German - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Hagey Hall expansion building

Hagey Hall Hub located on Waterloo's main campus

The PhD program in German Studies at the University of Waterloo is designed to prepare you for a wide range of employment opportunities both within and outside academe.

The multi-foci approach of this innovative program of studies encompasses applied linguistics (sociolinguistics, SLA, CALL), literary and media/film studies and fosters productive independent learning and scholarship. If you have an interdisciplinary approach, you can be very successful in this program. You can uncover and develop a critical knowledge base in the core areas of German Studies.

Research areas and degree options

  • Applied Linguistics/Second Language Acquisition
  • Literature and Film Studies

Program overview

Department/School: Germanic & Slavic Studies
Faculty: Faculty of Arts
Admit term(s): Fall (September - December), Winter (January - April), Spring (May - August)
Delivery mode: On-campus
Program type: Doctoral, Research
Length of program: 48 months (full-time)
Registration option(s): Full-time, Part-time
Study option(s): Thesis

Application deadlines

  •  February 1 (for admission in September)
  •  June 1 (for admission in January)
  •  October 1 (for admission in May)

Key contacts

Yessenia Guerrero
yguerrer@uwaterloo.ca

Admission limitations

Due to funding restrictions, the Faculty of Arts is currently limiting the number of international students we can admit. Please contact the department's Associate Chair, Graduate Studies prior to applying to discuss your interest in this program.

I'm interested in second language acquisition and teaching, teaching language and culture, language learning materials, and language education in the digital transformation.

Erica Swyers, PhD German

Supervisors

Admission requirements

  • A Master of Arts (MA) degree or its equivalent in German with a 78% overall grade average.
  • A study proposal.

Degree requirements

Application materials

  • Supplementary information form (SIF)
    • The SIF contains questions specific to your program, typically about why you want to enroll and your experience in that field. Review the application documents web page for more information about this requirement
    • If a statement or letter is required by your program, review the writing your personal statement resources for helpful tips and tricks on completion
  • Transcript(s)
  • Writing Sample
  • References
    Three references are required; at least two academic
  • Proof of English language proficiency, if applicable
    TOEFL 90 (writing 25, speaking 25), IELTS 7.0 (writing 6.5, speaking 6.5)

Tuition and fees