Public Health Sciences (Water) - 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 and global water challenges of today’s world with the Master of Science Public Health Sciences – Collaborative Water 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. 

This collaborative program provides access to more than 140 faculty members involved in water research across Waterloo's campus, encouraging you to push the boundaries of your research. Along with developing expertise in public health sciences, two interdisciplinary courses will capture both theoretical and practical components, including in-class lectures, fieldwork, interdisciplinary group work, and individual research seminars. 

You’ll be prepared for a career in research (industry, government and academia), the public sector or private industry with in-demand skills like problem-solving and the ability to work in teams and communicate across disciplines.  

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: Collaborative, Master's, Research
Length of program: 24 months (full-time)
Registration option(s): Full-time, Part-time
Study option(s): Thesis

Application deadlines

  • February 1 (for admission in September)

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.

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.
  • For students applying to the School of Public Health Sciences (SPHS), the 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.

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)
    • 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
    • Students must submit one copy of a term paper written during the last two years of their undergraduate education
  • References
    • Two references are required either from two faculty members who taught the student as an undergraduate, or one from a faculty member and one from an employer with professional qualifications
    • 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