Rehabilitation Science

Rehabilitation sciences is a multidisciplinary, integrated science dedicated to the study of human function and participation and its relationship to health and well-being. Using basic and applied methods, the science is focused on phenomena at the level of the cell, muscle/brain, person, family, community, or society to develop and evaluate theories, models, processes, measures, interventions, and policies to prevent, reverse, or minimize impairments, enable activity, and facilitate participation.

• 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.

• Applicants must have graduated with a minimum A– from a relevant thesis-based master’s program, such as Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Sciences, and Speech-Language Pathology.

• Applicants must submit the following 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.

• Applicants may be counselled prior to admission and provided with materials regarding potential PhD supervisors. Applicants must identify a faculty member who has agreed to serve as research supervisor. The research supervisor is expected to examine a completed thesis and/or manuscripts and university transcripts.

• Applicants who were educated outside Canada, whose primary language is not English, and who graduated from a university where the language of instruction and examination was not English, must demonstrate proficiency in the English language through the successful completion of 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.

  • 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.

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.