Graduate Admissions

First Consideration Date: January 13, 2012. 

If you have missed the first consideration date, we still welcome your application. However, first consideration for scholarships and awards etc. is given to those who apply on or before deadline.

Our Graduate Admissions Office continues to accept applications on a rolling basis until all available spaces have been filled.

Step 1:  Review the Admission Requirements

The graduate program in Urban Development demands high standards from students entering the program. The program will be offered in the following two formats:

The two-year regular stream will require a four-year honours bachelor's degree (or equivalent) with a minimum B average in the last two years of study from a recognized university. The undergraduate degree may be in a field other than planning. All applicants are expected to have taken a university-level course in statistics.

The one-year accelerated stream will require a four or five-year accredited bachelor's degree, or its equivalent, in planning, with a minimum B average. Applicants with a bachelor's degree (four- or five-year) in a related discipline who show evidence of relevant professional experience in planning will be accepted. Degree holders with professional experience in planning will be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis. Planning degree holders must have planning experience of no less than two calendar years.

Step 2: the Application Process

1.  Apply online.
Instructions are provided by our Graduate Admissions Office. See: http://www.ryerson.ca/graduate/admissions.

2. Print & Submit a copy of the online application.
A paper copy of your application must be submitted to our Graduate Admissions Office.  Print your online application, sign and submit to our Graduate Admissions Office along with required supporting documents.

Write "Urban Development" on the outside of your application package

The Statement of Intent (about 500 words in length) that should address the following:

• your reasons for pursuing graduate studies in Urban Development;
• the research interest(s) or planning issues you wish to pursue in a research paper or project;
• how your previous studies and/or professional experience have prepared you for the program; and
  
• your career objectives and how these relate to program.

Two Letters of Recommendations are required. 

TWO academic recommendations (eg. A faculty member familiar with your academic performance). One of the recommendations may be submitted by a professional (non-academic) referee if needed. Please note that we reserve the right to contact your referees at any stage during the application process.

Recommendation letters are a key component of your application and close attention should be paid to the selection of a referee.  It is the applicant's responsibility to contact the referee before providing the name of the referee on the application form.

The applicant will be asked to provide the names of the referees (including the referees' contact information and an active institution e-mail address) on the online application form.  Your referee will be contacted electronically within 5-7 business days of your application submission with further instructions.

Step 3:  Tracking your Graduate Application after Submission

The applicant is responsible for ensuring that all required documents have been submitted to the Graduate Admissions Office for review.  Incomplete applications cannot be reviewed.

Applicants can monitor the status of the application on-line.  An account identification (ID) number will be emailed to the applicant by the Graduate Admissions Office to activate a user account at: http://www.ryerson.ca/accounts. Note:  you must follow-up with a hard copy of your application to our Graduate Admissions Office as the ID number is generated on receipt of a hard-copy of your application.

When the account is activated, the applicant is able to log-in to https://my.ryerson.ca to view the status of application. This link is also found on the Ryerson University homepage.

When you have logged in to 'my.ryerson.ca' locate the tab 'student centre'.  Go to the right menu of this screen look under 'CheckList' this is where you will find a list of outstanding items (if any). If your file is complete you will see, 'No to do's'.  If you file is incomplete the incomplete documents will be listed and it is advisable for the applicant to follow-up.

In general, the 'CheckList' is refreshed by our Graduate Admissions Office within 5-15 business days after the receipt of a document.  We suggest that you login to your account and check the 'student centre' regularly for updates.

You can also update your personal information (such as home address, telephone number(s) and email adresses).  When you have logged into your account, select the tab, 'general info'.