Program Overview

Program Overview

The Chemical Engineering (Nanotechnology) - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program is offered by the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo. This program is designed to generate new knowledge and advance careers in the field of chemical engineering with a focus on nanotechnology.

Program Details

• Department/School: Chemical Engineering
• Faculty: Faculty of Engineering
• Admit term(s): Fall (September - December), Winter (January – April), Spring (May – August)
• Delivery mode: On-campus
• Program type: Collaborative, Doctoral, Research
• Length of program: 48 months (full-time)
• Registration option(s): Full-time, Part-time
• Study option(s): Thesis

Research Project Opportunities

The program offers research project opportunities, including:

• Bioprocess Development for Biomanufacturing or Environmental Applications: Bioprocess development for biomanufacturing or environmental applications, specifically focused on microbial strain engineering via genetic engineering and metabolic engineering.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to the program, applicants must:

• Have an approved PhD supervisor who has agreed in writing to supervise their academic program or co-supervisors, at least one of whom is an approved PhD supervisor.
• Demonstrate excellence of background preparation and academic achievement in prior degrees and, usually, possess a relevant, thesis-based master's degree.
• Meet the English language proficiency requirements, which can be demonstrated through technical publications, a thesis written in English, or a personal interview with the Chemical Engineering Department's Associate Chair for Graduate Studies.
• Transfer to the PhD program without completion of the MASc program is possible, but requires a memorandum from the supervisor and at least one additional written recommendation from another Chemical Engineering Department faculty member.
• Admission to the PhD program from a BASc program is possible in exceptional cases, but requires a request from the Department of Chemical Engineering.

Degree Requirements

The degree requirements for the program include:

• Reviewing the degree requirements in the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar, including the courses that can be anticipated as part of completing the degree.
• Checking out Waterloo's institutional thesis repository - UWspace to see recent submissions from the department of Chemical Engineering graduate students.

Application Materials

The application materials required for the program include:

• Resume
• Statement of interest: A statement of maximum 500 words explaining the interest in and fit for the program.
• Transcript(s)
• References: Three references are required, with at least two academic references.
• Proof of English language proficiency, if applicable: TOEFL 80 (writing 22, speaking 20, reading 20, listening 18), IELTS 6.5 (writing 6.0, speaking 6.0)

Tuition and Fees

The tuition and fees for the program can be found on the graduate program tuition page on the Finance website. The PhD housing guarantee program is available for admitted students in fall 2026 and winter 2027. Living costs and housing information can also be reviewed.

Application Deadlines

The application deadlines for the program are:

• February 1 (for admission in September)
• June 1 (for admission in January of the following year)
• October 1 (for admission in May of the following year)