Doctor of Philosophy

• Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute's additional admission requirements stated below

• PhD applicants must have graduated with a minimum A- from a relevant (i.e. MScOT; MScPT, MSc. (i.e. Rehab) thesis based master’s program. Students may be counselled prior to admission and provided with materials regarding potential PhD supervisors. Applicants will be required to submit along with their application a letter of intent, two confidential reference letters that indicate the applicant’s preparation and competence to conduct research, and Curriculum Vitae

• Well-qualified students with excellent research potential holding a BSc degree may be considered for direct admission to the PhD program. These applicants must:

  • have a minimum A+/A average (GPA 4.0) in an undergraduate program from a recognized university;

  • have previous relevant research experience, outstanding references, and a personal recommendation from a potential supervisor

• An applicant must identify a faculty member who has agreed to serve as research supervisor. The research supervisor may want to examine a completed thesis and/or manuscripts and university transcripts

• Applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence of written and verbal proficiency in English by completing one of the following tests:

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the Test of Written English (TWE) with the following minimum scores:

    • paper-based TOEFL: 600 and 5 on the TWE

    • Internet-based TOEFL (IBT): 100/120 and 22/30 on the writing and speaking sections

  • Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB): minimum score of 87

  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS): minimum score of 7.5

  • Certificate of Proficiency in English (COPE): see General Regulations, 4.3 English-Language Proficiency

  • U of T School of Continuing Studies academic preparation: see General Regulations, 4.3 English-Language Proficiency

Students may be required to take extra courses in addition to the degree requirements listed below:

• A minimum of 2.0 FCEs* as follows:
  
  ^{*minimum of 1.5 FECs as of 2022}

  • REH 3100H | Advanced Rehabilitation Research Issues*; if an equivalent was not taken at the master’s level
    
    ^{*Known as REH 3001H | RSI PhD Seminar – Foundation of Professional Development as of 2022; Attendance is expected during Year 1 of PhD program}

  • REH 3001Y | Rehabilitation Presentations & Proceedings*; (expected to attend first 2 years of PhD program, CR/NCR). Students remain enrolled and are encouraged to attend until the completion of the degree
    
    ^{*Not required as of 2022}

  • An Advanced Research Methods/Statistics course

  • One half-credit course in an area related to the student's thesis

• A thesis successfully defended before the Thesis Examination Committee

• A Candidacy examination, with written and oral components, to be taken in the first 18 months of the program (2.5 years for direct-entry students).

• Attend and present at RSI Research Day (in Year 2, 3 & Year 4)

• Submission of Supervisory Committee and Annual Report

• Students are expected to be on campus and participating full-time until all program requirements are completed.

Students in all fields who are admitted on the basis of a bachelor's degree must complete the following course requirements in addition to those listed above:

• REH 1100H Theory and Research in Rehabilitation Science

• REH 1130H Theory and Research in Occupational Science or REH 1140H Theory and Research in Physical Therapy

• ​REH 1120H Research Methods for Rehabilitation Science

• 4 years full-time

• 5 years direct-entry

• 6 years full-time

• 7 years direct-entry