Minimum Admission Requirements

Please carefully review the following minimum requirements prior to commencing an application. ECE is unable to consider any applicant who does not satisfy the minimum academic standing and English-language proficiency thresholds outlined below.

As we receive many more applications each year than spaces available, meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission.

Academic Standing

• To be eligible for admission to the MASc or MEng program, an applicant must hold the equivalent of a University of Toronto four-year Bachelor’s degree in electrical or computer engineering, or a related field, with an average equivalent to at least a mid-B in the final year (as per the SGS International Credential Equivalencies tool).
  • MASc applicants must also demonstrate significant potential for research.
• To be eligible for admission to the PhD program, an applicant will typically hold the equivalent of a University of Toronto MASc degree, with thesis, in electrical or computer engineering, or a related field, with an overall average equivalent to at least B+ (as per the SGS International Credential Equivalencies tool).
  • Direct-entry to the PhD program may be available to exceptionally qualified applicants with a four-year Bachelor’s degree or equivalent. An applicant interested in direct-entry to the PhD program should submit an MASc application and then discuss their desired academic path with potential supervisors. A minimum overall average equivalent to at least A- (as per the SGS International Credential Equivalencies tool) is required.
• Related fields may include computer science, mathematics, physics, related engineering disciplines, etc.
• Further information can be found on the SGS Admissions FAQ webpage.

English-language Proficiency

As English is the primary language of instruction and communication in ECE, applicants must demonstrate an adequate level of proficiency in English, regardless of their citizenship status or country of origin.

In ECE, all applicants must demonstrate English-language proficiency in one of the following ways.

• Applicants who will complete a degree where English is uniformly the language of instruction and examination:
  • If the degree was completed in Canada or one of the following countries/regions, no proof of English-language proficiency is required:
    • Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Botswana, Ghana, Guyana, Hong Kong, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Malta, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States of America, Zambia, and Zimbabwe
  • If the degree was completed in a country not on the above list, the language of instruction and examination will require official verification.
    • Official verification is usually provided in the form of a note on the transcript confirming the use of English as the language of instruction and examination. If the official academic transcript does not have this note, applicants should make arrangements for an official statement to be sent from their institution directly to grad.admissions.ece@utoronto.ca confirming the use of English as the primary language of instruction and examination.
• Applicants who will complete a degree where English is not uniformly the language of instruction and examination:
  • Proof of English-language proficiency must demonstrated through one of the options outlined on the SGS website.
    • Proof of English-language proficiency must be satisfied at the time of application.
    • Test scores must not be older than two years at the time of application.

Exemptions to the English-language proficiency rules outlined above are sometimes possible, but only in the following strict scenarios. If an applicant believes that one of the below scenarios applies to them, they should contact grad.admissions.ece@utoronto.ca with a detailed explanation and a request for more information about a possible exemption:

• Applicant’s native language is English (strictly defined as language first learned and still used on a daily basis)
• Applicant is a Canadian citizen who studied at a Canadian university where the language of instruction is French