PhD Admission & Application Information

Before you apply, we recommend that you contact the Associate Director, Graduate or the Graduate Administrator. 

Application opens

October 17, 2022

Application deadlines

Admission decisions are made during January to May, on an on-going basis; we encourage you to apply early. Applications will be open until April 14, 2023.

Applicants are considered under the School of Graduate Studies' General Regulations. Admissions are selective; possession of minimum qualifications does not guarantee acceptance. 

Applicants DO NOT need to secure a supervisor before making their application.  A supervisor is generally chosen during the first year of studies.

Applicants must also satisfy the Centre's additional admission requirements stated below:

  • Applications are considered between January and April, with offers going out throughout this time period.  International applicants may be considered for additional awards, and so are encouraged to apply by mid-Jan.  International applications will still be considered until the April 14th deadline.  
  • Applicants with an MA in Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies or the equivalent from a recognized university, must have a standing equivalent to at least a University of Toronto A-. Applicants who have taken the MA through this Centre must be recommended for further study by the instructors whose courses they have taken. Applicants holding the MA of this University in another subject or its equivalent from another university will be considered for admission to the PhD program in light of their previous work and its relation to the centre's requirements; additional coursework may be required.
  • Applicants must arrange two supporting letters of recommendation that address specifically their academic skills and research potential. Admission will be conditional upon satisfactory recommendation.
  • Applications must be accompanied by a statement of research intent (up to five pages and bibliography), curriculum vitae (CV) and a writing sample (15 pages, plus bibliography). 

Please visit the School of Graduate Studies' English-Language Proficiency Testing page. 

International students are encouraged to complete their applications by January 15, 2023, to be considered for additional awards. But the April 14, 2023, deadline still applies to International students who cannot meet this January application date

Please visit the School of Graduate Studies' International & Exchange Students page. 

Application Form & Fee

Supporting Documents

Include the following on your School of Graduate Studies Online Admissions Application: 

  • A Curriculum Vitae (CV) and Cover Letter outlining all activities pertinent to study at the Centre, in research, publication, teaching, and performing arts practice;
  • Two Letters of Recommendation (only 2 are allowed) from instructors familiar with your previous academic work; 
  • A Letter of Intent/Statement of Interest, this statement is required to ensure: that applicants demonstrate promise of independent research at an advanced level; that their stated scholarly interests are compatible with the Centre’s available resources; and that once admitted, candidates may proceed with their programs expeditiously and with focus. The Centre recommends a statement of about 1000 words, although there is no official limit. Additional letters of recommendation are acceptable if they relate to areas of the candidate’s background not fully explained elsewhere in the application (commonly, work and education outside Canada, extended professional education and experience, teaching). Please contact the  Graduate Administrator if you intend to submit additional letters of recommendation. Note: further documentation beyond what is stated above–for example, creative and research publications–is not required and will not be read.
  • A writing sample (15 pages, plus bibliography)

Learn more about graduate studies at the University of Toronto on the School of Graduate Studies website.

Application Status Check

Log into your Online Admissions Application to check your application status. Your application will be marked “Under Review” when it has gone to the Admission Committee for consideration.

Notification Of Admission Decisions

Decisions are made as soon as possible, rather than by a specific date. By the end of the current admissions cycle (typically in May) the outcomes of all applications should be communicated.

Possession of the minimum requirements of the Centre for Drama, Theatre & Performance Studies and the School of Graduate Studies does not guarantee admission. Candidates must be competitive among fellow applicants.

As a Centre for Drama, Theatre & Performance Studies PhD student, you have the option of applying to a collaborative PhD program in one of the following areas of study:

Please contact the Associate Director, Graduate or the Graduate Administrator if you intend to apply to a collaborative program. 

Learn more about where our alumni have landed following graduation on Our Graduates in Academia page.