Academic Qualifications and Selection Procedures
For admission to the Master’s program, applicants must possess an Honours B.HSc., B.Sc., B.A. or equivalent from an accredited university. The program normally requires at least a 78% overall average in the last two full-time years of the undergraduate degree. Admission to the program is competitive and meeting the minimum criteria does not guarantee admission. For information about how to apply to the program, please visit the MHIS Application Procedure page.
Since this is an interdisciplinary program, students may be accepted with degrees in a variety of disciplines, including health sciences, social sciences, library and information science, journalism, and computer science so long as the student demonstrates that he or she has a solid academic preparation in some aspect of health (broadly defined).
Applicants should develop a preliminary research plan, which will be submitted as part of the application package. They should review the list of core and affiliated HIS Faculty members to determine potential supervisors in their area of interest. Given the interdisciplinary nature of the program, research project/thesis topics will normally be decided during or immediately following the initial term of study.
English Proficiency
Applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence of proficiency in English. The required level of proficiency can best be demonstrated by the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), which must have been administered within the last two years. Acceptable proof is an Official Examiner's Score submitted directly by ETS. A score of at least 625 (paper-based) or 263 (computer-based) or 107 (Internet-based) is required for admission to the program. As well, applicants must achieve a minimum score of 5 on the Test of Written English (TWE). The test scores must, without exception, be received before admission. Application forms for the TOEFL may be obtained via www.toefl.org. The minimum IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score, if submitted in lieu of TOEFL, is 8. For information about the IELTS, please consult www.ielts.org.
If you are interested in visiting Western after submitting your application, please contact us to make arrangements.