Applying

Admission requirements:

• Applicants for the MMath (thesis) program normally have an honours bachelors degree in Mathematics. We also welcome applications from students who have completed a degree in Science or Engineering, with a strong concentration in mathematics. Students who have a strong academic record but who have some gaps in their Applied Mathematics background may be admitted subject to the requirement that they complete a selection of fourth year undergraduate courses as part of their graduate program. Minimum grade point average: 78% (in Canada) or equivalent.
• Applicants for the PhD program should have a Master's degree in a mathematics-related discipline. Admission to the PhD program requires evidence of potential for performing original research, which should be provided by the writing of a Master's thesis of sufficiently high caliber. Minimum grade point average: 78% (in Canada) or equivalent.
• A student in the MMath program who has demonstrated outstanding research potential may apply for transfer to the PhD program.

• Exceptional applicants may be considered for direct entry to the PhD program from a Bachelor’s program. Applicants should have a strong academic record. Applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss their interest in direct entry with prospective supervisors. Applications that are not admitted for direct entry to PhD will still be considered for admission to the Master's program.

• Applications to the MMath (research paper) program will normally only be considered for students looking to pursue part-time studies. Part-time graduate students do not receive departmental funding. 

Application deadlines:

The application deadlines above apply to all Canadian, Permanent Resident and International applicants. 

Applications received at any time during the year will be considered. However, most of our funding decisions are made shortly after these dates, so applying by the appropriate deadline will improve your chances of admission.

Citizens or permanent residents (PR) of Canada who wish to be considered for government scholarships (e.g. NSERC, OGS) must apply to our programs before January 15th. For more information about external scholarships and related deadlines, please visit the Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA) Awards website. 

Application procedures:

Full details of the application process are provided at the University of Waterloo's Discover Graduate Studies website. 

Step 1: Submit your application

Applications are submitted online. 

Step 2: Upload your documents

The following supporting documents are required for all applications to Applied Mathematics graduate programs (visit Discover Graduate Studies for details about these required documents):

• Transcripts
• Three academic reference letters
• Resume: include full details of your university education (institutions, duration, degrees, grade point averages), any work experience, research experience, publications, awards and fellowships, any relevant additional information; normally no more than two pages
• Supplementary Information Form: complete your SIF online in Quest. The form can be saved multiple times, then finally submitted. Note that the SIF will time out after 10 minutes of inactivity in Quest, so prepare your answers in advance.
• English Language Proficiency Certification: required for most international applicants; visit the ELP webpage for minimum scores and acceptable tests; for TOEFL scores, the department requires at least 600 overall (paper-based test) and at least 90 overall (internet-based test)
• GRE test scores are not required 

Acceptance procedure:

Once an applicant's file is complete, it is assessed by the Departmental Graduate Committee. If the applicant is deemed acceptable, the file is then circulated to all faculty members working in the research areas indicated in the individual's application. If faculty members are interested in an applicant and appropriate financial support can be arranged, the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies recommends acceptance of the applicant.

Choosing a research area:

On the application form, you will be asked to select one or two of the following five research areas:

• Control and Dynamical Systems (includes Control Theory, Differential Equations, Dynamical Systems, and Signals & Images)
• Fluid Mechanics
• Mathematical Medicine and Biology
• Mathematical Physics (includes Quantum Theory, Relativity & Cosmology)
• Scientific Computing

If applying to the Quantum Information or Water program streams, these research area selections will not be available to you.

Some research projects require specialized knowledge beyond the standard mathematics undergraduate curriculum. In these areas we offer bridging courses that can be taken during the first two terms. These courses are often appropriate for students whose undergraduate degree is not in Mathematics.

Selecting potential supervisors:

Your research supervisor will be your mentor throughout your graduate studies; selection of an appropriate supervisor is crucial to a successful program. Before you prepare your application, you should visit the websites of our faculty members to learn about their research. If you have questions about graduate studies or research projects, feel free to contact any faculty member, even before formally applying. In your application, you can indicate the names of your preferred supervisors (up to three). Should you receive an offer of admission, faculty members who have expressed interest in acting as your supervisor will be indicated. At that point you are encouraged to contact them directly, with the expectation that you will team up with a supervisor before your arrival on campus. If your funding is not contingent on supervision, e.g., if you hold a major scholarship such as NSERC or OGS, then you may delay your selection of a supervisor.

For more advice regarding selecting a supervisor, please visit the Discover Graduate Studies site. 

For further information please contact:

Applied Mathematics Graduate Office
Email: amgrad@uwaterloo.ca