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Building Science Admissions

Three students on the top floor of the Student Learning Centre at Toronto Met

In the building science (MASc, MBSc and PhD) program, our interdisciplinary character is our strength. Our program is open to candidates from a variety of educational and professional backgrounds, such as building science, civil engineering, architecture, mechanical engineering, environmental engineering, construction and other related disciplines. We are highly selective and admit approximately 20 masters students each year, which ensures that you will receive the individual attention you need to grow as an academic or skilled professional in this in-demand field.

We are now accepting applications for Fall 2024. The first consideration deadline is Jan 19, 2024, and the program will begin to review applications after this date.

Our Fall 2024 Info session will be on November 30th, 2023, 5-6:30pm in ARC202 (The Pit). Please register here (external link) 

Admission Requirements

  • Master's degree in building science, civil engineering, mechanical engineering or a related applied science field.
  • Achieved a minimum of 3.33/4.33 (B+) in the last two years of study
  • Possession of the minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance. Preference will be given to applicants with the best qualifications.
  • Graduated with a four-year approved undergraduate degree from a recognized institution, with a minimum grade point average (GPA) or equivalent of 3.00/4.33 (B)
  • Achieved a minimum of 3.00/4.33 (B) in the last two years of study
  • Possession of the minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance. Preference will be given to applicants with the best qualifications.

How to Apply

Submitting a complete application package to the building science program is a three-stage process: 1) Connect with a supervisor (if applicable for your program); 2) Submit your application via the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC), and 3) Prepare your documents to upload via Toronto Met’s Yeates School of Graduate Studies. (The online system is mandatory; the Yeates School of Graduate Studies will not accept any hard copy application packages, nor will they be processed.)

1. Connect with a Supervisor

Connecting with the right supervisor is crucial to your graduate student experience and career. It is highly recommended that MASc and PhD students secure a graduate supervisor with whom they will conduct research together. Visit our Find a Supervisor page to view available supervisors in your program for each academic term and degree.

To find a supervisor with research interests that align with yours, visit our Faculty page. To further optimize your supervisor search, consider exploring the Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science’s areas of Research Expertise.

Please list the building science faculty member you wish to work with or the faculty member who has already agreed to supervise you on the online application. To learn more about this process, please contact the graduate program administrator and consult the Yeates School of Graduate Studies’ Tips for Finding a Prospective Supervisor.

At DAS, our process is degree-specific and outlined below.

MBSc students
There is no need to secure a supervisor prior to admission to the master of building science (MBSc) program. However, during the first two terms of your studies, it is your responsibility to find a faculty member who agrees to supervise your graduate research work. The department will facilitate this process.

MASc (research option) students
To be admitted to the master of applied science (MASc) program, you have to have a confirmed supervisor. It is your responsibility to find a faculty member who agrees to supervise your graduate research work. 

PhD students
To be admitted to the doctor of philosophy (PhD) program, you have to have a confirmed supervisor. It is your responsibility to find a faculty member who agrees to supervise your graduate research work.

2. Submit Your Application via OUAC

Visit the Ontario Universities' Application Center website  (external link) (OUAC), select your “Status in Canada” from the drop-down menu and click “Save.”

Select the program(s) you wish to apply to and click “Save Program” (maximum three programs).

Create or log in to your OUAC account. Ensure that you write down your username and password so you may return to your application if necessary at a later date.

Prepare your application using the navigation bar on the left to fill out your information, click “Review and Submit,” and verify that all information is accurate.

Make the payment of $110 per program as requested. All application fees are non-refundable.

Submit your application.

Note: Make sure to apply to the correct program; once you submit your application, you cannot change the program(s) you selected initially.

Check your inbox (ensure it’s the email address you provided in your OUAC application) for instructions outlining how to upload your documents electronically.

Note: If you have a university email address, you will receive all correspondence via that email inbox. If you do not yet have a university email address, you will receive all correspondence via the email inbox indicated in your online application.

3. Prepare Your Documents to Upload via Toronto Met’s Yeates School of Graduate Studies

After you have completed your OUAC application, an online account will be created for you on MyServiceHub within 1-2 business days. You will be emailed within 2-3 business days to create your online identity and upload your required documents, which are outlined below.

Make sure your documents are clearly labeled before they are uploaded. Once you have gathered all the required documents and activated your online identity, you can log on to the Applicant Upload portal. After you have successfully uploaded all your required documents, your application will enter the review process. Monitor your application status in MyServiceHub and through the Applicant Upload portal.

PhD

You are required to submit a brief written statement of about 500-1000 words outlining your interests and experience that are relevant to this program, areas of research/study that you may wish to focus on for dissertation, career objectives and how this degree program relates to you and reasons for applying. 

MASc or MBSc

You are required to submit a brief written statement of about 500 words outlining your interests and experience that are relevant to this program, areas of research/study that you may wish to focus on, and reasons for applying.

You may include, but are not limited to, relevant work experience, education, awards (academic, professional or financial), publications, technical skills, research experience, and/or memberships in relevant professional associations.

A minimum of two letters of recommendation is required. Reference letters are a key component of your application package, so it is important that you select appropriate referees. It is also your responsibility to contact the referee before filling out the online application form to confirm their availability.

Your referees should have the ability to comment on your past achievements and your potential as a graduate student. In most cases, the referees will be former professors or research supervisors familiar with your abilities. If you have been out of school for a significant period of time, a letter from an employer may be more appropriate.

If you have graduated from the Toronto Met BArchSc program within the last four years* you are not required to submit letters of reference. Simply type the following email address into the referee section of your application: gradreference@torontomu.ca.

*If you are applying for fall 2023, your last four years would be 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020.

When Applying

Transcripts (or mark sheets, where applicable) are required from every accredited institution you have attended. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted for admissions/evaluation purposes.

If you are a previous Toronto Met undergraduate or graduate student, please upload your unofficial transcript. (Read “How to View My Unofficial Transcript” for more information on obtaining an unofficial transcript from MyServiceHub.)

Please note, your admissions application will remain incomplete and will not be forwarded to the programs admissions committee for consideration unless your transcripts are received/uploaded.

Applicants from Ontario universities and colleges will have the option of ordering their transcripts while completing the online application.

If your transcripts/documents are in a language other than English, you must provide a notarized English translation. Please note that translations do not replace original documentation; both versions must be submitted.

Please include your institution's grading scale, often located on the back of a transcript. Please ensure to upload both sides of your transcript. If your transcript does not list a grading scale, please ensure you upload a document from the university with the grading scale outlined. Toronto Met reserves the right to determine equivalency at its sole discretion if a grading scale is not provided.

The Yeates School of Graduate Studies does not accept external assessments conducted by third party agencies such as WES or ICAS. However, when requested, Yeates will accept the verification of the document only.

Upon Admittance

If you have been admitted into the master of building science (PhD, MASc & MBSc) program and have confirmed your offer, you will be required to submit an official final transcript(s) in a sealed envelope that is sent directly from the institution(s), if not already on file. An official transcript is a document that is normally prepared by an institution’s Registrar's Office. Official transcripts are printed on security paper and bear the official seal of the institution. This document includes all courses completed, final grades, degree(s) awarded and other applicable academic information. Toronto Met students are not required to submit an official Toronto Met transcript.

If you are taking a spring and/or summer course(s) and your graduation status has been delayed to the fall term, you must submit an official transcript with all completed courses and grades, and a letter from your institution’s Registrar’s Office stating your degree requirements have been met and that you are eligible to graduate, including the date of the expected convocation. This letter must be prepared on official letterhead and sent directly from your institution in a sealed envelope.

If you have withdrawn from a program since applying and accepting an offer to Toronto Met, and the program did not serve as the basis of admission, your official transcript must indicate that you have withdrawn from the program. Alternatively, you may submit an official transcript with all completed courses and grades, and attach a separate letter from the institution’s Registrar’s Office confirming that you have withdrawn from the program. This letter must be prepared on official letterhead and sent directly from your institution in a sealed envelope. Please contact the Admissions Office to ensure a withdrawal from a program does not impact your admission status.

Note: Your admissions application will remain incomplete and will not be forwarded to the program’s admissions committee for consideration unless your transcripts are received/uploaded.

If you have not completed two or more years, full-time, at a Canadian university or a university at which English was the primary language of instruction, or have not completed a graduate degree at a university where English was the primary language of instruction, you will be required to provide certification of English language proficiency through one of these accepted examinations. Test scores are valid for two years from the test date.

If you have completed a degree, internationally, at a French-speaking institution, you must also provide English language proficiency.

For exemption from this requirement, you are required to provide an official statement from your institution’s Registrar's Office confirming the use of English as the medium of instruction for the duration of your study.

Note: Meeting the minimum English proficiency requirements does not guarantee admission. Programs may set additional requirements to these minimum standards.

Required only for MASc and MBSc

The dossier is a collection of your work that demonstrates your competence in areas specific to building science. It should demonstrate a capacity to succeed in the program and a level of knowledge in core areas of building science. You should include examples of work, written papers, designs, summaries of research projects, and any other information that demonstrates your level of building science ability. Your contribution to any group work included should be clearly stated.

The dossier must adhere to the following format:

  1. Include your name, mailing address, telephone number, email address, and other contact information on the first page.
  2. Ensure that page two is the completed and signed  (PDF file) statement of authorship (opens in new window) .
  3. The dossier must be presented in one PDF Adobe Acrobat document.

Note: No hard copy application packages will be accepted. All dossiers are to be submitted online.

Alumni Spotlight

“My master's really had two strengths. First, it was focused enough to provide me with a deep understanding of building science theory. It was also very practical, despite the common notion that master’s degrees will be very theoretical. I learned a lot of skills that I use in my job at The Atmospheric Fund (TAF) every day. I definitely felt more prepared for the professional realm after completing my degree.”

Kaitlin Carroll, Energy & IEQ Research Coordinator at The Atmospheric Fund (TAF)
Master of Building Science ‘18

Kaitlin Carroll