Admissions
Why should you study Aerospace Engineering at UTIAS?
Aerospace engineering is one of the most exciting and satisfying branches of science. Aerospace engineers use sophisticated technology to solve challenging problems and literally see their ideas take flight. The University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS) is Canada's leading centre for aerospace research and education.
UTIAS is at the forefront of Canadian aerospace because of its legacy of ground breaking scientific exploration and its ongoing excellence in aerospace research. UTIAS faculty members are international leaders in computational aerodynamics, micro and nanosatellites, combustion and propulsion, robotics for space and terrestrial applications, and in other fields of aerospace engineering.
Because of the quality of research and education at UTIAS, the student body is exceptionally talented. Graduates from UTIAS work at major Canadian and international aerospace companies, and hold professorships at globally recognized universities. Companies such as Bombardier, Pratt & Whitney Canada and MDA are eager to work with our students and researchers.
Moreover, UTIAS is part of the University of Toronto, which is consistently ranked in the top twenty-five global universities, and is located in one of the world's most diverse, exciting and cosmopolitan cities. There is no limit to the possibilities available to the select group of students who earn admission to UTIAS.
Which degree is right for you?
The Master of Engineering (MEng) in Aerospace Science and Engineering offered at UTIAS is a program dedicated to engineers who wish to upgrade their qualifications with the goal of working in the aerospace industry.
Recent graduates from the UTIAS MEng program are now working at Bombardier Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney Canada, SNC-Lavalin and MDA, among many other companies both inside and outside the aerospace sector.
The MEng program makes this possible by providing top quality instruction at UTIAS, the best engineering school in Canada (QS Top Universities) and the 21st best university in the world in 2019 (Times Higher Education World University Rankings).
UTIAS MEng students take courses in all the major aerospace disciplines, in the many other engineering and computer science fields offered at the University of Toronto, and in engineering management.
Each UTIAS MEng student can select their own customized set of courses from the wide selection offered at the University of Toronto. The course work is supplemented by a wealth of co-curricular and extra-curricular activities.
UTIAS MEng students can choose one of three program options: full-time, where all course work is completed within one year; extended full-time, with two years to complete the course work; and part-time study.
In addition, UTIAS MEng students can take advantage of our strong international connections, particularly with Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China and ISAE-SUPAERO in France. UTIAS offers innovative exchange and joint study international opportunities with both partner institutions.
The MEng program is based on course work with no major research component but MEng students may elect to complete the AER1810H MEng project, supervised by a UTIAS professor. Students looking for a research-rich experience should investigate our MASc and PhD degrees.
The UTIAS MEng program is an ideal choice for hard-working, ambitious students aiming to succeed in the Canadian and global aerospace industries.
The Master of Applied Science (MASc) in Aerospace Science and Engineering is for ambitious and talented students wishing to focus their future career on research in industry, government, or academia.
The University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS) is Canada's premier aerospace research institution (University Magazine, 2018), pursuing groundbreaking research in a wide range of aerospace related fields, including aerodynamics, propulsion, microsatellites, guidance and control, advanced structures, and robotics.
UTIAS researchers collaborate extensively with all the major companies in the Canadian aerospace industry, and UTIAS MASc students frequently interact with industrial partners.
The MASc takes twenty months to complete; the first eight months are half coursework and half research, and the next twelve months are full-time research. To gain admission, each candidate for the MASc degree is selected for individual research supervision by a UTIAS faculty member.
All MASc students at UTIAS are provided with a stipend to support living expenses, tuition and fees, and are eligible for a range of additional scholarship support.
After twelve months in the MASc program, it is possible for particularly strong students to transfer directly to the Doctor of Philosophy program.
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Aerospace Science and Engineering is an elite research degree offered at the best aerospace engineering department in Canada, the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS).
UTIAS students and faculty conduct leading-edge research into crucial topics in aerospace engineering, performing innovative analysis, large scale computer simulation, groundbreaking experiments, and design and construction of novel aerospace and robotic systems.
The UTIAS PhD is ideal preparation for directing industrial research or leading an academic research group.
The UTIAS PhD takes four years to complete. Candidates for the UTIAS PhD are required to take four courses in their first two years of registration and then spend the remainder of their program on full-time research.
All UTIAS PhD students are provided with a stipend to support living expenses, tuition and fees, and are eligible for a range of additional scholarship support.
Admission Requirements and Application Procedure
Admission to any of the graduate programs is in accordance with the general regulations of the School of Graduate Studies (SGS). For international students, degree and grade equivalencies can be found at the International Degree Equivalencies directory.
Admission to the MEng program requires a BASc degree from the University of Toronto or an equivalent four-year degree in engineering from a recognized university. Applicants require a minimum average grade of B in their final year.
Admission to the MASc program requires a Bachelor’s degree in a four-year undergraduate program in engineering, mathematics, physics, or chemistry from a recognized university. Applicants require a minimum average grade of B in their final year, but most admitted applicants have average grades higher than this.
Students with excellent performance during the first year of a MASc program at UTIAS may request to be transferred directly into the PhD program under the same supervisor without having to complete the MASc thesis.
Admission to the PhD program requires a research-intensive Master’s degree in applied science, engineering, mathematics, physics, or chemistry, and demonstrated ability to perform advanced research. Applicants require a minimum average grade of B+ in their Master’s program, but most admitted applicants have average grades higher than this.
If English is not your primary language and you graduated from a non-Canadian university, you must demonstrate your proficiency in English by taking the TOEFL, IELTS or another test of English capability. If you have a degree from a university in one of the countries listed here, you may be exempt from English test requirements.
Please note that the UTIAS English language requirements are more stringent than the minimum SGS requirements. The medium of instruction in a university is not sufficient to demonstrate English proficiency.
See our FAQ - Admissions and the School of Graduate Studies for additional information.
UTIAS Minimum Requirements
For the internet-based TOEFL test (iBT), the required minimum scores are 22/30 for both the ‘writing’ and ‘speaking’ sections with an overall minimum score of 93/120.
For IELTS, the minimum score is overall 7.0; no component can be below 6.5. This means that if even one of the four scores is 6.0 or below, you will have to retake the entire test.
Electronic Submission of Scores
Applicants must request that the testing organizations send the scores directly to the University of Toronto.
For TOEFL, students must arrange for their score to be reported electronically to the University of Toronto (Enrollment Services) by the testing agency. The institution code for U of T is 0982. There is no need to specify a department.
For IELTS, students should select "University of Toronto (Undergraduate and Graduate programs)" from the list of options. The University of Toronto (Undergraduate and Graduate Programs) is an IELTS "STED RO". This means that we subscribe to the electronic score-sending service and do not accept paper results. You may wish to advise your test centre that U of T is a STED RO when you make your request to have your scores sent to us.
Applicants are required to submit complete payments and applications by the deadlines indicated below. Applicants should expect that completing this process will take at least a month and should start their application accordingly. Additional materials (reference letters, transcripts, etc) are still required after your payment has been made. You will not be able to upload these documents once the deadline has passed.
Applications systems open Oct 1 for admissions for the following Fall term.
| Degree Program | SGS Fee Payment Deadline | SGS Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| MEng - International | March 1, 2023 | March 1, 2023 |
| MEng - Domestic | March 1, 2023 | March 1, 2023 |
| Degree Program | SGS Fee Payment Deadline | UTIAS Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| PhD | January 10, 2023 | January 17, 2023 |
| MASc | January 10, 2023 | January 17, 2023 |
*As a MASc/PhD applicant, you must complete two applications through the SGS Admissions and UTIAS Graduate Admissions website (read Application Instructions below). All application information, including letters of reference, must be submitted by the UTIAS Application Deadline. Incomplete applications will not be considered for admission.
Please ensure that you meet our minimum admission requirements as stated above.
Before applying, you should learn about the UTIAS course offerings, and read the frequently asked questions about admissions and studying at UTIAS.
Submit an application on the SGS Admissions Management site and pay the pay the $125 application fee (non-refundable/transferable, regardless of the circumstance). Applications will not be processed until the application fee is received. You will be prompted for your payment information after you click “submit.” Please note that there is no way to edit your application once it has been submitted.
On the SGS Admissions Management site please submit:
- Your applicant profile (personal information, academic history, etc.), and,
- Scans of complete (or most up-to-date) academic transcript(s). Applicants must scan and upload each post-secondary institutional transcript as a PDF file. In lieu of a scanned copy of a paper transcript, applicants may upload a PDF file of their academic history from their university’s student web service. Every transcript must include its respective grading scale. You are not required to submit official (paper) transcripts until requested by the graduate office.
Please note:
- Applicants should monitor their application status on the SGS Admissions Management site.
Your SGS Admission Application includes:
- personal/general Information
- statement of intent
- curriculum vitae
- academic history and detailed grades*
- referee contact information**
Once you submit your application on the SGS Admissions Management site you will not be able to modify it.**Two reference letters are required. Your referees must submit their letters of reference electronically on the SGS Admission Application Management site. Do not submit more than two referees. Only two letters will be considered. Instructions on how to submit letters of reference will be sent automatically to referees by the SGS Admission Application Management site. An application is not complete until both letters of reference have been submitted. It is highly recommended that applicants (1) submit their applications well in advance of the deadline and (2) confirm that their letters of reference have been submitted by logging on to the SGS Admission Management Application site.
Please ensure that you meet our minimum admission requirements as stated above.
Before applying, you should learn about the UTIAS course offerings, and read the frequently asked questions about admissions and studying at UTIAS.
Step 1. Submit an application on the SGS Admissions Management site and pay the pay the $125 application fee (non-refundable/transferable, regardless of the circumstance). Applications will not be processed until the application fee is received. You will be prompted for your payment information after you click “submit.” Please note that there is no way to edit your application once it has been submitted.
On the SGS Admissions Management site please submit:
- Your SGS application (personal information, academic history, etc.), and,
- Scans of complete (or most up-to-date) academic transcript(s). Applicants must scan and upload each post-secondary institutional transcript as a PDF file. In lieu of a scanned copy of a paper transcript, applicants may upload a PDF file of their academic history from their university’s student web service. Every transcript must include its respective grading scale. You are not required to submit official (paper) transcripts until requested by the graduate office.
Step 2. Submit a detailed application on the UTIAS Graduate Admission Application site.
This is the most important part of the application process. If you do not complete the UTIAS Graduate Admission Application your application will not be reviewed.
Your UTIAS Graduate Admission Application includes:
- personal/general Information
- statement of intent
- curriculum vitae
- academic history and detailed grades*
- referee contact information**
Once you submit your application on the UTIAS Graduate Admission Application site you will not be able to modify it.
*You must include all marks from all years and all institutions that you have attended. If you do not provide these grades on the UTIAS Graduate Admission Application, the review of your application will be delayed until you provide these and hence you may miss the review period.
**Two reference letters are required. Your referees must submit their letters of reference electronically on the UTIAS Graduate Admission Application site. Do not submit more than two referees. Only two letters will be considered. Instructions on how to submit letters of reference will be sent automatically to referees by the UTIAS Graduate Admission Application site. An application is not complete until both letters of reference have been submitted. It is highly recommended that applicants (1) submit their applications well in advance of the deadline and (2) confirm that their letters of reference have been submitted by logging on to the UTIAS Graduate Admission Application site. The application status will read “received” when the application is complete including two letters of reference.
You are not required to submit official paper transcripts until requested by the UTIAS Graduate Office.
MEng Applicants:
The review process will take place using the scanned/electronic transcripts uploaded to the SGS Admissions Management Application site.
MASc/PhD Applicants:
The review process will take place using the scanned/electronic transcripts uploaded to the SGS Admissions Management Application site and grades submitted to the UTIAS Graduate Admission Application site. You will be contacted with instructions if you are required to submit official paper transcripts.
Two letters of reference are required. Additional letters of reference will not be reviewed. All referees must enter their letters of reference online.
Please do not forward hard copies of letters of reference to the UTIAS Graduate Office. The UTIAS Graduate Office will contact referees by e-mail and telephone to authenticate all letters of reference.
In general, letters of reference from academic sources are preferred.
Applicants must enter the statement of intent on-line. A curriculum vitae or resume may be uploaded in PDF format.
Applicants must classify their research interest. The UTIAS Graduate Admission Application site will permit applicants to indicate a maximum of three areas of interest from a drop-down menu.
Visit our Research page for detailed information.
Both research (MASc and PhD) and professional masters degree (MEng) students are admitted in September. Applications will not be accepted after the deadlines.
Most questions are addressed in our FAQ - Admissions page. For questions not answered in the FAQ, please contact grad.admissions@utias.utoronto.ca. Please include your full name, applicant number, degree sought and what application system you're having trouble with (if applicable).
Master of Engineering
Applications to the MEng program will be reviewed by a UTIAS admissions committee after the application submission deadline. Successful applicants will not be assigned a supervisor but will have their graduate studies overseen by the Associate Director for Graduate Studies. At the time admission is offered, successful applicants must select a program delivery option PDF (full-time, extended full-time or part-time).
Master of Applied Science and Doctor of Philosophy
Domestic applicants to MASc and PhD: Find out about Graduate Research Days!
Research students must be accepted by a UTIAS professor who will provide guaranteed funding and serve as the research supervisor.
Applicants should read carefully the research profiles of the UTIAS professors to identify appropriate supervisors. It is recommended that applicants contact professors doing research in relevant areas prior to or at the time of application to ascertain position and project availability.
Applicants to the MASc and PhD programs will not have a confirmed supervisor before submitting the application.
Applicants will have their applications assessed by professors, and the professors will arrange for interviews to determine which students to admit to their groups.
Applicants to the MASc program who are not accepted will NOT automatically be considered for admission to the MEng program. Please submit an application through the SGS Admissions Management Application site to also be considered for the MEng program.