A good Honours degree, or its equivalent, is required for admission to the Oceanography Department. Undergraduate preparation may be in any of the basic sciences - Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Geology. Degrees in Atmospheric Science, Meteorology, Mathematics or Engineering are also acceptable if the undergraduate work includes a reasonably good background in relevant basic science. Admission is granted primarily on the basis of the undergraduate record and letters of recommendation, however, in some cases the results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is also required.
Completed applications, including supporting documentation, must be received by the following dates for September admission: June 1 for Canadian Applicants, and April 1 for Non-Canadian Applicants.
* If Visa processing is lengthy, applicants should apply at least two months before the deadline.
All applications are reviewed first by the appropriate discipline, to locate a potential supervisor and funding. The file is then passed to the Graduate Admissions Committee (GAC), who determine whether the applicant meets departmental standards,and their eligibility for any University level scholarships. The GAC will make a recommendation to the Faculty of Graduate Studies for acceptance or rejection. Please note, a positive recommendation by the department does not constitute acceptance into the program. The ultimate decision on your admission, including any required conditions relating to such admission, will be made by the Faculty of Graduate Studies. You are not admitted into the program unless and until the Faculty of Graduate Studies approves your admission and a formal letter of acceptance is issued by the Registrar's Office.
If admitted, it will normally take 2.5 to 3 years to satisfy the requirements of the MSc program. The PhD program will take, on average, 4 to 6 years to complete.