Applications
For more information, visit Graduate Admissions.
How to apply
Apply online. You must upload a resume and copies of your transcripts from previous institutions. You also need to provide the email addresses of two professors or other academic authorities familiar with your work.
Detailed information about the requirements, how to provide documents, and how to pay the application fee is given on the Faculty of Graduate Studies before you apply page.
When all required documents, including English proficiency score and referee reports are in, your application will be checked against the University's minimum requirements, and if those are met, passed on to the Department of Chemistry for review. You do not need to send in official documents for these initial review processes.
When to apply
You can start our MSc and PhD programs at the beginning of any term (September, January, and May).
In order to be considered for a particular term we strongly encourage you to complete your application (apply and be sure UVic receives any necessary external materials, such as referee reports and English competency) as soon as possible.
If you are an international applicant, you should apply considerably earlier to allow time to obtain a study permit or student visa (if required) after your application is complete, has been reviewed, and you have been offered admission. The University advises these suggested dates . The dates shown in the link below are the actual deadlines - you cannot start an application after these posted dates.
If you decide you need less time than suggested, the Department of Chemistry will accept your application up to four months prior to the desired start date, but it is up to you to ensure you have allowed enough time to get any required permits or visas.
References
You are strongly advised to suggest referees who are faculty members with direct knowledge of either your research capabilities (e.g. research supervisor) or academic abilities (course instructors). Please do not suggest current or former co-workers as referees.
When you apply online, you will supply the names and business email address for your referees. Use an email that can be verified at the referee's work website. Your referee will be sent a link to the referee report and information on the procedure: they can paste in the text of a previously written referee letter, and/or just answer a few multiple choice questions.
MSc Applicants/Undergraduate Applicants: Supply at least one referee report from someone who runs a research lab, and is familiar with your ability in the lab. The referee should supply some detail of your research experience and ability in the lab.
PhD Applicants: If you already have an MSc, at least one of the two referee reports supplied should be from your research supervisor, and should contain some substantive information on your lab work ability and research ability/experience.
English proficiency tests
Any student whose application requires information from an international institution is considered international. In short, to be accepted in the Department of Chemistry, international applicants also need to provide proof of English proficiency.
Please check the language proficiency requirements if you are an international student. Note the minimum required test scores on that page, and the second tab that list the designated English speaking countries. The minimum scores are an application requirement and cannot be waived. The Department of Chemistry does not offer conditional admission or a concurrent English upgrading program.
Contacting supervisors
We encourage you to email any of our professors with questions. They cannot offer you a position in their research group based on emails, but they can indicate whether there are potential openings to be filled. You must formally apply and meet the minimum application standards before faculty members can make you an offer.
You do not have to find a supervisor before you apply. There is a spot on the application for listing your proposed supervisor – you can leave this blank or add names of those professors whose work especially interests you. Either way all supervisors see all applications that are approved by our Grad Studies Committee, and then they can make applicants offers.
Review process
University of Victoria's Graduate Admissions and Records Office reviews all applications. Those meeting the general University requirements are then forwarded to the Department of Chemistry for review by our graduate studies committee(GSC). Once the Chemistry GSC accepts (or declines) an application, our graduate secretary will let you know via email, and all potential supervisors (including but not limited to any you have contacted or list on your application) will have the opportunity to make you an offer.
Their decisions depend on the strength of your file and the availability of funding and space in their labs for the semester that you are hoping to begin your program. Space and funding is unpredictable, so we cannot offer a timeline for offers.