Public Health Sciences - Master of Science (MSc)

B.C Matthews Hall (BMH)

B.C Matthews Hall (BMH) on Waterloo's Campus, across Columbia St W.

Tackle some of the biggest health concerns of today’s world with the Master of Science Public Health Sciences program. Work alongside leading researchers, integrating perspectives from multiple disciplines and using research as a tool to design, implement, and evaluate health programs, policies, and services. 

The trans-disciplinary nature of this program aims to address population and public health challenges on both a national and global scale with tangible, impactful solutions. You’ll learn how to use research to improve the management and accountability of health promotion programs and health systems, preparing you for a career in research (industry, government and academia), health promotion, health planning, policy and health information analysis, research management, healthcare coordination, epidemiology, program evaluation and other many others. 

You can pursue a designed field within your area of expertise including epidemiology and biostatistics, health evaluation, health informatics, health and environment, global health, aging and health, and work and health.

As a full-time MSc student, you are guaranteed to receive a minimum of $13,480 dispersed in the fall and winter terms of year one, through a Teaching Assistantship (TA), Research Assistantship (RA), or a major award.

Research areas

  • Aging and Health
  • Epidemiology and Biostatistics
  • Global Health
  • Health and Environment
  • Health Evaluation
  • Health Informatics
  • Work and Health

Program overview

Department/School: School of Public Health Sciences
Faculty: Faculty of Health
Admit term(s): Fall (September - December)
Delivery mode: On-campus
Program type: Master's, Research
Length of program: 24 months (full-time)
Registration option(s): Full-time, Part-time
Study option(s): Thesis

Application deadlines

Application for the Fall (September) 2024 semester opens on August 1, 2023. Applications will be accepted until:

  •  February 1st, 2024

Key contacts

For program-specific inquiries:  sphs.grad.admissions@uwaterloo.ca

Considerations for international students before submitting an application:

While the Faculty of Health at the University of Waterloo values international students in our graduate programs, we can only accept a small proportion of these students. 

Guaranteed funding packages may not be able to cover all tuition and living expenses incurred during a graduate program and students are encouraged to understand more about the cost of completing their graduate program before applying.

Your requested supervisor may also be required to fund your studies for your application to be successful.

Kathy Luu

I am beyond grateful to the SPHHS staff, colleagues, and friends who granted me a safe space to learn, be challenged and encouraged me through this journey.

Kathy Luu, Public Health and Health Systems, MSc 2021

Supervisors

  • Review the finding a supervisor resources
  • Before applying to the program, students are strongly advised to establish contact with potential supervisors

Admission requirements

  • Successful completion of a four-year Honours Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) with a minimum 75% average. The Bachelor's degree will normally be in the biological sciences, behavioural health, health, public health, or social sciences.
  • Undergraduate experience including coursework in one or more of the behavioural, biological, developmental, health, or social sciences is advantageous, given the multidisciplinary nature of the program. Students should also have a suitable background in research design and statistics to meet prerequisite standards for all graduate level courses.
  • Students may be allowed to transfer into the PhD program directly from the School of Public Health Sciences (SPHS) Master's programs. Such students must have completed all Master's coursework requirements, have demonstrated a superior academic record, and have evidence of prior research achievements (e.g., adjudicated research report, significant documented contribution as a co-author to a peer-reviewed publication, first author peer-reviewed publication).

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

Application materials

  • Resume/Curriculum vitae
  • Supplementary information form (SIF)
    • Indicating reasons for pursuing graduate studies (e.g., discuss how a graduate degree maps onto your career plans) and outlining research interests.
    • Review the writing your personal statement resources  for helpful tips and tricks on completing this form
  • Transcript(s)
  • Writing sample
    • Students must submit one copy of a term paper written during the last two years of their undergraduate education.
  • References
    • Two references are required, preferably from faculty members
    • If applicants have been out of school for an extended period of time (>5 years) and are unable to supply an academic reference they may submit two professional references. Please ensure that one professional referee is able to comment on the applicants academic ability and potential.
  • Proof of English language proficiency, if applicable

    • TOEFL 100 (writing 26, speaking 26), IELTS 7.5 (writing 7.0, speaking 7.0)

    • The School of Public Health Sciences does not consider international applications whose English language proficiency scores fall below the minimum requirements

Tuition and fees