Cybersecurity (PhD program) at University of Ontario Institute of Technology

In addition to the general admission requirements for graduate studies, PhD in Cybersecurity applicants must meet the following program-specific requirements:

• Students would normally be expected to have completed a four-year undergraduate degree and a thesis-based Masters degree in a relevant field from a Canadian university, or its equivalent from a recognized institution, with an overall academic standing of at least 3.5 on a 4.0/4.3 scale or its equivalent in their last two years of study.
  MITS Pathway: Graduates of Ontario Tech University Master of IT Security (MITS) program can apply to the Ph.D. program If they have completed the MITS program with an overall academic standing of at least 3.5/4.3.
• A minimum of two letters of reference from persons having direct knowledge of the applicant's academic competence. Academic references are preferred; however professional references will be accepted. Letters of reference should come from individuals under whom the applicant has worked closely or studied. The quality of the letters will be assessed by the Graduate Committee to make sure relevant requirements have been met.
• Proof of English proficiency is needed from those applicants whose first language is not English, as per university regulations.
• Applicants must find a prospective faculty supervisor from among the list of graduate faculty members of the PhD in Cybersecurity program and receive formal acceptance of the faculty member to supervise their research. No applicant will be accepted to the program without having an approved prospective supervisor in advance.
• As part of the application form, students are required to provide a detailed personal research statement, outlining their area of interest in cybersecurity, their proposed academic research plan, and identify the faculty supervisor who has agreed to supervise their research.
• Students admitted to the program must demonstrate their broad proficiency in the area of cybersecurity through evidence of completing or having completed graduate-level coursework in the fields of theory, applications, legal and governance issues of cybersecurity. Students who do not demonstrate appropriate background in research methods and cybersecurity fundamentals and/or ethics will be required to complete the following additional/prerequisite courses within the first 18 months of the program:

1. Cybersecurity: The following courses are required for students who do not have prior background in IT security.
   INFR 5010G - Fundamentals of IT security (6 Credits)
   INFR 5100G - Law and Ethics of IT Security (3 Credits)
2. Research methods: The following prerequisite is required for students who have not completed a previous thesis-based Master’s program in a relevant field.
   CSCI 5010G – Survey of Computer Science Research Topics and Methods (3 Credits)

English test

You have achieved the required proficiency on one of the tests in the English language acceptable to the university as listed below. We encourage applicants to register for an English language proficiency test prior to the application deadline. Test results dated more than 24 months prior to the date of the application for admission will not be considered.

A hard copy of the test score is not required. Applicants may upload a copy of the official test score, using the upload links we provide to you, after your application is submitted. Ontario Tech may verify the results of the English language test.

It is important to note that English language proficiency requirements may be higher for employment, including teaching assistant duties.

Please note: If you take an approved English language proficiency test, its score shall prevail as the determining evidence of your English language proficiency.