Program Overview

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Program Overview

The PhD in Statistics (Biostatistics) program is designed to develop research skills in solving a wide range of problems arising in health, biology, and the environment. This program is suitable for individuals who have completed a master's or bachelor's degree in statistics, actuarial science, mathematics, or other quantitative disciplines.

Research Fields

The program covers various research fields, including:

• Biostatistics
• Computational Statistics
• Probability
• Statistical Theory and Methods

Program Details

Department/School

The program is offered by the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science.

Faculty

The faculty responsible for the program is the Faculty of Mathematics.

Admit Term(s)

The program admits students in the Fall term (September - December).

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 long (full-time).

Registration Option(s)

Students can register for the program on a full-time or part-time basis.

Study Option(s)

The program offers a thesis study option.

Application Deadlines

• December 1 (for admission in September of the following year)

Admission Requirements

• A master's degree in statistics, actuarial science, or mathematics, completed or expected.
  • Note: Graduates of other quantitative and mathematically oriented programs are also encouraged to apply; this includes, but is not restricted to, graduates of commerce, economics, engineering, finance, and any of the physical sciences. The department graduate committee will determine the suitability of each student’s background for success in this program.
• Students with an undergraduate degree in statistics, actuarial science, or mathematics may apply for admission directly to the PhD program. Successful applicants will have an outstanding academic record, and very strong letters of recommendation.
• At least an overall 78% average from a Canadian university (or its equivalent).
• An interview may be required.

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 Statistics and Actuarial Science 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 references, normally from academic sources.
• 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.