Admissions Overview
The following is a brief summary of joint Laurier-Waterloo admission requirements. Information regarding current joint program details, including timelines and requirements, can be found in the Religious Studies PhD Handbook.
- Full information about the University of Waterloo admission requirements and joint program regulations are available in Waterloo's Graduate Calendar.
- To apply to the University of Waterloo, please see Waterloo's Graduate Studies Application Guide.
- For information about the Wilfrid Laurier University admission requirements, please see the Laurier's PhD program webpage and application checklist.
- To apply to Wilfrid Laurier University, please see Laurier's Graduate Admissions Toolkit.
The deadline to apply for Fall 2024 is February 1, 2024.
Please contact the Associate Chair of Graduate Studies before applying to discuss your research interests, application process, and which potential supervisors are accepting new students.
Admission Requirements
Minimum Requirements
- Only graduates of accredited universities and colleges are eligible for admission.
- Students apply to the joint program, designating one of the two universities as the preferred home institution. A student may be offered admission to the partner institution if the Joint Committee deems this choice more appropriate because of the student’s interests or the availability of suitable supervisors. Applications are considered by the Joint Committee, and recommendations for admission or rejection are made by the Director to the Associate Provost, Graduate Studies at the proposed home university. Students are governed by the rules of the university in which they are registered, and their degree is granted by that same university; however, students may use faculty and library resources at both universities.
- Students must have a Master's degree or its equivalent in Religious Studies or a closely related field with an 80% (A-) overall standing.
- If the MA is in a related field, the candidate must have a minimum of 10 one-term (half-credit) courses, or their equivalent, in the academic study of religion.
- Students lacking the necessary qualifications may be required to complete additional qualifying work to establish academic eligibility to apply for the program.
- Students’ Supervisory Committees normally consist of three members, one of whom is the supervisor. Such committees are appointed as soon as possible after admission to the program and consultation with the student. Requests for changes in Supervisory Committee membership must be addressed to the Director and decided upon by the Joint Committee.
Application materials
- Résumé/Curriculum vitae
- Supplementary information form
- Transcript(s)
- Writing sample
References
- Number of references: 3
- Type of references: academic
English Language Proficiency
- Proof of English language proficiency (if applicable)