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In choosing Western you will join a community of scholars in an enriching and collaborative environment, forming intellectual partnerships that will last a lifetime. Some of Canada’s foremost scientists, entrepreneurs, CEO’s, academics and public servants have studied at Western, and you too can become a member of our esteemed alumni, joining the ranks of more than 275,000 proud graduates.
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Lives Within People Through its dedication to excellence in graduate education, Western offers its graduate students the opportunity to learn from distinguished academics and business leaders and to conduct innovative research in some of the world’s most exciting and emerging areas. With research and teaching in a full complement of disciplines, the University has identified several signature areas for which it has developed an international reputation, including: Imaging, Neuroscience/Brain & Mind, Environmental Sustainability & Green Energy, Materials & Biomaterials, Planetary Science & Exploration, Musculoskeletal Health, and Wind Engineering & Natural Disaster Mitigation. The concentration of excellence in these fields stands to train the next generation of leaders while addressing critical issues affecting populations around the world. • With annual research funding in excess of $225 million and an international reputation for success, Western ranks as one of Canada’s top research-intensive universities. • There are 66 Canada Research Chairs and a Canada Excellence Research Chair among Western’s faculty. • In 2012, researchers at Western and its affiliates generated nearly $20 million in research contracts with industry. • Western has more 3M award-winning faculty than any other Ontario university (second in Canada).
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The Matters Surveys of student and alumni satisfaction, whether conducted by the media or by the University, consistently indicate a very high level of satisfaction with the student experience at Western. This is a tribute to the commitment of our faculty and staff and reflects the broad-based approach to intellectual, social, and personal development that characterizes student life at Western. It is a spirit embodied by all Western students and a testament to their level of engagement on campus. • Western ranked 1st in the category “Most Satisfied Students” in the The Globe and Mail’s annual Canadian University Report for the 11th year in a row. • Western Libraries has the fourth-largest library collection in Canada housing more than 11-million items. • Western has produced the most recipients of Canada’s coveted Top 40 Under 40 award than any other university.
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City Centre Western’s campus is located in London, a cosmopolitan centre set in the heart of Southwestern Ontario, and the region’s economic, entertainment and cultural hub. With a population of more than 366,000, London is Canada’s 11th largest city and the quintessential university town. Big enough for the ‘big city’ experience, it boasts an extensive health care system and excellent business and career opportunities, while providing the safe and charming atmosphere of a small community. Affectionately known as the Forest City, London sports numerous treed areas and public parks. There is an extensive trail system that runs along the Thames River, right onto Western’s campus, for walking, running or biking.
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Your guide to putting together a competitive and well-rounded application for graduate school. You need to be actively involved in your academic community if you expect to increase your chances in graduate applications. Academic involvement means increasing your research output by publishing, writing, presenting and attending conferences, etc. It also means pushing your academic performance in coursework to the highest levels, and maximizing your extracurricular activities and relevant work/volunteer experience on and off campus.
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Applications without lots of academic activity come off as mundane, and as such, you and your professors have less to refer to when describing scholarly abilities and potential.
The viability of your application will hinge on your choice of professors (or professional contacts) who will take on the roles of referees. Admissions committees need to effectively gauge a candidate’s research aptitude and future potential through the written words of those with whom he/ she has worked closely with in recent years. Professors must be well aware of your academic and research abilities, in addition to your overall student engagement and extracurricular activities. Because professors are most likely unaware of all your achievements, it’s important to connect with them during your studies and build relationships. If you are in a program where research opportunities are not as common, go above and beyond in your class work in order to provide both yourself and your professors with more material for a well-rounded application. It is also expected that you provide your referees with an updated CV or résumé that will highlight scholarly achievements and intangible qualities.
Step 3 A Statement of Interest (also known as a Letter of Intent or Plan of Study) is a 500-1,000 word document to assist admissions committees in getting to know you on a personal level. It also provides supplementary information used in conjunction with transcripts and résumés. It summarizes any personal and academic experiences that prompted application to the specific program and includes evidence of individual suitability to the program’s aims and objectives.
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Translation – Why are you a good fit for the program? What are the most compelling reasons you can give for the admissions committee to be interested in you? This is your time to shine! Be sure to have your statement reviewed by your campus writing department to ensure it is informative, well written and error free.
If you are a dedicated scholar who has consistently maintained a high first-class average throughout your undergraduate career, you could secure annual and multi-year merit-based scholarships from external funding agencies to support your graduate education. For the most part, students apply in the current academic year for what they propose to undertake the following academic year.
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You are encouraged to apply for any and all external scholarships in your field and it is recommended to consult with your current department regarding eligibility. The potential of bringing external funding with you to a graduate program is an excellent way to make your application stand out from the pack.
Applying to graduate school signifies you have made a very important decision about your future career direction. Ensuring you have completed the application process correctly and in a timely manner is essential to increasing your chances of pursuing this path. Generally speaking, each school and program have their own application process, therefore you must do careful research on their specific requirements. Do I need to secure a supervisor beforehand? Are there any entrance tests required? Do I need to submit a résumé or CV? When should I order transcripts? Be sure to contact the program(s) to which you are interested in applying as each program may have very specific application requirements. And ask questions! The onus is on you to submit the most competitive application possible. The work you put into it will determine your peace of mind come admission time.
Pursue your
Faculty of Information & Media Studies • Health Information Science M.H.I.S. | Ph.D. • Journalism M.A. • Library & Information Science M.L.I.S. | Ph.D. • Media Studies M.A. | Ph.D.
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Faculty of Law • Law LL.M. | Ph.D. • Studies in Law M.S.L.
Since introducing its first master’s program in 1881, Western has been dedicated to excellence in graduate education. We offer more than 70 master’s and 50 doctoral programs, including a range of professional master’s and interdisciplinary programs – providing endless opportunities to expand knowledge and push the boundaries of discovery in several fields. During your graduate career, we will be with you every step of the way, ensuring you get the most out of your learning experience to help attain the career you have imagined for yourself. We invite you to share in our tradition of excellence and experience the advantages of a Western graduate degree. Faculty of Arts and Humanities • Ancient Philosophy M.A. • Classics M.A. | Ph.D. • Comparative Literature M.A. | Ph.D. • English M.A. | Ph.D. • Film Studies M.A. • French Studies M.A. | Ph.D. • Hispanic Studies M.A. | Ph.D. • Linguistics M.A. • Philosophy M.A. | Ph.D. • Visual Arts M.A. | M.F.A. | Ph.D. • Women’s Studies and Feminist Research M.A. | Ph.D. Brescia University College • Foods and Nutrition M.Sc.F.N. Don Wright Faculty of Music • Community Music Leadership Graduate Diploma • Music D.M.A. | M.A. Music Theory | M.A. Musicology | M.Mus. | Ph.D. • Popular Music and Culture M.A. Faculty of Education • Education M.A. | Ph.D. • Professional Education Ed.D. | G.Dip.P.Ed. | M.P.Ed. Faculty of Engineering • Biomedical Engineering M.E.Sc. | Ph.D. • Chemical and Biochemical Engineering M.E.Sc. | M.Eng. | Ph.D. • Civil and Environmental Engineering M.E.Sc. | M.Eng. | Ph.D. • Design and Manufacturing Engineering M.Eng. • Electrical and Computer Engineering M.E.Sc. | M.Eng. | Ph.D. • Mechanical and Materials Engineering M.E.Sc. | M.Eng. | Ph.D. • Nuclear Engineering M.Eng. Faculty of Health Sciences • Communication Sciences and Disorders M.Cl.Sc. • Health and Rehabilitation Sciences M.P.T. / Ph.D. | M.Sc. | M.Sc. (OT) / Ph.D. | M.Cl.Sc. / Ph.D. | Ph.D. • Kinesiology M.A. | M.Sc. | Ph.D. • Nursing M.N. | M.Sc.N. | Ph.D. • Occupational Therapy M.Sc. (OT) • Physical Therapy M.Cl.Sc. | M.P.T.
Faculty of Science • Applied Mathematics M.Sc. | Ph.D. • Astronomy M.Sc. | Ph.D. • Biology M.Sc. | Ph.D. • Chemistry M.Sc. | Ph.D. • Computer Science M.Sc. | Ph.D. • Environment and Sustainability M.E.S. • Geology M.Sc. | M.Sc. (Accelerated) | Ph.D. • Geophysics M.Sc. | M.Sc. (Accelerated) | Ph.D. • Mathematics M.Sc. | Ph.D. • Physics M.Sc. | Ph.D. • Statistics M.Sc. | Ph.D. Faculty of Social Science • American Studies M.A. • Anthropology M.A. | Ph.D. • Economics M.A. | Ph.D. • Financial Economics M.F.E. • Geography M.A. | M.Sc. | Ph.D. • History M.A. | Ph.D. • Political Science M.A. | Ph.D. • Psychology M.Sc. | Ph.D. • Public Administration M.P.A. • Sociology M.A. | Ph.D. • Theory and Criticism M.A. | Ph.D. Huron University College • Theology M.A. Ivey Business School • Business E.M.B.A. | M.B.A. | Ph.D. • Management M.Sc. King’s University College • Social Work M.S.W. Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry • Anatomy and Cell Biology M.Sc. (Clinical) | M.Sc. (Research) | Ph.D. • Biochemistry M.Sc. | Ph.D. • Clinical Medical Biophysics M.Sc. • Epidemiology and Biostatistics Cert.| M.Sc. | Ph.D. • Family Medicine M.Cl.Sc. | Ph.D. • Medical Biophysics M.Sc. | M.Sc. / Ph.D. | Ph.D. • Microbiology and Immunology M.Sc. | M.Sc. (Accelerated) | Ph.D. • Neuroscience M.Sc. | Ph.D. • Orthodontics M.Cl.D. • Pathology M.Sc. | Ph.D. • Pathology Assistant M.Cl.Sc. • Physiology and Pharmacology M.Sc. | Ph.D. • Public Health M.P.H. • Surgery M.Sc. Collaborative Programs • Biostatistics • Developmental Biology • Engineering in Medicine • Environment and Sustainability • Migration and Ethnic Relations • Molecular Imaging • Musculoskeletal Health Research • Planetary Science • Scientific Computing • Theoretical Physics • Transitional Justice and Post-Conflict Reconstruction
Often referred to as Canada’s most beautiful university campus, Western provides an idyllic background for your studies. Gothic architecture that blends in seamlessly with the natural atmosphere, the ivycovered University provides endless scenic locations to study, chat with friends and relax. The campus is situated on nearly 400 acres of rolling hills and wide-open spaces on the banks of the Thames River. Further testament to its natural beauty, Western was recognized with top honours as Most Beautiful Campus in the Parks and Grounds category of the 2004 National Communities in Bloom competition, a nation-wide beautification program that judges cities, towns, villages, parks and grounds. In fact, Western took the top prize over Banff National Park, one of the most visited national parks in the world. Come visit us and see what Western has to offer!
London, ON, Canada | N6G 1G9 p. 519-661-2102 | f. 519-661-3730 grad.uwo.ca