Admission Requirements
The admission process is selective. Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission to the M.Ed. program. In addition to completing and submitting the online application form and submitting the required $75.00 CAD application fee, applicants for admission must:
- Possess a Bachelor’s or first professional degree from a recognized university. Preference is given to those with a degree in education or a field related to the planned area of specialized study. Original transcripts from former institutions of higher learning are sent directly to the Admissions Office, Yorkville University.
- Present an undergraduate grade point average (GPA) sufficient to demonstrate ability to participate in rigorous, graduate level, academic study. Generally, students will require a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Although standardized test results, such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test, are not required as a precondition for admission to the program, applicants are encouraged to submit scores if they believe such test results strengthen their application for admission. Applicants with a GPA below 3.0 (i.e., between 2.5 and 2.9) may still apply. The Admissions Committee will consider these applications on an individual basis; and will take into account the applicant’s personal background, academic record in the last two years of undergraduate study, work history, letter of application, and letters of reference. If accepted into the program and prior to their registration in the M.Ed. program, such applicants may be required to complete probationary or qualifying courses to demonstrate their ability to do academic work at the graduate level.
- Have successfully completed two or more years of employment in education or an education-related field. In some cases, this employment requirement may be replaced by involvement and participation in volunteer, community-based activities
- Provide two letters of reference from professional or academic sources, preferably from persons able to comment meaningfully on the applicant’s motives and ability to undertake graduate study and/or on their work experience in education or an education-related field. A template for reference letters may be downloaded here
- Submit a résumé or academic CV.
- Submit a 700-1000 word letter of application describing future career goals, motives for participation, and work experience relevant to the field of adult education studies. In this letter applicants are asked to comment on how their life experiences, work experiences, and/or education make them a suitable candidate for the program.
- Applicants whose native language is not English and who have obtained a bachelor’s or first professional degree in a language of instruction other than English are required to submit confirmation of an official test of ability to work and study in English. List of applicable tests:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 580 (written version), 213 (computer version), or 92 (internet based version);
- Test of Written English (TWE) with a minimum score of 5.0
- International English Language Test System (IELTS) with a minimum overall band width of 7.0 or higher
- Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) with a minimum score of 85; or
- Canadian Test of English for Scholars and Trainees (CanTest) with a minimum overall bandwidth of 4.5.
Students with none of these credentials may still claim proficiency in English but will be required to participate in a telephone interview with the Admissions Committee. The University reserves the right to refuse admission to any student whose proficiency in English is questionable and to ask any student whose written work is below acceptable standards to withdraw from the program.
- An application fee of $75 (CAD) and all relevant documents listed above must be submitted before the Admissions Committee reviews an application. Once the Committee has reviewed submitted documents, both successful and unsuccessful applicants are notified in writing.