How to Apply to Graduate Studies in Political Science

Log into or create an account for the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC) to begin the initial online application for the University of Guelph.

Read and follow the instructions in the OUAC application very carefully.

You do not need to complete the Statement of Academic Intent or Professional Background sections within OUAC.

You have the option of ordering official (sealed) transcripts through OUAC for a fee. This is not required as we accept unofficial transcripts uploaded to WebAdvisor in the next step.

An official copy of your transcript is only required if you accept an offer of admission.

If your first language is not English and this will be your first time completing a degree in the English language, you will be required to submit the results of a standardized language test.

If your first language is not English but you have completed prior post-secondary studies in English, contact csahs.admissions@uoguelph.ca to see if you are eligible to have the test requirement waived.

Provide contact information for two academic referees. An email is automatically sent to the referee listed, so ensure that you have entered the correct email address.

See the FAQ for guidelines on requesting references.

References are due on the Supplemental Documents Deadline listed above, so ensure you give your referee plenty of time to prepare and complete your reference.

Guaranteed Admission Pathway

If you have been approved for the Guaranteed Admission Pathway, you do not need to include references in your OUAC application. However, you will not be able to submit the application without entering referee contact information, so enter:

• csahsgap@uoguelph.ca in the Referee 1 field
• gradapps@uoguelph.ca in the Referee 2 field

After entering and verifying all required information, complete the application fee payment.

A non-refundable application fee of $125 CAD is required for each program/field you apply to.

Guaranteed Admission Pathway

If you have been approved for the Guaranteed Admission Pathway, your application fee will be reimbursed after you start the program.

Upload an unofficial transcript for each university you have attended.

An official copy of your transcript is only required if you accept an offer of admission.

Transcripts requested through OUAC will be automatically uploaded to your account. If you request an official transcript through OUAC, do not upload an unofficial copy of the same transcript to WebAdvisor.

Guaranteed Admission Pathway

If you have been approved for the Guaranteed Admission Pathway, you must still upload your transcripts.

Write a brief proposal that outlines the research you wish to pursue for your project or thesis. Upload the completed proposal to "Statement of Research/Interest" in WebAdvisor.

Length: 1-2 pages, double-spaced (plus references)

Include these four components in your proposal:

1. Research question and relevance: Describe the question that you would like to answer in your project and explain its main relevance. For example, does answering this question further the discipline of political science? Does it make an original contribution? Does it shed light on one or more pressing social and political issues?
2. Existing literature: Describe what the academic literature has to say about your topic of study, relevant theory, and your research question. Your task here is to demonstrate a basic understanding of the literature on your subject. If you are proposing a very deductive study, you can include hypotheses in this section.
3. Methodology: Describe how you plan to find an answer to your research question. In particular, you should comment on your proposed research design and case selection (e.g. experimental research, cross-national comparisons, case study investigation), and on your methods of data collection.
4. Fit with program: Explain why you believe the program you are applying to is a good fit for completing your degree. Identify at least one faculty member who could supervise your project.

Example Proposals

• MRP
• Thesis

Guaranteed Admission Pathway

If you have been approved for the Guaranteed Admission Pathway, you do not need to upload a statement of interest.

Ensure your academic, professional, research, and volunteer experience are listed and described in detail.

Include a writing sample no longer than 30 pages, such as a chapter of your master's thesis.

Calculate your admission average using your grades from the final two years of full-time equivalent study (4-6 semesters) of your undergraduate degree.

For the typical bachelor's degree, this will be 20 courses, but you'll need a minimum of 16 courses in your calculation. If you took a double weight course, that grade is counted twice.

You must also include the grade from each course you completed in a given semester (i.e., do not split a semester). If you failed a course, do not include it in your calculation. If you repeated a course, only take the higher grade.

If your transcript uses letter grades, look up your university's grading scale and convert the letters to percentage grades. If the grading scale provides a range of percentage values, use the midpoint of the range.

For example, at the University of Guelph, a B grade equates to 73-76%, so you would use 74.5% in your calculation. Keep in mind that the conversion may be different at other universities.

Consider using a GPA calculator tool like Scholaro for assistance.

When you apply, we recalculate your average, so don't worry if your self-declared average isn't perfectly accurate.

Yes. If you are still completing your undergraduate degree, calculate your admission average using the most recent final grades available.

You may be admitted to the program on the condition that you complete all requirements for your undergraduate degree by April 30 of the entrance year.

References are a critical component of any application to graduate school. The following guidelines will help you through the process:

• Request references early. Allow at least three weeks for your referee to complete the form.
• Prepare your referee with information that will help them complete the form. Share your draft research proposal with them. You can remind them of your key strengths and accomplishments that they can attest to.
• Choose faculty carefully. First approach professors who have taught you in senior-level courses and ask if they can provide you with a strong reference. References from non-professors are also acceptable as long as they can speak to your academic ability.
• Inform your referee of the application deadline and ask them to confirm that they have completed your reference.

See our sample MRP and thesis research proposals for examples of a strong proposal.

Yes! For more information, check out the International Student Guide. Connect with a Global Pre-Arrival Support Advisor if you have concerns around visas and immigration.

We review all applications that meet the minimum admission requirements. This review takes time, so expect to hear from us a month after the application deadline at the earliest.

Shortlisted applicants to the PhD program will be invited to an interview.

If you are a successful applicant, we will notify you that we are recommending you for admission. Your official offer letter will specify the amount of funding we are able to offer you.

If your application is unsuccessful, you will be notified by email after all admission offers have been processed.