Program Overview

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PhD Overview

The PhD in Industrial Relations and Human Resources is a research-oriented program of study, designed to provide students with a thorough knowledge of the field and strong research skills in the following areas:

• Human resources management
• Labour-management relations
• Collective bargaining and dispute resolution
• Organization development and change
• Labour market and social policy

The PhD is offered only on a full-time basis and students normally fulfill a two-year residency requirement to enable their full participation in the activities associated with the program.

PhD Program Details

• PhD admissions
• PhD Program Requirements
• PhD Funding
• PhD Careers

MIRHR Program

MIRHR Overview

The MIRHR program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of industrial relations and human resources.

MIRHR Program Requirements

The program requirements include:

• MIRHR Course Loads
• MIRHR Course Descriptions
  • Elective Courses
  • Reading/Research Courses

MIRHR Careers

The MIRHR program prepares students for careers in:

• Career Paths in IR/HR
• Hire Tomorrow’s HR and IR Leaders
• MIRHR Career Support
• Mentorship Program
• MIRHR Summer Employment
• U of T Hub on Ten Thousand Coffees

Graduate Programs

Prospective Graduate Students

• See Yourself at the CIRHR
• Admissions Overview
• PhD Admission Requirements
• MIRHR Admission Requirements
• How To Apply
• International Students
• Fees and Finance

Current Graduate Students

• MIRHR Timetables & Course Enrolment
  • Fall 2025 MIRHR Course Timetable
  • Winter 2026 MIRHR Course Timetable
  • Summer 2025 MIRHR Course Timetable
  • Summer 2026 MIRHR Course Timetable
• Financial Assistance and Awards
• Important Dates & Deadlines
• Program Forms & Documents
• Grades and Appeals
• Graduation
• Association of Students in Industrial Relations & HR
• Student Services and Support Links

Undergraduate Programs

Industrial Relations and HR

• Overview
• Enrolment Information
• Program Requirements
• Timetables & Course Registration
• IRE395H1/IRE396H1 Forms

Work and Organizations

• Overview
• Enrolment Information
• Program Requirements
• Timetables & Course Registration

Additional Information

• IRHR & WO Program Differences
• Exclusions: How do they work?
• English Language Resources for Multilingual Students

Student Resources

• Awards & Scholarships
• International Experience
• Career Exploration & Education
• HRPA Certification
• Convocation/Certification of Degree
• Examinations
• Preparing for Graduate Studies
• 12-month MIRHR
• Services and Support
• Transcript Support

HRM Certificate

Future Students

• Overview
• Admission Information

Current Students

• Timetable & Course Registration
• Tuition & Fees
• Program Requirements
• Course Descriptions
• Reactivation
• The Learning Experience

Resources

• Academic Policies
• Learning Support Services
• Accessibility Services
• Awards and Scholarships
• Career Resources
• HRPA Certification
• JOINid/UTORid & TCard Information
• Rights and Responsibilities
• Petitions and Appeals
• Graduation Information
• Writing at the University of Toronto
• Contact Information

CIRHR Graduate Programs

• See Yourself at the CIRHR
• Preparing for Graduate Studies
• CIRHR Graduate Programs
• 12-month MIRHR

Research

Research & Publications

• Faculty & PhD Publications
  • The missing employee in research on employee voice.
  • Why it’s hard to organize a union and get a decent contract
• Completed PhD Theses
• Faculty Publication Lists

CIRHR Projects & Exhibits

• The Changing Face of Work
• Why We Work
• PWR: work&labour news&research
• IDEA: Building Workplace Capacity to Include Persons with Disabilities
• Ontario Assembly on Workplace Democracy
• Research Initiative on Education + Skills (RIES)
• Spotlight On: PhD Alumni

News & Events

CIRHR Events

• Events Calendar
• Bora Laskin Award
• CIRHR Directors Debate Series
• Labour and Humanities Seminar
• Morley Gunderson Lecture
• Sefton-Williams Memorial Lecture
• Research and WIP Seminars

CIRHR News

• Recent News
  • Alumni Spotlight: Joannah Lawson, MIR Class of 1989
  • Brown-Interim-Dean
  • Interview with Professor Scanlan, author of Slave Empire
  • Introducing three of our newest PhD Students, Milad, Xueyu and Daniela
  • Introducing two of our new PhD Students, Fangjun Dong and Beth Corcoran
  • May Spotlight: Peter Hurd, Class of 1977
  • PhD Alumni Spotlight: Tingting Zhang, Recipient of the 2021 Morley Gunderson Prize
• Centre Projects & Events
• Faculty News
• Graduate Student News
• Alumni News
• Expert Opinions and Appearances

Collaborative Events

Alumni & Friends

Alumni Resources

• After Graduation
• Transcripts and Diplomas

Stay Connected

• Morley Gunderson Prize
• The Matt Dowdle Leadership in IRHR Award
• CIRHR Alumni Events
• Master's Alumni Spotlight
• PhD Alumni Spotlight
• Mentorship Program
• U of T Hub on Ten Thousand Coffees

Scholarships and Donations

• United Steelworkers Leo Gerard Chair
• Support the Centre
• The Matt Dowdle Leadership in IRHR Award

People

Directories

• Centre Faculty
• Staff
• PhD Students & Post-Docs
• Student Associations
• Associated Graduate Faculty
• Current & Former CIRHR Directors
• Director’s Message
  • January 2016
  • September 2016
  • January 2017
  • September 2017
  • Summer 2018
  • September 2019
  • July 2020
  • September 2020
  • December 2020
  • June 2021
  • July 2022
  • September 2022
  • May 2023
  • September 2023
  • December 2023
  • June 2024
  • September 2024
  • December 2024
  • September 2025