You've explored our programs and now you're ready to apply.
Please follow the steps below as you prepare, submit, and review your application to graduate studies.
❗Important notice: Waterloo Graduate Studies is implementing a new application system.
What does this mean for our applicants?
If you submitted your application and paid the fee by the February 1 deadline but still need to submit your documents, you may continue to do so as per the instructions below.
If you started but did not complete (submitted with the application fee paid) an application in our previous system by 11:59 pm on February 1, 2025 (Eastern Standard Time), you will need to complete a new one in our new application system once it is available in early March.
Currently, it is not possible to start a new application. However, many programs will continue to have their fall 2025 applications open when the new application system launches in early March - see list below.
Step 1.
Before you start your application
Please review the information below to help you during this process.
- Understand the types of admission
- Understand the admission and English language proficiency requirements
- Understand your application document requirements
- If a personal statement or letter of intent is required by your program (which you will see once you begin the application), review the writing your personal statement resources for helpful tips and tricks on completion
- Learn more about your program. Do you need to find a supervisor in advance?
- Contact your referees
The University of Waterloo is committed to ensuring you can access, and meaningfully participate in, your education. At any point in the application process, or when you are a registered student, we encourage you to reach out to AccessAbility Services for advice, information, and support. Request for disability-based graduate admission accommodation (on the AccessAbility website).
Step 2.
Start your online application
Please note that our online application system is currently unavailable as we complete the upgrade to the new system.
If you completed an application (submitted with the application fee paid) by 11:59 pm on February 1, 2025 (Eastern Standard Time), you will still have access to Quest, our online student information system, to upload your application documents. See the next step for instructions.
Step 3.
Create your Waterloo student account (Quest)
- One to two business days after you have completed the online application and the fee has been processed, you will receive an email from us with instructions for claiming your identity (user ID and password) to access Quest, the University of Waterloo’s student information system.
- The email will include your 8-digit Waterloo student ID number. This is the ID number you will use for all Waterloo inquiries. Please note that your Quest user ID is different from your Waterloo student ID number.
- Before you can log in to Quest, you will need to create your user ID and password by claiming your account in WatIAM, the University of Waterloo’s identity and access management system.
- Once you have claimed (activated) your user ID and password, you will be able to log in to Quest.
- You will use Quest to upload your application documents, update your contact information, view your admission decision and, if applicable, view/accept/decline your offer of admission. Visit the Quest Graduate applicants page for additional step-by-step instructions.
Step 4.
Upload your application documents to the University of Waterloo through Quest
- Once you have accessed your Quest account, you can upload your application documents. To do so, log in to Quest, navigate to Admissions and select Documents in your Student Center.
- You will see a list of the documents you need to upload and complete based on your program.
- Once you have uploaded all of your required documents, and your referees have completed their reference forms, your application is complete.
- Your document status will change from “Initiated” to “Completed” under your documents list in Quest.
Programs with extended application deadlines
The following programs have extended their original February 1 application deadline and will re-open for fall 2025 admission when the new application system launches.
Extended for both domestic and international applicants
New deadline for international applicants (unless otherwise indicated): April 1, 2025
New deadline for domestic applicants (unless otherwise indicated): July 1, 2025
Extended for domestic applicants only
New deadline (unless otherwise indicated): July 1, 2025
- Anthropology (Public Issues) - Master of Arts (MA)
- Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology - Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology (MBET)
- Chemical Engineering - Master of Applied Science (MASc) - March 28
- Chemical Engineering (Nanotechnology) - Master of Applied Science (MASc) - March 28
- Chemical Engineering (Water) - Master of Applied Science (MASc) - March 28
- Chemical Engineering - Master of Engineering (MEng) - March 28
- Chemical Engineering (Co-op) - Master of Engineering (MEng) - March 28
- Chemical Engineering - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - March 28
- Chemical Engineering (Nanotechnology) - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - March 28
- Chemical Engineering (Water) - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - March 28
- Development Practice - Master of Development Practice (MDP)
- Economic Development and Innovation - Master of Economic Development and Innovation (MEDI)
- Environment and Business - Master of Environment and Business (MEB) (Online)
- French Studies - Master of Arts (MA)
- French Studies - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Geography - Master of Arts (MA)
- Geography (Water) - Master of Arts (MA)
- Geography - Master of Environmental Studies (MES)
- Geography (Water) - Master of Environmental Studies (MES)
- Geography - Master of Science (MSc)
- Geography (Water) - Master of Science (MSc)
- Geography - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Geography (Water) - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- German (Intercultural German Studies) - Master of Arts (MA)
- Mathematics for Teachers - Master of Mathematics for Teachers (MMT) - June 15
- Planning - Master of Arts (MA)
- Planning (Aeronautics) - Master of Arts (MA)
- Planning - Master of Environmental Studies (MES)
- Planning (Aeronautics) - Master of Environmental Studies (MES)
- Planning - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Public Service - Master of Public Service (MPS)
- Public Service (Co-op) - Master of Public Service (MPS)
- Recreation and Leisure Studies - Master of Arts (MA)
- Recreation and Leisure Studies - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Recreation and Leisure Studies (Aging, Health and Well-Being) - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Social and Ecological Sustainability - Master of Environmental Studies (MES)
- Social and Ecological Sustainability - Master of Environmental Studies (MES) (Internship)
- Social and Ecological Sustainability (Water) - Master of Environmental Studies (MES)
- Social and Ecological Sustainability - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Social and Ecological Sustainability (Water) - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Sustainability Management - Master of Environmental Studies (MES)
- Sustainability Management (Aeronautics) - Master of Environmental Studies (MES)
- Sustainability Management (Water) - Master of Environmental Studies (MES)
- Sustainability Management - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Sustainability Management (Aeronautics) - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Sustainability Management (Water) - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Taxation - Master of Taxation (MTax) - April 1 (both)
- Taxation (Co-op) - Master of Taxation (MTax) - April 1 (both)
- Vision Science - Master of Science (MSc)
- Vision Science (Aeronautics) - Master of Science (MSc)
- Vision Science - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Vision Science (Aeronautics) - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Biomedical Engineering - Master of Applied Science (MASc) - April 1
- Biomedical Engineering - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - April 1
- Chemistry - Master of Science (MSc)
- Chemistry (Nanotechnology) - Master of Science (MSc)
- Chemistry (Quantum Information) - Master of Science (MSc)
- Chemistry - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Chemistry (Nanotechnology) - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Chemistry (Quantum Information) - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Classical Studies - Master of Arts (MA)
- Earth Sciences - Master of Science (MSc)
- Earth Sciences (Water) - Master of Science (MSc)
- Earth Sciences - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Earth Sciences (Water) - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- English (Experimental Digital Media) - Master of Arts (MA)
- English (Experimental Digital Media) (Co-op) - Master of Arts (MA)
- English (Literary Studies) - Master of Arts (MA)
- English (Literary Studies) (Co-op) - Master of Arts (MA)
- English (Rhetoric and Communication Design) - Master of Arts (MA)
- English (Rhetoric and Communication Design) (Co-op)- Master of Arts (MA)
- Future Cities - Master of Future Cities (MFC) (Online)
- History - Master of Arts (MA)
- History - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Kinesiology - Master of Kinesiology (MKin)
- Kinesiology and Health Sciences - Master of Science (MSc)
- Kinesiology and Health Sciences (Aeronautics) - Master of Science (MSc)
- Kinesiology and Health Sciences - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Kinesiology and Health Sciences (Aeronautics) - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Kinesiology and Health Sciences (Aging, Health and Well-Being) - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering - Master of Applied Science (MASc)
- Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering (Nanotechnology) - Master of Applied Science (MASc)
- Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering - Master of Engineering (MEng)
- Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering (Co-op) - Master of Engineering (MEng)
- Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering (Nanotechnology) - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Management Sciences - Master of Applied Science (MASc)
- Management Sciences - Master of Management Sciences (MMSc)
- Management Sciences - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Peace and Conflict Studies - Master of Peace and Conflict Studies (MPACS) (Conrad Grebel University College)
- Political Science - Master of Arts (MA) - March 31
- Political Science (Co-op) - Master of Arts (MA) - March 31
- Theological Studies - Master of Theological Studies (MTS) (Conrad Grebel University College) - August 31