• May I study part-time?
• What are the financial aid opportunities for Seminary students?
• I just want one course, do I do the entire appl. process?
• What materials must be submitted in the application process?
• Which transcripts should I send if I have more than one?
• Can I come for visit while I'm considering applying?
• When are the application deadlines?
• Can I start my studies in any term?
• Who can write a letter of reference?
• I applied -- now what?
• Can I defer an offer of admission?

Yes.  Approximately 45% of Seminary students complete their programs part-time.

Students in the MA Theology and MDiv programs may choose to study full-time (three or more courses per term) or part-time (one or two courses per term) and may change registration status during their program.  Each term, Seminary students may select how many courses to register for each term, to a maximum of four courses, with the exception of MDiv students who may register for up to five courses per term.  Students in the Diploma and General Graduate Studies program normally only study part-time.  Fees for part-time students (one or two courses per term) in the masters, diploma and GGS programs are assessed on a per course basis.  Fees for full-time students (three, four or five courses per term) in the masters, diploma and GGS programs are assessed on a per term basis.  Doctor of Ministry students are charged one full-time rate per term regardless of how many courses taken per term. 

There are several options for internal and external bursaries for Seminary students.  For more information, please see: https://www.wlu.ca/page.php?grp_id=12516&p=18366#Financial_Aid

No.  If you only seek to take five or less courses for credit, you may apply as a General Graduate Student (GGS) .  Applicants to the category of General Graduate Student are required to submit an application form and $50 application fee and a copy of the transcript which records the applicant's bachelor's degree. Persons admitted as General Graduate Students may take up to five (5) one-term courses. Students who wish to take further courses must apply to a degree program through the usual application process for that degree and submit all required documentation and application fees. At the time of admission to a degree program, the Academic Administrative Committee will determine which courses taken as a General Graduate Student will count toward the degree.

For applicants to all degree programs, original transcripts from all post-secondary work, two supportive letters of reference using the forms printed from OUAC, the OUAC Submission Summary, Personal Information Form, Personal Statment, C.V. and the application fee are required.

Doctor of Ministry applicants are required to also include copies of evaluations from CPE/SPEs if applicable.

For applicants to the diploma program, original transcripts from all post-secondary work, two supportive letters of reference, Personal Statement and application fee are required.

For applicants to the General Graduate Students program,  a transcript from a bachelor degree, application fee, Personal Statement and application fee are required.

Applicants whose language of instruction during the undergraduate degree was other than English must furnish evidence of proficiency in English, prior to admission. For more information on this, please go to: http://www.wlu.ca/page.php?grp_id=36&p=629

All application materials must be submitted by the application deadline to be considered for admission.

For more questions on the application process, please contact our Admissions Coordinator at swheeler@wlu.ca or 519-884-0710 (ext. 3498). 

As we are an accredited graduate school, original transcripts from all post-secondary academic pursuits are required for admission to any of our programms. This means that even if you have completed a Masters degree, you are required to send us your graduate and undergraduate transcript(s). Applicants to the Masters and Doctoral programs can order their transcripts from Ontario institutions during the online application process. Diploma applicants must contact their institutions to arrange for transcripts to be sent to the Seminary for review. Only original transcripts, sent directly from the institution, will be accepted.  The only exception to the policy of submitting transcripts is for General Graduate Students (see #2 above) when only one original transcript needs to be submitted for admission. 

Yes. We encourage prospective students and applicants to attend one of our Information Sessions or Open House days which run three times a year.

You are also welcome to contact our Admissions Coordinator Sarina Wheeler to arrange a tour and visit.  She can be reached at 519-884-0710 ext. 3498 or swheeler@wlu.ca.

Please consult the table below. Note: International Applicants are advised to apply an additional six months in advance of regular application deadlines. 

The Doctor of Ministry and the Master of Divinity-Master of Social Work have firm deadlines once a year (see next question).  All other programs can begin in Fall, Winter or Spring terms.  Applicants are encouraged to complete their applications before the posted application deadlines.

Masters students wishing to study full-time may apply for Fall term start.  Winter and Spring terms may be applied for part-time study only.

If you have been in university in the last five years, an academic reference (normally a professor) is required.  Only if you have been out of university for five years is an academic reference not required.  Non-academic reference must be professional contacts, not friends or family members.

References are required and must be written by qualified contacts who are able to attest to your academic ability, suitability for the program and preparedness for graduate-level work. Some programs require additional references from non-academic, professional contacts.

Note that reference forms are produced by the applicant during the online application process and are customized to include contact information provided by the applicant; blank reference forms are not available as separate .pdf files.

Each reference form must be completed and signed by the referee and submitted in an official envelope (from the referee’s university or company) which has been sealed and signed on the back flap. These should be returned to you (signed and sealed) for you to include in your application package. References are confidential and must not be opened by the applicant.

Thank you for applying to WLS.  Applications are processed each January, February, May and September.  Once your application is processed, you will receive an email from the Admissions Coordinator confirming that your application is complete and letting you know when you can expect to hear your admission decision.  These letters are normally sent out five weeks after the application deadline.  For example, if you applied by the May 1st deadline, you can expect your admission decision letter to be mailed out by the second week of June. 

Please contact Admissions Coordinator Sarina Wheeler for any questions at swheeler@wlu.ca or 519-884-0710 ext. 3498.

Should you be given an offer of admission, please sign and return to the Seminary Office.  Once received by the Seminary Office, you will be emailed all instructions on registering for courses and preparing for your first term of study.  You will also be assigned a faculty advisor who will be your primary point of contact for questions about your program during your time at WLS.  The offer of admission will have an expiry date, so please return the accepted offer as soon as possible to guarantee your spot in the program.

Deferral of an offer of admission, once, for up to three terms, is normally accepted.  An offer of admission must be accepted before a deferral can be requested.  Click here for all instructions.