Program Overview

Pharmacy - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The School of Pharmacy located on Waterloo's downtown Kitchener campus offers a research-intensive and thesis-based Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program. This program provides students with the opportunity to conduct leading-edge research, generate new knowledge, understand and apply scientific concepts, and engage in collaborative discovery.

Program Overview

Department/School

The School of Pharmacy is part of the Faculty of Science. The program is offered on the Kitchener campus and is available for admission in the Fall (September - December), Winter (January - April), and Spring (May - August) terms. The delivery mode is on-campus, and the program type is doctoral and research-based. The length of the program is 48 months for full-time students, with options for full-time and part-time registration and thesis study.

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

• A 78% overall standing in a two-year Master of Science (MSc) or equivalent degree in a relevant field.
• Most students entering the program are expected to have previously graduated from a thesis-based MSc degree. However, there is a possibility of admission to the PhD program without a thesis-based MSc, with equivalency established on a case-by-case basis.
• Students in the MSc in Pharmacy program at the University of Waterloo may apply to transfer to the PhD in Pharmacy program after their first year in the MSc program but not later than the end of the second year, provided they meet specific conditions:
  • Completion of at least 2 courses (a total of 1.00 credit units) at the graduate level, including PHARM 601, with a score of at least 75% in each course.
  • Good academic standing, including not being on probation or carrying incomplete grades.
  • Demonstration of good progress in a research project that the Advisory Committee considers could be expanded to a PhD project.
  • Demonstration of superior academic, research, and scientific writing and oral presentation skills.

Degree Requirements

• Review of the degree requirements in the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar, including anticipated courses.
• Checking Waterloo's institutional thesis repository - UWspace for recent submissions from the School of Pharmacy graduate students.

Application Materials

• Resume
• Program-specific questions (PSQ)
• Transcript(s)
• References: Three references are required, with at least two being academic.
• 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 tuition and incidental fees per term.
• Review living costs and housing, including the PhD housing guarantee program for admitted students in fall 2026 and winter 2027.
• Review funding graduate school resources for graduate students.

Research Areas

The PhD in Pharmacy program offers research opportunities in various fields, including:

• Cellular physiology
• Drug development and delivery
• Clinical studies investigating how to optimize medication use in various patient populations

This program prepares students for careers in academia or research and development, empowering them to make significant contributions to global scientific, academic, and healthcare communities.