Rotman Ph.D. Program Guide

Question

I am starting the Ph.D. guide series to get you everything about Ph.D. programs at one place. As a matter of accuracy and authenticity, I will use only the school’s official website for any kind of information. This thread will help members at GMAT Club in getting unified information, instead of juggling multiple websites online.

Table of Content

1. Introduction
2. Study Areas
3. Careers
4. Academics
5. Student Life
6. Admission
7. Supporting documents
8. GRE/TOEFL
9. Fees and financial support
10. Fees
11. Housing
12. Rotman Ph.D. Program FAQs

Introduction

Join a close-knit community of scholars at one of the world’s top-ranked centres of management research - at the University of Toronto, in the heart of Canada’s vibrant, culturally diverse financial capital.

5-year full-time program
On campus in-person
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

As part of Rotman’s PhD program, you’ll explore new ideas, develop insights that inspire solutions and help to spark broader conversations among corporate and public leaders.

The PhD in Management is a challenging 5-year program which features course-work, cutting edge research training, and close working relationships with some of the best management academics in the world. The success of Rotman’s Ph.D. program is evidenced in the impressive careers of its graduates.

PhD students work closely with faculty in research-led culture which emphasizes rigor, creativity and innovation. The PhD curriculum is carefully designed to support students as publishing scholars as early as possible in their doctoral studies and the program has a terrific track record of placements in leading business schools.

Study Areas

Rotman’s Ph.D. program is divided into the following 7 distinct streams of research:

Accounting
Economic Analysis and Policy
Finance
Marketing
Operations Management and Statistics
Organizational Behaviour and Human Resource Management
Strategic Management.

Accounting
A World Leader in Accounting
The PhD Program in Accounting at the Rotman School is designed to prepare students for academic careers in accounting at leading research-oriented universities. Students benefit from rigorous training, close interaction with faculty, a fully funded program, and an exceptional placement record. The Financial Times ranks the Rotman School in the top 20 for faculty and research.

Accounting is a major strength of the Rotman School. Faculty members in the Accounting area come from universities such as Yale, Wharton, New York University and Kellogg, and specialize in everything from financial statement analysis to auditing to securities valuation. Their research is regularly featured in leading scientific journals in accounting, finance, economics, and management science.

For evidence of the Rotman Accounting group's international standing Rotman encourages you to view the Brigham Young University's Accounting Research Rankings where Rotman has placed #1 worldwide for archival research, and #2 worldwide overall.

What makes Accounting so strong?

A strong emphasis on theory building, coupled with state-of-the-art quantitative empirical research.
Faculty who consistently contribute to empirical and theoretical research in leading-edge journals.
PhD student and faculty get-togethers such as dinners and brown-bag lunches where students enjoy a unique opportunity to interact with their professors and share ideas with each other in an informal setting.
A history of award-winning teachers among both the faculty members and PhD graduates.
Strong placement of graduates in top-tier Canadian, US and international schools.
Full funding for all PhD students through a financial aid package that fully covers tuition and provides an attractive stipend that can continue for up to five years in the program.
Location: the Rotman School is in the heart of North America’s third-largest financial center, just blocks from the heart of Canada’s business community.

Economic Analysis and Policy
Rotman’s Economic Analysis and Policy PhD is designed to prepare students for research-oriented careers in university economics departments and management faculties as well as careers in business and government. The PhD provides in-depth knowledge of and training in general economic theory and methodology; it offers specific training in three sub-disciplines within economics: Industrial Organization, International Economics and Urban / Real Estate Economics. With specializations in only these three fields, Business Economics PhD students have the opportunity early on in their program to work closely with leading scholars in their chosen area of specialization.

After the first year of general economics training, each student works in close collaboration with faculty to design a program of specialized study that best suits his or her research interests. This close collaboration with faculty continues on through the remainder of the student’s research career at Rotman.

The Business Economics PhD can typically be completed in four to five years, depending upon prior training and student progress. Successful progress through the program requires that students develop mastery in a variety of economic disciplines – as demonstrated through successful completion of courses and exams – and demonstrate skills in original research and communication of research results.

Why choose the Rotman Economic Analysis and Policy PhD?

A faculty roster that boasts leading scholars in International Economics, Industrial Organization and Urban / Real Estate Economics who work closely with students throughout the entirety of the PhD program.
World-class research capabilities provided through the Rotman Institute for International Business and the Centre for Real Estate and Urban Economics.
An active seminar series featuring visiting professors from around the world

Finance
Rotman Finance offers top-tier training from some of the world’s leading experts in fields such as risk management, corporate governance, delegated asset management, and behavioural finance. Over the past several years running, the Rotman Finance Area has been ranked in the Top Ten worldwide by the Financial Times in its annual ranking of the world’s best business education programs. In its 2015 ranking, FT ranked the Rotman Doctoral Program 4th in the world, ahead of such top-tier schools as MIT, Northwestern, and London Business School.

The mission of the PhD Program in Finance at the Rotman School is to train prospective scholars to become highly skilled and innovative researchers and teachers, and to prepare them for careers as faculty members at premier academic institutions throughout the world.

The program can be completed in four to five years, depending upon prior training and student progress. Successful progress through this demanding program requires that students develop mastery in a variety of disciplines demonstrated through successful completion of courses and exams (pre-qualifying requirements, minor field requirements and qualifying courses, required and elective finance courses), original research (second year paper and dissertation), and a variety of other tasks.

Why choose the Rotman Finance PhD?

World-class research capabilities such as the BMO Financial Group Finance Research and Trading Lab; Capital Markets Institute; and the International Centre for Pension Fund Management
An active seminar series featuring visiting professors from around the world.

Marketing
The PhD Program in Marketing at the Rotman School is designed to prepare students for academic careers in marketing at research-oriented universities. The success of the program is reflected in its placements: graduates from the program have taken positions at NYU Stern, CUHK, Tsinghua University UC Berkeley, UBC, INSEAD, Northwestern, USC and other top schools.

The philosophy of the program is that in order to become an effective marketing scholar a student must develop a thorough understanding of marketing institutions and problems, the methodological capability to analyze those problems rigorously, and the ability to communicate research findings via writing and oral presentations. The PhD Program in Marketing at Rotman is structured to accomplish these objectives. It consists of a course-work component and an original research component, and can only be done on a full-time basis.

What makes out Marketing program exceptional?

Faculty who are leaders in the marketing profession and consistently serve as journal editors, and board members for marketing journals and for journals in the fields of Psychology, Sociology and Economics.
A program based on intense interaction between professors and students and an immediate introduction to original research.
Full funding for all PhD students through a financial aid package that covers tuition and provides an attractive stipend that can continue for up to five years in the program.
Past placements: New York University, University of Southern California, MIT, INSEAD, UCLA, Northwestern University, Washington University, Queen's University, National University of Singapore, Singapore Management University, Tsinghua University, Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Organizational Behaviour and Human Resource Management
The PhD Program in Organizational Behaviour and Human Resource (OB & HR) Management at the Rotman School is designed to produce scholars who wish to conduct high-level theoretical and empirical research and teach at major research institutions. The students are exposed to state-of-the-art thinking, theories, research methods, and literature from the behavioural and organizational sciences. Rotman’s graduates have been well received by the job market in Canada, the United States, Asia, and Europe.

The program accepts one to two new PhD students every year, and currently has 13 students. Students take approximately seven to nine courses in the first two years, and then write comprehensive exams and a thesis. The program is for those seeking research careers in universities and is not suitable for those wishing to become consultants or primarily instructors.

The PhD Program, OB & HRM offers:

A PhD education that is singularly focused on both Organizational Behaviour and Human Resource Management.
Extensive resources to enable students to achieve their goals, including a Behavioural Research Lab and a state-of-the-art Financial Research and Trading Lab.
Opportunities to collaborate in a supportive environment with over 20 full-time and active faculty who are trained at the world’s most outstanding institutions and have internationally recognized research reputations.
Opportunities to learn various research methods, such as field surveys, laboratory experiments, event-contingent sampling methodology, network analysis, and qualitative research.

Operations Management and Statistics
Operations Management and Statistics (OMS) involves the study of management concerns related to the design, decision-making, and implementation of operating systems. The Rotman PhD Program in Operations Management and Statistics is designed to prepare students for academic and research careers in universities and industry. The faculty includes PhDs from Columbia, Indiana, Johns Hopkins, MIT, and Stanford, and their interests include Supply Chain Management and Logistics, OMS in Services, Inventory Management, Call Centre Management, OMS/Marketing Interface, and other areas.

A unique feature of the Rotman Operations Management Program is the flexibility it provides students in developing a course of study to meet their goals. The area supplements the school’s resources in management education by drawing on the resources of several other departments within the University of Toronto (such as Computer Science, Economics, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering and Statistics). Students can take courses in these departments by selecting the appropriate areas as minor fields or by taking additional course work to meet their specific needs.

Admitted students will typically have a MS-level degree in engineering, mathematics, computer science, natural sciences or business (however, exceptional students with only undergraduate-level education will also be admitted). The admissions are highly competitive and are based on the following key components: transcripts, letters of reference (at least three are required), standardized test scores (students must take either the GRE, which is preferred, or the GMAT; foreign students must also take the TOEFL/IELTS). Please refer to the Getting In section for further information on program admission requirements and procedures.

Operations Management and Statistics offers:

Strong ties and frequent collaboration with distinguished faculty members in related programs.
Opportunities and funding to support student presentations at national academic conferences.

Strategic Management
The PhD Program in Strategic Management prepares students for research-oriented careers. The structure of the program reflects, on the one hand, its interdisciplinary philosophy, and on the other hand, its belief in rigorous discipline-based training.

In a world characterized by political instability, rapid technological, economic and social change, and a dramatic increase in the availability of information, the strategic management of organizations is becoming increasingly vital to their success and their ability to play a positive role in society. Therefore, rigorous research in strategy is more and more socially relevant, and so is the education of future business leaders.

The PhD Program in Strategic Management at Rotman aims to prepare scholars that will successfully take on these challenges. The program has some major strengths:

An ideal combination of an interdisciplinary approach to complex problems, and rigorous, discipline-based training and research (primarily in economics and sociology).

A world-class faculty at the frontier of research in such areas as technological innovation, industry evolution, entrepreneurship in the developed and developing world, social capital and social networks, corporate governance, outsourcing and alliances, entrepreneurship for the public good, ethics in organizations and markets, and inequality in organizations and society.
A high faculty-student ratio that favors interactions and collaborations on research projects. Each student has a faculty mentor for the first year. Students begin discussing research with their mentor from the outset of the program with the goal of beginning a project by the summer after the first year. At the end of the first year, the faculty mentor can become the supervisor for the second-year paper, or the student and the mentor identify a different supervisor who is closer to the research interests of the students at that point. The close interaction with faculty will better enable students to conduct their projects once they have completed their coursework.
Close connections with other departments and schools, such as Economics, Sociology, Political Science, Industrial Relations, Computer Science and Psychology; as well as with centres within Rotman, such as Behavioral Economics in Action, Gender and the Economy, and the Creative Destruction Lab.

Core courses led by Rotman faculty focus on understanding the Strategic Management literature, research questions and techniques. In addition, all Rotman Strategic Management students take doctoral-level courses in economics, sociology, and quantitative methods. Outside of these core requirements, students are able to develop a specialized program of study that meets their individual objectives.

The Rotman School is ranked 9th in the world by the Financial Times for its faculty and research. PhD students at Rotman enjoy an academic culture of collaboration and research excellence.

PhD students at Rotman study in small classes and form close working relationships with faculty. Take a moment to get to know the program requirements. If you are a strong candidate with an appetite for academic excellence, the program encourages you to contact us to learn more about the Rotman PhD.

Applications for Fall 2026 are closed. Applications for Fall 2027 will be open in September 2026.

Careers

The Rotman PhD is for ambitious scholars who plan to teach and research at some of the world's top business schools. If you are looking to study with leading faculty, publish in noted academic journals, and build a global network of like-minded scholars, the Rotman PhD program is for you. Rotman’s goal is to prepare its PhD students for exceptional careers in the field of management, and all aspects of the doctoral program are developed with your professional goals in mind. Find out how the Rotman School at the University of Toronto has been the launching pad for many stellar academic careers.

Academics

Grade reviews and academic appeals
Graduate students have the right to dispute substantive or procedural academic matters, such as grades, evaluations of comprehensive exams and other program requirements, decisions regarding their continuation in a program, or any other decisions related to the application of academic regulations. Initially, students should try to resolve the issue with the instructor or relevant individual involved. If the issue remains unresolved and the student wishes to pursue it further, they should discuss it with the Graduate Coordinator or the Program Director.

EXCEPTION: Appeals related to failure of a final oral examination or related to termination of registration in a program should be made directly to the SGS Graduate Academic Appeals Board (see SGS Calendar entry on Academic Appeals).

All academic appeals, except for those specified as exceptions above, must be initiated within the student's primary graduate unit, unless the appeal pertains to courses from outside that unit. Appeals concerning courses taken outside the student's home department should be handled by the department that offered the course. The chair of the student’s home department will be informed.

The student must submit an appeal within eight weeks of the decision being contested. The request must be made in writing using a Notice of Appeal Form submitted to the PhD Program Office (room 1050 at 105 St. George Street or by email: [email protected]) and it will then be considered by the Graduate Department Academic Appeals Committee (GDAAC).

After following these steps students have the option to appeal to the Graduate Academic Appeals Board (GAAB). Students must file a Notice of Appeal Form to initiative the process within eight weeks of receipt of the communication at the immediately prior level of appeal.

Graduate Department Academic Appeals Committee
The Graduate Department Academic Appeals Committee (GDAAC) is formed under the authority of the Vice Dean of MBA Programs and the Vice Dean of Undergraduate and Specialized Programs (collectively referred to as the “Vice Dean”) at the start of each academic year. The Committee serves in an advisory capacity to the Vice Deans, who make decisions based on the Committee's recommendations. Committee members may serve for multiple years.

Within the academic appeals process, the GDAAC possesses significant discipline-specific expertise to evaluate academic matters in appeals and plays a crucial role in the overall procedure. The committee can only consider academic issues. Decisions regarding admission to academic programs are not eligible for appeal, and the committee does not address non-academic matters (such as fees).

Student Life

Are you a promising scholar driven to achieve success in your studies? At Rotman your success is fueled by support that extends well beyond scholarship. Your ability to achieve both during the program and after graduation depends on strong networks with faculty and your peers. Rotman aims to give you the tools you need to complete your program while achieving a balanced life outside of the classroom.

Whether you're looking for a new living arrangement, wanting to attend a research event, or wondering how previous students experienced their doctorate, the Rotman Phd progam has the support you need to succeed.

Admission

Considering a PhD? The admission selection process for the Rotman PhD program is highly competitive: on average only 15-20 students are admitted from a pool of 600-700 applicants.

Minimum academic requirements
Minimum academic requirements for admission to the Rotman PhD Program include:

1a) A master’s degree or equivalent from a recognized university, in which the student received an average grade equivalent to a University of Toronto B+ or better. OR

b) In some cases, a four-year bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a recognized university, in which the student received an average grade equivalent to a University of Toronto A- or better will be eligible.

International Degree Equivalencies: Applicants educated at non-Canadian institutions should note that their educational background will be assessed for equivalency with a University of Toronto degree. Click here to go to the 'International Degree Equivalencies' page for a list of countries and the international credentials required for doctoral admissions at the University of Toronto.

2) Official GRE score. -Please note that submitting GRE scores is highly recommended
3) Official TOEFL score (where applicable)

For a detailed list of the supporting documents required for your application, please see the Supporting Documents section.

Admission to the program is highly competitive, with the number of qualified applicants always greatly exceeding the number of available places. Meeting the requirements listed above does not guarantee admission.

Supporting documents

The following supporting documents are required for your application to the Rotman PhD Program:

Letter of Intent
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Transcripts for all post-secondary institutions attended
Two Reference Letters. A third optional reference may be submitted.
GRE score. -Please note that submitting GRE score is highly recommended
TOEFL score or any other acceptable English Facility Testing.

TOEFL or other English Facility Tests
Applicants whose primary language is not English, and previous degree(s) have been completed at a non-Canadian university where the language of instruction and examination was not English, must submit an official English Facility test score report. Please note that results cannot be older than two years as of January 1st. The School of Graduate Studies recognizes the following tests: TOEFL, IELTS, MELAB and U of T School of Continuing Studies COPE and International ESL Program. For details, please review the SGS Website. For the purpose of application, only a scan of your TOEFL/IELTS/MELAB is required. Paper copies of score reports are only request after an offer of admission is made.

Reference Letters
Upon payment of the application fee the School of Graduate Studies will contact the referees and provide complete instructions to submit their references. It is the applicant’s responsibility to make arrangements with their referees and make sure that letters are submitted by the document deadline.

Applications are considered complete and can be reviewed only after all supporting documents are uploaded on the online application and payment is received; this includes Letter of Intent, Curriculum Vitae, Transcripts, Letters of Reference, Test Scores (GRE and TOEFL or other acceptable English Facility Test). All supporting documents must be submitted through the online application by the documentation deadline as set by the Rotman School of Management.

GRE
Please note that submitting GRE score is recommended.
Rotman does not have a minimum GRE score requirement. There is no minimum score which would result in an application being automatically rejected, however strong test scores are expected for competitive applicants. As a reference, the average test scores for students who have received an offer of admission in the past 3 years are: GRE verbal 159, GRE quantitative 166. Test scores of successful applicants may vary around this average. For the purpose of application, only a scan of your GRE is required.

TOEFL
Applicants whose primary language is not English and previous degree(s) have been completed at a non-Canadian university where the language of instruction and examination was not English, are required to take a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and Test of Written English (TWE) to demonstrate competence in the English language. Test scores older than two years are not valid.

For the purpose of application, only a scan of your TOEFL is required. Paper copies of score reports are only request after an offer of admission is made.

Minimum scores required in the TOEFL:

• Paper-based: 600 (with at least 5.0 out of 6.0 on the TWE)
• Internet-based: 22/30 for both Writing and Speaking Sections; 100/120 on overall TOEFL score

You are not required to complete an English-language facility test if you are a Canadian citizen who studied at a Canadian university where the language of instruction is French.

If you are an international applicant whose primary language is not English, you may not be required to complete an English-language facility test if you have completed a program of study at a university where the language of instruction and examination has largely been in English. This is at the discretion of the Rotman PhD Program. If you are such an international applicant, please consult with the PhD Program Office to determine if the test will be required. In some cases, an official statement from your institution will be required confirming the use of English as the language of instruction and examination.

NOTE: All test scores need to be uploaded on the online application.

How to apply to the Rotman PhD
Applying to a PhD program can be exciting and stressful. Find out the details of Rotman’s application process at the Rotman School of Management so you can plan ahead. Below is information on the online application tool and what you need to prepare. Start your application early so you have plenty of time to gather the required items and submit your finished package.

Applications for Fall 2026 are closed. Applications for Fall 2027 will be open in September.

There is no January admission to the program. Admission is not offered on a rolling basis.

1. Log in to the online application. Applications must be completed, and payment made by January 8, 2027. (Please double check the official deadline while applying)

2. Provide the biographical and education information requested.
PLEASE NOTE: Personal (contact) information, Program of Study selections, Academic History, English Facility Tests, and Additional Information submitted cannot be changed. Please review this information carefully before making payment.

3. Be prepared to submit contact information for at least two referees. Only institution email addresses are accepted. Advise your referees to expect an email from the University of Toronto with instructions for providing reference letters.

4. Submit your payment (online payment is preferred but mail-in payment is available)

5. Upload all supporting documents as listed on the Supporting documents section by the deadline.

Notes on the Application
Applicants may apply to only one of the following areas of specialization within the PhD Program in Management: Accounting, Business Economics, Finance, Marketing, Operations Management, Organizational Behaviour and Human Resource Management, Strategic Management.

Applications to the PhD Program in Management at the Rotman School must be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) using an online application which is housed on a secure server at the University of Toronto.

The online application allows applicants to manage and submit biographical and educational information as well as all supporting documents (i.e. Letter of Intent, Curriculum Vitae, Scanned Transcripts, Letters of Reference, Test Scores (GMAT or GRE and TOEFL or other acceptable English Facility Test if required). Applicants can edit an in-progress application and check the status of all documents submitted using a secure password and UserID.

Applications are considered complete and can be reviewed only after all supporting documents are uploaded on the online application and payment is received by the School of Graduate Studies. A valid e-mail account is needed to complete the online application as the University will correspond with applicants using e-mail.

Start Your Application Today
Please complete all parts (personal information, education, program of study, payment) of the online application and upload all supporting documentation (Letter of Intent, Curriculum Vitae, Scanned Transcripts, Letters of Reference, Test Scores - (GRE (optional) and TOEFL or other acceptable English Facility Test (if applicable)) by this date. Do not submit hard copies of supporting documents at the time of application. Official transcripts and test scores are only required once an offer of admission is made.

Admissions Decision: Mid-February to March

The review process begins in early February and applicants are normally notified of the results within six to eight weeks.
For additional admissions information and/or questions about the application process, click here to e-mail the Rotman PhD Program.

Fees and financial support

The Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto provides one of North America’s most competitive financial support packages for graduate studies at the doctoral level. Read more for information on the minimum funding package, tuition fellowships and work opportunities. Additional fellowships and scholarships competitions are available throughout the school year.

The Rotman School provides financial support to all PhD students from years one through five. The minimum annual funding package for eligible, full-time doctoral students in the Rotman School of Management is as follows:

Year 1: $40,000 plus the tuition fee
Years 2-4: $33,000 plus tuition. Students may choose to apply for research assistantships, teaching assistantships, and instructor positions to earn additional funds.
Year 5: $40,000 plus tuition (if the student is on the academic job market; otherwise, $33,000 plus tuition)
Year 6 and beyond: no funding is guaranteed

Fees

Tuition and supplementary fees for 2024-2025 are provided below in Canadian dollars. Students receive a tuition scholarship in years one through five that covers full academic fees. Students must register in each of the three terms during the year.

	Domestic Students	International Students
Academic Fees	$6,210.00	$6,210.00
Incidental, System Access & Ancillary Fees	$2,003.96	$2,003.96
UHIP (University Health Insurance Plan)		$756 (for single person coverage)

Finding a Place to Stay

Whether you opt to stay in one of the University of Toronto’s on-campus residences, or secure housing off-campus, U of T offers many options for securing safe, comfortable and enjoyable housing for students of the Rotman PhD program. Come discover why Toronto is consistently rated one of the best places in the world to live and work.

Housing Services
The University of Toronto offers extensive support for students looking for housing, both on and off campus and is a great place to begin your search. Housing services offers a multitude of services to support your housing search, including one of the best online housing listings in the city! Whether you are looking for temporary housing, off campus housing or a residence placement, Housing Services is ready to provide you with relevant and current information and support.

Graduate House
The University of Toronto’s Graduate House welcomes full-time masters and doctoral students from across the university and its professional faculties. Located on St. George campus and minutes away from the Rotman School and Robarts library, Graduate House offers students a safe, pleasant living experience and opportunities to get involved outside the classroom. For more information on Graduate House or to apply for a space, visit their website.

External Sources
Additional rental opportunities can be found at any of the following websites: Craig's List, or Rent Seeker. If buying is an option, visit the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board to get a feel for prices, locations and availability of local housing.

Consider checking local newspapers. Good rentals can be found in the classified pages of the Toronto Star, as well as U of T’s Bulletin.

Rotman Ph.D. Program FAQs

Click here for Rotman Ph.D. Program FAQs

Good Luck!

Rotman Ph.D. Program Guide

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