Incoming Students

Classes begin on September 9, 2024 and end on December 5, 2024. Fall term exams are December 9-22, 2024.  Fall Break is October 28-November 1, 2024. During this break no classes are scheduled. Classes begin again on January 6, 2025 and end on April 3, 2025. Winter term exams are April 7-30, 2025. Reading Week is February 17-23, 2025. During this break no classes are scheduled.

If you are receiving a Western Graduate Student Scholarship (WGRS), it will be credited to your tuition fee account. Tuition and ancillary fees for Canadian students for fall 2023 total $3,302.14. For international MA students, tuition and ancillary fees total $8,017.81. The tuition and ancillary fees for international PhD students total $3,554.14. Health and Dental plan fees provide coverage from September 2020 through August 2021, and are collected from registered graduate students in September.

If you are receiving a Teaching Assistantship (GTA), you will be paid in 8 equal monthly installments of approximately $1,500, with the first pay cheque deposited into the bank account indicated on  My Human Resources (MYHR) on September 27th. Therefore, you should have enough money with you for housing and other living expenses for the month of September. Teaching Assistantship assignments will be announced in September after your arrival.

The university is required to withhold a portion of your GTA for income tax. You can reduce the amount withheld by completing a TD1 form online in MYHR. These forms will be available in the Graduate Office at the time of registration.

All new employees who are neither (1) a permanent resident of Canada, nor (2) a Canadian citizen, are required to provide a valid study permit upon their arrival to Western. No Western paperwork can be completed until a copy of this document has been submitted to the Departmental Administrator. This document is instrumental in activating your employee identification number. The document is forwarded by the Departmental Administrator to the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and the Office of Employee Relations. International students should apply for a student authorization at the Canadian High Commission or Canadian Embassy in their country immediately after they have been accepted into the graduate program. The authorization could take up to 3 months to process as a medical is required.

For permanent residents of Canada only, please include a photocopy of both sides of your Permanent Resident Card or a photocopy of your Record of Landing. If you are applying to be a permanent resident, but have not been granted landed-immigrant status, you must apply as an international applicant.

In order to help begin your studies at U.W.O., we have found the following information to be very useful.

• If possible, it is best to book your flight directly to London, Ontario, Canada. Otherwise, Toronto, Ontario is the closest airport to London. If you arrive in Toronto, you can take the Robert Q Airbus (519) 673-6804, from the Toronto Airport to London. See schedule for departure and arrival times. The cost is approximately $80.00 (Canadian) per person.
• If your flight is direct to London, you can take a taxi from the London Airport to the University. The cost is approximately $40.00.
• If you arrive on a weekend, the University administration offices are closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Western Economics Department Office opens Monday at 8:30 am.
• If you have been awarded a Graduate Teaching Assistantship, you must apply for a Social Insurance Number immediately upon your arrival to London (see below). To obtain a number, please visit Service Canada, 457 Richmond Street, P.O. Box 5711, London, Ontario N6A 4S7 (1-800-206-7218).
• You will be required to enroll in the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) or an equivalent plan upon your arrival here in Canada.

**PLEASE ENSURE YOU BRING YOUR STUDY PERMIT AND SOCIAL INSURANCE NUMBER TO THE ECONOMICS GRADUATE OFFICE AS THE DEPARTMENT REQUIRES A COPY FOR YOUR FILE.**

All new employees who are neither (1) a permanent resident of Canada, nor (2) a Canadian citizen, must apply for a Social Insurance Number. You are required to apply for this document in person. Service Canada is located at 457 Richmond Street, P.O. Box 5711, London, Ontario N6A 4S7 (1-800-206-7218). You can complete your application form at the Service Canada office when you arrive. No appointment is necessary. You must have your passport and valid student authorization available as supporting documents (no photocopies). There is no fee. Your number will arrive in approximately 4 weeks. Report your Social Insurance Number immediately to the Department Administrator.

Western University provides a full service diagnostic and therapeutic facility at the Student Health Services in Thames Hall available to all registered part-time and full-time graduate students.

Students from other countries who are recent arrivals on campus are advised to contact Western International. Counselors can help international students with immigration concerns, housing and financial matters and personal/cultural adjustment issues. Western International is located in the International and Graduate Affairs Building, Second Floor.

Email: iesc@uwo.ca

Telephone: 519-661-2111 ext. 89309

If you have not already arranged for accommodation for the coming year, it is best that you visit London as early as possible during the summer. Check the off-campus housing service. Rent for a one-bedroom, unfurnished apartment is approximately $1,793; a furnished room with kitchen privileges in a private home should be less expensive at $650-$700. Also, the City of London’s web page has information and maps that can assist you.

Apartments and Townhouses

The Glenmore Single Students Apartment Complex and Platt's Lane Estates, Inc. (Family Housing) provide affordable apartments and townhouses for students (and their families) attending Western. They are owned and operated by Western University and are situated on campus.

The Glenmore Apartment Complex (Bayfield, Beaver, Ausable and Lambton Halls) is located at Western Road and Windermere Road. Questions about these apartments can be directed to either of the following offices:

Rental Office - Bayfield Hall
Room 105, 291 Windermere Rd.
London, Ontario, Canada N6G 2J9
Telephone: (519) 661-3250

Platt's Lane Estates, Inc. is at Platt's Lane and Western Road, and contains apartments and townhouses for students with families. Contact the following office for information and application forms:

The Manager
Platts Lane Estates Inc.
536 Platts Lane
London, Ontario, Canada N6G 3A8
Telephone: (519) 679-4561

Off-Campus Housing

Western's off-campus housing office is located in room 3C1 in Ontario Hall (230 Sarnia Road). Their email is off-campus.housing@uwo.ca The phone number is: 519-661-3550

Please go to the Student Services Building to obtain your photo identification card. You will require your Western Student Number. This card is required for most university services (including keys, parking, library services, etc.).

All keys are requested using the Facilities Management online system.You will need your Western user ID and password to access the site. The Keys Office is located in the Support Services Building, Room 1315, across Western Road. Your Western Student ID card is required.

The Parking Office is located in the Support Services Building, Room 4150, Western Road. Parking applications are available on their website.

Your Western Identity is assigned to you upon application to Western as a student or when you become an active employee of Western. More info is available on the ITS Website.  Refer to the Help Documents website of the Social Science Technology Services. To learn about access to the SSC network, see the Account Management website. Assistance may also be obtained via the Online Consultant. If you are having difficulties with your account call 519 661-2111 ext. 82152.

ITS E-mail Account

E-mail accounts are managed by Western Technology Services (WTS). Confirmation of your username and password will be sent to you c/o your home department. If you are having difficulties with your account call 519 661-3800 or send a message to helpdesk@uwo.ca .

For information regarding Western ROAMS for remote access, see the ITS website on "Access How Do I...'s."

Graduate Students may participate in the Pension Plan for Administrative Staff provided they meet the eligibility requirements for part-time administrative staff. More information can be found here:

https://www.uwo.ca/hr/pension/index.html 

All students paying tuition fees and ancillary fees are members of the Society of Graduate Students (SOGS) and are automatically charged a membership fee at registration as part of the ancillary fee. SOGS is located in Middlesex College room 8.

Website: https://sogs.ca 

Telephone: 519 661-3394

The annual Department Fall Party is held early in the term in September. All graduate students, faculty, staff, and spouses and/or friends are invited. The party is a good opportunity to meet your classmates and get acquainted with Faculty.