FES YorkU

[AnAspirant]

I am an international student in the process of applying for a PhD at the Faculty of Environmental Studies (FES), York University. Two-three senior professors at York have shown interest in supporting my application, but I'am not sure about York and FES's reputation. While FES's website makes its programs look good, York has abysmal international rankings (ranging between 200-500 in various charts, with a few exceptions). Sitting outside Canada, I am unable to gauge why York's rankings are so low, and more importantly, how good FES is. Everything I find on the web about FES is by FES, which is of course not too reliable. Can anyone help me here?

[MathCat]

York University is not well known, even inside Canada. I do not know how accurate this ranking is, but here is what I could find about environmental studies in Canada: http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/university-subject-rankings/2014/environmental-studies#sorting=rank+region=+country=222+faculty=+stars=false+search=

[qeta]

I went to York for undergrad, although not at FES. I wouldn't recommend going there because of a number of factors:

1) York's reputation is indeed low internationally, unless you're affiliated with Osgoode Law School or Schulich (business school). Certain departments have higher rankings within Canada like Fine Arts, Psychology, and Communications.

2) The biggest problem with going to York for me was the lack of research opportunities and a research network to tap into. My current professors are much better-connected with researchers/universities in Canada and the US, have more funding (therefore more research opportunities for students), and a more realistic understanding of the process of publishing and procuring a PhD slot or a job at a research university.

 

One plus of going to York might be that if you are a outstanding student, you will be first in line to receive all funding and opportunities (big fish, small pond). A second is their guaranteed six-year funding, which is in place due to the strong graduate student union at York. The union is ramping up their bargaining in January, so this may or may not change; you can keep tabs on the proceedings here: http://3903.cupe.ca/.

If you have more questions, please feel free to ask here or through private messaging. I do know some graduate students at FES who I can forward your questions to as well.

[AnAspirant]

Thanks for the responses MathCat and Qeta. This does help. Qeta, would you be kind enough to forward my query to FES students who may be able to talk more specifically about their department? PM works for me too, but I guess keeping this discussion in a public forum might help others too, at least for now until we need to share more specific info.

[qeta]

Hi AnAspirant, I'll forward your post to a current FES PhD student. It might be helpful for them to know more about the professors who are supporting your application, as they might be able to tell you how well-connected and -funded those professors are.