If you completed an undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto or at another accredited university, you can apply to be a second-degree student.
Admission Requirements
Admission consideration for second-degree students will be based on:
- Academic record from your previous post-secondary studies
- Results in prerequisite courses
- English proficiency, if required
Admission requirements will vary depending on whether you completed your undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto or at another accredited university.
If you completed your first undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto, your application will be assessed based on your academic record from your previous degree. To be considered for admission, you must have:
- Graduated from your first degree. The conferral of your degree must appear on your academic record. You cannot apply for a second-degree if you are currently in the process of completing your first undergraduate degree.
- Achieved a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.7. If your final CGPA was less than 2.7, please include a letter of explanation with your internal second-degree application.
- Completed program admission prerequisites, such as Calculus (if applicable), at either the university or senior high school level.
If you completed your first undergraduate degree at another accredited university, your application will be assessed based on your academic record from your previous degree. To be considered for admission, you must have:
- Graduated from your first degree. The conferral of your degree must appear on your academic record. You cannot apply for a second-degree if you are currently in the process of completing your first undergraduate degree.
- Achieved a final cumulative grade point average (CGPA) equivalent to a ‘B’.
- Completed program admission prerequisites, such as Calculus (if applicable), at either the university or senior high school level.
Eligible Programs of Study
If admitted as a second-degree student, you will not be admitted directly into a program of study but rather to Upper Year Studies in an Honours Bachelor of Arts (HBA) or an Honours Bachelor of Science (HBSc) degree.
You can apply to the same degree type as your first degree (i.e., HBA or HBSc) but once admitted, you cannot enrol in programs that have significant overlap with the programs you completed during your first degree. Overlap between your first-degree programs and intended second-degree programs is not assessed upon admission. It is up to you to ensure you do not enrol in a program of study that is considered to overlap with a program you have already completed. If there is overlap, you will not be eligible to receive a second degree from the Faculty of Arts & Science.
You can self-assess your previous records using Transfer Explorer and the Academic Calendar to help you determine the extent of overlap between your first-degree and intended second-degree program(s) of study. Once you have been admitted and your transfer credits from your previous studies have been assessed, you may also contact the academic unit directly for further advising.
Examples of Program Overlaps for Second Degree
| First degree | Intended program(s) for second degree | Is this an eligible second degree? |
|---|---|---|
| Honours Bachelor of Science with a specialist in Psychology | Honours Bachelor of Science with a specialist in Physics | Yes. Even though both degrees are Science degrees, the main emphasis of each degree — the specialist program — is distinct. |
| Bachelor of Arts with a specialist in Art History | Honours Bachelor of Arts with a specialist in Sociology | Yes. Even though both degrees are Arts degrees, the main emphasis of each degree is distinct. |
| Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Anthropology and English Literature | Honours Bachelor of Arts with a specialist in English and a minor in Environmental Anthropology |
No. English Literature and English are both English programs, so this is not permitted. Similarly, although Environmental Anthropology has a specific focus, it is still an Anthropology program so this would be considered a duplication. In this case, you would still be able to pursue a second HBA degree, but you would have to enrol in programs of study different from your first degree. |
Computer Science and Rotman Commerce Programs
Students with previous post-secondary experience (at the University of Toronto or another post-secondary institution) are not eligible to apply directly into the Computer Science or Rotman Commerce admission categories or programs of study.
Students have the option to apply for Upper Year Studies, Honours Bachelor of Arts (HBA) or Honours Bachelor of Science (HBSc), by applying to one of the other four admission categories in the Faculty of Arts & Science:
Students may then attempt to enrol in Rotman Commerce programs, or in a Computer Science major or minor program, in subsequent years. Second-degree students are not eligible to enrol in the Computer Science specialist program.
Admission to Rotman Commerce and Computer Science programs is highly competitive and not guaranteed. Students admitted for a second degree should have a plan for their degree that does not depend on admission to Computer Science or Rotman Commerce.
In some instances, second-degree applicants may submit a Special Consideration Form, available in the JOIN U of T applicant portal, to be considered for admission to Rotman Commerce. Applicants should use the form to demonstrate why an exception to the rule should be made for them.
More information on pursuing these programs of study can be found on the Computer Science and Rotman Commerce departmental websites.
Applying for a Second Degree
The application process will vary depending on whether you completed your first undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto or at another accredited university.
- Contact your former College Registrar’s Office to seek advice about applying for a second degree and completing the internal second-degree application form.
- In the application form, you will be able to specify which degree type you are applying to along with your intended program of study.
- Please note that admission to a second degree does not automatically enrol you in your intended program(s) of study; you will still be required to meet the program admission requirements.
- You will be notified of the admission decision by email.
If you completed your first undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto Mississauga, the University of Toronto Scarborough, the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, the Faculty of Music, the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education or the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design:
- Apply to a second degree using the University of Toronto Internal Application.
- In the application, you will be able to specify which admission category you would like to apply to.
- Once you submit your application, you will be granted access to the JOIN U of T portal, where you can track the status of your application.
- Please note that admission to a second degree does not automatically enrol you in your intended program(s) of study. Successful applicants will be admitted to a general Upper Year Studies in Honours Bachelor of Arts (HBA) or Honours Bachelor of Science (HBSc) based on the admission category selected on the application.
- Once you have been admitted and your transfer credits from your previous studies have been assessed, you may also contact the academic unit directly for further advising about enrolling in your intended program(s) of study.
- Apply using the OUAC Undergraduate Application if you plan to apply to other universities. If you plan to apply to the University of Toronto only, you may use the University of Toronto International Application.
- In the application, you will be able to specify which admission category you would like to apply to.
- Once you submit your application, you will be granted access to the JOIN U of T portal, where you can track the status of your application.
- Please note that admission to a second degree does not automatically enrol you in your intended program(s) of study. Successful applicants will be admitted to a general Upper Year Studies in Honours Bachelor of Arts (HBA) or Honours Bachelor of Science (HBSc) based on the admission category selected on the application.
- Once you have been admitted and your transfer credits from your previous studies have been assessed, you may also contact the academic unit directly for further advising about enrolling in your intended program of study.
Transfer Credits for Second-Degree Students
As a second-degree student, you are eligible to receive transfer credits for the courses that you completed during your first degree. Your eligibility for transfer credit will be assessed only after you have been admitted to the Faculty of Arts & Science.
If you completed your first degree at the Faculty of Arts & Science at the University of Toronto, you will receive 5.0 unspecified transfer credits (4.0 credits at the 100-level and 1.0 credit at the 200-level). Any courses that you successfully completed at the Faculty of Arts & Science, University of Toronto Mississauga, University of Toronto Scarborough, or John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design as a non-degree student after your first degree was awarded will be retained towards your second degree. Any courses taken at another University of Toronto division will be assessed for transfer credit.
If you completed your first degree at another undergraduate University of Toronto division, you may be eligible to receive a maximum of 5.0 transfer credits (4.0 credits at the 100-level and 1.0 credit at the 200-level) for previously completed courses in which your final grade was 50% or higher.
More information about transfer credits for University of Toronto graduates can be found on our Internal U of T Transfer Credit page.
If you completed your undergraduate degree at another accredited university, you may be eligible to receive a maximum of 5.0 transfer credits (4.0 credits at the 100-level and 1.0 credit at the 200-level) for previously completed courses in which your final grade was 60% or higher, provided that the passing mark in these courses is 50%.
More information for graduates of another accredited university can be found on our Transfer Credit pages.