New students

Welcome to Management Science and Engineering!

The University of Waterloo operates on a three term academic schedule. Fall term (September - December), winter (January - April), and spring term (May - August).

Fall 2023 term courses in the Faculty of Engineering will be in person. Please check with the course instructors for more details on how they will be managing their course delivery for the upcoming term.

Orientation

Fall 2022 orientation for Management Sciences graduate students

Fall 2022 orientation was held August 16th.

• Academic integrity module
• International students
• Career action and you (PDF)

The international student office, has an immigration advisor who can help you prepare your study visa application, and answer your questions related to immigration and post graduate work (PGWP).

Also see resources on campus, for more information including the city of Waterloo, student housing, and Management Sciences Graduate Student Association (MSSA).

Still can't find what you're looking for? Contact us!

Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA)

Located in Needles Hall (NH), Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA) has compiled a rich resource of information to get you started in your graduate studies program; including information on the Quest system, fee statements, enrolment, student cards and international student resources. Visit their new graduate student information page for more detailed information you will need as a registered Waterloo graduate student.

The GSPA has detailed information and support for new students satisfying their conditions of admission.

For more details on the GSPA Grad Ready program, please visit Waterloo Grad Ready.

For the most up to date notices and detailed information from the University of Waterloo Graduate Studies Office (GSPA) related to the current global pandemic is best viewed at: Covid-19 Updates For Graduate Students

International students

International student experience This is a great resource for students new to Canada. Including advisors with information to help you with immigration documents, medical coverage, and housing. 

English for Multilingual Speakers (EMLS)

The EMLS courses you may find on your offer letter are designed to ensure you have the skills to successfully study graduate level courses in an english speaking environment. You can find more information on this at: Conditional English language proficiency admission

English for Academic Success (EFAS)

Renison College’s English for academic success (EFAS) program is an excellent program for an international student looking to advance their English skills before they begin their graduate studies.  More information on this program and its registration timelines can be found at their website.

Study Permit/Work Permit & Post Graduate Work Permits

The University of Waterloo has dedicated immigration consultants on hand to help you with applying for your study permit, work permit and/or details on Canada's Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP). They will have the most current and relevant information for you regarding any immigration questions or concerns you may have.

Travelling to Canada for the first time? Check this out!

The Student Success Office (SSO) hosts an online event for all incoming students travelling to Canada for the first time every Tuesday from now through to the end of January. Details can be found online at: https://uwaterloo.ca/student-success/events/tag/35963  

Tuition fees, living expenses, and housing

Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs has detailed information to help you calculate your annual expenses including tuition fees and living expenses. 

Student Fees:  Student Fee information is available on the Student Financial Services website. There is information on fee schedules, due dates and late fees, how to pay your fees (including Promissory Note details), tax receipts and contact information for questions about your account. Your up-to-date financial account information is available through Quest. If you require a letter of financial fees to obtain your student Visa please complete the following web form Estimator

Program specific tuition, including due dates, program fees, methods of payment, and details on refunds can be found at the Office of Student Finance. 

The department cannot offer funding to students in the MMSc program. Students should be prepared to fund their graduate program via their own resources. We would like to encourage you to apply for external awards you may be eligible to receive. More information on available scholarships, grants, and bursaries can be found at the Graduate Studies awards and scholarship database page.

*MMSc online tuition fees are listed under special graduate programs on the fee schedule page.

The most recent fee schedules can be found at Fee Schedule for Graduate Students

Incidental fees

You will notice your fee statement includes Incidental fees. The University has provided some information on these fees at Graduate Incidental Fees.

For more detailed information on the incidental fees for services provided by the Graduate Student Association (GSA), you can visit their website. They have additional details on opting out of some of the services for students unable to attend campus.

Enrollment

When to enroll

Class Enrollment opens in quest five to six weeks before term starts.

Make sure you are aware of when enrolment opens each term. Current term start, enrolment and tuition due dates can be found on the Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs academic deadlines page.

If you are ready to begin in the MSCI Online program, your dates may differ and you should reference the MMSc online forum for the most accurate information regarding your program and its related deadlines. 

How to choose your first term courses

Full time MMSc students are expected to complete: MSCI 603, MSCI 605, and MSCI 609 in their first term.

Students who wish to complete the MMSc program in 16 months should complete MSCI 603 & MSCI 609 in their first term.

You can view current and upcoming term courses in Management Sciences (most up to date, and most tentative to change) at: Graduate and Undergraduate courses in Management Sciences. Confirmed schedules (fewer changes, but not as early information), including room location, dates and times can be found each term at:  https://classes.uwaterloo.ca/ 

Degree requirements

It is your responsibility to understand the terms of your admission, your degree requirements, and enrol in the appropriate courses. You are encouraged to contact your graduate adminstrator for additional information and advice.

MMSC full time students can complete a maximum of one (1) course outside Management Sciences for credit. If you would like to take a second course outside Management Sciences, you will need to have it designated as either Extra or Audit.

Full time graduate students in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Waterloo can enrol in a maximum of three (3) courses per term.

Part time graduate engineers can enrol in a maximum of one (1) course per term.

Students with EMLS course requirements in their first term will need to submit a drop add form for their fourth required course in the Fall term. Due to enrolment limits in courses outside Management Sciences, we suggest enrolling via quest in the required EMLS course(s) and submit the drop/add form for the third MSCI course.

MMSC Online courses (Management of Technology/Section 081) are available only to students registered in the MMSC Online program.  

After you've enrolled in your courses you can find your complete list of texts books for each of your courses at Waterloo's book store. 

Program Duration

The MMSc program is a 12-16  month program.

Students can complete the MMSc program in one (1) year, or through more careful course selection may choose to take 16 months to complete.

Program Planning and Course Duration for MMSc

The MMSc COOP program is an 18 month (5 term) program.

Program Planning and Course Duration for MMSc COOP

Course Delivery

As of February 7th, 2022 the University has moved back to 100% in person/ on campus delivery. Management Sciences courses may be a form of hybrid learning, but only the MMSC Online courses will be 100% online. Please check with your course instructor(s) after you enroll for details on individual courses and your responsibilities for each.

Continue to monitor the university website https://uwaterloo.ca/coronavirus/ for the most current response to the pandemic.

Deferring your admission

If you have received an offer of admission but are unable to commence your studies for any of the following reasons:

• Medical emergency
• Previous degree incomplete 
• Renison EFAS in progress
• Humanitarian
• Unable to obtain study permit in time
• Deferral to an earlier term (option available for research & part time students only)

To request a deferral of your start term, send an email to your graduate administrator indicating:

Your full name (as it appears in quest):
Your UWID:
Your start term:
Term you are requesting to defer to*:
A brief rationale for your request:

*Please remember, the MMSc full time program has one start date per year, which means that any deferral that can be considered would be for the following Fall (eg. Fall 2022 students requesting deferral would be considered for Fall 2023).

Please be aware we cannot put forward a deferral request under the following circumstances:

• Beyond one full year (three term maximum)
• The student has already deferred their start term (a second deferral request)
• Financial
• Employment opportunity/career enhancement opportunity
• Travel
• Study permit application is rejected/denied
• and other reasons where the student is unable to attend by choice

If we are unable to put forward a deferral request based on the guidelines listed above, you will notified by the department and expected to commence studies as per the date indicated on your offer letter. If you cannot start on this date, you can withdraw your acceptance and re-apply at a later time when you are better able to begin study.

GDDA and COOP

The Graduate Diploma in Data Analytics (GDDA) and the Cooperative Education (Co-op) program are available to students already registered in the MMSc on-campus (regular) program.

Graduate diploma in data analytics (GDDA)

The Graduate Diploma in Data Analytics (GDDA) is a set of elective courses completed within the MMSc degree program. Students who successfully complete these four Data Analytics courses during their Master of Management Sciences degree program qualify for the graduate diploma at commencement.

The GDDA courses are not scheduled around co-op work terms. Students enrolled in co-op may not be able to complete the GDDA requirements.

Co-operative education in graduate studies, Management Sciences (Coop)

MMSc students may wish to apply for the Cooperative Education Program in Management Sciences in their first term of study. Details on eligibility and requirements can be found at Graduate Studies Co-op Program.

Change of program:

Each program has its own admission requirements, deadlines, and often separate review committees. Change of program within the department or from another department/ faculty, may be considered after successful completion of no less than one full academic term in the program you were originally admitted to.

MMSc (coursework) to MASc (research)

You may be starting your graduate studies in the Master of Management Sciences (MMSc) program with plans to move forward to the Master of Applied Science (MASc) research program. 

Some students as well as faculty members prefer to commit to a graduate research supervision after completion of first term academic studies at the graduate level. If this is the case for you, your first one or two terms will be spent completing the core course requirements, meeting with faculty, discussing, refining your research proposals and interests, and taking the time to find an appropriate supervisor, all of which will strengthen your academic skills and your research goals and better prepare you for research study.

Once you have secured a supervisor he/she can request a program change from MMSc to MASc. Your successfully completed MSCI courses can then be tranferred for credit toward your MASc degree requirements.

Outside Management Sciences to Management Sciences (e.g. ECE MEng to MSCI MMSc)

Students admitted to Master's program in a department or faculty other than Management Sciences, Faculty of Engineering, who wish to change to MMSc, are expected to successfully complete their first term in the program they were admitted into. Based on the results of that term the department of Management Science and Engineering may consider a program change.

Students who wish to be considered for this do need to be aware of the program requirements in Management Sciences, and understand that only one course outside of Management Sciences will be considered for credit toward their final degree. It is suggested that you find out from your home department if you may enrol in one or two MSCI courses of your choice to provide you the opportunity to better assess the suitability of the program change, and allow for those courses to be credited fully toward your MMSC degree requirements if the change of program is approved.

Transfer students from other graduate programs in the University of Waterloo are not eligible for the Management Sciences graduate studies co-op program. 

Note:  Any program changes or changes to enrolment status must be approved by the department associate chair for graduate studies, The associate dean of engineering and Graduate Studies and Post-Doctoral Affairs (GSPA). Please be sure to have your form signed by your current department Graduate Officer before submitting the request for consideration to Management Sciences administrators.

Due Dates for Program Change Requests

ALL program changes must be submitted before classes start in the term the change is being requested.  They will be reviewed and considered by the department when the current term grades are official the first week of the following term. A final decision will be confirmed by the department within the first few weeks of term.

Winter (January to April) term program changes should be submitted before the end of December

Spring (May to August) term program changes should be submitted before the end of April

Fall (September to December) term program change requests should be submitted before the end of August

Teaching Assistantships (TAs)

Additional financial support may be achieved in the form of graduate teaching assistantships (TA). 

Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies in Management Sciences is responsible for coordinating the Teaching Assistant assignments each term.

TA assignments are awarded on a term by term basis to qualified students and involve a time commitment of ten hours per week for the duration of that term. 

The TA process is very competitive and cannot be guaranteed in advance of your arrival at the University of Waterloo. Only students who have successfully completed the Engineering ExpecTAtions workshop, (normally offered by the Faculty of Engineering each term) are eligible to hold a TA position. 

See our Teaching Assistantships in Management Sciences for more information and contact details on the TA application.

(See guidelines on graduate student support for further details on graduate teaching assistantships)

WatIAM

WatIAM is an identity and access management system for phone and email accounts for Waterloo students, staff and faculty.  Account activation allows you to activate your account, set your password and security questions. You are able to configure your email accounts, setting a preferred and having your Waterloo email redirected. 

The WatIAM userids are used by quest, WaterlooWorks, LEARN, myHRinfo, email, and more. 

Your @uwaterloo.ca email account

Email is the University of Waterloo’s main method of communication. It’s essential that you maintain your @uwaterloo.ca email address and monitor it regularly.

https://uwaterloo.ca/quest/help/students/how-do-i/view-or-update-my-personal-information

Never provide your password by phone or email (or text). IST staff will never ask for your password when providing assistance.

Important:

Particularly for students on a work term or in the online program: the @uwaterloo.ca email is your official email.

Instructors are encouraged by the university to communicate with students only through their @uwaterloo.ca. 

For your privacy protection the university cannot release information about a student with anyone outside the university other than that student. Which means, if you send an email asking for course selection advice from your gmail account - the best we can do for you is send you the publicly available course selection information. However, if you're communicating via your @uwaterloo.ca account - administration can better help you with information much more specific and relevant to your program history and future goals.

Also:  ALWAYS a good idea to include your 8 digit UW student ID when communication with campus staff or faculty. This helps us provide more detailed and accurate information for your query.

Good practice to set up your @uwaterloo.ca email with your UW STUDENT ID included in your signture.

More resources for information:

The department recommends that you bookmark these sites and familiarize yourself with the information available across campus:

Covid updates: For the most up to date information on the University adaptations to the covid-19 crisis please keep your eye on: https://uwaterloo.ca/coronavirus/. 

University of Waterloo GradVenture

GRADventure is a central hub of professional development resources designed specifically for graduate students at the University of Waterloo. It is offered by Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs, in collaboration with campus partners.

Waterloo Grad Ready

Waterloo Grad Ready is a virtual program designed to ease your transition into graduate studies by connecting you with other graduate students, supporting your academic journey, and helping you stay informed about important dates.

Graduate studies calendar

Information about program degree requirements, term deadlines, graduate studies forms, academic term deadlines, scholarships, thesis submissions, UW policies, student services, and other pertinent information about graduate studies at the University of Waterloo.

Department of Management Science and Engineering

Department of Management Science and Engineering news, upcoming seminars, graduate studies information, graduate program degree requirements, as well as contact information for faculty and administrators.

Management Sciences Student Association (MSSA)

MSSA consists of a graduate students in the department of Management Science and Engineering representing graduate students in adminstrative and faculty matters within the department. The MSSA also organizes events throughout the year to promote student interaction and community.

Finance student accounts

Details about fee schedules including tuition information, incidental fees and refunds, fees due dates, late fees, income tax receipts, and other fee payment information.

Queries or requests regarding tuition, fees, and cost of living statements from the University should be directed to the Student Finance Office

Waterloo LEARN system

As a new MMSc student you will need to become familiar with the Waterloo LEARN system.

This is where we house our online course lectures and materials.

The MMSC Community Site is the LEARN forum and should appear on your learn homepage when you are matriculated (4-6 weeks before term start). This is where we provide term by term enrollment guidelines, announcements for upcoming events, deadlines and program specific details.

All MMSc students are added to this community site after they have matriculated. It is your responsibility to confirm access and monitor the space regularly for reminders, annoucements and guidelines.

If you have matriculated, and do not see the MMSC Community site on your LEARN homepage, please contact your graduate administrator for follow up (don't forget to provide your 8 digit UW student number).

Last updated April 2023 |KD