Graduate Program

A graduate student proceeding to a degree must maintain continuous registration in each successive term (Fall/Winter/Summer) from initial registration until all requirements for the degree are completed. Exception: A leave of absence may be granted on medical or compassionate grounds. If a leave of absence is taken during a period when a student is eligible for funding, the period of funding eligibility is extended by the duration of the period of the leave.

For information on Housing, see our School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies' "Housing" link. Note that on-campus housing is limited so we recommend applying as soon as you receive your offer of admission.

How do I complete my offer of admission?  Western's School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies' web site will prompt you through the steps required to activate your Western email account and access Western's online Student Center (where you will complete your offer of admission).

How do I register/pay my tuition? Follow all instructions on your Offer of Admission from the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. In order to be registered, you must accept the offer of admission online and meet the listed conditions. You will then be registered automatically and you will have access to your Western accounts as early as August 1. Your scholarship funding will be applied directly to your tuition and fees. Payment of fees not covered by scholarship funding, where applicable, must be made by the due date (normally within the first week of the term) to avoid a late fee.

What is the cost of fees/tuition for each term?
Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents - based on 2012/13 (check for updated schedules on the Registrar's web site)
Summer 2012 - $2,450
Fall 2012 - $2,905 (This included health plan fees for the September 2012 through August 2013 time period. Students may choose to opt out of the health plan)
Winter 2013 - $2,460
International Students  - based on 2012/13 (check for updated schedules on the Registrar's web site)
Summer 2012 - $5,630
Fall 2012 - $6,083 (this included health plan fees for the September 2012 through August 2013 time period)
Winter 2013 - $5,637

When will I receive my funding? Your scholarship funding will be applied directly to your tuition and fees. If your scholarship is more than the amount of your tuition and fees, you will receive the balance, by direct deposit in your bank account, by mid-September. Teaching or research assistantship funding is paid monthly, by direct deposit, on the second last banking day of the month. Your first TA or RA pay will be deposited in your bank account on September 27. You will be hearing from us again (about mid-summer) to confirm your Teaching Assistant or Research Assistant assignment. More information regarding the direct deposit process will be provided.

In the event that you are awarded an External Scholarship (i.e., OGS, SSHRC) , please inform the Graduate Affairs Assistant. Recipients of External Scholarships will receive their payments in equal lump sums at the beginning of each term.  Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the Terms and Conditions of their award.

Applications for External Scholarships are made in the fall term for the subsequent academic year.  International students, Canadian citizens, and permanent residents may apply for an Ontario Graduate Scholarship.  Canadian citizens and permanent residents may apply for a Social Science and Humanities Research Council Canada (SSHRC) scholarship or a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) scholarship.  We encourage you to visit our External Scholarships web site for further information.

How many courses am I expected to take? Students normally take three courses in the Fall term and three courses in the Winter term, with the exception of MA students in the research paper (three-term) stream, who will take four courses (including the MA sociological research course) in the Winter term.
Click here for MA program details.
Click here for PhD program details.

How do I register for courses? In late August or early September you will have an appointment to choose your courses in consultation with our Graduate Director. Please be sure to contact me if your email or mailing address changes so that we can stay in touch with you to set up this appointment. Classes begin on Monday, September 9, 2013.

When should I arrive on campus? The graduate term officially begins on September 1.  Although your employment (as a graduate teaching or research assistant) also officially begins on September 1, some professors may not need you to start immediately; it is best to contact the professor for whom you will be working to find out when he or she would like you to begin. See additional notes for international students at the bottom of this page.

All new students are required to attend our program orientation on Friday, September 6 from 2-4.  After orientation, we extend an invitation to you to join us for an informal get-together, where you will have a chance to mingle with faculty members, continuing students, and staff from our department.

Teaching Assistant duties are often not assigned until late August/early September. Traditionally, the assignments for new TAs are in our introductory courses (1020 and 1021E). All Sociology 1020 and 1021E TAs are required to attend Professor Luton's TA Orientation, date to be announced (usually the first Friday in September from 9-2 (for those assigned as an Introductory Sociology teaching assistant, this information will be included in a letter from the program mid-summer).

TA Training. The Teaching Support Centre offers 2 1/2 day Teaching Assistant Training Program (TATP) sessions during May, August, and September, as well as a one-day workshop (TA Day) early in September. Although this training is optional, we recommend that teaching assistants attend at least one of these options, especially those who have not held a Teaching Assistantship in the past.  A one-day workshop for international students is also offered (International TA Day) and is highly recommended for new international students. Visit each respective web site for further information and to register.

The Teaching Assistantship is offered in the Fall and Winter Terms only. Teaching Assistants are paid in monthly installments, by direct deposit, on the second last banking day of each of the months of: September, October, November, December, January, February, March, April. The value of a full Teaching Assistantship is $9,464 (including vacation pay). This corresponds to 280 hours of work (approximately 10 hours per week) commencing on September 1 of the academic year and terminating on April 30 of the academic year. The work assignment may on occasion exceed 10 hours in any one week. Duties are assigned by the Department Chair and may include: conducting one-hour tutorials; holding office hours; marking assignments, essays, and examinations; assisting with teaching aids (i.e., setting up of audio-visual equipment); assisting with preparation of exams; assisting with compilation and recording of grades; proctoring of examinations; conducting teaching evaluations. Under an agreement between the University and the Society of Graduate Students, MA students who choose the thesis stream are guaranteed continued TA funding (or equivalent funding) in the second year of their MA program, provided the 78% average is maintained and program requirements are met.

Health Insurance while attending Western. Students from outside Canada are required to join the University Health Insurance Plan. International students should make arrangements in their home country for health insurance coverage while travelling to Canada. Canadian students from outside Ontario covered by a provincial plan should contact their plan to advise them of enrolment at Western. Extended health insurance benefits are offered automatically for full-time graduate students through the Society of Graduate Students (SOGS), provided the student is covered by his/her provincial health plan or has an OHIP-equivalent plan (e.g., UHIP). The annual fee for the health plan is included in fall term fees. Students may opt out of this plan if they wish. The Graduate Teaching Assistants' Union also offers extended health coverage to graduate students employed as Graduate Teaching Assistants.

Additional notes for international students. To avoid complications with our Payroll department, your study permit must list a landing date of no later than September 1. It is advisable to arrive at least one week before classes begin. This will allow time to take care of administrative details and to settle in before classes start. Monday, September 2 is a holiday in Canada (Labour Day); therefore, the University and many businesses in London will be closed.

International Student Services

We encourage you to visit Western's International Student Centre web site.  Click here to be directed to information on applying for your study permit.  Click here to view the International Student Pre-Arrival Guide.

Graduate Program

Contact Us

Denise Statham
Graduate Affairs Assistant

Connect with Sociology

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