BI Applications

How do you apply to the Bachelor of Information?

This page provides all the information you’ll need to apply to the Bachelor of Information (BI) program at the Faculty of Information. Entry into the program occurs once a year, in September. The program is delivered in-person on campus.

We invite all potential candidates to join us for an Information Day / Tour / Admissions Event to learn about your program options. Tours, led by senior students, are also available.

Application Overview

The Bachelor of Information is a second-entry undergraduate program, meaning students can apply as early as the second year of their undergraduate degree. Students must have completed at least 10.0 university credits to be considered for admission.

There are two application steps. For more detailed information, read “How to apply” below.

Eligibility and Prerequisites

  • To be eligible for the Bachelor of Information program, you must:
  • have completed at least 10.0 FCE of university credits including at least 4.0 FCE at the 200-level or above
  • have a minimum average of 70% / 2.7 GPA in the last 5.0 FCE taken
  • You must have completed at least 0.5 FCE with a minimum grade of C+ in each of the following areas:
    • Formal Systems, e.g. calculus, statistics, formal logic, coding, or other math or science-focused courses
    • Socio-Cultural Systems, e.g. media studies, cultural studies, political science, sociology or other humanities or social science courses
    • Creative Practice, e.g. design, creative writing, performance, or other art or design-focused courses

Application Dates and Deadlines

  • Early deadline to apply is January 15, 2025. Apply by this date to be automatically considered for entrance awards & scholarships
  • The final deadline to apply through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) is May 1, 2025
  • Supporting documents are due on May 15, 2025

Application Steps

  • Apply through OUAC
  • Submit supporting documents:
    • Personal Statement (required)
    • Transcripts (required)
    • Transcript Explanation Essay (optional)
    • Proof of English Facility (if applicable)
  • The supplemental application information will be found in your JOIN U of T account after you have applied through the OUAC.

How to apply: Step by step

All applicants must apply through the OUAC application portal and submit supporting documentation via email. 

Step One:

Apply via OUAC

New Students

Apply through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) using the  OUAC (105 Application) if:

  • You are NOT currently attending an Ontario high school day program (in Ontario or abroad), AND
  • You are NOT a current or former U of T student.

Current/Former U of T Students

Apply through University of Toronto Internal Application for Full-Time Degree Studies if:

  • You were previously or are currently registered as a student at U of T.

International Students

Apply through the International Application if:

  • You currently reside outside of Canada, AND
  • You are not currently studying, and have not previously studied in Canada, AND
  • You are not applying to any other Ontario university

Step Two:

Submit your supporting documents

You are required to email your personal statement and a copy of your unofficial transcript to ugadmissions.ischool@utoronto.ca

Supporting Documents

In addition to meeting the minimum academic requirements, you must submit supporting documentation in order for your application to be considered complete.

This is your chance to be creative! We want to get to know you and why you are the right fit for the BI program!

The supplemental application information will be found and submitted in your JOIN U of T account after you have applied through the OUAC.

You can present your statement using your choice of media:

  • 90-second video (we are interested in the message, not your video production skills)
  • Personal essay (400-500 words)
  • Website / portfolio
  • Slideshow presentation
  • A storyboard telling a story about what you hope your two years in the program will be like
  • Any other format that allows you to best communicate your ideas and helps us get to know you

Some questions you may want to consider:

  • Why does the BI program make sense for you at this point in your education?
  • How do the required courses in the BI program excite you intellectually?
  • Can you recount an experience working on a project, either solo or on a team, in a way that helps us to get to know you as a thinker and a doer?
  • What kind of electives might you take in your second year to make the BI program your own?
  • What kind of impact do you want to have on the world?

If you are attending a post-secondary institution in Ontario order your transcript through the OUAC application or upload a copy to your JOIN U of T account.

For the purpose of the application review, you may submit unofficial transcripts. If you receive an offer of admission, you’ll need to submit official final transcripts.

If an offer of admission is made, official final transcripts need to be received at the Faculty as part of the offer condition(s).

Transcripts are considered official when they have been prepared, sealed in an envelope and signed over the back flap by an official at the issuing institution. They are to be sent directly to the Faculty of Information: University of Toronto, 140 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3G6.

Transcripts don’t always speak for themselves or tell the whole story. We invite you to submit a brief (250 words max) statement that helps us read your transcript. You might wish to explain any circumstances that have led to sub-optimal academic performance or to tell the story of a change in your academic direction. 

Submit this as part of your supporting documents to your JOIN U of T account.

All applicants educated outside Canada whose primary language is not English must demonstrate proficiency in the English language.

For complete information on how to satisfy this requirement, please visit the English Language Requirements page prepared by the University of Toronto.