You can choose between research-based or course-based master's program or maybe you are ready for a doctoral program. Each department offers a range of programs to get you on your future career track!
Research-based
For Full-time students, the PhD is a 4-years program, and the MASc is a 2-years program. Review the degree and course requirements for the program you are interested in. On top of your course requirements, you will complete original research and thesis. Please review the guaranteed minimum funding provided.
For part-time students, the PhD is an 8-years program, and the MASc is a 4-years program. The same degree requirements apply to part-time students. Part-time students are not eligible for minimum funding.
A supervisor is not required at the application stage. However, a supervisor is needed to get an offer of admission. Visit our research and supervisors page with the details about how to contact them.
Visit the Future Students page to find full description of programs and admission information.
Doctoral (PhD)
Exceptional MASc applicants may be considered for direct-entry to the PhD program from a bachelor’s program. Applicants interested in being considered for a direct-entry PhD should include a statement to that effect in their Supplementary Information Form (SIF) when applying to the MASc.
Master of Applied Science (MASc)
Undergraduate students at the University of Waterloo have the option to enrol in the Accelerated Master’s program to accomplish some of the work required for a MASc degree.
Water Collaborative Program
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Master of Applied Science (MASc) Civil and Environmental Engineering - Water
The University of Waterloo offers MASc and PhD interdisciplinary programs in Water.
The interdisciplinary research programs provide students with a stimulating educational environment that spans from basic research through to application. The goal of the collaborative program is to allow students to gain perspectives on water research and learning from a wide community of scholars within and outside their disciplines in both course and thesis work.
Admission Requirements are the same as those for MASc and PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering. For further information, please visit the engineering collaborative program page and the collaborative water program page.
Course-based programs: Master of Engineering (MEng), Master of Engineering Coop (MEng), and Master of Engineering - Nuclear Engineering (MEng)
Master of Engineering (MEng)
- Students must complete 8 courses
- Both full time and part time study options are available.
- The average program completion time for a MEng student is 16 months - 20 months.
- Course-based programs do not require a supervisor or research.
- It is a student self-funded program, and there is no guaranteed minimum funding.
Master of Engineering Co-op (MEng)
- Students must complete 8 courses.
- Full-time registration is required.
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Admission to the MEng (Co-op) program will be based on academic merit and considering previous work experiences.
- The program length is 16-20 months, depending on the number of co-op (work) terms completed.
- Students must complete a minimum of 1 co-op term, but may complete up to 2 consecutive co-op terms with the same employer. The program must start and end in an academic term.
- Students who do not secure a co-op work term will be transferred to the regular MEng program.
This is a competitive program with a limited number of spots available each term. If you are interested in regular MEng (without co-op) and MEng co-op, we highly recommend to apply to both programs.
Note: MEng students do not have a supervisor and do not receive financial assistance, unless on a paid co-op term. MEng students are expected to be entirely self-funded. Additionally, new and current students in the regular MEng program are not eligible to transfer into the MEng Co-op program.
Master of Engineering - Nuclear Engineering (MEng)
- Students must complete 10 one-term UNENE courses or 8 one-term UNENE courses and an industrial project.
- Part time registration only.
- The program length is 32 months.
- Applicants must be currently working in the Nuclear industry.
Admission Requirements
Find our admission requirements on the Graduate Studies and postdoctoral affairs (GSPA) Academic Calendar and start to prepare the application documents to give enough time to upload them by the deadline date.
Only for the research-based PhD and MASc programs, the admission depends on the student finding a suitable supervisor. You don’t need a supervisor to apply, so we suggest that you apply, upload all materials and then start the process of trying to make contact with the faculty members in the Civil and Environmental Engineering research area(s) that you are interested in. Follow the steps and advice about how to find a supervisor.
For answers to specific questions, please feel free to contact us:
- MASc and PhD: civegrad@uwaterloo.ca
- MEng: civemeng@uwaterloo.ca
Fees, Scholarships and Awards
Budgeting is ones of the most important factors when it comes to planning your graduate studies. Find out about tuition and budget, and the CIVE funding and scholarship opportunities.
Research-based students have minimum guaranteed funding. Course-based students are expected to be self-funded.
Visit the Funding, Scholarships and Awards page with full description and details.