School of Journalism
For information about:
- the program
- admissions procedure
- tours
- information/application packages
Please contact ask.ryerson.ca
Before you e-mail or phone us, you may be able to find the answer to your question online. Please check our FAQs about:
Questions about admissions:
Q. How do I apply? Can you send me an application form?
A: First, visit the Ryerson University admissions web site. It has all the information you need: http://www.ryerson.ca/undergraduate/admission/apply.
Second step, apply. Ontario university applications are handled by the Ontario Universities Application Centre, OUAC. Visit the OUAC at www.ouac.on.ca. Be sure to indicate that you are applying to Journalism. Ryerson can not be responsible for application mistakes.
Third, when Ryerson University’s Admissions office receives your OUAC application they will send you acknowledgement letter or e-mail. This letter includes your Ryerson number.
Fourth, Ryerson Admissions will assess your application and, if you meet the basic program requirements, they will send you a second letter which will include a Journalism Student Admission Assessment Form. The form will give you details and ask you to send additional non-academic material directly to the School of Journalism. Do not send anything to the School until requested to do so. The non-academic application material includes an essay, journalistic writing samples, and information on your journalistic and life experience.
An admissions committee based at the School of Journalism will review the applications in the spring.
Because admittance to the Ryerson University School of Journalism is competitive and based on more than grades, our application process takes more time than those of other schools. You will almost certainly hear from other institutions before you hear from Ryerson. However, you will always get your response before other schools' acceptance deadlines come up.
If you have more questions about your admissions process, you can reach Ryerson University admissions at 416-979-5036. Remember to have your student number on hand when you call.
Q. What counts as journalistic and life experience ?
A: Check out the Non-Academic Requirements, Grades-Plus Programs section of the Admission’s web site for details: http://www.ryerson.ca/undergraduate/admission/overview/nonacademicrequirements/.
Include any experience you have in journalism. This can include things like working on your school newspaper or yearbook, radio or TV volunteering, co-op placements, etc. The life experience should include any other experience you have that you feel is relevant. This can include things like second languages, volunteer work, travel, hobbies, extra-curricular activities, etc. Both your journalistic and life experience should be legibly handwritten on one 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper.
Q. What are you looking for in a portfolio?
A: Examples of your work can enhance your application. You may submit a maximum of six photocopied newspaper clippings and/or radio/TV scripts and/or your own unpublished work. Unpublished work should be non-fiction and written in a journalistic style. Do not include creative work, poetry, essays, fictional short stories, video or audio tapes, etc. Do not put your material in a fancy binder. Just send the pages.
Q. How does the two-year program compare to the four-year program?
A: The two-year progam is no longer offered. The last year accepted into the two year program was 2006-07.
Q. Are there language requirements for the program?
A: All journalism courses are given in English and students are expected to perform above average in written and spoken English.
Students whose first language isn?t English usually take the Ryerson Test of English Proficiency (RTEP) or the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL); the minimum score requirements are listed below.
RTEP: 80
TOEFL: 580 (paper exam); 237 (electronic exam)
CAEL: 70
MELAB: 90
IELTS: 6.5
Q. Can I apply for January entrance? Can I defer my acceptance to January?
A: No. The two programs run from September to April; many classes in first year are year-long.
Q. Can I take the program on a part-time basis?
A: The journalism program is a full-time, daytime course of study. In their first year, students have approximately 20 hours per week of course time. In addition, they can expect 10 to 20 hours of course work each week. Courses are given during the day from September to April.
Q. How many students are in the program?
A: Generally, 150 students are accepted to the four-year program.
Q. Are there internships?
A: In their final year, broadcast and print students spend one half of one semester (seven weeks) in an internship and the other half in a masthead course. In the print stream, the masthead course (JRN 903) has students work as staff for the Ryersonian, one of Ryerson's weekly student newspapers. In the broadcast stream, the masthead course (JRN 902) has students produce a newscast twice weekly.
The magazine stream is run differently. Because magazines run on a longer news cycle than periodicals or broadcast services, a seven-week internship would be fruitless. Instead, magazine students take a year-long masthead course (JRN 090) and put out the Ryerson Review of Journalism, a magazine read throughout the industry. RRJ comes out in a spring and summer edition that are available in bookstores across the country.
Q. I just want to go into broadcast; do I have to take courses in other fields of journalism?
A: Yes; the first two years of the four-year program are common stream years. This means you will be taking courses in all streams of journalism.
Q. I took journalism courses at another post-secondary institution / I want to transfer from another program; can my credits be transferred or can I get an advanced standing in the program?
A: This is unlikely. Nevertheless, you can verify equivalencies with Ryerson University Admissions.
Q. I've moved since I applied to the program; how do I submit my change of address?
A: During the admissions process you must make your change of address with the Ontario Universities Application Centre (OUAC).
Q I still have unanswered questions. Can I schedule an appointment to talk to someone?
A: During the school year, Ryerson University hosts Tour & Discussion Days. The first part of the tour discusses Ryerson University in general and the second part is faculty-specific. The School of Journalism tours are hosted by faculty and students of the program. For more information or to register for tours, go to: http://www.ryerson.ca/undergraduate/admission/visit/ During the summer call: 416-979-5319 for information about the School of Journalism.
Questions about dates:
Q. When is the last day I can add or drop a course?
Q. When does school begin? When do exams/holidays begin?
A: All these important dates can be found using the university's online calendar.
