Hagey Hall Hub located on Waterloo's main campus
Conduct original research and generate new knowledge in the most innovative political science PhD program of its kind in Canada, working alongside internationally and nationally renowned scholars.
Choose from three major fields of research including Canadian politics, international relations, and political economy, with the ability to choose a secondary research field or create your own custom concentration based on coursework in a designated area of the discipline or a subfield of your major field.
You’ll have considerable flexibility in core research activities, formal professional development for both academic and non-academic career paths, an experiential option and a teaching option.
You’ll be prepared to pursue a career in academia or in the private, public, or non-profit sectors with roles like political consultant, international relations officer, and political risk analyst.
Research areas and degree options
- Canadian Politics
- International Relations
- Political Economy
Program overview
Department/School: Political Science
Faculty: Faculty of Arts
Admit term(s): Fall (September - December)
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)
Key contacts
Darshani Madumali
darshani.madumali@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.
Supervisors
Admission requirements
- Students must hold a Master's degree with a minimum 80% average or equivalent in political science, or a related discipline
- Experienced professionals in the private or public sectors will be considered for admission, but additional course work may be required
Degree requirements
- Review the degree requirements on the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar, including the courses that you can anticipate taking as part of completing the degree.
- Check out Waterloo's institutional thesis repository - UWspace to see recent submissions from the Department of Political Science graduate students.
Application materials
- Resume
- Supplementary information form (SIF)
- The SIF contains questions specific to your program, typically about why you want to enrol 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, normally from academic sources
- 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
-
Visit the graduate program tuition page on the Finance website to determine the tuition and incidental fees per term for your program
-
Review living costs and housing
-
Review the funding graduate school resources for graduate students