Information for Candidates from various educational systems (including Non-Ontario and International)

All qualified candidates are welcome to apply for admission to the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy.  This includes domestic non-Ontario residents and international students.  Within the class of approximately 250 students there is no limit to the number of qualified non-Ontario residents, including international students, who may be admitted.  

All candidates must comply with all admission requirements which include the submission of official transcripts, CASPer test score, and completion of the online Individual Assessment.  Proof of English facility may also be required of applicants for whom English is not their first language.

Candidates who have completed academic subject requirements outside Ontario, whether in another Canadian province/territory or in various other worldwide educational systems, should follow the steps outlined below:

  • If you attended a Canadian university, click here to view examples of courses that will meet the different required subject areas (Biology, Chemistry, and Math). Humanities/Social Science is not included in this section – instead, see the Academic Requirements section or the Handbook for details of this subject requirement.
  • Due to the large number of post-secondary institutions we are unable to publish examples for all institutions.  If your university is not listed, please refer to the information contained in the ‘Academic Requirements’ section and in the ‘Handbook’.  If you have AP, IB, CEGEP or GCE studies (UK or equivalent examining board), or if you have studied at an Ontario college, please view the ‘Additional Information - Information for Applicants from various educational systems’ section below. 
  • Compare the information provided regarding the required subject areas with the courses you have completed to determine, to the best of your ability, if your courses align with the required subject areas (i.e. minimum of 1.0 FCE Biology, 1.5 FCEs Chemistry, 1.0 FCE Math, including at least 0.5 Calculus, plus 1.0 FCE Humanities/Social Science). If you have the minimum number of FCEs in each (taking note of the restrictions in each subject requirement as outline in the 'Academic Requirements' section), and you have completed (or will be completing by April of the year you are applying) a total of at least 8.0 FCEs with a minimum cumulative average of at least 70% (equivalent to B- at U of Toronto), you will meet the minimum published academic requirements.
  • Be aware of the restrictions in the courses used to meet specific subject requirements - remember that courses must be completed at the undergraduate level within 10 years of the year for which application is made (i.e. courses must be completed in fall 2015 or later for the 2025 admission cycle).
  • It is suggested that you print the 'Required Subjects' page from the Worksheet included in the Handbook to help you organize all of your information. To meet the FCE requirements listed above, you need at least two terms/semesters of each required subject area, except for Chemistry for which you need at least 3 terms/semesters.  Note the restrictions in the allowable courses as given in the 'Academic Requirements' section and in the Handbook. 
  • If you are unsure whether you will meet the academic requirements after reviewing the sections mentioned above, please email the PharmD Admissions Office at adm.phm@utoronto.ca with the subject line ‘Academic eligibility’. We may require i) a copy of your transcript (this can be an unofficial student-issued version of the transcript)  ii)  course outlines/syllabi for relevant courses and iii) a copy of the completed ‘Required Subjects’ page (completed to the best of your ability) from the Worksheet included in the Handbook.

Please note that although we do provide guidance as needed regarding academic requirements, the ‘ formal’ review of academic qualifications takes place only  after an official application has been submitted and official transcripts are received in support of the application. We strongly encourage applicants to send inquiries well in advance of application deadlines to allow sufficient time for review and response by our office.

Submitting Detailed Course Outlines

Candidates who have studied outside of Canada must be prepared to submit detailed course outlines/syllabi for any courses intended to satisfy the subject requirements. These are to be sent after submission of the online application if requested.

Additional Information - Information for Applicants from various educational systems

In cases where studies have been undertaken in various educational systems, equivalence to University credit will be based on current University of Toronto, Faculty of Arts and Science guidelines.

Information for Applicants who have attended an Ontario College

Candidates who have completed a 2 or 3 year program at the Ontario college level, and have been granted applicable university credit, may have the college credits, upon which transfer credit was based, considered for purposes of meeting the Biology, Chemistry, Math and Humanities/Social Science subject requirements.  These will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please contact the PharmD Admissions Office at adm.phm@utoronto.ca giving details of your program of study and we will provide further guidance. All  applicants must have a minimum total of 8.0 FCEs/FCE equivalents at the university level. As we do not admit directly from the college level, such candidates must supplement their studies with at least one year at a university (i.e. minimum of 4.0 FCEs) even if 4.0 or more FCEs were awarded as university transfer credit.

Information for Applicants who have studied in Quebec

Candidates who have studied in the Quebec educational system should note that CEGEP and university level credits are considered for purposes of meeting the academic subject requirements. Candidates who have completed a 2 or 3 year CEGEP program may use their CEGEP courses to meet the Chemistry, Biology, Math (including Calculus), and the Humanities/Social Science subject requirements. 

Acceptable Biology credits (prefix 101) - General Biology I + General Biology II (note that Anatomy/Physiology credits are not acceptable)

Acceptable Chemistry credits (prefix 202) - General Chemistry + Chemistry of Solutions + Organic Chemistry

Acceptable Math credits (prefix 201) - Calculus I + Calculus II

All applicants must have a minimum total of 8.0 FCEs/FCE equivalents at the university level.  As we do not admit directly from the CEGEP level, a minimum of one year of university level study must be completed (i.e. minimum of 4.0 FCEs at a university) as a supplement to the CEGEP studies even if more than 4.0  FCEs were awarded as university transfer credit.

CEGEP credits taken individually after university studies have been undertaken will not be considered for purposes of meeting subject requirements. Prospective applicants, who have already begun or have completed any university studies, must complete any missing required subjects at the university level.

Other qualifications including AP, IB, GCE

Advanced Placement

Candidates who have completed Advanced Placement courses must supplement these studies with at least one year of university study.  All applicants must have a minimum total of 8.0 FCEs/FCE equivalents at the university level. A minimum of 4.0 FCEs must be completed at a university even if more than 4.0  FCEs were awarded as university transfer credit.

Appropriate Advanced Placement credits, with an exam score of at least 4, may be used to meet  1.0 FCE Biology, 1.0 FCE  Chemistry,  and 0.5 or 1.0 FCE Humanities/Social Science depending on the course taken. Note, however, that AP Calculus (AB or BC) is not acceptable in meeting the 0.5 FCE requirement in Calculus and normally cannot be used toward the other 0.5  FCE of the Math requirement.

 International Baccalaureate (IB)

Candidates who have completed an International Baccalaureate program must supplement the IB studies with at least one year of university level study. All applicants must have a minimum total of 8.0 FCEs/FCE equivalents at the university level. A minimum of 4.0 FCEs must be completed at a university even if more than 4.0  FCEs were awarded as university transfer credit.

Exam scores of at least 5 in IB Higher Levels may be used to meet 1.0 FCE  Biology, 1.0 FCE Chemistry, 1.0 FCE Math (including the 0.5 Calculus requirement) and 1.0 FCE Humanities/Social Science depending on the course taken. Note, however that ‘Math Studies’ does not fulfill any part of the Math subject requirement. 

General Certificate of Education (GCE/GCSE/IGCSE) - UK or equivalent examining board

Candidates who have completed the General Certificate of Education must supplement their studies with at least one year of university level study. All applicants must have a minimum total of 8.0 FCEs/FCE equivalents at the university level. A minimum of 4.0 FCEs must be completed at a university even if more than 4.0  FCEs were awarded as university transfer credit.

Applicants who have completed a General Certificate of Education (GCSE or IGCSE), where the exams were conducted by an examination board located in the UK or equivalent authority based elsewhere (e.g. CXC, HKEA, WAEC) may use Advanced levels, with a minimum grade of ‘B’,  to satisfy  1.0 FCE Chemistry, 1.0 FCE Biology, and 0.5 to 1.0 FCE Humanities/Social Science depending on the course(s) taken.  Note that “A” Level Mathematics cannot be used to satisfy any part of the Math requirement (with the exception of the Hong Kong Advanced Level Mathematics).  “Advanced Subsidiary” (AS) levels do not meet requirements.