How to Apply

Application Instructions (see below for deadline dates)

  1. Review Overview of Application Process and Supplementary Materials Checklist for the program you are applying to (see links below).
  2. Complete the University of Guelph On-Line Application; Please note: You do NOT need to complete the Statement of Academic Intent on this application.
  3. Assemble all supplementary documentation;
  4. Complete the FRAN Cover Page.pdf and upload to Supplemental Document on WebAdvisor.  
  5. Please upload all required documentation to WebAdvisor prior to the deadline date for your degree field.

Note: It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that all required documentation is submitted correctly and promptly. All required supporting documents must be received by the application date to be considered complete.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL APPLICANTS: Although applicants apply, submit all required materials and meet all admission requirements, we are unable to accept all aplicants who apply. Additionally, we are unable to provide personalized feedback for those who are not accepted, due to the high volume of applications that we receive.

Application Fee

A non-refundable application fee of $120 CDN (fee subject to change) must be submitted for each program/field to which you apply. This fee is payable in the on-line application process to the Ontario Universities' Application Centre by Visa, MasterCard, cheque or money order.  Applications will not be processed without the application fee.

For Information on How to Apply to the Relational and Psychotherapy Training Programs (MRFT, MP, MA.MH), please visit: https://www.uoguelph.ca/programs/relational-and-psychotherapy-training-program/

Overview of Application Process and Supplementary Materials Checklist for Admissions

 

Deadlines for Fall 2025 Applications (Please see note below about using W20 grades for admission)

Note: Applicants must first complete the University of Guelph On-Line Application through the OUAC system. Once this has been submitted, and the application fee paid, students will be issued a University of Guelph account, through which they can log-in to the WebAdvisor system. Students must then upload their supplementary materials to WebAdvisor by the second deadline.

  • Master of Applied Nutrition (MAN)
    • OUAC Application - December 11th, 2024
    • Supplementary Materials - January 6th, 2025
  • Family Relations and Human Development
    • OUAC Application - January 10th, 2025
    • Supplementary Materials - January 24th, 2025
  • Applied Human Nutrition
    • OUAC Application - January 10th, 2025
    • Supplementary Materials - January 24th, 2025
  • Critical Family and Kinship Studies
    • OUAC Application - January 10th, 2025
    • Supplementary Materials - January 24th, 2025

Late Deadline for 2025 AHN Applications

  • Applied Human Nutrition
    • OUAC Application - March 28th, 2025
    • Supplementary Materials - April 4th, 2025

Using W20 Grades when Applying to FRAN

Important information - April 15, 2020

In response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the Admissions Committee for the graduate programs in FRAN has discussed how ‘pass/fail’ credits will impact future applications to ours programs.  The Admissions Committee would like to inform all internal and external prospective applicants of the following: 

  • Courses with a final grade of ‘pass’ cannot be presented as prerequisites (ie. courses presented as prerequisites must have a numerical or alpha grade).
     
  • Any ‘pass’ course credits completed as part of a graduate program from the Winter 2020 semester will be excluded from the cumulative graduate program admission average. (ie. will not count towards the last two years or 20 credits)

For any further inquiries please contact:  fran.graduate@uoguelph.ca

Applying To More Than One Program

Many students considering graduate school are interested in a number of different programs.  If you are applying to more than one program at the University of Guelph and the programs are in different academic units/departments (e.g., Psychology and one of our programs), you will need to apply to both separately and submit transcripts, references, and supporting documents for each program. This is also true for students who may be interested in one or more of the four different degree programs/fields within the Department of Family Relations & Applied Nutrition - you will have to upload all documents in WebAdvisor for each application. 

Students are asked to complete an application form and submit the application fee for each degree program/field to which they want to be considered.  Please review the admission criteria for each and customize your letter(s) of intent accordingly. Separate statements of interest are required for each degree program/field to which you apply.

Requesting References

Request for Academic Letters of Reference - Guidelines for Students

References are a CRITICAL component of any application to graduate school and to external awards bodies such as OGS and SSHRC. The following guidelines will help you through the process:

Choose faculty carefully

  • First approach faculty who have taught you in 3rd and 4th year level courses
  • Ask whether the faculty member can provide you with a strong letter of reference
  • Letters from assistant, associate or full professors are generally preferred at most institutions

Request references early

  • Allow at least 3 weeks for faculty to produce letters

Information/materials to provide about yourself

  • Remind the professor of the program you are in and the course(s) you have taken with them (include course code and semester)
  • Brief summary (1/2 page) of your key strengths/areas that you think should be emphasized; especially note any outstanding accomplishments you may have had in the course(s) taught by this faculty member
  • Unofficial transcript
  • Draft of your statement of intent

Information/materials to provide about the program(s) to which you are applying

  • Name and location of the program
  • Brief description of the program and/or link to the program website, if applicable
  • Form and/or link to the reference form
  • Deadline/due date for receipt of letter of reference

Confirmation

  • Ask the faculty member to confirm that your letter of reference has been sent

Note: Most reference letters are now requested electronically. When you are providing your referee’s email address, please ensure it is correct. 

Academic Transcripts

Students may upload unofficial transcripts (such as those downloaded from your university's student portal) in WebAdvisor. Should the department decide to make an offer of admission, formal transcripts will be required and must meet the following criteria. All transcripts will be verified for authenticity.

  • All transcript information is confidential; envelopes must not be opened.
  • Transcripts must show all courses, all marks and the awarding of degree(s).
  • If the transcript and degree certificate are not in English, a certified translation (signed and stamped/sealed) must also be included with the original language documents.
  • All documents and transcripts submitted to the University of Guelph become the property of the University and will not be returned.

What Happens Next?

All program areas (AHN, CFKS, CFT, and FRHD) review all applications for their respective programs and make recommendations for acceptance to the Graduate Subcommittee who oversee the admission process. Generally, the committee attempts to evaluate applications according to: the quality and relevance of previous academic records; estimates of academic research and professional potential; work or other experience; and, personal qualities relevant to career objectives.  All decisions are voted on by the FRAN Graduate Studies Committee and sent to the Office of Graduate Studies for approval.

While FRAN may recommend that an offer of admission be extended to an applicant, only the Board of Graduate Studies can make an official offer of admission. Official admission to any program of graduate studies is in the form of an "Offer of Admission" which is issued by the Board of Graduate Studies.

MAN Applicants

By early February, selected applicants to the Masters of Applied Nutrition program who are "short-listed" for admission will be contacted to participate in a formal admissions interview scheduled in mid to late February.   

All Applicants

In mid-March, successful applicants in all programs/fields will be informed by email that the department is recommending admission to the Board of Graduate Studies. Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification via WebAdvisor.

In late March/early April, successful applicants will receive a formal Offer of Admission from the Office of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies.

Student Accessibility Services

Student Accessibility Services (SAS) helps students who experience disabilities to fully and equitably participate in academic life. SAS strives to create a barrier-free environment where all students can achieve their potential. Please visit the Student Accessibility Services website for more information.