Program Overview

Program Overview

The Earth Sciences (Water) - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program offers a quantitative and scientifically rigorous education in water sciences, sustainable mining, earth processes, and geohazards. This program allows students to discover innovative ways to tackle global water challenges.

Department and Faculty

• Department/School: Earth and Environmental Sciences
• Faculty: Faculty of Science

Program Details

• 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

• Coastal Processes and Landforms: An opportunity to work with the Waterloo Coastal Group examining the response and recovery of coastal barriers and other environments to changes in water level, storm activity, and ice cover in the Great Lakes and in the maritimes.

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

• The program is open to students who have completed a Master of Science (MSc) degree with a 75% average and who have outstanding academic credentials and a demonstrated ability to do original scholarly work.
• A normal requirement is a background in geology or geological engineering, but other experience relevant to a candidate's research interests will be considered.
• Candidates will be evaluated on an individual basis.
• Admission from the BSc degree to the Doctoral program: in exceptional cases where a student demonstrates academic excellence including research potential, scientific maturity, and good writing skills, they may be allowed, at the discretion of the Graduate Committee, to proceed directly to the PhD degree from the BSc, without the completion of the MSc.

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 Earth and Environmental Sciences graduate students.

Application Materials

• Resume
• Statement of interest: A statement of maximum 500 words explaining your interest in and fit for the program you’re applying to.
• Program-specific questions (PSQ): These are questions specific to the program you’re applying to.
• Transcript(s)
• References: Three academic references are required.
• Proof of English language proficiency, if applicable: TOEFL 90 (writing 25, speaking 25), IELTS 7.0 (writing 6.5, speaking 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.