We encourage you to submit your documents as early as possible as the admissions committee meets on a regular basis and may be in the position to make early offers of admission. Keep in mind that not every specialization has start dates each term. Late applications are not considered for the Canadian Common Law or International Business Law and other full-time specializations. Subject to space availability, late applications may be considered for other specializations. Please contact admissions-opd@osgoode.yorku.cato inquire about the possibility of submitting an late application.

LLM Application Deadlines

Below you’ll find information on applying to graduate degree programs through the York University application portal. If you’re interested in applying for Single Course Enrollment, you can find instructions on how to apply here.

1. Online Application: Application Form and Fee

Submit your application using York University’s Graduate Studies online application. A non-refundable application fee of $100 CAD is required, payable by Visa or MasterCard.

On the ‘Goal of Study’ section, select:

• Term in which your program is scheduled to begin (Fall or Winter)

• Part Time Studies or Full Time Studies*

• “I wish to study toward a degree.”

• Under the “Degree Selection” list a pop-up box will appear. Enter LLM in the “Search all Columns” box on the top right corner. Then select Canadian Common Law

*Note that Full-Time applications are only accepted during the Fall term

2. Upload Application Documents to MyFile

Within approximately two business days of the submission of your online application form you will receive an e-mail containing your student/application number. Use your student number and date of birth to log into your application on MyFile and begin uploading your documents.

All application documents must be received two weeks after the application deadline, however we encourage you to submit all required documents as soon as possible after receiving a student/application number. The admissions committee review files on an ongoing basis and may make early offers of admission where files are complete.

Required Non-Academic Documents:

• Current Resume / CV: If you have been called to the bar please indicate the year and jurisdiction

• Personal Statement: Your personal statement should discuss your interest in the program and how your past studies and related professional experience have prepared you for the program (maximum 500 words in length).

• Writing Sample: An academic or professional piece of written work that demonstrates your academic ability.

• Two References: References may be academic or professional. You can either provide your referee details via MyFile and a reference form will be sent to them via e-mail or you can give them our Recommendation Form.

• The LLM Supplementary Form: Complete our Supplementary Form and upload to MyFile

3. Transcripts

Transcripts from every post-secondary institution you have attended are required.

You can upload “unofficial” transcripts through MyFile. Transcripts provided in this way are sufficient for the initial assessment of your application.

You may receive a decision of conditional admission based on uploaded “unofficial” transcripts. At that time (or as soon as final transcripts are available) you must send one final (indicating degree conferred) official transcript for every postsecondary institution you have attended.

If you do not have access to “unofficial” transcripts, you may submit official transcripts by mail to the address below:

Please note given the high volume of transcripts the office of Graduate Admissions receives, it typically takes about 10-15 business days for transcripts to be matched to your application. We strongly encourage you to submit your transcripts early.

Important notes about transcripts:

• If transcripts are in another language, an official English translation is required.

• If the name on your transcript differs from the legal name that you currently use, please make sure that you include your former name on your application form.

• If you have taken courses at York University, we will obtain transcripts on your behalf. Please provide your York student number with the application and ensure that you have no outstanding fees, as such status will block the release of your transcript.

• To be considered “official”, it must be evident that you have had no direct access to the transcripts. Transcripts must come directly from, and bear the seal of, the issuing institution. If the institution issues transcripts directly to you, the envelope must be sealed by the institution and remain sealed until opened by York University to be considered official.

• Photocopied or faxed transcripts are not considered to be official.

• Transcripts from other credential evaluation services are considered “unofficial”.

• Original transcripts submitted become the property of York University and cannot be returned.

4. Proof of English Language Proficiency

If your first language is not English, you must supply proof of language proficiency as set out in the table below. You may be exempted from this requirement if you have completed at least two years of full-time study at an accredited university where English is the only official language of instruction at the university (not at the program level only).
For more information about language requirements click here.

5. Check your Application Status

On MyFile you can:

• check your application status (and accept your offer if you’ve been admitted)

• check whether your application documents have been received

Degree programs

Fees include the required course materials. Where assigned, textbooks are provided in hard copy and all other course materials and readings are provided in electronic format only.

Program fees are paid in installments each term:

• Students in the International Business Law specialization pay fees over four full-time terms
• Students in all other full-time specialization pay fees over three full-time terms
• Students in part-time specializations pay fees over six part-time terms

Students who complete the program in fewer than the above will have their final installment added at the end of their program. Students who require more than the above will be subject to additional tuition fees.

Supplementary Fees

Supplementary fees are included in each term’s tuition fee installment and are subject to change each term based on approval by York’s Board of Governors and in accordance with guidelines set by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. For more information please see Student Financial Services.

Supplementary fees for the Summer 2017 term: $160.65 for part-time students, and $321.30 for full-time students.

Additional Fees

Registration Fee: $15 per term (non-refundable).

International Students’ Health Insurance: The University Health Insurance Plans (UHIP) is mandatory for all international students. This does not apply to domestic students. For more information, visit the York International website.

Domestic Students’ Health Insurance: Full-time domestic students York University Graduate Students’ Association (YUGSA) health plan. The plan is mandatory for all full-time students without comparable coverage for drugs AND dental and is optional for those registered part-time.

Videoconferencing:  Students who opt to participate in the program via videoconference will be provided with the required hardware and software at a cost of $300. This fee is in addition to the tuition fees listed above.

Financial Assistance

Financial Aid

Students in the Professional LLM program may qualify for financial aid if they meet the eligibility criteria. Please visit York’s Student Financial Services website for more information.

Royal Bank Credit Line for OsgoodePD LLM Students

Students in the Professional LLM program may qualify for Royal Bank Credit Line of up to $80,000 at a preferential interest rate. For further details and contact information, please refer to the Information Sheet.

Bursaries

Osgoode Professional Development bursaries are granted to LLM students with financial need. Applications are accepted once every Fall, Winter and Summer. To be eligible students must have completed at least one term of study.

Scholarships and Awards

International Student Entrance Scholarships

Entrance scholarships are awarded to international students applying to a full-time LLM program who demonstrate the strongest academic ability and potential as indicated by their application materials. The maximum amount awarded is $5,000. All individuals who apply and have submitted all required documents by late February of the year in which they intend to start the program and meet the criteria are eligible for these scholarships and will automatically be considered for an entrance scholarship (see application deadlines for details). If a scholarship is awarded, it will be credited to the student’s financial account during the Winter term.

The Professor Marilyn L. Pilkington Award

Professor Marilyn L. Pilkington, the Dean of Osgoode Hall Law School from 1993 to 1998 and founder of Osgoode Professional Development, established this award to be given to a student pursuing studies in the LLM program. The award will be granted annually (each Fall term) to a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, protected person, resident of Ontario, on the basis of academic achievement and financial need. Preference will be given to a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School.

Academic Waivers and Tax Credits

Academic Fee Waiver for Senior Citizens (Partial For OsgoodePD LLM Programs)

Note that this fee waiver is administered by York University, not OsgoodePD. The fee waiver is a partial waiver for this program and is capped at the current Faculty of Graduate Studies part-time tuition fee rate and covers academic fees only. Students are responsible for any additional charges including interest charges, student health and dental plans, course materials fees, supplementary fees, etc.

For more information see the Waivers and Payments by a Third Party (External Agency) page on York University’s website.

Tuition and Education Tax Credit

Students may qualify for a tax credit for tuition fees and education amounts. The amount of the tax credit depends on each student’s taxable income. For information, please consult Canada Revenue Agency’s Information on Students and Income Tax.

Non-Degree Programs: Single Course Enrollment

Fees include the required course materials. Where assigned, textbooks are provided in hard copy and all other course materials and readings are provided in electronic format only.

Additional Fees

Registration Fee: $15 per term (non-refundable).

Videoconferencing: Students who opt to participate in the program via videoconference will be provided with the required hardware and software at a cost of $300. This fee is in addition to the tuition fees listed above.Cancellation and Refund Policy

Cancellation and Refund Policy

Single Course with Assessment

Once you have accepted your offer of admission you will be registered in course(s) and fees will be applied to your student account. Course withdrawals are subject to the non-degree students refund policy:

Course drop requests must be made in writing by submitting the completed Course Transaction Form to the Graduate Program Assistant for the course.

Single Course without Assessment (Audit)

Payment in full to Osgoode Professional Development is required upon acceptance of your application for LLM Single Courses. A full refund (less a $75 administration fee) will be issued for cancellations received in writing a minimum of 14 days prior to the course start date. Written cancellations received less than 14 days before the course start date will be refunded subject to a $250 administration fee. No refunds will be issued after the course commences; non-attendance or withdrawal after the course start date will incur the full fee.