Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MScOT) — University of Toronto

SpaceCat Fit Notes

1. CASPer: SpaceCat’s very high CASPer score is a significant advantage. CASPer is required and assessed as part of the non-academic profile, though the exact weight is unpublished. Given that academics are weighted “more heavily” than non-academic materials, CASPer likely carries meaningful but not dominant weight. A very high score strengthens SpaceCat’s non-academic profile substantially.

2. GPA window & upgrading strategy: GPA is calculated on the most recent 20 half-courses (10 FCEs). Taking 20 strong new half-courses would fully reset SpaceCat’s effective GPA. Taking 10 new half-courses (one full-time year) would replace half the window, substantially shifting her effective GPA. This is a moderately large window — not the largest, but requires a meaningful course investment. The competitive GPA is 3.70–3.80 on a 4.0 ORPAS scale; below A-minus (3.50–3.70) is described as “extremely difficult” for admission.

3. Experiential / written advantage: U of T requires personal submissions (long-form written responses about knowledge and understanding of OT) plus a 2-page resume and two confidential assessment forms — but has no interview. SpaceCat’s shelter work experience can shine in the personal submissions and resume. However, the program states academics are weighted “more heavily” than non-academic materials, so the written components provide a meaningful but secondary opportunity to differentiate. There is no interview or MMI where interpersonal strengths could be demonstrated live.

4. Out-of-province: Ontario resident. - None found. The program requires Canadian citizenship or permanent residency but does not impose provincial residency restrictions or Ontario-resident quotas. - U of T’s SGS fee schedule shows a single domestic fee rate for the MScOT program with no out-of-province surcharge visible in the fee tab

5. Overall assessment: Moderate fit — No prerequisites and no interview simplify the path, and the personal submissions give SpaceCat a written venue for her shelter experience. However, the high competitive GPA (3.70–3.80) with academics weighted more heavily than non-academic materials makes GPA the dominant barrier. The 20-half-course GPA window is improvable but requires significant coursework investment. SpaceCat’s strong CASPer and experiential profile help but cannot fully compensate if her GPA falls well short of the competitive range.

Quick Facts

• Institution: University of Toronto, Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy (Temerty Faculty of Medicine)
• Program name: Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MScOT)
• Degree granted: MScOT
• City, Province: Toronto, Ontario (St. George campus, ~90 seats) and Mississauga, Ontario (UTM campus, ~40 seats)
• Program type: Professional master’s (second-entry)
• Duration: 24 months full-time (6 consecutive sessions). Time limit: 3 years. Source
• Delivery format: In-person
• Full-time / Part-time: Full-time only (in-class, in-person). Schedule is Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Source
• Language of instruction: English
• Start date(s): September (e.g., September 2026 to August 2028)
• Intake frequency: Annual
• Application deadline(s): Tuesday, January 6, 2026 (for Fall 2026 entry). Transcripts due by January 30, 2026. CASPer final test date: January 22, 2026. English proficiency proof due by March 1, 2026. Degree must be conferred by June 30, 2026. Offers sent May 15, 2026. Source
• Application system: ORPAS (Ontario Rehabilitation Sciences Programs Application Service) through OUAC
• Application code: Not separately published; U of T OT is selected within ORPAS
• Supplementary application portal: None separate — all materials submitted through ORPAS (personal submissions, resume, confidential assessment forms)
• Program URL: https://ot.utoronto.ca/master-science-occupational-therapy
• Accredited: Yes — CAOT accredited. The University of Toronto is listed on the CAOT accredited programs page, and graduates are eligible to write the CAOT National Certification Examination. Source

Admission Requirements

GPA

• Minimum GPA: Mid-B average (~3.0 on 4.0 ORPAS scale) in the final year (most recent 5 FCEs / 10 half-courses). This is the School of Graduate Studies minimum. Source
• Competitive GPA: Average entering GPA of successful applicants is 3.70–3.80 on the 4.0 ORPAS scale based on the last 10 FCEs. Below A-minus (~3.50–3.70) is described as “extremely difficult.” A B+ average in the last 10 FCEs would be a bare minimum to be competitive, but does not guarantee admission. Source
• GPA calculated on: Most recent 20 half-courses (10 full-course equivalents) at the undergraduate bachelor’s degree level. Courses are counted working backward from the most recent Fall session (completed by December 31 of the application year). Source
• Number of credits in GPA window: 10 FCEs = 20 half-courses. This is a relatively large window, meaning SpaceCat would need to take a substantial number of new courses to fully refresh the GPA calculation.
• GPA scale used: 4.0 ORPAS scale. All grades are converted using the ORPAS Undergraduate Grading Conversion Table, not the student’s home institution scale. Source
• Eligible courses: Undergraduate bachelor’s-level courses in liberal arts or sciences with letter/numerical grades. Distance education acceptable if university-level. Source
• Ineligible courses: Co-op terms, pass/fail-only courses, graduate-level courses (master’s, doctoral, B.Ed., M.Ed.), continuing education certificates, diplomas, performance courses, community college credits, internships, and apprenticeships. Source

Prerequisites

No prerequisite courses are required. The program explicitly states: “No specific prerequisite courses nor interviews required.” All educational backgrounds are welcomed (Arts, Science, Engineering, Kinesiology, Health Sciences, etc.). Source, Source

However, the program notes that foundational familiarity with the following areas “may help”: - Human growth and development - Introductory physiology/biology - Psychology - Sociology/anthropology - Statistics and research design

Source

Prereq source URL: https://ot.utoronto.ca/faq/eligibility-apply

Prior Degree Requirement

• Minimum credits / degree required: Completed (or in final year of) an appropriate bachelor’s degree from a recognized university. Minimum 10 FCEs (20 half-courses) at a recognized university. Source
• Completed degree required? Yes — proof of completed undergraduate bachelor’s degree required by June 30, 2026. Applicants may apply during their final year of undergraduate studies. Source
• Degree field restrictions: Any field. An OT Assistant Diploma alone does not qualify — a university degree is required. Source

Supplementary Requirements

• CASPer: Required. CASPer is an online, open-response situational judgment test. The final test date for the 2026 cycle was January 22, 2026 at 8 p.m. EST. Source
• GRE: Not required
• Interview: Not required. The program explicitly states “No specific prerequisite courses nor interviews required.” Source
• Resume / CV: Required. Single-spaced, 11-point font, maximum 2 pages. Must exclude cover pages, personal contact info, photos, and health information. Source
• References: Two confidential assessment forms (submitted by referees through ORPAS). Recommended: one academic referee and one professional reference (volunteer supervisor, research supervisor, manager, or healthcare professional). Source
• Volunteer / work experience: “Strongly recommended” but not mandated. Source
• Language proficiency: Required if primary language is not English and undergraduate degree was not from an English-language institution. TOEFL minimum: 100/120 (internet-based) with minimum 22 in writing and speaking sections. TWE minimum 5 strongly recommended. Proof due by March 1. Source, Source
• Citizenship: Canadian citizens or permanent residents only. International students are ineligible unless they obtain citizenship/PR by the application deadline. Source
• Other: Pre-placement requirements after admission include immunizations, CPR (Basic Rescuer C level), Vulnerable Sector Screen police check, WHMIS training, Workplace Violence and Harassment training, and mask fit testing. Source

Written / Personal Components

Applicants must respond to specific questions in the Personal Submissions section of the ORPAS application. Responses should draw upon knowledge and general understanding of occupational therapy. The program states it is “mostly interested in individual perspective rather than a lengthy literature/research review.” If citations are included, APA format is expected. Real patient/client names must not be used. The program will not provide editing or advisory support. Source

Note: The exact personal submission prompts and character limits for U of T OT are not published publicly. They are only visible within the ORPAS application portal. Other ORPAS programs (e.g., Queen’s) use 5,000-character limits per question, but U of T’s may differ. Source

How Applications Are Evaluated

The program states: “Admission to the program is determined through an evaluation of academic and non-academic materials (e.g. personal statement submission, resume, referee assessments on the Confidential Assessment Forms) with the academic requirements (e.g. transcripts) being weighted more heavily.” Source

• Academic materials (weighted more heavily): Transcripts, GPA on most recent 10 FCEs
• Non-academic materials: Personal statement submissions, resume, referee confidential assessment forms, CASPer
• No published numerical weightings — no formula, point system, or percentage breakdown is disclosed
• No interview — selection is entirely file-based
• Applicants are initially ranked on GPA of most recent 10 FCEs Source
• The FAQ states that “successful applicants present a combination of strong academic merit with superior non-academic profiles” and that serious weaknesses in either academic or non-academic areas make admission “extremely difficult.” Source

Out-of-Province Considerations

• Residency restrictions or quotas: None found. The program requires Canadian citizenship or permanent residency but does not impose provincial residency restrictions or Ontario-resident quotas. Source
• Residency definition: Not applicable — no provincial residency requirement
• Out-of-province tuition differential: U of T’s SGS fee schedule shows a single domestic fee rate for the MScOT program with no out-of-province surcharge visible in the fee tables. The program’s own tuition page lists $10,550/year as the domestic program fee without distinguishing by province. Source: SGS Fee Schedule PDF, Source. Note: U of T does charge a non-Ontario domestic differential for some undergraduate programs, but this does not appear to apply to SGS professional programs based on the fee schedules reviewed. SpaceCat should confirm directly.
• Equity / priority seats: None identified in public materials

Cost

Tuition (2025–26 Domestic, from SGS Fee Schedule)

Fees are billed per session (Fall-Winter and Summer). The program fee covers all three terms per year.

St. George Campus (Table 57):

UTM Campus (Table 58):

UTM incidentals are higher due to included U-Pass transit benefits. Source

Estimated total program cost (2 years, domestic): - St. George: ~$25,500–$26,000 (program fees + incidentals over 2 years, including summer sessions) - UTM: ~$27,000–$28,000

Source: SGS Domestic Fee Schedule 2025-26 PDF, Source

Additional Fees (Ancillary)

• Publications: $25.50
• Lab Tool Fee (Year 1 only): $20.40
• Fieldwork Badge (Year 1 only): $8.16
• Mask Fit Testing: $43.86
• Electronic Student Permit Check (Verified): $47.00 + HST
• National fieldwork placements: $150.00
• International fieldwork placements: $80.00
• Immunization and documentation fees: student responsibility (amount varies)
• CPR certification: student responsibility
• Vulnerable Sector Screen (police check): student responsibility (varies by region)

Source, Source

Application Fees

• ORPAS application fee: per-university fee structure. U of T charges $100 regardless of number of programs selected. Source

Financial Aid Notes

• No specific OT scholarships or grants detailed on the program’s tuition page. Students are directed to university-wide graduate funding resources. Source

Competitiveness

• Cohort size: ~130 total (~90 St. George + ~40 UTM). The Mississauga campus was expanded beginning Fall 2025, increasing total seats from 90 to 130. Source, Source
• Number of applicants: Approximately 894–1,019 per year (2019–2022 data). Source
• Acceptance rate: Approximately 13–15% (calculated: ~130 seats / ~900–1,000 applicants). This is not officially published but can be derived from the above figures.

Fieldwork / Clinical / Practicum

• Total required hours: Minimum 1,000 hours, per CAOT standards. Source
• Number of placements: Four full-time block fieldwork placements integrated throughout the 2-year program. Source
• Placements guaranteed? Yes — built into the curriculum
• Schedule: Monday–Friday, minimum 37.5 hours/week. Some placements may include evening or weekend hours. Source
• Placement settings / locations: Students must be prepared to travel anywhere within the University of Toronto’s catchment area. Travel may be significant. Source
• Can placements be done out of province? Not explicitly stated; national placements incur a $150 fee (suggesting some out-of-province placements exist), and international placements are also available ($80 fee). Source
• Placement variety requirements: Students must complete at minimum one physical health placement (P), one psychosocial health placement (M), or two combination placements (B). At least one LEAP placement (Leadership, Emerging/Enhancing roles, Advocacy, Program Planning) is required in Year 2. Interprofessional education requirements must also be met. Source
• Campus assignment: Once assigned to St. George or Mississauga, students remain there for the full program duration. No transfers between campuses. Source
• Expectations during fieldwork: Students are expected to minimize other responsibilities. Non-academic commitments may not be accommodated during fieldwork blocks. Evening preparatory work beyond regular hours is expected. Source

Licensing & Career Path

• Licensing exam: Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) National Certification Examination (commonly called the NOTCE). Source
• Graduates eligible to practice in all provinces? Yes — OT is regulated provincially, but CAOT certification is recognized across Canada. Graduates must register with their province’s regulatory college (e.g., COTO in Ontario). Source
• Working before the exam: Graduates may begin employment before writing the CAOT exam by obtaining a Statement of Candidacy letter from CAOT. Source
• U.S. practice: Possible; graduates must meet state-specific requirements and typically complete the NBCOT (National Board of Certification of Occupational Therapists) exam. Source
• Any known issues with credential recognition? None

Reputation & Notes

• U of T’s OT program is one of the oldest and most established in Canada, housed within the Temerty Faculty of Medicine
• The program expanded to UTM (Mississauga) in Fall 2025, increasing total seats by ~44% (from 90 to 130). This expansion may slightly reduce competitiveness in the near term as additional seats become available. Source
• Strong research environment — the department offers both professional (MScOT) and research (MSc, PhD) streams
• Fieldwork placements benefit from proximity to major Toronto-area healthcare institutions
• The program structure includes 24 courses (19.0 FCEs) over 6 consecutive sessions with 4–6 concurrent courses per session — described as intensive Source
• An advanced-standing option (12-month, part-time, for practicing OTs with a bachelor’s in OT) exists but admissions are currently suspended Source
• Reddit-specific student reviews for MScOT were not accessible through search

Information Not Found

The following items could not be confirmed from public sources and should be verified directly with the program:

1. Exact personal submission prompts and character/word limits — these are only visible within the ORPAS application portal and may change year to year
2. CASPer weighting in the overall evaluation — the program does not publish how CASPer scores are weighted
3. Exact numerical weightings for any admission component (GPA vs. personal submissions vs. references vs. CASPer) — the program states academics are weighted “more heavily” but provides no percentages
4. Out-of-province tuition differential for graduate professional programs — the SGS fee schedule appears to show a single domestic rate, but this should be confirmed given U of T’s differential policy for undergraduate programs
5. Exact total program cost including summer session fees — the fee schedule shows Fall-Winter billing; summer session fees were not separately broken out in the tables reviewed
6. CAOT accreditation status details (e.g., “accredited” vs. “accredited with commendation,” specific accreditation dates/expiry) — CAOT lists U of T as accredited but does not publish the specific status level publicly
7. Whether campus preference (St. George vs. UTM) can be indicated on the ORPAS application, and how campus assignment is determined

Program contact: rss.otstudents@utoronto.ca | (416) 946-8571

Sources

Official program pages: - MScOT Main Page - Application Procedure - Eligibility to Apply FAQ - GPA FAQ - Admission Selection FAQ - Tuition, Fees and Housing - Fieldwork Program - Student Fieldwork Requirements - Registering for Practice - SGS Calendar — MScOT

Official fee/tuition pages: - SGS Domestic Fee Schedule 2025-26 (PDF) - ORPAS Fees

ORPAS / OUAC pages: - ORPAS — University of Toronto Guide - ORPAS Key Dates - ORPAS Program Requirements Overview

Accreditation: - CAOT University Programs List

News / expansion: - U of T News: OT Program Expands to Mississauga