Message from the director
Welcome to the School of Planning at Waterloo!
This is Canada’s largest and one of the longest-established Planning Schools in this country. Our School is an interdisciplinary community, reflecting and building on the learning and research culture that was established in 1969. We maintain strong connections with the Planning profession, and we focus on combining conceptually rich education with applied experience.
We think that this is such a great time to study and work in Planning. There is so much important work to be done. Our professors and students study, and carry out research that addresses, some of the most pressing societal issues such as affordable housing, climate change, environmental conservation and policy, active transportation, urban economies, participatory planning processes, and equity and inclusion, among many other subjects. We offer a range of subfields in Planning including social planning, environmental planning, community sustainability, urban design, transportation, housing, urban economics, heritage and more.
Located in the Faculty of Environment's LEED Platinum certified Environment 3 building, we are the only Planning School in Canada to offer programs at the Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD levels. Our BES, MA, and MES programs are accredited by the Canadian Planning Profession. Our students explore Planning practice and theory, and they gain practical experience through co-op jobs or internships. The PhD program welcomes scholars with career aspirations in academia or the policy worlds. We are proud to provide a high-quality, experience-based education that is the foundation for students’ future success, whether in Planning practice, related fields, or further studies.
We look forward to connecting with you.
Sincerely,
Mark Seasons PhD, FCIP, RPP
MA/MES Domestic application deadlines
Application deadline is January 15th. Please contact potential supervisors prior to applying to discuss your interest in this program and confirm that they are still accepting new students.
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News
University of Waterloo Planning Students Honored with the 2025 CIP-PSTF Scholarships and Awards
The School of Planning is proud to celebrate our exceptional Planning students, Emma O’Reilly, Adam Kelly, Emma Borho, Alexandra Kelly, and Mattea Schapp, who have been recognized by the Canadian Institute of Planners - Planning Student Trust Fund (CIP-PSTF) for 2025.
Waterloo Region Trials New Safety Measures at Roundabouts
The Region of Waterloo is taking steps to improve safety at its roundabouts to better protect pedestrians and cyclists. Dr. Jeff Casello emphasized the importance of providing clear, visual cues for drivers, especially when there are other roundabout users.
Canadian Cities Urged to Act Now on Urban Heat
With Canadian summers becoming increasingly hotter, Dr. Luna Khirfan urges cities to move beyond temporary “band-aid solutions” and adopt a comprehensive, unified strategy to create cooler urban environments.