COVID-19: Admissions FAQs

Please note that in light of York University’s suspension of non-essential events (those that are not required as part of an academic program), campus tours and on-campus events have been postponed.

In the meantime, please enjoy a Virtual Tour of the York University campus. Throughout the Fall, both Schulich and York will be hosting a variety of virtual events so that prospective students can learn more about the University and the Schulich School of Business. These events will be advertised via the Schulich and York websites once confirmed.

We’re excited you’re considering Schulich for your undergraduate degree! Please read our undergraduate Admissions FAQs.

We recognize and will take into account the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on students’ ability to take part in extracurriculars from March 2020 onward. As a result, this year we will be allowing students to list activities they took part in at any point during their high school careers – not just the last two years.

Unfortunately, we do not accept deferral requests for our undergraduate programs. The Fall 2020 term is scheduled to start on September 9, 2020, and we look forward to welcoming all admitted students to Toronto in September. Please continue to check the York University Admissions FAQ link below.

For any questions about undergraduate admissions during COVID-19, please visit the York University Admissions FAQs.

York will have limited on-campus housing available in the fall and students have been emailed to apply. (Note: The June 1 residence guarantee is not applicable this year).

Students can review on-campus changes to living conditions in response to COVID-19 here.

At this time, all Schulich undergraduate classes for the Fall/Winter 2020-2021 academic year will be offered virtually, utilizing synchronous and asynchronous content with multiple timings to accommodate participation across time zones.

International candidates inside Canada do require an approved study permit before starting the program.  We encourage you to attend a Study Permit Webinar with our International Relations team.

If you have a study permit application in process and have received a request for additional documentation from IRCC, please complete this form.

Please connect with our International Relations team as soon as possible at intlrelations@schulich.yorku.ca. Schulich’s International Student Support Specialist can review your refused application and provide guidance on your next steps.

Please refer to the York University Process for Tuition Refunds for New International Students. You may be eligible for a full or partial tuition refund if your study permit is refused more than once. Please connect with our International Relations team if you receive a study permit refusal at intlrelations@schulich.yorku.ca

Travel restrictions remain in place for Canada. Only certain international students are exempt from the travel restrictions and you must demonstrate an essential purpose for entering Canada. Please ensure to regularly check for updates or extensions of the travel restrictions. Do not make plans to travel to Canada unless you are exempt. Students who are exempt and who are planning to enter Canada should request a Confirmation of Enrolment (Entry Support) letter from Schulich. Please allow sufficient time to receive your letter in advance of your travel.

Students who began an 8- or 12-month program between May and September 2020 remain eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit even if 100% of their program is completed online. For this time to count, you must have applied for a study permit before starting your study program in the Summer or Fall 2020 semesters. Students completing longer programs will remain eligible to count the Fall 2020 and Winter 2021 terms toward their future Post-Graduation Work permit as long as at least 50% of your program is completed from inside Canada. For this time to count, you must have applied for your study permit before the start of your program. Please see “How your PGWP eligibility is affected.”

All students entering Canada are required to comply with the mandatory 14-day quarantine upon arrival. York University is providing quarantine accommodation upon request until 31 October 2020. To request quarantine accommodation, please complete the Quarantine Accommodation Form.

Our in-person events and tours have been cancelled but you can attend an upcoming online session. Explore our campus by taking a video tour of the Seymour Schulich Building and a 3D virtual tour of the new Rob and Cheryl McEwen Graduate Study & Research Building.  

Generally, the admission requirements cannot be waived. We are, however, being flexible with when tests are being completed. Many test centres have reopened and are scheduling in-person exams. Schulich will also continue to accept GMAT, GRE and TOEFL online equivalents. We suggest that you contact admissions@schulich.yorku.ca for additional information.    

If you are an international candidate: 

• Masters Program Applicants: Please review the admissions requirements and deadline dates. The application for Fall 2021 is currently open. Apply now.
• MBA Applicants: Although the international deadline has passed, there is still space available to begin the program in Winter 2021. We suggest you apply now. Further, the application is now open for Fall 2021. Applying within the first two rounds is encouraged. If you have any questions about applying, you can fill out the Graduate Inquiry Form and we will get back to you.
• MBA in India Applicants: Consider applying for the Fall 2021 intake of the program.

If you are a domestic candidate:

• Masters Program Applicants: Applications for programs starting in Summer 2021 and Fall 2021 are now open. Apply now.
• MBA / IMBA Applicants: We are currently accepting MBA applications for Winter 2021. The MBA and IMBA application for Fall 2021 is also open. Apply now.

• MBA Applicants: Yes we can update your application to January. Please email admissions@schulich.yorku.ca or your recruiter to request this update.
• IMBA Applicants: The IMBA program only has one intake per year in September. We can offer to update your application to January for the MBA program, or update it to September 2021 for the IMBA program. Please email admissions@schulich.yorku.ca or your recruiter to request this update.

Application processing time varies by program. We are doing our best to work through the high volume of applications received as quickly as possible. Processing times can take up to 8-10 weeks depending on the time of the year, specific program, and volume of applications.

If you have submitted all supporting documentation (unofficial will suffice), your application will be reviewed and you will be emailed as soon as there is an update. 

Some test centres are booking in-person GMAT/GRE tests. You may submit your application absent of test scores, and submit your test scores once available. For the latest information, please refer to the following:

• TOEFL – www.ets.org/toefl/cv-update
• GRE – www.ets.org/gre/cv-update
• GMAT – www.mba.com

In light of COVID-19, Schulich introduced the Schulich Emergency COVID-19 Fund to support incoming Summer students through this rapidly evolving situation. This funding opportunity helped support incoming students who were impacted financially as a result of the pandemic. Schulich also increased the number of entrance scholarships and bursaries to support incoming students in this challenging landscape.

For further questions on funding, please contact our Financial Aid team at finaid@schulich.yorku.ca.

The Canadian government has established the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) to financially support workers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. If you have stopped working because of COVID-19, the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) may provide you with temporary income support. CERB provides a payment of $2,000 for a 4-week period (the same as $500 a week) for up to 16 weeks.

International students are eligible to apply if they meet the CERB eligibility requirement. For details, please visit https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/benefits/apply-for-cerb-with-cra.html

For post-secondary students and recent graduates who are ineligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), but who are unable to find full-time employment or are unable to work due to COVID-19, the Canadian government introduced the Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB). The CESB will provide $1,250 per month for eligible students from May through August 2020, and $1,750 for students with dependents and those with permanent disabilities. This new grant provides income support to post-secondary students who will experience financial hardship over the Summer due to COVID-19.

The CESB will be delivered by CRA (Canada Revenue Agendy) and more details will be communicated.

Even though the university is temporarily closed, we encourage you to continue to send official documents by mail to: 

Graduate Recruitment & Admissions, Room W263B
Seymour Schulich Building, Schulich School of Business, York University
111 Ian Macdonald Blvd
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M3J 1P3

Applicants who are able to submit official documents should use ground mail and Canada Post options. If you have questions about using a courier to deliver your transcripts, please contact admissions@schulich.yorku.ca for further instruction.

Recruitment & Admissions must receive academic records in official university envelopes, sealed and endorsed by the issuing institution.  Official e-transcripts will be accepted if sent directly to admissions@schulich.yorku.ca by your university Registrar’s Office or university designated person. Please remember that official documents are due:

November 30th (for those beginning one-year Masters programs in Fall 2020);

February 15th (for those beginning MBA programs in Fall 2020); and

March 30th (for those beginning MBA programs in Winter 2021).

We can use unofficial uploaded documents to make a decision on your application. 

We will continue to evaluate deferral requests and will be flexible for extenuating circumstances. Should you need to discuss this option, your program recruiter will be happy to discuss it with you

Since your application is assessed based on your last 2 years of academic coursework for GPA calculation, if possible, opt for a letter grade instead of pass/fail.

All payments can be done online, whether through online banking (bill payment) for domestic payments or via CIBC International Student Pay or Western Union. Instructions are on the YorkU Student Financial Services website. CIBC International Student Pay is accepting credit card payment for those that can’t reach their bank. If you have any questions regarding the confirmation deposit process, please contact your recruiter.

Classes for Fall 2020 will be offered virtually, utilizing synchronous and asynchronous content with multiple timings to accommodate participation across time zones.

Classes for Winter 2021 will offer optional in-person learning components to all Masters-level students provided that public health regulations continue to permit (i.e. Ontario remains in Stage 3 of reopening). At minimum, Schulich will abide by all public health guidelines relating to safe social gathering; enhanced, Schulich-specific safety protocols for the delivery of in-person learning components are currently being finalized. We remain committed to maintaining enhanced online access to those who choose to pursue a 100% remote mode of delivery, similar to classes for Fall 2020. In-person attendance will not be mandatory for Winter 2021 Masters-level courses.

COVID-19 has resulted in a number of temporary immigration policy changes that impact international students. You are strongly encouraged to attend a Study Permit Webinar or drop in to one of our weekly International Student Q&A Sessions. You can also connect with our International Relations team at intlrelations@schulich.yorku.ca.

International candidates inside Canada do require an approved study permit before starting the program.  We encourage you to attend a Study Permit Webinar with our International Relations team. 

If you have a study permit application in process and have received a request for additional documentation from IRCC, please complete this form.

Please connect with our International Relations team as soon as possible at intlrelations@schulich.yorku.ca. Schulich’s International Student Support Specialist can review your refused application and provide guidance on your next steps.

Please refer to the York University Process for Tuition Refunds for New International Students. You may be eligible for a full or partial tuition refund if your study permit is refused more than once. Please connect with our International Relations team if you receive a study permit refusal at intlrelations@schulich.yorku.ca

Travel restrictions remain in place for Canada. Only certain international students are exempt from the travel restrictions and you must demonstrate an essential purpose for entering Canada. Please ensure to regularly check for updates or extensions of the travel restrictions. Do not make plans to travel to Canada unless you are exempt. Students who are exempt and who are planning to enter Canada should request a Confirmation of Enrolment (Entry Support) letter from Schulich. Please allow sufficient time to receive your letter in advance of your travel.

Students who began an 8- or 12-month program between May and September 2020 remain eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit even if 100% of their program is completed online. For this time to count, you must have applied for a study permit before starting your study program in the Summer or Fall 2020 semesters. Students completing longer programs will remain eligible to count the Fall 2020 and Winter 2021 terms toward their future Post-Graduation Work permit as long as at least 50% of your program is completed from inside Canada. For this time to count, you must have applied for your study permit before the start of your program. Please see “How your PGWP eligibility is affected.”

All students entering Canada are required to comply with the mandatory 14-day quarantine upon arrival. York University is providing quarantine accommodation upon request until 31 October 2020. To request quarantine accommodation, please complete the Quarantine Accommodation Form.

If your questions cannot be addressed by the FAQs listed above, our admissions team is committed to helping you. Please email your program recruiter or admissions@schulich.yorku.ca. You can expect to receive a response within 3-5 business days. As the university campus is closed, we are not reachable by telephone.