Applying to graduate studies in Management Sciences

Application Deadlines are firm. All completed applications are reviewed after the application deadline listed below. If the department requires additional information, documentation or clarification you will be contacted via the email you include in your application.

DO NOT WAIT to apply. The application process can take up to two weeks or more just to complete and you will miss the posted deadline if you delay. 

1. Begin your on-line application by creating an account in the Ontario University Application Center (OUAC) system.

After you have completed application and the fee has been processed, the Ontario University Application Center (OUAC) will release your information to Waterloo.  It can take up to 5 business days (one week) for the email instruction on uploading your documents into the Waterloo student information system (quest).  This is an generic email which is often caught in email filters - please make sure you add: gradapp@uwaterloo.ca to your contact list, so you are sure not to have missed it. 

2. Upload your application materials using Applicant Quest (Waterloo's self-service application system).

Check with the University Graduate Office document listings to make sure the documents submitted will meet the requirements (the transcript requirements in particular need to be met for the department to consider an applicant and put forward for review - they must meet the university criteria).

More details on how the application system (OUAC) works and what to expect is available at the Graduate Office: Application information and instructions.

PhD

• a master's degree with a minimum 83% (A-) average from an accredited university.
• evidence of ability to pursue independent research, such as a master's level thesis.
• students who have obtained their prior degrees from Countries other than Canada should review the minimum equivalent qualification information in the Admission Guide for International Applicants.
• a supervisor will be required for admission to this thesis program. Securing a supervisor prior to application is not a requirement - all qualified applicant's files are circulated amongst faculty members who are looking to supervise research students. However, admission is highly competitive due to supervisor availability and you may wish to contact faculty directly to connect with a potential supervisor before acceptance. 

MASc

• a four year Honours Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) with a minimum 80% average from an accredited university.
• some of the required courses will need a background in calculus and probability.
• students who have obtained their prior degrees from Countries other than Canada should review the minimum equivalent qualification information in the Admission Guide for International Applicants.
• a supervisor will be required for admission to this thesis program. Securing a supervisor prior to application is not a requirement - all qualified applicant's files are circulated amongst faculty members who are looking to supervise research students. However, admission is highly competitive due to supervisor availability and you may wish to contact faculty directly to connect with a potential supervisor before acceptance.

If a supervisor is not found for you, your application may be considered for admission to the MMSC program for further consideration to the MASc upon successful completion of the core courses required for both master's programs. We encourage MASc applicants who exceed the minimum requirements to submit a secondary application to the MMSC program. 

MMSc

• a four year Honours Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) with a minimum 75% average from an accredited university.
• some of the required courses will need a background in calculus and probability. If you feel you are weak in these areas, it will be beneficial for your admission consideration to take some first year or college level math courses in calculus and probability.
• students who have obtained their prior degrees from countries other than Canada should review the minimum equivalent qualification information in the Admission Guide for International Applicants.

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.

References

• Three (3) references are required for MMSc on campus, MASc & PhD programs
• MMSc Online requires minimum of two (2) references
• Academic references are required. If the applicant has been working for more than 5 years, one business reference will be accepted along with two academic references. 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 an academic referee, you may choose to submit professional references. The review committee, however, will expect to see academic references, so you are encouraged to go to every effort possible to obtain academic references from your professors, department or faculty. It really can make all the difference.

Some things to note to your referees: 

Valid institutional or organizational email addresses are preferable. Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo etc. are not normally acceptable. An explanation for the use of a non-institutional email address will consequently 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 email: gradapp@uwaterloo.ca

Resume

• An up-to-date resume or curriculum vitae (cv)
• Please be sure to include name of company, position, year(s) held & address

Supplementary information

• Statement of Purpose - a one page written statement addressing your academic background, area of research interest proposed research studies.
• If you are applying for PhD or MASc programs this is one area where potential supervisors will most definitely 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.

GMAT & GRE

• GMAT & GRE are not required for Management Sciences, and will not be reviewed. 

ELP (English Language Proficiency)

If English is your second language (ESL) and your goal is graduate study at a Canadian Institute, we would recommend the EFAS (English For Academic Study) available via University of Waterloo Renison English Language Institute. Even if you have a strong aptitude for the language, this program will reinforce your writing abilities at the graduate level and help you meet the academic expectations. Achieving 75% in 400 level EFAS course with a minimum of 75% in writing, oral and academic skills would meet the English Language Proficiency requirements for Management Sciences graduate studies. 

If you have not completed three or more years of post-secondary work at a Canadian institution, or at an institution at which English was the language of instruction, or have not been employed for a similar period of time in a position in which English was the language of business, you will be required to provide certification of English language proficiency.

• Please see Waterloo's Graduate Office list of english language proficiency exempt countries if your school or country is not listed you will be expected to supply ELP results. The department cannot consider an application that does not meet this requirement.
• Copies of any test scores required can be uploaded into Applicant Quest, or originals can be mailed directly by the testing agency.

• TOEFL scores are valid for two years.​

Admission to coursework masters (MMSc) programs does not require a supervisor.

If you are intending to apply to one of the research programs (PhD or MASc) a supervisor will be required for admission.

• If you wish to secure a supervisor independently, you must complete your application first. No faculty member will be able to seriously consider a potential applicant without a fully completed application to review and assess. 
• Once your application is completed fully, you can begin contacting faculty members directly (via email) and include your UW ID number so they can access your application, review your materials and make an assessment. They may at this point wish to speak to you directly, and will contact you to make arrangements to speak to you over the phone, via Skype or in person interview. 
• You may not have a supervisor prepared to commit to your term of study, we still recommend that you complete your application - all qualified applicant files will be circulated amongst available faculty. You may have a supervisor in mind in which case you can indicate their name on your application.
• MASc: The competition for admission is strong. If you are unable to secure a supervisor at the time of application you may choose to submit an application for the MMSC course work program as well. This allows you to begin the coursework portion of your program while you continue your search for a suitable faculty supervisor. As well, it enables you to present your academic strengths to your potential supervisor via the completed coursework. If you are able to secure a supervisor he or she will then submit a program change request to the department to the MASc thesis program and finish your graduate studies with the research degree.

The course requirements for our master's thesis program are similar to our master's coursework program, therefore, if you exceed the minimum requirements for the MASc but do not have a supervisor during the admission process, you may wish to be considered for admission to the MMSc (on-campus coursework) program. 

If this is the case, you will need to submit an application for the MMSc program. To allow both applications to be reviewed in time for consideration.

If admitted as an MMSc coursework student you would then be on campus completing the coursework portion of your program. This allows the faculty to review your graduate academic performance and abilities, it also provides you an opportunity to further define your research interests, and find a supervisor best suited to your specialization.

During this time if you are able to secure a supervisor he or she would request a program change from the MMSc (coursework) to the MASc (thesis). All successful and applicable course work completed within the department would be credited towards the course requirements in MASc.