto.ca to formally request the admission fee waiver.
5. If the fee waiver is approved, you can submit the full application, which will undergo the standard review process.

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