Industrial Relations and Human Resources

In addition to faculty directly appointed to the Centre for Industrial Relations and Human Resources (CIRHR), the centre brings together professors from many different disciplines and departments at the University of Toronto to teach and conduct research on all aspects of the workplace and employment relationships. The CIRHR faculty reflect the depth, breadth, and diversity of our university.

• Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Centre for Industrial Relations and Human Resources' additional admission requirements stated below.

• Applicants require a master's degree in industrial relations, human resources, economics, sociology, public policy, political science, management, or a related field of study.

• At least a B+ standing, or equivalent, is required in the previous master's program. Academic performance in courses relevant to the applicant's area of interest, as well as performance in statistics and research methods courses are taken into consideration by the admissions committee.

• Applicants are required to submit a copy of their results from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Although there is no minimum score requirement, performance on the GRE will be taken into consideration by the admissions committee. Test results more than five years old are normally not considered.

• Applicants whose primary language is not English and who graduated from a university where the language of instruction and examination was not English must write the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The following minimum scores are acceptable:

  • paper-based TOEFL exam: 600 and 5 on the Test of Written English (TWE)

  • Internet-based TOEFL exam: 100/120 and 22/30 on both the writing and speaking sections

  • IELTS exam: overall score of 7.0 (Academic), with at least 6.5 for each component.

• Applicants may be required to appear for a personal interview and/or submit copies of recent academic work.

Duolingo English Test:Tests completed on or after July 1, 2024: Overall score of 120 with a score of 120 in production.

Tests completed before July 1, 2024: Overall score of 120, with no subscore below 100.

International Baccalaureate English:A minimum score of at least 4 (predicted or final) in Higher Level or Standard Level English A: Literature or English A: Language and Literature. English B Higher Level is not acceptable. Learn more about IB English.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS):The minimum requirement is an overall band of 6.5, with no band below 6.0. Results from IELTS (Academic) for UKVI test sittings are accepted. Learn more about IELTS.

Note: We do not accept the IELTS Indicator test or results from the IELTS One Skill Retake. Applicants must achieve the scores listed above on a single date.

Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic:The minimum requirement is an overall score of 65 with no part below 60. Results from PTE (Academic) UKVI test sittings are accepted. Learn more about PTE.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL):Tests completed before January 21, 2026:

- The minimum requirement is a total score of 89 with 22 in each of Speaking and Writing
- Applicants must achieve the scores listed above on a single date. TOEFL MyBest (super-scored) results will not be used.

Effective January 21, 2026 there will be a new TOEFL scoring format. Admission requirements for the new scale are under review and will be posted once finalized.

Paper based test: Tests will be reviewed on an individual basis. Learn more about TOEFL

We do not accept TOEFL Essentials, TOEFL ITP or TOEFL ITP Plus for China for admission purposes.