Admissions

A Master’s degree from an accredited university or college is required. The applicant must have at least a B+ average (or equivalent). In exceptional cases, we will consider applicants who only have an undergraduate degree, but solely if their grades are truly outstanding.

Please upload a copy of each official transcript to the online application in the language of the issuing university. If you are admitted to our program, each University will need to provide us with official hard copies of all transcripts.

• Grading schemes: Most universities include a grading scheme on the transcript or as a separate attachment. We need this information to assess your eligibility for admission and funding. Be sure the transcripts you provide include a grading scheme.
• Transcripts not in English: Please upload a certified translated copy
• Enrolled in another program at the time of application: Please upload an official interim transcript with your application. If you are offered admission to Western, the offer will be conditional upon completing that degree. You will have to provide confirmation of completing the degree (and official final transcripts) before you may enroll at Ivey. 
• If the transcript does not show the degree has been earned: Please upload an official copy of the certificate of completion and/or diploma in the language of the issuing university.
• If the university does not issue transcripts: Please provide an official letter from that university confirming the policy. In such instances, please also provide a list of courses you have completed and, where possible, course outlines for each.

We strongly prefer GRE, GMAT or GMAT Focus Edition scores with both verbal and quantitative components ranking at least in the 75th percentile. If applying for admission to a math-intensive program (e.g. Management Science), the quantitative component should be much higher (90th percentile +).

• Please upload a copy of your GRE, GMAT or GMAT Focus Edition report to the online application, and 
• Arrange to have official results sent directly to us by the issuing authority:
  • GRE: Please quote the institution code 0984 and department code 4399 on your request form. Further information is available on the GRE site.
  • GMAT/GMAT Focus Edition: Please quote our program code on your request form: CMB-MG-20. Further information is available on the GMAC site.
• Tests may be taken online or at a testing centre.
• This requirement may not be waived or substituted.
• Test scores older than five years are not accepted.

Applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence of English language proficiency through an English language test. All of our recently admitted students who took an English language test scored significantly better than the minimum requirement.

• Please upload a copy of your official test report to the online application, and
• Arrange to have official results sent directly to our office by the issuing authority.
• Test scores older than two years are not accepted. 

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
TOEFL Internet-based (iBT) score requirements:

• A minimum overall score of 100
• A minimum of 25 in each section
• Western's Institution Code for TOEFL is 0984; choose “Graduate Studies” or, if applicable, department code 99.

International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) Academic
Score requirements (academic NOT general):

• A minimum overall score of 7.5 
• A minimum of 7 in each section
• IELTS Results Service Account name: Western University 

Duolingo English Test 
Score requirements:

• A minimum overall score of 125
• A minimum of 100 for each subscore
• After writing the test, send the score to us through your Duolingo account. A limited number of discount codes for 50% off the Duolingo English Test are available. If you would like to request a code, please contact phd@ivey.ca. Please note that test scores will be released only to the Ivey PhD Program. While applicants will be able to view their own results, they will not be able to share them with other institutions.

Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL)
Score requirements:

• A minimum overall score of 70
• A minimum of 70 in each section
• Request that your CAEL score be sent to us when booking the test. 

Request to Waive the English Language Test

If, during the previous two consecutive years, the applicant has studied and/or worked in a country where English is the primary language*, they may submit a written letter within the online application requesting that the English language proficiency test requirement be waived.

The waiver request must be submitted as a written document prepared by the applicant and include evidence of English proficiency (e.g., a photocopy of a previous English language test score, comments in appraisals concerning language proficiency, or details on the number of years spent studying or working in an anglophone country, etc.).

Requests are only considered once an applicant has been recommended for admission, so it is important to make a strong case. If an applicant does not demonstrate sufficient English proficiency to the program’s satisfaction, admission will be denied. The program also reserves the right to require remedial training for any student who shows inadequate command of English after beginning the PhD program.

*The list of eligible countries/regions is as follows: Australia, Barbados, Botswana, Canada, 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.

As part of the application process, we ask candidates to provide a Statement of Research and Professional Interests. This statement is an important part of how we assess your application. It allows us to gauge your preparation, fit and so on.

Please upload your Statement of Research and Professional Interests to the online application. Your statement should address each of the topics below:

1. Why do you want to do a PhD at Ivey?
2. What is your current understanding of the discipline to which you are applying?
3. What are your research interests?
4. Which Ivey faculty members do you think would be interested in working with you and why?
5. Who, if anyone, at Ivey have you talked to about doing a PhD here?
6. If you were to graduate from our PhD program, what would be your career plans?

Statement must be written in three pages or less.

Please list three referees in the online application form, once this is done, an email is automatically generated advising both the applicant and referees of the submission. The referee will be provided with a link to the online appraisal form. If desired, they will also be able to upload and submit a written reference letters as a PDF file.

At least two of the three references should be from professors who know you well enough to evaluate your capacity to conduct independent scholarly work.

All three recommendations must be submitted on, or before, the application deadline.

Please upload your curriculum vitae to the online application. Include your education, work experience, research and publications, awards/distinctions, and any other information you feel would support your application. On the first page, please include your full name, mailing address, email address, and phone number.