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Admission Requirements
The Department of History coordinates its admission process with Western’s School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies [SGPS]. Please consult Western’s Admission Requirements page and guidelines for Applying to Western in addition to the information found below.
Applicants to MA programs at Western must possess a four-year degree from an accredited university. Applicants to the MA in History or Public History field typically have an undergraduate major or specialization in History; however, other applicants who can show evidence of interest in, and aptitude for, historical study may be considered. SGPS requires at least a 70% average across courses taken in the last two full-time years of the undergraduate degree. The Department of History normally requires an average of 78% or higher, although such an average does not in itself guarantee admission.
Applicants to Ph.D. programs at Western must possess a Master’s degree or equivalent from an accredited university and provide evidence of research potential. Applicants to the Ph.D. in History must generally have an MA in History, or have completed all requirements of an MA degree. Applicants from adjacent disciplines who can show evidence of aptitude for, and success in, historical study may also be considered. The department may conditionally accept applicants still completing MA theses; in such cases, the applicant must defend the thesis successfully before admission to the program. SGPS requires at least a 70% average in all of an applicant’s advanced academic work. The Department of History normally requires an average of 80% or higher, although such an average does not in itself guarantee admission.
