Science Teaching Complex (STC) and Quantum-Nano Centre (QNC) Buildings Located on Waterloo's Campus.
Be at the cutting edge of discovery in one of the largest physics and astronomy graduate programs in Canada with PhD in Physics program.
The department’s tradition of collaboration and innovations offers a rich and varied graduate experience that’s unparalleled.
In the program, you’ll work closely with a supervisor to perform original research in an area of physics, culminating in a PhD thesis. You’ll be provided with funding to cover tuition and some living expenses.
Research areas and degree options
- Astrophysics and Gravitation
- Atomic Molecular and Optical Physic
- Biophysics
- Chemical Physics
- Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
- Industrial and Applied Physics
- Quantum Computing
- Subatomic Physics
Program overview
Department/School: Physics and Astronomy
Faculty: Faculty of Science
Admit term(s): Fall (September - December), Winter (January - April), Spring (May - August)
Delivery mode: On-campus
Program type: Doctoral, Joint, Research
Length of program: 48 months (full-time)
Registration option(s): Full-time, Part-time
Study option(s): Thesis
Application deadlines
- January 9 (for admission in September)
- June 1 (for admission in January of the following year)
- October 1 (for admission in May of the following year)
Key contacts
Sophie Gagnon at gwp@uwaterloo.ca
I feel like everyone has at least a little bit of this fascination with space and the universe. Being able to share that sense of wonder with people is something I really enjoy.
Supervisors
- Review the finding a supervisor resources
Admission requirements
- Normally a Master's degree in Physics, with at least a 75% standing
- Students with an undergraduate degree in Physics may apply for admission directly to the PhD program. Successful applicants will have an outstanding academic record, breadth of knowledge in physics, and strong letters of recommendation
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 Physics and Astronomy graduate students
Application materials
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Physics Subject test scores for all students who have completed their post-secondary education outside of Canada
- Note: This application document is currently not required due to COVID-19
- 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)
- References
- Three academic references are required
- 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
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Review living costs and housing
- Review the funding graduate school resources for graduate students