Joint PhD in Literary Studies / Theatre Studies in English

Information about the Program

Information for Prospective International Students

Application

Your complete application should be submitted at least seven months in advance of the semester in which you wish to begin your studies if accepted.

Commonwealth Scholarship students do not apply to Canadian Universities directly for graduate admission. Commonwealth authorities will forward your application files to Canadian Universities for you.

A final decision on possible admission will not be made until your completed application package arrives including the application fee. You must arrange for transcripts of your academic record to be sent to the Joint PhD Program Director; transcripts must be official copies or originals sent by the University or College you previously attended. You should also request that three professors, who are familiar with your previous academic performance, give their letters of reference to you in time for you to meet the deadline; the forms they should use are part of the application package.

Citizenship

Please ensure that you state your country of citizenship, and your proposed date of entry into Canada. Under the Canada Immigration Act, students who are neither Canadian citizens nor landed immigrants will be required to obtain a 'student authorization' before coming to Canada.

Please note that an offer of admission does not guarantee entry to Canada. You must go to the nearest Canadian Embassy or Consulate to apply for the 'student authorization' you must have to study in Canada. Should there be no Embassy or Consulate in your vicinity, it is possible to apply by mail.

Among other requirements you will need to provide immigration officials with the original offer of admission into the Joint PhD Program, and proof that you will have adequate funds to support yourself (and your family, if applicable) for the duration of your academic stay in Canada. If you plan to bring your family, and you are from a country from which a visa is required to enter Canada, please secure the necessary visas for your dependents. In the event that you should arrive in Canada without valid authorization, Immigration officials will have no option but to return you to your home country.

More information on citizenship, immigration, and studying in Canada.

Language Requirement

English is the language of instruction and examination in the Joint PhD Program. For this reason an applicant whose first language is other than English will be required to submit certification of proficiency in the use of English. In order to avoid possible delay, the applicant is urged to submit this certification promptly. The application cannot be regarded as complete until appropriate certification is received by the Director of the Joint PhD Program.

Tuition, Fees and Health Insurance

All graduate students are required to maintain continuous registration and must register three terms a year until they have completed program requirements. Should you be accepted into one of the two universities in the Joint PhD Program, you will be sent a Graduate Calendar setting out registration regulations specific to the University of Guelph or Wilfrid Laurier University.

The calendar will set out the actual amount of the International Student tuition fees, the incidental student fees, and the Health Insurance premiums that you are required to pay. These costs vary slightly between Guelph and Laurier.

You will also be required to purchase the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) and Supplementary Medical Insurance when you arrive. This must be applied for immediately upon arrival. For a current schedule of UHIP fees, students should contact the Graduate Program Services Office (Guelph) or the Extended Health and Accident Insurance Program (Laurier). Please do not buy insurance in your home country prior to checking with the Graduate Program Services Office.

Living Expenses

Immigration authorities will require you to provide evidence that you have sufficient funds for your maintenance. You may expect that you will require at least an additional $10,000 Canadian approximately per year for books, residence, food and other living costs.

More detailed information on living expenses can be found at the Destination Canada and Study in Canada sites.

More Information

For more information of fees for international students, please consult the International Graduate Student Funding Guideline.

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Sources of funding

Upon registration, you will receive the appropriate university Graduate Calendar and you may then apply for internal University Scholarships listed in the calendar that you may be eligible for as an incoming student. Eligibility for most scholarships tenable in Canada from Foundations and Canadian Government sources is restricted to Canadian citizens or Landed Immigrants. Ontario Graduate Scholarships are open to only a few visa students, and these students must already hold their visas when they apply for them. Application is made in October for the following year.

The level of Teaching and Research Assistantship funding you may also receive is determined by the Department to which you are assigned after your complete application file has been assessed and you have been offered admission. For an up-to-date and complete listing of sources of funding, please visit our Graduate Studies web sites at Guelph or Wilfrid Laurier.

If you have been accepted and are offered awards and/or assistantships during your program of study, they will normally not be sufficient to cover your total costs. If you are funded by your home country or an International agency, you should request that they provide proof of the amount of your award and / or research funding.

Employment

Some limitations may apply on the number of hours a graduate student is allowed to work. If you are accepted to study in the Joint PhD Program, you do not need an Employment Authorization to work on campus. With some specific exceptions for education-related jobs, you may not work off campus. Spouses of international students are allowed to work on the campus or in the community, as long as the 'Student Authorization' is valid, provided they have obtained an 'Employment Authorization'.