Letters of recommendation
Please note that effective October 10, 2024 the process to submit Letters of recommendation has changed. Any new application to the university should follow the content on this page. If you submitted an application before October 9, 2024, please refer to the information on this page.
Letters of recommendation in support of graduate program applications are submitted through the OUAC application. Applicants are responsible for submitting contact information for each of their referees when completing their OUAC application.
Submission of the form is mandatory; additional written letters are not required. However, your referee may upload a supplementary letter (PDF format only) along with their online form.
Letters of recommendation may be verified for authenticity. You are required to list an institutional or professional email address for your referee. Recommendations submitted from email addresses that are not linked to a business or institution (i.e. Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo Mail etc.) will not be accepted.
The content of the recommendation must be written in the referee's own words. If a recommendation submitted on your behalf contain the same content or follow a general template, they will not be accepted.
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Can I make changes to my referees?
If a referee has not yet submitted their recommendation, you may change the listed referee. Once the reference form is emailed to your referee, they can make changes to their personal information that you inputted in the OUAC application. If a reference has already been submitted, you or your referee will not be able to change anything.
Changes to listed referees are managed via the OUAC application.
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Can I review the status of my recommendation form submissions?
Your Applicant Portal will indicate the date that a completed reference form was received by Ontario Tech.
If a recommendation has yet to be received by Ontario Tech, we recommend logging into the OUAC application to review your referee’s status. Here you can modify the details of your referee and also resend the email notification for the reference request.
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Who can I select to be a referee for my graduate studies application?
The letter of recommendation form must be completed by individuals under whom you have worked closely or studied, such as a professor, supervisor or manager. Academic references are preferred; however, professional references will be accepted. Referees who have knowledge of your ability within the last four years are preferred. Referees should have familiarity with your recent activities. Applicants are encouraged to send a current copy of their Curriculum Vitae to their referees.
A potential supervisor is permitted to act as referee*.
*The Department of Energy and Nuclear Engineering does not accept potential supervisors as referees for graduate applications.
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What do I do if my referee does not have an institutional or professional email account?
If your referee does not have a business or institutional email address, a written letter of recommendation may be submitted. The letter of recommendation must clearly assess your suitability for the program of study and cover the same information as detailed in the online letter of recommendation form.
The letter of recommendation must be printed on official stationery (from the referee's institution or business) and submitted in an official envelope that has been signed or stamped on the flap by the referee. Letters of recommendation are confidential and the envelopes must not be opened.
Mail the sealed envelopes to the following address (they may be mailed by you or directly by your referee):
Mailing address:
School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (SGPS)
Ontario Tech University
2000 Simcoe Street North
Oshawa, Ontario L1G 0C5 -
Can I upload a letter of recommendation through the Applicant Portal?
No. Letters of recommendation are only accepted via the OUAC application. Do not submit letters of recommendation via your Applicant Portal as these will not be processed or added to your application.
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Will my referees be contacted?
Upon receipt of letters of recommendation, we may contact referees to verify letter authenticity. Other communication, such as distributing the link to the online recommendation form or providing program details, is the responsibility of the applicant.
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How will I know that SGPS has received a letter of reference? When will my portal be updated?
Once your referee submits the recommendation form via the OUAC, your Applicant Portal should be updated within 2-3 business days with receipt. Please note that processing times will be delayed in October and November 2024. We will be accommodating with deadline dates in the meantime.
TIMELINES FOR LORS to BE REFLECTED IN THE PORTAL (PLEASE READ):
If your portal is NOT updated by the date(s) listed below, then please email us at gradstudies@ontariotechu.ca to inquire about the status of your letters of recommendation.
DOMESTIC APPLICANTS
Admission intake:
References will be updated by:
Fall 2024 - Feb 1 Application Deadline
March 1, 2024
Fall 2024 - May 1 Application Deadline
May 15, 2024
Winter 2025
September 24, 2024
Spring/Summer 2025
January 23, 2025
INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS
Admission intake:
References will be updated by:
Fall 2024 - Feb 1 Application Deadline
March 1, 2024
Fall 2024 - May 1 Application Deadline
May 15, 2024
Winter 2025
August 2, 2024
Spring/Summer 2025
December 5, 2024
