Disaster & Emergency Management
MDEM
York's Master of Disaster & Emergency Management (MDEM) is the only graduate program of its kind in Ontario and one of only two in Canada. The program equips students with the skills and competencies required to prepare for, mitigate, respond to and recover from local, national and international disasters and emergencies. Studying on either a full-time or part-time basis in a flexible program that will allow you to pursue your own area of special interest, you will learn from an impressive group of academics with expertise in areas like environmental risks and management, natural hazards, business continuity planning, public health, humanitarian law, crisis management, war and complex emergencies.
PhD
York University's newly established PhD in Disaster & Emergency Management is the first such program in Canada. These new scholars – and the knowledge they produce – will contribute to developing theory and practice that will help those in Canada and around the world reduce the negative impacts of disasters and emergencies. The doctoral program is offered on a full-time and part-time basis, and prepares you to synthesize large amounts of complex information and make sound decisions in challenging and often difficult circumstances. The PhD in Disaster and Emergency Management program is designed for holders of master's degrees in DEM and related fields (such as environmental studies/sciences, public policy, health, and similar disciplines) who wish to pursue advanced studies and research.
Degrees Offered
MDEM
Program Length (Full-time)
4 term(s)
Program Component(s)
- Major research paper
- OR Course work only
Minimum Required GPA
B+
Fall Entry
- Full-time
- Part-time
Deadline - Fall (All Applicants)
2026-02-15English Proficiency Requirement
| Minimum TOEFL (Paper-based) | 600 |
| Minimum TOEFL (Internet-based) | 100 |
| IELTS (Academic Module) | 7.5 |
| YUELI | Academic Program Level 9 with Distinction |
| YUELI Graduate Studies Preparation Program (GSPP) | Graduate with distinction |
| CAEL | Overall score of 70, no component score less than 60 |
| Minimum CPE Score | C |
| Minimum CAE Score | B |
| Duolingo | 140 |
| PTE Academic | 76 |
Other Requirements
- Statement of interest (approx. 500 words)
- Sample of written work
- Resumé or CV
- Candidates must possess or be willing to secure introductory knowledge of emergency management
Applicants who meet the admission requirements but do not have sufficient background in disaster and emergency management or have not taken relevant academic courses in disaster and emergency management are admitted to the program conditional to the passing of an introductory Disaster & Emergency Management course run by our program. This is an online course that is offered through the York University's School of Continuing Education. The course is normally offered between June to August and has an enrolment fee of approx $1000. Students should obtain at least a B- (70%) to pass this course. Applicants who cannot meet this requirement will not be admitted to the program.
PhD
Program Component(s)
- Course work
- AND Comprehensive examination(s)
- AND Dissertation
Minimum Required GPA
B+
Fall Entry
- Full-time
- Part-time
Deadline - Fall (All Applicants)
2026-01-15English Proficiency Requirement
| Minimum TOEFL (Paper-based) | 600 |
| Minimum TOEFL (Internet-based) | 250 |
| IELTS (Academic Module) | 7.5 |
| YUELI | Academic Program Level 9 with Distinction |
| YUELI Graduate Studies Preparation Program (GSPP) | Graduate with distinction |
| CAEL | Overall score of 70, no component score less than 60 |
| Minimum CPE Score | C |
| Minimum CAE Score | B |
| Duolingo | 140 |
| PTE Academic | 76 |
Other Requirements
Students will be required to submit the following documents for review by the Admissions Committee:
- Transcripts from undergraduate and master’s level study
- Curriculum Vitae/Resume
- Three letters of reference, including at least two from academic sources
- A statement of research interests (which must identify up to three prospective supervisors with a ranking), goals for their time in the program, and rationale for applying to the York DEM program
- A sample of writing between 6,000-10,000 words
The Admissions Committee may conduct interviews with short-listed candidates.
Additional Admission Requirements
Number of Recommendation(s)
- 2 recommendation(s)
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