Admissions

All graduate programs offered by Concordia University, except for the Individualized Program (INDI), are attached to one of the three Faculties or to the John Molson School of Business. The Individual Program (INDI) is attached to the School of Graduate Studies. All graduate programs are under the general supervision of the Council of the School of Graduate Studies and its chair, the Dean of Graduate Studies.

A listing of all current degree programs and fields of advanced study is provided in the Programs section. The degree programs are described fully in the Calendar’s Faculty sections: Faculty of Arts and Science, Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science, Faculty of Fine Arts, John Molson School of Business, and the School of Graduate Studies. Existing degree programs are a reflection of research interests, of the professors and researchers on staff, and of the needs of the community served by the University. Inquiries concerning these degree programs should therefore be sent to the relevant program.

In conjunction with the degree program, the Dean of Graduate Studies is responsible for ensuring the quality of the admission of students to the doctoral, master’s, diploma and certificate programs of the University. Admission is based on an assessment of the student’s qualifications for the proposed program of study and entails specific credit, residence, course, thesis, and examination requirements, which vary from program to program.

The application process

Applicants to graduate programs should apply online; more information is available on the Graduate Studies website.

Applicants may apply as full-time or part-time students; refer to Student Classification for more information.

Admission application deadlines

Admission Application Deadlines vary depending on the degree program. Applicants should contact the degree program to which they are applying for specific admission deadlines. Applicants should arrange for all required documentation to be in the appropriate office by the deadline. Please note that many programs only admit new students for the term which begins in September.

New students (applying for admission to a Master’s or Doctoral program) are now automatically considered for all Entrance Awards; there is no separate application process. Refer to Awards page for further information.

Graduate application fee

There is a $100.00 (Canadian) application fee per application. The fee is payable on-line by Visa, MasterCard, or international Wire Transfer. This application fee is not refundable under any circumstances, nor can it be used towards tuition. It is not transferable to a session other than that for which the student is applying.

Admission requirements

Applicants to Concordia University must meet the minimum university requirements to be considered for admission. Some degree programs may have additional or stricter requirements. These requirements are detailed in the degree program’s calendar section and applicants should review this information. The minimum requirements to be considered for admission to graduate studies at Concordia are listed below.

Concordia University evaluates international degree equivalencies and Canadian equivalencies upon receipt of an application.

Academic requirements

To be considered for admission to Doctoral-level studies, the applicant must have completed a master’s/magisteriate degree (or equivalent) with high standing.

To be considered for admission to Master-level studies, the applicant must have a bachelor’s/baccalaureate degree (or equivalent) with high standing (e.g., with honours, or the Concordia equivalent of a GPA of at least 3.00 on a scale of 4.30).

To be considered for admission to most graduate diploma or graduate certificate-level studies, the applicant must have completed a bachelor’s/baccalaureate degree (or equivalent) with the Concordia equivalent of at GPA of at least 2.70 on a scale of 4.30.

Some degree programs may have additional, or higher, academic requirements. Applicants should review the Calendar program section of the degree program in which they are interested.

Language proficiency requirements

English is the main language of instruction at Concordia University. Applicants who meet one of the following three conditions will be exempted from the English language proficiency test requirement:

Completion of a minimum of three full- years of study at the undergraduate or graduate level at an accredited university in one of the following countries;
Completion of a Quebec Diploma of Collegial Studies (DEC) and a university degree at a Quebec university;
For JMSB applicants applying to the Executive MBA program, a minimum of three years’ full-time work experience in an English milieu, and a successful personal interview.

Applicants, regardless of citizenship, who do not meet one of the three conditions outlined above and whose primary language is not English, will be required to provide proof of English proficiency prior to their admission to Concordia University.

The following are Concordia University’s accepted tests and required minimum scores:

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

The minimum acceptable internet-based TOEFL score for programs in Arts and Science, Fine Arts and the School of Graduate Studies: 90 with at least a score of 20 in each of the four components (some graduate programs may require higher scoring).
The minimum acceptable internet-based TOEFL score for programs in John Molson School of Business: 95 with at least a score of 20 in each of the four components.
The minimum acceptable internet-based TOEFL for programs in the Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science: 85 with at least a score of 20 in each of the four components.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

The minimum acceptable IELTS score for programs in Arts and Science, Fine Arts and the School of Graduate Studies: 6.5 with at least a score of 6.5 in each of the four components (some graduate programs may require higher scoring).
The minimum acceptable IELTS score for programs in John Molson School of Business: 7.0 with at least a score of 6.5 in each of the four components.
The minimum acceptable IELTS score for programs in the Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science: an overall score band of 6.5.

Test results that are more than two years old at the time of application will not be accepted.

In all cases, the University reserves the right to require a language proficiency test if it is deemed necessary.

Please refer to the Graduate Admission page for further information on the Language Proficiency requirements, including additional acceptable tests and related scores.

Permanent Code

The Ministère de l’Enseignement Supérieur (MES) requires all registered students to have a “permanent code” (a unique identifying number) which is assigned by MES.

Applicants who do not provide a valid code with their application must apply for one upon receiving admission to Concordia University. Information on how to apply for a permanent code and a link to the on-line “Permanent Code Data Form” can be found at the Permanent Code website.

Students who do not submit or apply for a permanent code will be charged a permanent code surcharge.

Academic Success & Integrity Module (ASIM)

To be permitted to register for future courses, all graduate students must complete the Academic Success & Integrity Module before the DNE deadline of the first term of admission. Students who fail to submit the ASIM online module will be blocked from registering for the following academic term(s) and from making changes to their current registration until the module is completed.

Prerequisite courses

Applicants who are deficient in certain courses may be required to take prerequisite courses either as an Independent student or as a student in a Qualifying Program. Refer to Independent Students and Qualifying Programs.

Students taking prerequisite courses are charged tuition and other fees on a per credit basis for these courses. See Tuition & Fees.

Transfer credits and exemptions

Student may be entitled to transfer credit from previous studies to their new program and/or be exempted from certain courses. Refer to Transfer Credits and Exemptions for additional information.

Qualifying program

Prerequisite courses

Depending on the degree program and on the number of courses required, prerequisite courses taken in a Qualifying Program may be taken prior to admission into a graduate program or concurrently with the graduate program.

Qualifying Program (prior to admission to a graduate program): Applicants who have completed an undergraduate program leading to a bachelor’s degree, but whose preparation is inadequate for direct admission to a graduate program, may, upon recommendation by a department, be permitted to register for a Qualifying Program of advanced undergraduate or graduate studies. Students admitted to a Qualifying Program take undergraduate or graduate courses as preparation for application to a graduate program.

The minimum qualifications for entry into the Qualifying Program are as follows: at least 24 course credits in the proposed field of study as determined by the program; at least a B average in these courses (B- for Diploma and Graduate Certificate courses), with no grade lower than C; and at least a C average in their final two undergraduate years.
Qualifying Programs consist normally of four or five senior undergraduate courses. In certain exceptional cases, students may be required to take more than this number, and spend more than one full year as qualifying students.
Qualifying students must have their program of study approved by the relevant Graduate Program Director prior to each registration period.
Satisfactory completion of the courses taken in a Qualifying Program does not guarantee automatic admission to a graduate program. Students must apply, or reapply, for admission to graduate studies during or after the Qualifying Program. Their applications are considered along with all other applications received at that time, and do not take priority over those of other applicants who may be better qualified.
Students taking prerequisite courses are charged tuition and other fees on a per credit basis. See Tuition & Fees.

Qualifying Program (concurrent): Students admitted to a graduate program and a concurrent Qualifying Program are required to complete prerequisite courses at the same time as they complete their Graduate Program requirements. The Qualifying Program normally does not exceed 12 credits but may consist of graduate and/or undergraduate courses.

A student who does not successfully complete a concurrent Qualifying Program within the first three terms will be blocked from future registration. Standard ‘May Continue’ or ‘May Not Continue’ Student Requests will apply.
The prerequisite courses are completed in addition to the regular graduate program and form part of the student’s degree requirements for graduation.
The prerequisite course(s) must be completed during the first year of study in the graduate program.
Any grade lower than a B in a course from a Qualifying Program is considered a failure.
Qualifying students must have their program of study approved by the relevant Graduate Program Director prior to each registration period.
Students are charged tuition and other fees for the prerequisite courses in addition to fees charged for the student’s graduate program of study. See Tuition & Fees.

A student who does not successfully complete a concurrent Qualifying Program within the first three terms will be automatically placed on academic probation. Standard ‘May Continue’ or ‘May Not Continue’ student requests will apply.

Deferment of admission

Applicants who are admitted into the program but wish to defer their admission due to extenuating circumstances, such as non-processed visa (supporting documents may be required), may, at the discretion of the Department, be granted this request once within one year. Applicants should consult their Department, as deferrals are not accepted by all programs. The request to change (defer) admission can be found in the Forms for Students section.

Fast track to PhD programs

Fast Tracking describes a process whereby exceptional students are admitted to PhD programs without a master's/magisteriate degree in the same discipline.

Students who follow this process must show high academic performance or potential, evidenced by an outstanding GPA, appropriate research publications in the field of study, a research topic at the master's/magisteriate level which is advanced enough for a doctoral thesis proposal, or other similar demonstrations of achievement.

Students who are accepted for accelerated admission and who are currently registered in a master's/magisteriate degree program, can enter directly into the PhD program without completing all of the master program requirements.

In some cases, an outstanding student who holds a bachelor's degree can progress directly into a PhD program.

External Program Transfer

Transfers from one program to another outside of the originating program’s discipline and to a program in another Department requires the submission of a new application (e.g., PhD (Biology) to PhD (Chemistry)). External program transfers include transfers from another institution to Concordia University.

External-to-Concordia transferred credits cannot account for more than one third of the total course credit load of the destination program.

Internal Program Transfer

Students requesting a program transfer within the same discipline and within the same Department are not required to submit a new application. Such students must instead submit a Service Request for internal program transfer along with any supporting documents required by the new graduate program.

Financial credit

Internal program transfers between thesis-based programs where research continuity is maintained (i.e., thesis-based master’s to PhD, or PhD to thesis-based master’s) will result in financial credit being applied on a per-term basis.

External program transfers between thesis-based programs (i.e. PhD in Biology to PhD in Chemistry), will typically result in financial credit applied on the course credits transferred.
For internal or external program transfers from thesis-based to course-based programs (i.e., PhD to course-based master’s), students will be financially responsible for the remaining credits of the program following approved academic credit transfers.

For internal or external program transfers from course-based to thesis-based programs (i.e., course-based master’s to PhD), financial credit will be applied on the course credits transferred.

Financial credit following transfers from other institutions to Concordia University will be determined on a per course credit basis relative to the Concordia equivalent.

Withdrawal for academic reasons

Students who are withdrawn for academic reasons, will not be eligible to reapply for at least three terms. To qualify for admission, students are required to submit an application and meet competitive admission criteria.

Re-instatement of withdrawn students

Students who withdrew or have been withdrawn from a graduate program for non-academic reasons (e.g. non-continuous registration) may wish to submit a Student Request form requesting re-instatement to the program. Refer to the Classification and Registration for more information.