CA · Bachelor's
University of Toronto
Bachelor of Arts in History
University of Toronto
Course Overview
University of Toronto's Department of History is the largest and most-cited History department in Canada — ranked top 20 globally for History (QS 2025) and routinely producing more SSHRC-funded doctoral cohorts than any other Canadian institution. The four-year Honours BA is taken at Faculty of Arts & Science (St George campus, downtown Toronto) and is structured around major + minor combinations: students typically pair History with Political Science, International Relations, Economics, or East Asian Studies.
The South Asian, Diaspora, and Global History tracks are particularly strong — U of T hosts the Centre for South Asian Studies, the Asian Institute, and the Munk School of Global Affairs, giving Sri Lankan applicants academic depth in the region they came from. Year three and four students can opt into the Research Opportunity Programme — a paid undergraduate research assistantship with faculty.
The degree is a deliberate generalist credential and feeds into law school (U of T Law, Osgoode), graduate study (Oxford, Cambridge, Yale Sri Lankan alumni have all gone through this department), the federal Public Service of Canada, journalism, museums and archives, plus consulting and Bay Street firms hiring humanities generalists.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle Sri Lankan A/Ls: 3 A grades or equivalent (Edexcel / Cambridge International A-Levels accepted with AAB minimum).
- check_circle Sri Lankan applicants need an admission average roughly equivalent to mid-80s percentage in their best 6 grade-12 / A-Level subjects.
- check_circle IB Diploma: 32 points minimum (mid-30s competitive).
- check_circle Supplemental Profile (Personal Profile) submission via OUAC by 1 March 2026 — short essay responses on intellectual interests.
English Proficiency
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 6.5 Overall (min 6.0 in each component).
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 100 Overall (min 22 in Writing).
- check_circle Duolingo English Test: 120 Overall.
- check_circle Waived if your school qualification (A/Ls, IB, Cambridge International) was taught and assessed entirely in English for the last 4 years — most Sri Lankan applicants from English-medium streams qualify with an MOI letter from the school.
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (CAD) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (per year, 2026) | CAD 63,000 | Rs. 14,805,000 |
| Living Expenses (per year, Toronto) | CAD 18,000 | Rs. 4,230,000 |
| Study Permit + Insurance + Establishment | CAD 2,500 | Rs. 587,500 |
| Total Year 1 Investment | CAD 83,500 | Rs. 19,622,500 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
Eligible for the 3-year Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). U of T History grads feed into Canadian law schools, the federal Public Service, the Bay Street consulting and banking pipeline (humanities generalists hire well at McKinsey, BCG, RBC, Manulife), plus museums (ROM), CBC, the Globe and Mail, and graduate study at Oxford / Yale / Princeton. Canadian starting humanities salary CAD 55,000–70,000.
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