TMU's Bachelor of Journalism, offered through The Creative School, is one of Canada's most established journalism programs and a long-standing draw for applicants who want a career-oriented media education inside a major media market. TMU (formerly Ryerson) is a large, downtown-Toronto public comprehensive university of roughly 50,000 students, ranked #1 in Canada for student services by Maclean's, with a reported 92% of graduates employed within two years of finishing their degree. For Journalism specifically, TMU's downtown location puts students within walking distance of Canada's national broadcasters and major newsrooms, and the program is backed by The Eyeopener, TMU's own independent student newspaper, as a hands-on training ground.
This guide covers what the data shows: acceptance realities, real tuition figures, admission requirements, English-test rules, and where Journalism graduates from TMU tend to land.
Acceptance Rate
TMU does not publish a program-level or university-wide acceptance rate. Admission runs through Ontario's centralized OUAC system and is decided primarily on academic averages and prerequisite grades rather than holistic essay review — though Creative School programs are treated somewhat differently from Engineering or Business, since a subset use TMU's "Grades Plus" process (a supplementary application, portfolio, or interview layered on top of grades).
What this means for Journalism applicants:
- There is no published minimum average to target for Journalism specifically. TMU names Ted Rogers Business and Computer Science as its most oversubscribed programs, but Creative School programs like Journalism are also consistently competitive given limited seats relative to applicant interest.
- Confirm directly on the current Journalism program page whether it falls under TMU's "Grades Plus" supplementary process for your admission cycle, since this determines whether a portfolio or interview is part of your application on top of grades.
- Treat any acceptance-rate figure quoted by a third-party site as an unverified estimate — TMU itself does not publish one.
Fees and Cost of Attendance
The Bachelor of Journalism is billed at The Creative School's standard international undergraduate rate, which sits below TMU's Business and Engineering tuition tier. Approximate annual figures (per TMU's published fee schedule):
| Cost Item | Amount (CAD/year) |
|---|---|
| International tuition | $38,700 |
| Domestic tuition (Ontario, for comparison) | ~$11,900 |
| Estimated living expenses (Toronto) | $30,454 |
| Total estimated cost of attendance (international) | ~$69,154 |
Over a four-year Bachelor of Journalism, that puts total program cost at roughly $275,000 CAD before any scholarships or part-time/co-op earnings. Applicants also pay an OUAC base application fee (CAD $156 for the first three program choices), plus TMU's own supplementary application fee (CAD $90 for up to two choices) if the program requires one for your cycle.
Admission Requirements
Based on TMU's published undergraduate and Creative School requirements:
- OSSD or equivalent secondary credential, with strong English and humanities/social-science grades — Journalism's prerequisite subjects lean toward English and writing-adjacent coursework rather than the Math/Science emphasis of Engineering or Business
- Official transcripts (final and/or predicted results, depending on your curriculum)
- Proof of English language proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL/PTE/Duolingo), unless exempt
- Possible supplementary application — confirm on the current Journalism program page whether a portfolio, writing sample, or interview is required under TMU's "Grades Plus" process for your cycle, since Creative School is the faculty TMU specifically flags as most likely to use this process
- Application fee: OUAC base fee (CAD $156 for three choices)
Intakes: TMU's guaranteed-consideration date for Fall admission is February 1, with decisions released on a rolling basis afterward.
How to Get Into TMU's Bachelor of Journalism Program
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Build a strong English and writing profile in your secondary record, since Journalism's prerequisite grades emphasize English and communication-adjacent subjects rather than Math or Science.
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Confirm whether your cycle's Journalism admission requires a supplementary component. TMU's Creative School uses "Grades Plus" for a subset of programs — if Journalism requires a portfolio, writing sample, or interview in your cycle, prepare it well ahead of the February 1 guaranteed-consideration date rather than scrambling after applying.
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Clear the English requirement comfortably, not exactly at the minimum. Journalism coursework is writing- and presentation-heavy from year one, so an uneven Writing or Speaking score creates a real disadvantage even if you clear TMU's overall IELTS/TOEFL floor.
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Get involved in student media or writing before you apply, if you can. While not a formal admission requirement for the undergraduate program, demonstrated writing experience (school newspaper, blogging, local reporting) strengthens any supplementary component your cycle requires and gives you a head start once you're admitted.
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Apply as early as possible within the intake window. TMU processes undergraduate decisions on a rolling basis after February 1, and Creative School programs are consistently oversubscribed relative to seats.
English Proficiency Requirement (IELTS/TOEFL)
TMU's Bachelor of Journalism uses the university's general undergraduate English proficiency floor — note that a materially higher bar applies only to TMU's graduate-level Journalism program, not this undergraduate degree:
- IELTS Academic: minimum 6.5 overall (recommended 7.0); no individual section minimums are enforced at the general undergraduate admission stage
- TOEFL iBT: minimum 92 overall (recommended 100)
- PTE Academic: 60 minimum; Duolingo English Test: 120 minimum
- Waiver: applicants who completed secondary study taught and examined in English at an approved institution are generally exempt; scores are valid for 2 years
- Conditional admission: applicants below the requirement may be offered a place paired with TMU's English Language Institute (ELI) pathway
Given how writing- and presentation-heavy Journalism coursework is, clearing the minimum with a strong margin — rather than exactly at 6.5/92 — matters more here than in less writing-intensive programs. For TMU's full English-testing breakdown across programs and levels (including the higher bar that applies to TMU's graduate Journalism program), see the TMU guide.
Career Outcomes
TMU does not publish outcomes data specific to Journalism graduates, but the university's broader figures give a reasonable proxy:
- Graduates employed within two years: ~92% (university-wide figure TMU actively promotes)
- Top recruiters (university-wide): Canada's "Big Five" banks (RBC, TD, Scotiabank, BMO, CIBC), Deloitte, EY, KPMG, Shopify, and Amazon — TMU does not publish a media/journalism-specific employer list, but the program's downtown Toronto location and connection to The Eyeopener give Journalism students practical access to Canada's national media market during their studies
- TMU highlights its Zone Learning entrepreneurship network (including the DMZ) as a resource available across faculties, relevant for Journalism graduates pursuing independent media, content, or digital-publishing ventures rather than a traditional newsroom path
FAQ
Does TMU publish an acceptance rate for Journalism specifically? No. TMU does not publish a university-wide or program-level acceptance rate. Admission runs through Ontario's grades-based OUAC system, and Creative School programs like Journalism are among the faculties TMU flags as potentially using its "Grades Plus" supplementary process.
How much does TMU's Bachelor of Journalism cost? International tuition is CAD $38,700/year, with total estimated cost of attendance (including living expenses) around CAD $69,154/year — roughly CAD $275,000 for the full four-year degree before scholarships or part-time earnings.
What IELTS or TOEFL score do I need for undergraduate Journalism? IELTS Academic 6.5 overall (recommended 7.0), or TOEFL iBT 92 (recommended 100) — TMU's standard general undergraduate minimum. A higher bar (IELTS 7.5) applies only to TMU's graduate-level Journalism program, not this undergraduate degree.
Does TMU's Bachelor of Journalism require a portfolio or interview? Possibly, depending on the admission cycle — TMU's Creative School uses a "Grades Plus" supplementary process (portfolio, writing sample, or interview) for a subset of its programs. Confirm the current requirement directly on the Journalism program page before applying.
Is TMU's Bachelor of Journalism PGWP-eligible? Yes — it's a four-year bachelor's degree, a full degree program. As a degree-granting university program, it remains broadly Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)-eligible regardless of field of study, and a completed 4-year degree generally qualifies graduates for the maximum 3-year PGWP, subject to standard IRCC conditions.
What if my English score is below TMU's requirement? You may be offered conditional admission through TMU's English Language Institute (ELI) pathway, which bridges qualifying applicants into degree studies once they reach the required English level.