PhD in Engineering

To apply for a PhD in Engineering, securing a Graduate Faculty Advisor is a crucial step, as a thesis supervisor is required for admission. Before contacting potential advisors, take the time to explore our faculty’s research areas, review their publications and familiarize yourself with their specific interests to ensure they align with your own academic goals.

In addition to the general admission standards of the University of Guelph, the College of Engineering has the following additional admissions criteria for PhD studies. The minimum academic requirement is normally a recognized Master’s degree in engineering. Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Have completed a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree from a recognized post-secondary institution;
• Must have achieved a minimum 73% average in their Master’s program;
  • Not sure what your “admission average” is? Here’s more details on how to calculate it: Calculating Your Admission Average | Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies. International applicants: please use this guide to compare your academic credentials and determine the grade equivalency needed. Additional information available on the International Applicants page.
• Must have demonstrated strong potential for research; and
• A strong recommendation from the M.A.Sc. advisor is necessary.
• ​If English is not your first language or if your university degree was acquired in a country where the first language is not English, you are required to submit a passing English language test (IELTS test) in support of your application. The College of Engineering requires a minimum score of 6.0 for each component band, with a minimum score of 6.5 overall.

View the full Engineering graduate admission requirements here.

More resources for international applicants are available on the U of G Graduate & Postdoctoral website.

PhD.Engg + Collaborative Specialization Admission Requirements

In addition to the general admission standards of the University of Guelph, and College of Engineering PhD program admission requirements, applicants must also meet admission requirements for the Collaborative Specialization:

• International Development Studies Admission Requirements
• One Health Admission Requirements
• Regenerative Medicine Admission Requirements

It is recommended that international applicants apply a minimum of 9 months in advance of the program’s start date.

When you are ready to apply, you will be transferred to the OUAC website where you can complete and submit your application. Apply Now!

All applicants must submit supplementary application materials electronically. Application documents are due one month after the application deadline. The College of Engineering requires the following documents:

• Transcripts (with grading scale included) for all post-secondary institutions (University and College). If transcripts are not in English, please see the OGPS required documents page for translation requirements. WES credential evaluations are not accepted.

• Statement of Research Interest (1-2 pages). There is no specific format for this statement, but it should detail what you are looking to achieve with a graduate degree and what your interests are from a research perspective.

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)

• Language test, for applicants whose first language is not English. For IELTS tests, please note that the College of Engineering requires an overall score of 6.5 with no individual band less than 6.0. The University of Guelph reserves the right to request an English Language test from any applicant.

• A minimum of 2 academic references, with an ability to comment on your research potential. Referees will be sent instructions to upload their reference directly to your application.

Refer to the Office of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies website for details on uploading documents and additional details on application document requirements.

Applicants can monitor their application status via WebAdvisor. The application review process begins after all application documents are received by the College of Engineering. Applicants are notified by email once a decision is made on their application, and offers of admission are accessed through WebAdvisor.