How Should You Plan Your Master's Applications? Deadlines, Grade Requirements and Tests for Master's Programs in the US, Canada and the UK, from Third Year to Enrolment, with Notes for Domestic and International Applicants

Unlike undergraduate admissions, master's applications have almost no common deadline: each program sets its own dates, and programs at the same university can differ by months. That means planning backwards from your target programs rather than waiting for one date. Using official websites read in November 2026, from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the US, UBC and the University of Toronto in Canada, and the University of Manchester in the UK, this guide covers deadlines, minimum grades and tests, then gives a timeline from your third year to enrolment. For undergraduate planning, see our application timeline by grade.

1. Deadlines: almost always set by the program

• United States: the Illinois Graduate College asks applicants to check deadlines with their proposed program of study office (Illinois application instructions); UW-Madison states that application deadlines vary by program, and each graduate program has its own deadlines, admission committee and recommendation process (UW-Madison apply).
• Canada: UBC states that all deadlines are program specific and can range from November of the previous year to April for a September intake (UBC application and admission); the University of Toronto also states that deadlines vary by program (U of T admission requirements).
• United Kingdom: applications for Manchester's 2027/28 master's programmes open on 10 October 2026; many master's courses have no official closing date, but some do, so check each course page (Manchester: how to apply). You apply directly through the university's online application form.

2. Minimum grades: check where you stand

University	General requirement	Degrees from China
Illinois Urbana-Champaign	GPA of 3.0 (A=4.0) for the last two years of undergraduate study, or a comparable GPA for an international applicant	Four-year bachelor's degree; minimum B average or 80%
UW-Madison	GPA of 3.00 on the last 60 semester hours (about two years), or a master's degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.00	Listed by country; select China on the Graduate School's admission requirements page
UBC	Listed by country	Four-year bachelor's degree with an overall B+ average (usually 85% on most PRC grading systems); minimum B (80%) for 211 universities
University of Toronto	An appropriate bachelor's degree with a final-year average of at least mid-B	Bachelor's degree of at least 4 years; mid-B is 80% where A- = 90%, and 78% where A- = 85%
Manchester	Varies by course	Taught master's: a bachelor's degree from a recognised good-quality Chinese university with an overall average of at least 80% or a GPA of at least 3.0 (out of 4.0) will be considered

(Illinois minimum requirements, Illinois: China, UW-Madison requirements, UBC: China, U of T admission requirements, U of T international credentials, Manchester: China mainland) These are minimums, not admission cut-offs; individual programs may ask for more.

3. Tests: English almost always, GRE or GMAT depending on the program

• GRE and GMAT: Illinois states that the Graduate College does not require the GRE or GMAT but your program may; UW-Madison states that the Graduate School does not require the GRE and your program may or may not; the University of Toronto states that some graduate units require the GRE; UBC requires GMAT results for its Commerce MBA and MScB. Confirm what your target programs require before deciding to take a test.
• English: UBC and the University of Toronto both state that English tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission (UBC, University of Toronto), so do not test too early; UBC's China page states that applicants from Chinese universities are usually required to submit English results. China is not on Illinois's list of English-exempt countries (Illinois international applicants). Score minimums are covered in our guide to master's application materials.

4. A suggested timeline from third year to enrolment

1. First half of third year: settle on a direction, list target programs, and note each one's deadline, minimum grades, GRE or GMAT requirement and number of letters. Most programs weigh your later undergraduate grades (Illinois looks at the last two years, UW-Madison at the last 60 semester hours, Toronto at the final year), so grades in your third and fourth years matter a lot.
2. Second half of third year and the summer: take part in research, internships or course projects to build material for your statements and references; schedule your English test (mind the 24-month validity); if a program requires the GRE or GMAT, take it around the summer.
3. First half of fourth year: contact referees and write your statements and CV. North American deadlines can start in November of the previous year (using UBC's stated range as an example), and Manchester opens 2027/28 applications on 10 October, so aim to complete most applications in the autumn.
4. Second half of fourth year: receive decisions, compare and accept; apply for a study permit or visa under the destination country's official rules and your university's guidance; send final transcripts and degree documents as required.

5. Notes for domestic and international applicants (including students in China)

• Domestic applicants: students who earned their bachelor's degree in the same country can often skip English tests (for example, UW-Madison exempts applicants with a bachelor's degree from an accredited US institution), so most of your time goes into choosing programs, references and statements.
• International applicants: besides grade conversion, leave time for English tests, credential documents and visas; deadlines are set by each program, so applying early gives you more room.
• Students in China: several universities give specific conversions for Chinese degrees: Illinois a minimum B average or 80%; UBC an overall B+ (about 85%), or B (80%) for 211 universities; Toronto mid-B at 80% or 78%; Manchester 80% or a GPA of 3.0. China is not on Illinois's English-exempt list and UBC says Chinese applicants are usually required to submit English results, so plan your English test early.

Frequently asked questions

When are master's application deadlines in the US, Canada and the UK?

There is no single deadline. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and UW-Madison both state that deadlines are set by each program; UBC states that deadlines for a September intake can range from November of the previous year to April; the University of Manchester opens 2027/28 master's applications on 10 October 2026, and many courses have no official closing date, though some do.

What minimum grades do these universities ask of applicants with degrees from China?

The stated minimums are: Illinois Urbana-Champaign a B average or 80%; UBC an overall B+ (usually 85% on most PRC grading systems), or B (80%) for 211 universities; the University of Toronto mid-B, which is 80% where A- = 90% and 78% where A- = 85%; and for Manchester taught master's, an overall average of at least 80% or a GPA of at least 3.0 (out of 4.0) will be considered. These are minimums, not admission cut-offs.

Do I need the GRE or GMAT for a master's degree?

Not necessarily. The graduate schools at Illinois Urbana-Champaign and UW-Madison do not require the GRE, but individual programs may; the University of Toronto states that some graduate units require the GRE; UBC requires GMAT results for its Commerce MBA and MScB. Check each target program.

How long are English test scores valid?

UBC and the University of Toronto both state that English tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission, so do not test too early; plan backwards from your application dates.

References

Illinois application instructions; Illinois minimum requirements; Illinois international applicants; Illinois: China; UW-Madison apply; UW-Madison requirements; UBC application and admission; UBC: China; U of T admission requirements; U of T international credentials; Manchester: how to apply; Manchester master's admissions; Manchester: China mainland. Pages read in November 2026; rules and dates follow the latest official versions.