How to apply

Academic Calendar 2020-21 - Admission Requirements: MA and PhD.

FGS Admission requirements and deadlines webpage.

For admission to the MA program - minimum overall average of B+ (6.0 GPA) for the last two years of university work.

For admission to the PhD program - minimum average of A- (7.0 GPA) in their master's program.

GPA calculations on the FGS Admission requirements webpage.

Please note GPA calculations are not done by our department but directly by GARO (Graduate Admissions and Records Office).

Upgrading your GPA - see the Academic Calendar for your options.

ANTH department require the following items with your application:

• Online application form
• Statement of Intent: 1-2 pages which highlight relevant aspects of your background and training, describe your general research interests and how they correspond with your supervisor’s.
• Writing sample: this can be your term paper, honours thesis or a published paper that best reflects your abilities. No specific length.
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• 2 assessment reports and/or letters of reference: the online application will prompt you to provide two names (or more) and email addresses. Automatic assessment requests will be sent out once you submit your application and your references will have an option to upload a reference letter or complete the online questionnaire. Please ask your references to submit their assessment by the end of January.
• Transcripts:
  • Electronic copies of your transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended (including transfer credits) are sufficient until an offer of admission is made.
  • If an offer of admission is made, then you will be required to submit either original hard copies directly to GARO office or official digital documents sent directly from the issuing institution to: graddocs@uvic.ca.
  • For more information on what is considered "unofficial transcripts", please see the "submission of documents“ page on the Faculty of Graduate Studies website
  • UVic transcripts – if you have just completed a degree at UVic (e.g. June convocation before September grad school start), GARO can obtain confirmation that your degree requirements are complete directly from OREG. Once all your courses are graded and all your degree requirements are complete please email the graduate secretary at anthtwo@uvic.ca. 

More on submission of documents here.

Most classes at UVic are taught in English.

You must provide proof that you are proficient in the English language to attend UVic.

You are exempt from this requirement if:

• English is your primary language
• you’ve spent the last three years before coming to UVic in an English-speaking country
• you have a degree from a designated English-speaking country
• you have a degree from a recognized institution at which the language of instruction is English
  • your official degree certificate states that the medium of instruction for your master’s degree was English

We accept three language tests as proof of language proficiency: TOEFL, IELTS, or MET.

Official test score reports must be sent directly to UVic by the testing agency.

We cannot accept test scores more than two years old.

For minimum test scores and more information check here.

Applicants are encouraged to contact a potential supervisor before applying.

Please see our list of faculty members at the regular faculty members and their research interests and then contact the one(s) you would be interested in working with, describe your research interest and ask if they will be taking on new students.

​Please note that supervisor’s agreement to take you as a student does not guarantee your acceptance into the program.

To ensure that your application receives full consideration and timely attention, please read the following instructions carefully:

Complete your application form - this includes disclosing all post-secondary institutions where any course registrations were made. Failure to disclose may result in having your admission and registration cancelled. The application fee requirement cannot be waived. If you need to make arrangements for someone else (possibly a friend or family member) to pay the application fee contact the Graduate Admissions and Records office for more information.

You will need to provide the names and email addresses of your chosen assessors when you submit your online application. It is important that you contact your referees prior to applying to confirm their willingness to provide you with an assessment.

Ensure that all documents are submitted under the same name. If documents are received with alternate spellings or different names, delays will undoubtedly occur. Submit your application early. The majority of applications are received within two weeks of the deadlines. Processing is much slower at these times.  Please ensure that you plan ahead with your application and the materials required. It could take several weeks for transcripts and assessment reports to arrive and be processed for review.

We will do our best to notify students by the end of March or beginning of April.

You can view the checklist on your My UVic application profile for a list of received and outstanding documents. You will be able to upload new documents to your applications even after the application has been submitted. Please keep in mind that it could take few days before all documents received will appear on your checklist. If documents are received during holiday closure or at an extremely busy time of year it could take a little longer.

Once your file has sufficient information for evaluation, a graduate admissions and records officer will review it to determine if you meet the minimum requirements for the Faculty of Graduate Studies. Once this is confirmed your file will be forwarded to the specific program department for their assessment. You will be advised of the decision as soon as possible, but in some cases this may take many weeks.

• A student’s scholarly promise as evidenced by transcripts.
• Statement of interest, letters of recommendations and written work.
• The availability of faculty to supervise the applicant’s research.
• The number of students currently enrolled in the program.