No application will be considered until it is complete. The responsibility rests with the applicant to ensure that all documents (i.e., transcripts, letters of reference, test results) are received by the application deadline. For information on academic qualifications, please see the PhD LIS Admission Criteria page.
Please note that applications should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the application deadline to allow for the electronic collection of transcripts and letters of recommendation.
Completed applications will be evaluated by the program, which makes the admission decision. The School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies sends out offers of admission.
| Apply Online | Application Deadline |
 | The initial application deadline for this program - February 1. Applications that are complete by this date will be given priority consideration. Applications received after the initial application deadline will be considered if space becomes available. |
The applicant will provide Western with the following information as part of the electronic OUAC application:
- Name and personal information
- Contact information
- Academic background
- Electronic transcripts from each post-secondary institution attended
- Past or current students of The University of Western do not need to provide transcripts for their academic history at Western. This information will be obtained internally.
- If you have attended or are currently enrolled at any Ontario university or college other than The University of Western Ontario you MUST use the electronic application process in order to request transcripts. These transcripts will be delivered electronically to each of the programs to which you are applying.
- If you have attended a university or college outside Ontario, you must submit one official* academic transcript in hard copy from each post-secondary institution attended. These must be sent to the Faculty of Information and Media Studies at the address below.
* Western considers a transcript official only if it is received in a university envelope that is sealed and signed on the flap by the official person in the office issuing the transcript. If the transcript and degree certificate are not in English, a certified translation must also be included. (Non-English transcripts from institutions within Canada do not require a translation.)
- Proficiency in English Scores (if applicable). Applicant must have testing service send score electronically to Western.
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Minimum score required: 107 Internet-based. Western's TOEFL ID is 0984.
- International English Language Testing Service (IELTS). Minimum score required: 8.
- In exceptional circumstances, a TOEFL/TWE waiver may be granted but it is up to the applicant to request this and to demonstrate sufficient grounds for consideration. A TOEFL/TWE waiver will be considered only in cases where the applicant has taken the majority of his/her undergraduate and graduate education in an English-speaking institution in programs where extensive essay writing in English is required (e.g., disciplines such as English literature, history, sociology, philosophy etc. but not mathematics, computer science, engineering, chemistry, etc.).
- Professional background (if applicable)
- Referee information
- Applicants are required to enter the names and contact information (including e-mail address) of two academic referees into the online application. Once the application is processed, each referee will receive a request via e-mail to complete an electronic recommendation form on the applicant’s behalf. A link to the form will be included in the e-mail. Each referee will receive a reminder in two weeks if the recommendation is not received. The applicant will receive an e-mail when Western receives the referees letter of recommendation.
- Non-refundable application fee of CAD $100.
Additional application requirements:
- A short statement of research interests. Your statement should: outline the research interest/topic; explain how prior studies/interests have led to the current research interests; discuss the significance of the topic to the field of library and information science; and assess how your research interests fit with the research interests of current FIMS faculty. The statement should be no more than 1000 words in length.
- A sample of the your writing, which could be a published article or paper, a report, a major essay, a chapter in a master's thesis, or some other substantive evidence of writing ability. Applicants who have completed research (published or unpublished) are encouraged to submit scholarly writing. Research proposals prepared as part of course work or for another degree are also appropriate.
- An up-to-date curriculum vitae detailing academic, professional, and volunteer experience
- A completed Supplementary Information Form (pdf)
- For permanent residents of Canada only, please include a photocopy of both sides of your Permanent Resident Card or a photocopy of your Record of Landing. If you are applying to be a permanent resident, but have not been granted landed-immigrant status, you must apply as an international applicant.
- Proof of name change, if applicable (photocopy of change of name documentation, such as marriage certificate or other legal change of name and a photocopy of photo ID showing your current name)
The above program-specific application materials should be sent directly to:
Faculty of Information and Media Studies
PhD Program in Library and Information Science
The University of Western Ontario
North Campus Building, Room 240
London, ON N6A 5B7
Note: The Graduate Record Examination is no longer an admission requirement for the doctoral program. The Faculty reserves the right to request that an applicant undertake the GRE under certain circumstances.
As part of the process of consideration of applicants, an interview (either in person or by telephone) may be required if the Doctoral Admissions Committee considers it necessary to explore or clarify various aspects of the applicant's submission.