Philosophy - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Hagey Hall expansion building

Hagey Hall Hub located on Waterloo's main campus

Conduct rigorous independent research and explain complex ideas to a variety of audiences with the PhD in Philosophy program.

Study with faculty members who are doing cutting edge research. Engage with research from other fields such as the natural and social sciences, history, mathematics, and engineering for an interdisciplinary and practical-oriented approach.

You’ll be prepared for a successful career in academia or to pursue non-academic careers in healthcare, government, law, corporate sectors, and others with roles like bioethicist, policy advisor, and ethics officer.


Research fields

  • Ethics and Political Philosophy
  • Language, Logic and Metaphysics
  • Mind and Cognitive Science
  • Philosophy of Science and Mathematics

Program overview

Department/School: Philosophy
Faculty: Faculty of Arts
Admit term(s): Fall (September - December)
Delivery mode: On-campus
Program type: Doctoral, Research
Length of program: 48 months (full-time)
Registration option(s): Full-time, Part-time
Study option(s): Thesis

Application deadlines

  • February 1 (for admission in September)

Key contacts

Ashley Price 
adprice@uwaterloo.ca

Admission Limitations

Due to funding restrictions, the Faculty of Arts is currently limiting the number of international students we can admit. Please contact the department's Associate Chair, Graduate Studies prior to applying to discuss your interest in this program.

Supervisors

Admission requirements

  • The average required for admission to the PhD in Philosophy program is 80%.
  • The typical background for PhD students is a Master of Arts (MA) in Philosophy.
  • Applicants with a master’s in a related discipline are encouraged to apply. Depending on the amount of philosophy background, these applicants may be admitted to the PhD in Philosophy program or may be admitted to the MA in Philosophy program (a separate application to the MA program is not required).

Degree requirements

Application materials

  • Statement of interest
    • A statement of maximum 500 words explaining your interest in and fit for the program you’re applying to, uploaded as a supporting document in the online application. Review the writing your personal statement resources for helpful tips and tricks on completion.
    • Question 1: Please provide a brief statement of interest that outlines the areas of philosophy you hope to pursue in the program.
    • Question 2: Please explain why the University of Waterloo's Department of Philosophy is a good place to pursue such a project, and why your background makes you well suited to pursue it successfully.
  • Program-specific questions (PSQ)
    • These are questions specific to the program you’re applying to. They can be viewed once you’ve started an application and are completed through a form in the online application.
  • Transcript(s)
    • From previous institutions.
    • At the time of applying, an unofficial transcript is fine; if and when a student is enrolled they will be asked to submit official copies.
  • Writing sample
    • A philosophy paper of around 2500 words is desirable; longer and shorter papers are acceptable too, but please don't send anything longer than 5,000 words.
  • References
  • Proof of English language proficiency, if applicable.

    • TOEFL 100 (writing 26, speaking 26), IELTS 7.5 (writing 7.0, speaking 7.0)

Tuition and fees