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Admission Requirements

EnSciMan Program Information Session for 2025 Applicants

If you are interested in learning more about the Environmental Applied Science and Management MASc/PhD programs, please register for our next Program Information session: 2025 Date To Be Announced

View our EnSciMan Program Information Slides  (google slide) here (external link) 

Our program is suitable for students from a number of related disciplines including biology, chemistry, ecology, engineering, geography, geology, public and occupational health, urban planning and environmental studies. Holders of non-environmentally related degrees will be considered on an individual basis.

Graduates with an honours degree (four-year degree) from a recognized university that have achieved a minimum grade point average (GPA) or equivalent of 3.00/4.33 (B) in the last two years of the undergraduate four-year degree may submit an application to the Yeates School of Graduate Studies Admissions (opens in new window) 

MASc applicants are required to have at least one one-term statistics degree credit in their undergraduate degree program.  A one-term course normally is four months' long and has a total of 36 to 40 hours of classes in a term. Applicants who do not have any statistics course credit may submit a master’s program application provided the minimum academic requirements to apply stated above are met. Candidates who are offered admission without the statistics degree credit will be required to complete this requirement preferably prior to the first term of study in the master’s program or during the first year of study after admission.  Any degree credit statistics course completed at the Chang School (Continuing Education Division of Toronto Metropolitan University (opens in new window)  (C.E.) or at any Canadian universities is acceptable.  Graduate students enrol in C.E. courses will be responsible for paying the C.E. course fee in addition to the graduate program fees.

Two letters of academic recommendation are required for each master’s full- and part-time application. Master's part-time applicants who are working in an environmentally related field and that are unable to provide two academic references may submit a professional letter to replace one of the two academic references.  At least one academic reference must be provided.

Candidates who are holders of a master’s degree in an environmentally related discipline and have achieved a minimum grade point average (GPA) or equivalent of 3.33/4.33 (B+) in the master’s program may submit an application to the Yeates School of Graduate Studies Admissions. Master’s degree holders in other academic disciplines will be considered on an individual basis.

Three letters of recommendation are required from academic referees who can judge the candidate's potential to engage in research at the doctoral level. Candidates are also required to demonstrate research potential in the way of a master's thesis or research project indicated in the academic transcript or in a publication that has appeared in a refereed journal or conference proceeding. Applications that don't demonstrate research experience may not be considered for admission.

“There were so many people [in the program] who supported me and allowed this to happen. Both of my supervisors, were incredibly supportive and creative. ”

Rachel McNamee, Environmental Applied Science and Management MASc alumna

Before You Apply

First and foremost, the Environmental Applied Science and Management program is research based which requires working with a program faculty member.

Applicants must contact professors to discuss research supervision opportunities before applying. These professors must be full faculty members affiliated to the program. Refer to the full list of Faculty Members online.

You may wish to refer to this open project listing for supervisors actively recruiting graduate students. Note that faculty members not listed here may still be open to supervision, and you should not be discouraged from contacting those potential supervisors if they are a good fit for your proposed project.

Faculty receive many requests from prospective students for supervision. Most of these demonstrate no knowledge of the faculty's research interests, nor do they show any clear way the students' interests intersect with the faculty's research program. These requests will most often go unanswered. 

We strongly recommend you instead reach out to a small number of very clearly targeted faculty members where there is a strong and clear relationship between your interests and the faculty member's. Please take the time to research potential faculty supervisors, and when you reach out, demonstrate you know what they do and how it relates to your own experience and interests. You are far more likely to get a positive response.

Below is an example of what your email might look like. This is not intended to be a "fill-in-the-blank" template, but rather a guide on how to communicate with potential faculty supervisors."

  

Subject: Prospective EnSciMan Graduate Student Interested in Research Supervision

Dear Dr. [Supervisor's Last Name],

I hope this message finds you well. My name is [Your Full Name], and I am interested in pursuing [Master’s/Doctoral] studies in Environmental Applied Science and Management at Toronto Metropolitan University. I am reaching out after reviewing your research on [mention specific topic, e.g., urban flood adaptation], which closely aligns with my proposed thesis/project focus on [briefly describe your research interest].

Your work on [specific project or paper] particularly resonated with me, and I believe your expertise could be invaluable as I pursue graduate research in this area. I would be grateful if we could arrange a meeting to discuss potential research opportunities under your supervision and explore how my interests and background might complement your ongoing projects.

Thank you very much for considering my request. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss this further.

Warm regards,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Current Degree and Institution]
[Your Contact Information]

Application Checklist

A standard graduate program application comprises of:
 

  • OUAC Web Application (external link) 
  • a Statement of Interest
  • a Resume/CV
  • Letters of Recommendation
  • Transcripts, and
  • proof of English Language Proficiency, where applicable.   
     

Information outlined below is additional program-specific.

Formatting Guidelines

The Statement of Interest is a required component of your application. 

Formatting guidelines for the Statement of Interest

  1. In the top right corner in each page indicate your full name and the program code you are applying. For example, if John Smith is applying for master’s full-time study, "John Smith, AM001" should be appearing in the top right corner of each page of the statement. 
    Our program codes are: 
    -AM001 (master’s full-time)
    -AM002 (master’s part-time)
    -AM003 (PhD)
  2. All text must be in 10 point or larger
  3. Set the margins of each page at a minimum of 0.5 inches
  4. Each Statement must include Part A Potential Faculty Supervisors and Part B Statement of Interest.

Part A: Potential Faculty Supervisors

Indicate “Part A Potential Faculty Supervisors” as the heading of this section.

Provide the names of the professors with whom you would like to study and conduct graduate research under their supervision. Applicants must contact professors to discuss research supervision opportunities before applying. These professors must be faculty members affiliated to this program. Refer to the list of Faculty Members (opens in new window)  online. A maximum of five names may be provided in this section.   

Part B: Statement of Interest

"Indicate 'Part B Statement of Interest' as the heading of this section.  Master’s applicants indicate 'Master’s Thesis Option' or 'Master’s Project Option' in the heading. 

Statistics: provide the year and the university statistics course code/title that you have completed or will be completed.  Or indicate 'No statistics undergraduate credit completed'.

Key words: provide up to five single words and/or brief phrases that summarize the key areas of graduate research you are interested in pursuing.

This section should be no more than 1,000 words in length.

The statement should address the following:

  • reasons for studying in this graduate program
  • expend on the key research areas you are interested in pursuing in a master's thesis, master's project or in the doctoral dissertation
  • how your previous studies and experience have prepared you to study and to conduct scholarly research in this program
  • your career objectives and how this degree program relates to them.

The program expects applicants to submit letters of recommendation from former professors or research supervisors who are familiar with the applicants’ abilities in graduate study and scholarly research. In some cases, we will consider one professional letter of recommendation. If you do not meet this criteria, please contact ensciman@torontomu.ca before applying. 

  • Master’s Applications:   TWO academic recommendations are required for each master’s full- and part-time application. 
  • PhD ApplicationsTHREE academic recommendations are required for each doctoral application.

Additional information about the Letters of Recommendation and submission is available in the Graduate Studies Admissions "Required Documents" web site.

If your referees come across any technical issues about submitting the Letters of Recommendation online, please contact the Graduate Studies Admissions for assistance gradreference@torontomu.ca.  You may monitor the status of your application documents online; refer to step 5 of the Apply Online web site.

EnSciMan Scholarships and Awards

MASc and PhD full time domestic students are eligible to apply for various scholarships and awards both internal and external to the program.  For more information go to: Scholarships, Funding and Awards - YSGPS

  • Toronto Met Graduate Fellowships (TMGF)
    Consideration is automatic; no application required
    Up to $12,000 for master's (2 years) and up to $16,000 for doctoral (4 years)
  • Toronto Met Graduate Development Award (TMGDA)
    Consideration is automatic; no application required
  • Canadian Government Scholarships - Doctoral and Masters ($20,000-$40,000) 
  • Ontario Government Scholarships ($15,000) 
  • The Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarships in Science and technology (QEII-GSST) ($15,000)
    Consideration is automatic; no application required
  • Dennis Mock Graduate Scholarship ($5,000)
  • Supporting Aboriginal Graduate Enhancement (SAGE) Award ( up to $30,000)
  • CERC Migration Graduate Student Stipend (Master's) ($10,000)
  • CERC Migration Graduate Student Stipend (PhD) ($25,000)
  • Geoffrey F. Bruce Fellowship in Canadian Freshwater Policy (up to $25,000)
  • Nick Reid Memorial Award ($5,000)
  • Black Graduate Student Bursary (up to $5,000)
  • Black Graduate Student Fellowship ($15,000)
  • Black Graduate Student Scholarship ($5,000)