How to Apply

For all applicants:

• Graduate applicants can upload “unofficial” transcripts through MyFile. Transcripts provided in this way are sufficient for determining conditional admission to graduate programs.
• Include all pages of each postsecondary transcript, when you upload it into the myFile portal.  This initial step but does not complete the process of submitting official transcripts for a graduate school application.  Some institutions send digital versions of official transcripts. Please direct each institution to study@yorku.ca with the candidate’s name and York ID number. Please note that if exercising this option the electronic documents must be received directly from the institution in order to be considered official.
• Official transcripts (printed copies) are mailed to:

• Send all official transcripts from every post-secondary institution attended, including universities and colleges, with the Admissions Office at York University to satisfy the requirements of a full offer of admission.
• Current or past students of York University are not required to submit York transcripts.
• Provide a statement of interest (maximum 2 pages in length; single-line spacing) demonstrating commitment to advanced research in the field. The statement should include a discussion of the applicant’s background, interests, skills, career goals and research interests. Typical questions to be addressed in the statements include but are not limited to:
  1. Briefly explain why you have specifically chosen the MA  or PhD Program in Critical Disability Studies
  2. The doctoral applicants are encouraged to reach out to professors in their areas of interest and discuss potential supervision.
  3. Indicate your particular interests in the field of Critical Disability Studies. Summarize the potential research topic on your MA Major Research Paper (MRP), or your PhD Dissertation and suggest a potential principal supervisor who you would like to work with.
  4. Explain how the MA or PhD Program in Critical Disability Studies will relate to your career goals.
  5. Suggest three elective courses offered by our program that you are interested in enrolling in. (Please note that elective courses will be offered every year and is subject to the availability and scheduling of the course director.)
• submitting one sample of scholarly written work that the applicant has written, as the sole author, for a course or in an employment context
• provide two academic referees from university faculty members. Applicants should name people who are capable of speaking to your experience and interest in the field of Critical Disability Studies.
• Applicants who have been out of school for 5 years or less should provide two names. One as an academic referee from the university faculty and a professional reference.
• provide a current CV or Resume.
• provide English language proficiency test results, if required

Applicants are strongly recommended to apply separately for various York University, Tri-Council, provincial or external scholarships listed on the Awards page over a year prior to the graduate program application.

English Language Proficiency Tests

Proof of language proficiency is required for applicants who meet the following criteria:

1. their first language is not English; AND
2. they have not completed at least one year of full-time study at an accredited university in a country (or institution) where English is the official language of instruction
3. All scores must be sent to York directly by the testing centre. Acceptable language test scores for ESL speakers are located on the Acceptable Language Tests & Scores for ESL Speakers page.
4. If you wish to make an inquiry about language tests or scores that were submitted for your graduate application, please visit the English Language Proficiency page.

International Academic Credentials

International students can review how their academic credentials were achieved overseas compared to York University.  Please verify the minimum admission requirements listed by country. However, there is no definitive answer to the admission eligibility until the entire application package has been reviewed.