Program Overview

Program Overview

The Chemical Engineering - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program is designed to generate new knowledge and advance careers. The program focuses on the chemical, physical, and biological transformations of materials and energy at industrial scales. It prepares students for careers in academia, government, or the private sector.

Research Fields

The program offers research opportunities in the following fields:

• Biotechnology and Biomedical Engineering
• Electrochemical Engineering
• Nanotechnology for Advanced Materials
• Process Systems Engineering
• Soft Matter and Polymer Engineering
• Sustainable Reaction Engineering

Research Project Opportunities

One of the research project opportunities available in this program is Bioprocess Development for Biomanufacturing or Environmental Applications, specifically focused on microbial strain engineering via genetic engineering and metabolic engineering.

Program Details

Department/School

The program is offered by the Department of Chemical Engineering.

Faculty

The program is part of the Faculty of Engineering.

Admit Term(s)

Admission is available for the Fall (September - December), Winter (January – April), and Spring (May – August) terms.

Delivery Mode

The program is delivered on-campus.

Program Type

The program is a doctoral, research-based program.

Length of Program

The program is 48 months (full-time) in length.

Registration Option(s)

Registration options include full-time and part-time.

Study Option(s)

The program offers a thesis study option.

Application Deadlines

• 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)

Admission Requirements

• At the time of admission, each student 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.
• Applicants must demonstrate excellence of background preparation and academic achievement in prior degrees and, usually, possess a relevant, thesis-based master's degree.
• A minimum 80% standing in an applicant's appropriate master's program is the usual requirement.
• The Engineering Graduate Studies Sub-Committee requires objective evidence of English language skills.
• Transfer to the PhD program without completion of the MASc program is possible for students enrolled in a MASc program at the University of Waterloo.
• Admission to the PhD program from a BASc program is considered in exceptional cases.

Degree Requirements

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

Application Materials

• Resume
• Statement of interest (maximum 500 words)
• Transcript(s)
• References (three required, at least two academic)
• Proof of English language proficiency, if applicable (TOEFL 80, IELTS 6.5)

Tuition and Fees

• Visit the graduate program tuition page on the Finance website to determine the tuition and incidental fees per term for your program.
• Review living costs and housing.
• Learn about the PhD housing guarantee program for admitted students in fall 2026 and winter 2027.
• Review the funding graduate school resources for graduate students.