Who We Are
The University of Toronto is among the top ranked institutions of higher education in North America. Its three campuses (Downtown, Mississauga and Scarborough) are nestled within a large metropolitan environment full of dynamic, diverse and highly livable urban communities. The St. George campus, where most graduate training and coursework takes place, is near the downtown core, within walking distance of provincial and municipal government offices. Greater Toronto is home to more than six million people, and supports excellent public works and transportation services, business districts, music festivals, cultural celebrations, opera companies, major league sports, and a wonderful variety of entertainment venues, restaurants, and shops.
The Department has a large and academically diverse research-oriented faculty, well represented in the various sub-fields of the discipline (Political Theory, International Relations, Comparative Politics, Development Studies, Canadian Politics Public Policy and Research Methods). The Department also collaborates with a wide range of interdisciplinary graduate programs.
Although the Department is one of the largest Political Science departments in the western world, it is deeply committed to fostering a collegial and supportive environment. Students and faculty are strongly encouraged to collaborate on several academic and social initiatives within and across all research areas throughout the academic year.
With an overall graduate student population of approximately 220, the department accepts 20 to 25 students to both the PhD and MA programs annually. Students come to the Department from across Canada and many parts of the world. Approximately 30 percent of the PhD students and 20 percent of the MA students are international students. Since entrance requirements and standards of work are high, so is the caliber of the students both domestic and international.
Each year about 20 to 25 students register in each of the PhD and MA programs.
Graduates of the Department have gone on to academic careers, public service, and other work in all provinces of Canada, the United States, and many other countries.
The University supports a comprehensive Placement Service to assist graduate students seeking employment in academia and beyond. Graduate Students are welcomed to serve and participate in a local organization called the Graduate Association for Students in Political Science (GASPS), to foster intellectual exchanges, social events, and student participation in all aspects of Department life.