Doctor of Philosophy in Religious Studies (History, Classics, and Religion)

Frequently asked questions

• How much does Doctor of Philosophy in Religious Studies (History, Classics, and Religion) cost?

  CAD 10,519 / year.

• What English score does it need?

  IELTS 6.5 overall is the score listed for this programme.

• What are the entry requirements?

  For the MA program, the minimum admission requirements are an undergraduate degree in Religious Studies or a related area with an admission GPA of at least 3.3 on the 4-point scale from the University of Alberta, or an equivalent qualification and standing from a recognized institution. The admission GPA will be calculated on the last 60 units of graded coursework completed, or on the equivalent of the last two years of full-time graded coursework. Applicants whose degree is not in Religious Studies must have at least 30 units in Religious Studies courses at the senior level, or the equivalent. Applicants may be admitted as qualifying graduate students . For the PhD program, the minimum admission requirements are an MA in Religious Studies or the equivalent with an admission GPA of at least 3.3 on the 4- point scale from the University of Alberta, or an equivalent qualification and standing from a recognized institution. The admission GPA will be calculated on the last 60 units of graded coursework completed, or on the equivalent of the last two years of full-time graded coursework. Applicants may be admissible if they have completed an MA in a field other than Religious Studies if their thesis and/or course work had Religious Studies content relevant to their proposed thesis topic and if they have earned substantial Religious Studies credits at the BA level. Applicants may be admitted as qualifying graduate students . Where applicable, applicants must provide proof of English Language Proficiency (refer to English Language Requirement ). Any one of the following is acceptable: a minimum TOEFL (Internet-based) score of 92 for tests written before January 21, 2026, or a minimum score of 4.5 for tests written on or after January 21, 2026. the equivalent as defined by the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies. All applicants are required to submit a CV, statement of research intent, a writing sample, and three letters of reference. Applicants must also have designated a supervisor by the time of application. Applicants to the PhD program must contact the Religious Studies Graduate Coordinator, or a potential doctoral supervisor, to determine if the applicant’s research goals appropriately match the Program’s profile and supervisory resources. Visit Graduate program application deadlines to see deadlines for all programs in Religious Studies. APPLY NOW ADDI · English: IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0); TOEFL iBT 90; PTE Academic 61 · English test waiver: Applicants may satisfy the requirement without a test by holding a degree, or its academic equivalent, from an institution recognised by the University of Alberta at which the language of instruction is English; GPS also maintains a list of international post-secondary institutions at which the language requirement is English. The requirement is not waived for students temporarily in Canada, and departments and GPS may require further demonstration of proficiency. Source: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/graduate-studies/resources/policies-procedures/graduate-program-manual/section-5-admissions/5-8-english-language-proficiency-requirement.html · Application fee: CAD 135.00 for all applications to graduate programs, charged at the end of the online application and payable by credit card only (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover; Visa/Mastercard debit and prepaid cards are not accepted). Source: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/graduate-studies/resources/policies-procedures/graduate-program-manual/section-5-admissions/5-4-application-fee.html

• Is there a scholarship?

  The Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies administers over CAD 35 million each year in scholarships, awards and financial support for graduate students; opportunities vary by faculty. GPS states that there are limited funding opportunities for students in part-time graduate study or completing a certificate programme. Source View scholarship page