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Admissions
The University of Toronto Faculty of Law, Global Professional Masters of Law program attracts lawyers and professionals from a range of industries, including a variety of for-profit businesses, the public sector, not-for-profit organizations, research institutes, hospitals, and start-ups. The Faculty is looking for high achieving, diverse students who work in the law or whose jobs require them to engage with the law, legal issues and lawyers. We select applicants whose professional and academic experience, interests, and interpersonal skills will enable them to contribute to the dynamic classroom experience we offer.
Program Structure and Calendar
The program's 10 courses may be completed in one year (three sessions with a F/W/S registration sequence) or through an extended full-time option that allows students to complete the 10 course requirement over two years (six sessions with a F/W/S/F/W/S registration sequence). Note that the extended full-time option is still considered a full-time program. Please see our Fees page, and the School of Graduate Studies Calendar for more information.
The program has one intake in September of each year. Please review our Program Calendar for dates:
Admission Requirements
1) Academic Requirements
Minimum GPA: at least a mid-B, or its equivalent, in the final year of a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university.
Applicants are not required to hold a law degree to apply to any of the GPLLM concentrations.
Applicants with a bachelor degree from outside of Canada should confirm their international credential equivalency through the School of Graduate Studies’ International Credentials Equivalencies Database.
Please note that the GPLLM Admissions team cannot offer an official assessment of your transcripts until all required documents have been received, and your completed application reviewed.
2) English Language Proficiency Requirements
As English is the primary language of instruction and communication at the University of Toronto, applicants must demonstrate their English language proficiency.
Applicants whose first language is not English must provide results of an English language proficiency test as part of their application, unless one of the exceptions listed below is applicable.
GPLLM minimum required scores:
- TOEFL (including TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition): 100 with at least 24 in each section
- CAEL: 70 overall with at least 70 in each section
- IELTS Academic: 7.5 overall with at least 7.0 in each section
- COPE: 86 overall with at least 22 in both Listening and Reading, 40 in Writing, and 7 in TOP (speaking, if applicable)
- Cambridge English Qualifications: 191 overall with at least 185 for each section
- U of T Academic Prep Course: Grade of A in Level 60
All tests must have been written within the 24 months preceding the date of application to the GPLLM program.
More information on accepted tests can be found on the School of Graduate Studies website. Please note that the minimum requirements for the GPLLM program listed above are higher than the SGS minimum requirements.
English Language Proficiency Exemptions:
If an applicant meets any one of the following conditions, they are not required to submit proof of proficiency in English:
- Native language is English (language first learned and still used on a daily basis).
- A Canadian citizen who studied at a Canadian university where the language of instruction is French.
- Has obtained their admitting degree (bachelor's degree) from an institution recognized by the University of Toronto, where the language of instruction and examination is uniformly English.
- Applicants who wish to be exempt based on this ground, must provide an official academic transcript confirming that the language of instruction and examination in the admitting degree program is/was English. If the official academic transcript does not include this information, applicants must have an official statement sent to admissions.gpllm@utoronto.ca directly from the issuing institution, confirming the use of English as the language of instruction and examination.
- Completed their admitting degree (bachelor's degree) in one of the following countries/regions: Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Botswana, Ghana, Guyana, Hong Kong, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Malta, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States of America, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Please note that completion of a diploma/certificate in English is not sufficient to qualify for an English language proficiency exemption.
3) Work Experience Requirements
Business Law and Innovation, Law and Technology Concentrations:
Minimum 5 years of full-time, progressive professional experience*.
Canadian Law Concentration:
No work experience required; however, please note that applicants with fewer than 5 years full-time work experience* are only permitted to take courses in the Canadian Law in a Global Context concentration.
*not including summer jobs or short-term internships.
How to Apply
General application instructions may also be found on the School of Graduate Studies’ “How to Apply” webpage.
For step-by-step instructions, please download our How to Apply Manual.
1) Create an Application
In order to apply to the GPLLLM program, you must complete the following steps:
Step 1 – Program Selection:
- Graduate Unit = Faculty of Law
- Attendance Type = Full-time OR Extended Full-time
- Program of Study = Global Professional Master of Laws
- Select a Concentration = Canadian Law OR Business Law OR Innovation, Law and Technology (please ensure you meet the admission requirements above before selecting a concentration)
Step 2 – Personal Information
Step 3 – Academic History
Step 4 – Employment Status
Step 5 – English Language Proficiency Requirement
Step 6 – Additional information (legal status and awards)
Step 7 – Faculty Questions
Step 8 – Recommendations (Referees’ Information)
Notes:
DO NOT ADD MORE THAN 2 REFEREES – If more than 2 referees are added, only the first two reference letters submitted will be considered. Any additional letters will not be reviewed.
DO NOT ENTER NON-INSTITUTIONAL EMAIL ADDRESSES FOR REFEREES (i.e., Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc.,) – reference letters submitted via a non-institutional email address are not admissible. If a referee does not have an institutional and/or professional email address, please contact admissions.gpllm@utoronto.ca.
Step 9 – Optional Surveys
Step 10 – Signature
Step 11 – Review (click Continue to submit your application and access the webpage to pay the application fee and upload the required documents).
2) Pay the application fee
There is a $125 (CAD) application fee which must be paid in order to proceed with your application. Please ensure you are applying to the correct program before submitting your payment. The application fee is non-refundable, non-transferable, and cannot be waived.
Payment must be made online using a Visa or Mastercard. Debit payments will not be accepted. Additional information can be found on the School of Graduate Studies FAQ webpage.
3) Upload Supporting Documents
Carefully review the Required Documents section below.
Upload the following documents:
- Electronic copies of transcripts/marksheets
- English Language Test Scores - if required
- Resume/CV
- Personal Statement
- NCA Assessment - if applicable (optional)
The above document list is exhaustive. Please do not upload any documents other than those that are required. The Admissions Committee will not consider any unsolicited documents and all such documents will be deleted from the admission system in order to ensure equity between applicants.
The Admissions Committee will review applications ONLY once all documents have been uploaded and the application fee has been paid.
Please note: The Admissions Committee reserves the right to conduct an admissions interview with candidates, to whom it wishes to make an offer of admission.
Required Documents
1) Transcripts
All applicants must upload electronic versions of their transcripts for any degree crediting courses completed from each university attended. Secondary school transcripts, Bar results, or other certificates are not necessary and won’t be considered as part of the application.
- Information to be included on transcript: Transcripts must have your name and the name of the institution and must list all the courses completed. Do not omit information about any year of study/courses completed. If you obtained any transfer of credits for courses completed at another institution, please upload a transcript from that institution as well.
- Name change: If the name on your transcript is different from the name on your passport / other transcript(s), please provide documentation of your name change, such as marriage certificate or a notarized name change certificate. You can upload the documentation under “Additional Documents” or email it to admissions.gpllm@utoronto.ca.
- Academic records in a language other than English or French: Certified English translations are required for all documentation written in a language other than English or French. We do not recommend translators, but the translator must be certified. Please note that translations do not replace original documentation. Both the original and the translation must be submitted.
Visit Helpful Hints When Preparing Your Application for more information.
3) English Language Scores - if applicable
Applicants who are required to provide an English language proficiency score must upload a scan of their results. All scores must be uploaded by the relevant round deadline (see deadlines below).
In addition, applicants must also arrange for the testing agency to submit their official test scores directly to the University of Toronto. For more information on how results are sent to the University of Toronto, please visit the School of Graduate Studies website.
4) Reference Letters
Two reference letters are required (do not add more than 2 referees). References should be from individuals who can comment on and provide examples of your professional qualifications, academic promise, and suitability for the program. Ideally, the letters will be from individuals who have supervised you. The references can be professional and/or academic in nature.
You must provide contact information and an institutional email address (i.e. @university.com or @company.com) for the two referees. Please note that personal email addresses, i.e. gmail, yahoo, mail.com, etc., are not accepted.
If a referee does not have an institutional and/or professional email address, please contact admissions.gpllm@utoronto.ca. You will be asked to provide a link to an official institutional webpage that confirms that the personal email address provided is use for professional purposes. If that is not an option, the referee must send a hard copy reference letter on official letterhead to the GPLLM program directly. Letters must be received by the relevant round deadline.
Reference letters submitted via a non-institutional email addresses, which have not been verified by the GPLLM Program, are not admissible and the application will be considered incomplete.
Ensure you connect with your referees before you being your application to obtain their consent. Visit Helpful Hints When Preparing Your Application for more information to share with your referees prior to applying.
Please note that an automated email will be sent to your referees shortly after you enter their information on the admission system.
It is your responsibility to inform your referees of the round deadline by which you are applying (see deadlines below).
5) Personal Statement
Applicants must submit an essay of approximately 1000 words outlining their reasons for applying to the GPLLM and why they belong in the program. Essays should be authentic and capture the experiences, opportunities, or challenges that have shaped your interest in the program and inform the contributions you will make in the classroom.
Visit Helpful Hints When Preparing Your Application for more information.
6) NCA Assessment - Optional (Canadian Law in a Global Context applicants only)
The NCA assessment is requested of all internationally trained lawyers applying to the Canadian Law concentration. However, the assessment is not required for your application to be considered complete. Admitted students will be required to submit their NCA assessment to the GPLLM Coordinator as soon as it is available.
7) International (Educational) Credential Evaluation - Optional
Applicants who have an International (Educational) Credential Evaluation (for example: WES Evaluation Report, ECA from the School of Continuing Studies or other) are encouraged to submit the report/assessment with their application.Please note that submission of a report/assessment is optional. A failure to upload a report/assessment will not result in your application being considered incomplete application being considered incomplete.
Application Deadlines
Applications are considered in Rounds (see dates below). Please note that ALL documents, including reference letters, must be submitted by the application deadline of a specific round in order to be considered within that round.
International students are encouraged (not required) to apply by Round 2 due to the time required to apply for and obtain immigration documents. For more information about immigration requirements and documents, please visit Citizenship and Immigration Canada and the Centre for International Experience.
Admissions decisions are provided in writing, via official correspondence, and will not be provided orally. The GPLLM Program reserves the right to make off-cycle decisions at its sole discretion.
1) Canadian Law Concentration
Application system opens: September 14, 2024 (12:01AM EST)
Round 1:
- Application Deadline: November 1, 2024
- Decisions: December 2, 2024 to December 6, 2024
Round 2:
- Application Deadline: February 7, 2025
- Decisions: March 17, 2025 to March 21, 2025
Round 3 / Final Round:
- Application Deadline: May 9, 2025
- Decisions: June 9, 2025 to June 13, 2025
2) Business Law and Innovation, Law & Technology Concentrations
Application system opens: September 14, 2024 (12:01AM EST)
Round 1:
- Application Deadline: November 1, 2024
- Decisions: December 2, 2024 to December 6, 2024
Round 2:
- Application Deadline: February 7, 2025
- Decisions: March 17, 2025 to March 21, 2025
Round 3:
- Application Deadline: April 25, 2025
- Decisions: May 26, 2025 to May 30, 2025
Round 4/Final Round:
- Application Deadline: July 11, 2025
- Decisions: Rolling
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Connect with Us
We would love to hear from you. Our personalized admissions process is structured so as to provide you with several opportunities to learn about, and engage with, the program, so that you can make an informed decision about whether the Global Professional Master of Laws is right for you.
- Connect with us
- Attend a Recruitment Event, Workshop or visit a GPLLM class to meet our students, staff and faculty
- Ask us questions you may have about the program
Learn More
- Review our Alumni Showcase and class profiles to learn about our students and the composition of our cohort
- Review our FAQs
- Information for New Admits
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