Occupational Therapy

The Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy is committed to providing graduate and continuing education programs that enable occupational therapists to be leaders in research, clinical practice, and the promotion of health and well-being. Core and clinical faculty members provide dynamic, evidence-based, and comprehensive instruction and mentorship. Graduates are innovative professionals focused on enabling occupation and enhancing health and well-being.

• Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy's additional admission requirements stated below.
• An appropriate bachelor's degree from a recognized university with high academic standing and a mid-B average or better in the final year of study.
• To determine initial ranking only, the department will review the last 10.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) completed at the undergraduate level by the application deadline.
• Applicants must complete the Casper test online. Casper is an online open-response situational judgement test designed to evaluate problem-solving skills as well as personal and professional characteristics such as communication, ethics, and empathy. Applicants must register to take the test and have their results sent to the MScOT program ahead of the application deadline. Find the set dates to write for different programs. Applicants can submit for disability-related testing accommodations and fee assistance.
• Apply online using the Ontario Rehabilitation Sciences Programs Application Service (ORPAS). Applications are accepted around October each year, with a deadline near the end of December or early January. Exact deadlines are posted on the ORPAS website and in the ORPAS Instruction Booklet.

• Applicants whose primary language is not English and who graduated from a university where the language of instruction is not English must provide proof of English proficiency by March 1 of the year of application. See General Regulations, section 4.3 English-Language Proficiency in this calendar for general information and acceptable tests. The department strongly prefers the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and requires a minimum score of:

  • 600 on the paper-based test, accompanied by a minimum score of 5 on the Test of Written English (TWE)
  • 100/120 on the Internet-based test with 22/30 on the speaking section and 22/30 on the writing section.

  TOEFL candidates should request that results be sent to institution code 0982.

• Visit the Occupational Therapy and ORPAS websites for additional information regarding application document submissions (e.g., confidential assessment forms, resumé, personal statement submission).

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.