The official description of our degree programs and courses is in the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar. This page fills in some details about how we operate and how we interpret the official policies in practice. For administrative and procedural questions, contact: pmgradadmin@uwaterloo.ca. For academic questions, contact: pmgradchair@uwaterloo.ca. If you are uncertain which email address to use, you can send your email to both.
Before the start of each term, you will receive an email inviting you to fill out the “planning for fall/winter/spring” form. It's essential that you fill this out in a timely manner for assigning TAs and other planning tasks.
MMath students
- To complete your degree, you will need to complete courses (4 for thesis option/6 for research papers). These are described in the Course offerings & descriptions.
- You should consider applying for scholarships, especially NSERC and OGS.
- As the end of your degree approaches, refer to the Degree completion procedures.</a>
- While it is not required, it's strongly recommended to take the PhD qualifying examination, currently offered once per year in September.
- If you are interested in continuing in the PhD program, you need to find a supervisor willing to accept you for admission. You can either apply for admission and complete your MMath degree, or you can transfer directly to the PhD program. You can speak with the Graduate Chair (pmgradchair@uwaterloo.ca) about the pros and cons of the different approaches.
- If you have not found an advisor by the beginning of Winter term and are currently registered for the thesis option, you might want to consider switching to the research paper option. Speak with the Graduate Chair (pmgradchair@uwaterloo.ca) about the pros and cons of the different approaches.
PhD students
- If you have not completed the PhD qualifying examination, you are required to take any component of the exam you have not yet passed when it is offered, currently once per year in September. You can also pass components of the exam by taking the appropriate undergraduate course at UW. If you are uncertain about which components you have passed, email pmgradadmin@uwaterloo.ca.
- To complete your degree, you will need to complete courses (4 if you entered with a masters/8 if you entered without a masters). These are described in the Course offerings & descriptions.
- Each year, you will need to fill out the PhD annual activity report. It must be completed with your supervisor's comments before June 1 each year.
- You should consider applying for scholarships, especially NSERC and OGS.
- If you decide to not complete your PhD, you can transfer to the MMath program and complete one of our MMath degree options. Speak with the Graduate Chair ( pmgradchair@uwaterloo.ca) about this option if you think it might be the right approach for you.
- Once you have completed your qualifying examination, you need to form your Advisory Committee. They will also provide comments on your annual activity report.
- You will need to complete your PhD lecturing requirement by giving two talks in department seminars. Make sure that these talks are advertised as Pure Math Events and are attended by at least two members of the department who hold PhDs.
- You need to defend your thesis according to the Faculty of Mathematics PhD thesis procedures. Begin planning well in advance, and aim to have all members of your committee as well as the time and date of your defense fixed about two months before your planned defense date, and a complete draft of your thesis ready 6 weeks before your defense.
- About one month before your defense, you should start the graduation and convocation procedures.