Public Health - MPH at Waterloo

Program information

**All students must attend a two-day on-campus orientation session scheduled the week prior to the start of classes in the Fall term. In addition, a one-week on-campus capstone course is required at the conclusion of the program. Courses are available either on-campus, online, or in a blended/hybrid format. Students should check the School's website for the latest information for format and timing of the courses for the most current mode of delivery and offering.

Watch the How to apply to Waterloo graduate studies video

NOTE: Due to the competitive nature of the professional programs at the University of Waterloo the ideal GPA for admission is based on the current pool of applicants and the previous years GPA cut-off. The minimum Graduate Studies application standard for admission is a CGPA of 3.0 or 75%. Successful applicants in the professional programs in 2020/2021 had an average GPA of 78%.

What does it take to get in?

Minimum 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 a field relevant to public health.
• Students must submit a personal essay of no more than 500 words explaining the education and work experiences 1) that have brought them to the decision to apply to the MPH program; and 2) how the MPH will help them in their future career.
• Ideally, students will have prior work experience in a public health setting. Co-operative work terms and/or volunteer experience are acceptable.
• Students must have a suitable background in statistics to meet prerequisite standards for all graduate level courses, before beginning coursework. An undergraduate course in statistical methods completed within the past five years with a minimum grade of 75% is required. Exceptions to this requirement may be made on occasion by admission committees considering student background and demonstrated analytic abilities.
• Students will be recruited as recent graduates from 4-year Bachelor of Science (BSc) or Bachelor of Arts (BA) programs in Health Studies and related disciplines, or alternatively as mature students holding a 4-year degree in a related discipline with relevant work experience in population and public health. Students with advanced professional degrees in recognized health disciplines (e.g. MD, DVM) are also eligible for admission.

Application material

• Resume
  • Indicating past academic and professional experience
• 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
  • Two references are required, at least one must be academic
  • 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

How much will it cost?

• Use the student budget calculator to estimate your cost and resources 
• Visit the graduate program tuition page on the Finance website to determine the tuition and incidental fees per term for your program
• Review the study and living costs
• Review the funding graduate school resources for graduate students
• Students in the professional graduate programs are not guaranteed funding by the School and are required to fund their program through outside awards or through professional organizations and work place education allowances

What can you expect at Waterloo?

• 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 profiles of current graduate students to learn about their experience at Waterloo
• Check out the Waterloo campus and city tours
• This program is offered online, with one week on campus for the Summer Institute and one week on-campus for the capstone course presentations. The MPH offers flexibility for the working professional and can be completed in 24 months to 48 months; it also features a four month professional experience component
• Review the School of Public Health Sciences website to see information specific to your program of interest

This program page is effective September 2023; it will be updated annually.  Any changes to the program page following this date will be indicated with a notation. 

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