Public Health Sciences - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

University of Waterloo

Canada, Waterloo

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Home/Canada/Waterloo /University of Waterloo/Public Health Sciences - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

University of Waterloo

Canada , Waterloo

Key Facts

Program Level

PhD (Philosophy Doctorate)

Study Type

Full Time

Delivery

On Campus

Campuses

Main Site

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake DeadlinesSeptember-2026

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 48 month(s)

Tuition Fee

CAD 7,396 / per term

Next Intake September-2026

Public Health Sciences - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

About

Become an expert and tackle some of the biggest health concerns of today’s world with the PhD in Public Health Sciences program. Work alongside leading researchers, integrating perspectives from multiple disciplines and using research as a tool to design, implement, and evaluate health programs, policies, and services.

The trans-disciplinary nature of this program aims to address population and public health challenges on both a national and global scale with tangible, impactful solutions. You’ll learn how to use research to improve the management and accountability of health promotion programs and health systems, preparing you for a career in research (industry, government and academia), health promotion, health planning, policy and health informatics and analytics, research management, healthcare coordination, epidemiology, program evaluation and many others.

You can pursue a graduate research field within your area of expertise such as epidemiology and biostatistics, health evaluation, health informatics, health and environment, global health, and work and health. If you’re a domestic PhD student, the Faculty of Health is committed to providing you guaranteed funding over four years as part of the PhD funding initiative.

Research fields

Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Global Health
Health and Environment
Health Evaluation
Health Informatics
Work and Health

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Students applying to the program should have completed a master's degree (or its equivalent) with content related to ongoing faculty research in areas such as health, public health, health systems, gerontology, health informatics, global health, occupational health, and evaluation.
A minimum 75% average in master's level coursework.
Completion of a master's degree and evidence of prior research achievements (e.g., Master's thesis, first author peer-reviewed publication, adjudicated research report).
Students may be allowed to transfer into the PhD program directly from the School of Public Health Sciences (SPHS) Master's programs. Such students must have completed all Master's coursework requirements, have demonstrated a superior academic record, and have evidence of prior research achievements (e.g., adjudicated research report, significant documented contribution as a co-author to a peer-reviewed publication, first author peer-reviewed publication).
Students are sometimes accepted for direct admission to the PhD in the SPHS program if they have an Honours Bachelor of Science degree or the equivalent and have exceptional academic and research performance, including evidence of prior research achievements (e.g., adjudicated research report, significant documented contribution as a co-author to a peer-reviewed publication, first author peer-reviewed publication). Directly admitted students will be required to complete 9 (required and elective) graduate courses, graduate milestones and a doctoral thesis.

Review the degree requirements on 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 School of Public Health Sciences graduate students.

English Program Requirements

Proof of English language proficiency, if applicable

TOEFL 100 (writing 26, speaking 26), IELTS 7.5 (writing 7.0, speaking 7.0)
The School of Public Health Sciences does not consider international applications whose English language proficiency scores fall below the minimum requirements.