Application Requirements
As outlined in the graduate calendar, the minimum requirement of the Office of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies for admission into a graduate degree program is a four year honours degree or equivalent, with an average standing of at least second class honours (B-) in the last four semesters of full-time study or two years of work. These are minimum standards for entry into the Capacity Development and Extension program. Note that applicants with degrees from some countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, or India, are required to hold a Bachelor degree and a Master's degree at the First Class/First Division Level to be eligible to apply for a Masters program at the University of Guelph.
The CDE program also participates in a shared collaborative program option with International Development Studies (IDS). Please consult the International Development Studies listing (Graduate Calendar) for a detailed description of the collaborative program including the special additional requirements for each participating Department.
International Students
To study in Canada, all students must apply for a Study Permit at the nearest Canadian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. A student authorization is commonly called a student visa. For you to be considered for a student visa, the Canadian immigration officer will need to see your letter of acceptance from the University of Guelph, proof of citizenship and proof of funds for one academic year. The University of Guelph and Immigration Canada expect international students to have enough funds for the duration of their study in Canada, and especially during their first year. The issuance of a student visa is strongly based on your ability to finance your education. The student visa is usually issued for the duration of your academic program. Please note that you will not be allowed to register at the University of Guelph if you do not have a valid Study Permit.
If your first language is not English, and you do not have a degree from an English speaking University, you must provide an official English Testing score from an acceptable source. More information is available at the Graduate and Postdoctoral website under English Language Proficiency [1].
Students who are neither Canadian citizens nor landed immigrants need to secure sufficient financial support for their graduate studies. It is very important that you secure financial support and provide the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies with evidence of sufficient funding for two years of study in Canada. Capacity Development and Extension does not have any type of financial support available for visa students. Estimates for tuition and fee costs are summarized under Cost of Tuition/Living [2]. Specific costs related to tuition and fees are listed on the Student Financial Services website [3].
Without this kind of financial support, there can be no doubt that your studies would suffer and you would be at considerable risk in terms of successfully completing your program.
Application Procedures
For more information regarding application to the University of Guelph, we suggest that you refer to the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Website under Applying to Guelph [4].
Required Online Documents for Application:
Statement of Interest
Your statement of research interest (separate from the one requested within the on-line application form) should outline:
- your career goals
- the particular area of research you wish to pursue at the University of Guelph (what is it you want to research?)
- its relationship to faculty expertise
CV / Resume
Please provide a current resume that gives a profile of your background and experience.
Application Summary
Please be aware that any material collected towards a graduate application, (for example transcripts, reference letters, etc.) must be dated within the past year. Any material dated prior to a year from the application date will not be accepted.
Your application is not considered complete until all of these documents have been submitted.
Good academic standing alone will not guarantee entry to the program. One of our faculty members must be interested in, and willing to supervise your research. It is therefore important that you state your research interests and goals clearly and succinctly.
Work experience in a related setting is also considered especially useful in applying theory to practice and to identify research needs and topics.
The program offers Fall admission only, full or part-time study, and a thesis or major research paper option.
Limited funding assistance is available for students admitted to the program and as such this is a self-funded program.
Application Deadline
Entry into the Capacity Development and Extension (CDE) program is in the Fall semester annually. Deadline for submission of a complete application is May 30, 2021 for Fall 2021 entry.
Scholarships and Funding [5]
Please refer to the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies website regarding Scholarships and Awards [6].
Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) Program [7]
Applicants who qualify for the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) program require a complete OGS application and a complete graduate application to be submitted by the deadline date set each year. See eligibility requirements and deadline details on the Graduate Studies Funding/Scholarship page [7].
Watch the MSc Capacity Development & Extension at the University of Guelph YouTube Video [8].