Religious Studies - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

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Hagey Hall Hub located on Waterloo's main campus

Conduct original research and contribute significantly to knowledge in the humanities and social sciences with the PhD in Religious Studies Program.

Drawing on the combined resources of the University of Waterloo and Wilfred Laurier University, this joint program concentrates on the diverse nature of and interactions among the religious traditions and movements of Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean. 

You’ll benefit from faculty who have expertise not only in religious studies but in related disciplines such as anthropology, history, philosophy, psychology, and sociology for a multidisciplinary context.  

The strong reasoning, writing, and critical thinking skills you'll gain from the program provide a solid foundation for a variety of careers like journalism, law, social work, medicine, international development, business, publishing, teaching, counseling, government, and chaplaincy. You’ll be prepared to work in Canada’s multicultural society and participate meaningfully in the global economy. 

Research field and degree options

  • Religious Diversity in North America

Program overview

Department/School: Religious Studies
Faculty: Faculty of Arts
Admit term(s): Fall (September - December)
Delivery mode: On-campus
Program type: Doctoral, Joint, Research
Length of program: 48 months (full-time)
Registration option(s): Full-time
Study option(s): Thesis

Application deadlines

  • February 1 (for admission in September)

Key contacts

Priti Nayak
p2nayak@uwaterloo.ca
519-888-4567, ext. 33497

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

  • Only graduates of accredited universities and colleges are eligible for admission.
  • Students apply to the joint program, designating one of the two universities as the preferred home institution. A student may be offered admission to the partner institution if the Joint Committee deems this choice more appropriate because of the student's interests or the availability of suitable supervisors. Applications are considered by the Joint Committee, and recommendations for admission or rejection are made by the Director to the Associate Provost, Graduate Studies at the proposed home university. Students are governed by the rules of the university in which they are registered, and their degree is granted by that same university; however, students may use faculty and library resources at both universities.
  • Students must normally have a Master's degree or its equivalent in Religious Studies or a closely allied field with an 80% overall standing. Completion of a Master’s thesis is strongly preferred.*
  • If the MA is in an allied field, the candidate must have a minimum of 10 one-term (half-credit) courses, or their equivalent, in the academic study of religion.
  • Students lacking the necessary qualifications may be required to complete additional qualifying work to establish academic eligibility to apply for the program. Students allowed to transfer from other doctoral programs must meet all of the degree requirements (or their equivalent, as determined by the Joint Committee); normally, credit for doctoral level work done elsewhere is not transferrable.
  • Students' Supervisory Committees normally consist of three members drawn from the University of Waterloo Department of Religious Studies and/or the Wilfrid Laurier University Department of Religion and Culture. One of the three committee members is the supervisor, who must be at the student's home institution. Such committees are appointed within the student's first year in the program after consultation with the student. Requests for changes in Supervisory Committee membership must be addressed to the Director and decided upon by the Joint Committee.

Degree requirements

Application materials

  • Resume/Curriculum vitae
  • 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
  • Proof of English language proficiency, if applicable
    • TOEFL 100 (writing 26, speaking 26), IELTS 7.5 (writing 7.0, speaking 7.0)

Tuition and fees