Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA)
Needles Hall, second floor, room 2201
Once you have uploaded all of your required documents, and your referees have completed their reference forms, your application is complete. The document status will change from “Initiated” to “Completed” under your documents list in Quest. Completed applications will be reviewed following the application deadline.
We understand that you are eager to obtain an admission decision. Our goal is to issue a decision as quickly as possible so that you have adequate time to review your offer and make a decision.
Your application will first be reviewed by the academic unit to which you have applied (Department, School, or program). The academic unit will manage the supervisor review process, if applicable. Applicants selected by the academic unit are recommended for admission and the application is sent to the Faculty Associate Dean’s Office.
The Faculty Associate Dean’s Office then reviews your application. All applications approved for admission are then sent to Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs for review and final approval.
Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA) reviews your application to verify admissibility.
Once an admission decision has been made, applicants will receive an email and an admission decision will appear in Quest. Admitted students can then view and print our electronic offer of admission letter.
Official admission to any program of graduate studies is in the form of an "Offer of Admission" issued by GSPA.
For application processing timelines by Faculty please visit:
Visit our program pages for application deadlines.
Learn more about your admission decision.
Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA)
Needles Hall, second floor, room 2201
The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is centralized within our Office of Indigenous Relations.