Program Overview

Introduction to the Collaborative Specialization in Women and Gender Studies

The Graduate Collaborative Specialization in Women and Gender Studies (CWGS) offers students an opportunity for advanced feminist studies in conjunction with an MA or Ph.D. degree in another discipline. This specialization provides a rich interdisciplinary environment for exploring how gender and sexuality intersect with pressing concerns such as race, citizenship, embodiment, colonialism, nation, global capitalism, violence, aesthetics, and more.

Program Overview

The CWGS is administered by the Women & Gender Studies Institute (WGSI) and brings together 37 graduate programs, over 100 courses, and more than 100 graduate faculty members across six faculties: Arts & Science, Information Studies, Law, Medicine, OISE, and Social Work. The core faculty is committed to transnational feminist studies, focusing on diverse sites and their interconnections, with particular emphasis on Canada, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, East Asia, and the United States.

Program Requirements and Benefits

Students who successfully complete the requirements of the collaborative specialization will receive the notation "Completed Collaborative Specialization in Women and Gender Studies" on their transcript, in addition to their master's or doctoral degree from their home graduate unit.

Application Information

To qualify for admission into the Graduate Collaborative Specialization in Women and Gender Studies (CWGS), applicants must be offered admission to a graduate degree program at the University of Toronto. Applicants should have some background in Women's Studies, Feminist Studies, and/or Gender Studies.

Application Deadline

Applications to the Graduate Collaborative Specialization in Women and Gender Studies for the academic year will be accepted starting April 1st, 2026. All applications must be submitted by May 26, 2026.

Application Documentation and Procedures

To apply, students must submit:

• A double-spaced two-page tailored statement of intent pertaining to women and gender studies.
• Transcripts from all previous post-secondary institutions.
• Their Offer of Admission to the University of Toronto.

The application procedure involves:

1. Submitting the tailored statement of intent by the application deadline.
2. Requesting that the home graduate unit send a copy of the complete graduate admission file to the Women and Gender Studies Institute by the application deadline.

Program Details

Collaborative specializations offer graduate students the ability to study and work interdisciplinarily with faculty and students across departments. The CWGS is not a stand-alone program nor a dual degree program. Accepted students are sent a letter outlining the program requirements, with a copy also sent to the home graduate unit for review and signature.