Programs: Academic Doctoral
Admission Requirements and Process for Academic Doctoral Degrees

All applications for admission to advanced degree programs are processed by the Advanced Degree Office of the TST at 47 Queen's Park Cres. East, Toronto, Ontario M5S 2C3 ( E-mail: tstadv.degree @ utoronto.ca ). Students admitted to advanced degree programs are registered both in the TST and in one of the member schools of the TST. Thus applicants ought to indicate in their application the member school in which they seek to register. In addition, applicants are advised to contact the Director of Advanced Degree Studies at their selected school of registration, preferably before the application deadline, in order to receive information about financial aid and other aspects of the school’s resources and requirements for advanced degree students.

Applicants who wish to apply for financial aid must do so directly through the member school to which they are applying. Applicants who wish to ensure consideration by a member school of their request for an entrance scholarship or other forms of financial assistance must make sure that their application, letters of reference (at least two), and all supporting documentation be received by the application deadlines. Early application is recommended, particularly for doctoral applicants.

Application Deadline and Form

Applications for all Advanced Degree programs may be made as early as November 1st;  The deadline  for applications is January 15th. Late applications will be considered until March 31st if space permits. The online application form is available here. To request a separate financial aid application form, please contact the member school to which you are applying.

Note: TST does not consider applications requesting entrance into its programs at the mid-point of the academic year (January).

General Admissions and Application Requirements

Note: Program-specific requirements appear in the next section of this page.

• A fee of $100 payable by a cheque drawn from a Canadian or US account made out to the “Toronto School of Theology” or by money order.
• A statement of between one hundred and five hundred words outlining what is desired academically of the program.
• Evidence of facility in English, for applicants whose first language is not English. This evidence may be either (a) graduation with an Arts degree from a University where the language of instruction and examination is English or (b) a satisfactory score in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The score required for students who take the computer-based test is 250. For those who take the internet-based test, a total score of 100 is required, with a minimum of 22 on the writing section and a 22 on the speaking section. A score of 600, with a 5.0 in the Test of Written English (TWE) is the minimum requirement for those who take the paper-based TOEFL. To request a registration package for TOEFL and TWE examinations, please write to: TOEFL/TWE Services, P.O. Box 6151, Princeton, New Jersey, U.S.A. 08541-6151 or telephone (609)951-1100 (or use the hyperlinks indicated here). The TST institution code 0655 and the department code 99 should be used. The TOEFL Bulletin of Information and Registration Forms can be obtained in a number of cities outside the U.S. through American embassies or consulates, or offices of the U.S. Information Services (USIS).
• Official transcripts and two letters of academic reference, which are to be sent directly to the Director for Advanced Degree Programs, Toronto School of Theology. Transcripts or references issued to students or photocopies will not be accepted. TST does not provide a letter of reference form but asks that referees write a letter in which they comment candidly on the candidates' qualifications to pursue and complete graduate studies.
• GRE scores (optional). Applicants may submit GRE scores to support their applications.

A confirmation fee may be requested by the TST College of registration within a month of acceptance into an advanced degree program.

Candidates' applications will be considered by the Admissions Committee of the TST Advanced Degree Council, which will take into consideration:

• grades in all previous post-secondary education with particular weight accorded to performance in the prerequisite degree(s) and in other recent programs,
• adequate background in the stated area of interest,
• the quality of the applicant, as attested to in the letters of reference,
• the quality of the statement of academic purpose and interest,
• the current availability of qualified supervision for course and thesis work in the applicant's desired area of research,
• the willingness of a TST member school and of a TST department to admit the student, and
• the likelihood of satisfactory completion of the program.

Candidates may request reconsideration of a decision by the TST to refuse admission. All such requests must be made by the applicant in writing to the TST Director for Advanced Degree Programs, stating in full the grounds for the request.

Applicants may be admitted as special students:

• Category one students are admitted on probation fora period of up to one year. If their work is satisfactory, they will receive credit retroactively.
• Category two students are required to do prescribed preparatory work which will not be credited towards the requirements of a subsequent Advanced Degree program.
• Category three students are occasional students who are allowed to take courses for credit, but these courses will not count towards any TST degree.
• Category four students are late applicants who are given provisional admission to a TST program until their application can be considered by the TST admissions committee.
• Category four students are occasional students accepted without stipulation as to the eligibility of their credits towards a subsequent Advanced Degree program
• Also consult the Doctoral Degree Handbook for in-depth information on program requirements

Program-Specific Minimum Requirements for Admission (PhD and ThD)

The following are minimum requirements for admission for the Doctor of Philosophy in Theology (PhD) and Doctor of Theology (ThD) programs. It should be noted that meeting these requirements does not guarantee admission to any TST program. In-depth information on program requirements can be found in the Doctoral Degree Handbook.

1. An appropriate bachelor's degree.
   
2. One of the following degrees: Master of Divinity, Master of Religion, Master of Theology, or a two-year Master of Arts or a Master of Theological Studies from a member school or the equivalent to any of the above in another educational system.
   
3. Language requirements:
1. For entrance into the Historical, Pastoral and Theological departments, applicants must be “competent” (see 3.1.5.1 in the Doctoral Handbook) in at least one of the following languages: Biblical Hebrew, Biblical Greek, Latin, French, German, Italian, Spanish.  Alternatively, the applicant may be admitted on the condition that he or she will be able to demonstrate competence in at least one of these lanaguges before entering the first year of studies. Note that there are additional language requirements in the first stage of the program.
2. For entrance into the Biblical Department, proficiency in biblical Hebrew is required for those proposing to specialize in Old Testament studies, together with competence in biblical Greek. Proficiency in biblical Greek is required for those proposing to specialize in New Testament studies, together with competence in biblical Hebrew. In addition, competence in one of the following modern languages is required: French, German, Italian, Spanish. Note that there are additional language requirements in the first stage of the program.
3. Additional language competence may be required for the writing of the thesis in all departments.
4. Evidence of: (a) sufficient background in the area of proposed doctoral work; (b) first class standing (i.e. at least an A- average and A- grade for the master's thesis); (c) a thesis or substantial evidence of independent research and writing ability.

• Consult the Doctoral Degree Handbook for in-depth information on program requirements
• Apply Online for admission to a Doctoral Degree program here