Meet our Graduate Students

Transcripts

• All post-secondary education (universities and colleges, including incomplete studies) must be declared on your online application. This includes incomplete studies, non-degree and transfer credits courses.
• A transcript for all post-secondary education institutions attended must be uploaded. This includes incomplete studies, non-degree, and transfer credit courses.
• Academic transcripts from each post-secondary institution attended (past or current) showing all courses and marks, along with the transcript legends/keys/grading scales must be uploaded using Quest. Degree certificates (if obtained) must be uploaded with the transcripts. 
• University of Waterloo transcripts are not required, but you must declare your University of Waterloo studies in the academic background section of the application.

• Transcripts must be in the original language and include a certified translation if the transcript is not in English.

• Only one PDF file per institution can be uploaded (if you completed more than one degree at the same institution, both transcripts must be in a single file).
• Transcripts generated from a self-service/web information system must display your full name, academic program and the university's name along with transcript legends/keys/grading scales.
• Do not use brackets ( ), quotations ' ' or any special characters in the file name, and keep the file name short.
• Original/hard copies of your transcripts are not required for the application. You will only need to supply official transcripts from your university if an offer of admission is extended to you by University of Waterloo Graduate Studies and Post Doctoral Affairs.

References

Details on GSPA referee requirements can be found at: https://uwaterloo.ca/graduate-studies-postdoctoral-affairs/future-students/applying-graduate-school/before-you-apply/references

• three (3) references are required for MASc, and PhD programs
• MMSc program applications require two (2) references
• academic references are preferred. If the applicant has been working for more than five years, one supervisory business reference will be accepted along with one academic references for the MMSc programs. References from family members, friends, students and/or former classmates are not accepted
• your referees will receive an email with instructions on submitting forms electronically within a few business days after your application has been submitted and the application fee has been processed

Remember: these are academic references not personal or professional references while we are certain all applicants are essential to their company, loyal, efficient and have superior leadership skills, our review committee is looking to hear how your referee feels you would perform academically and be an asset in our graduate program.

If you cannot contact a previous instructor or supervisor for an academic reference you might try contacting your previous academic department to request they supply an academic reference.

Some things to note to your referees: 

Valid institutional or organizational email addresses are preferable. Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo, etc. are not normally accepted. An explanation for the use of a non-institutional email address would be required. The referee must provide a reason within the text box of the form. 

All reference letters are verified for authenticity. 

To change a referee or referee information send an email to gradapp@uwaterloo.ca be sure to include your name as it appears in quest, your application number and the relevant information you want to update (i.e. referee contact information etc.).

More details on reference requirements can be found at: GSPA references

Resume

• An up-to-date resume or curriculum vitae (CV)
• Please be sure to include names of companies, positions, year(s) held, and location (country at least please)
• If you have additional certificates or notes you want to include for the review committee, it's recommended you include them in your resume pdf file for consideration.

Supplementary information

• Statement of purpose - written statement addressing your academic background, area of research interest, proposed research studies. Length - one or two paragraphs with a 500 word limit.
• If you are applying for PhD or MASc programs this is one area where potential supervisors will be looking when making their decisions and choosing students.

If you are applying to any of our graduate programs remember: this is your opportunity to use your written 'voice' and 'speak' directly to the review committee talking about your background, future goals, and how management sciences can pull these together. It is where the committee will look to find your unofficial strengths - those not listed on transcripts, resumes, or references. Here they will assess overall writing abilities, future goals, ideas, your understanding of management sciences and of course supervisors will be looking for insight into your research aptitude.