Social and Ecological Sustainability (Water) - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Environment 3

Environment 3 (EV3) Building located on Waterloo's Campus, across from Laurel Creek.

Join the next generation of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary scholars and applied researchers with the PhD in Social and Ecological Sustainability Collaborative Water program.

Along with developing expertise in your area of research, two interdisciplinary water courses will capture both theoretical and practical components, including in-class lectures, fieldwork, interdisciplinary group work, and individual research seminars.

Graduate students and research are at the core of our community, meaning that you’ll join a community that is dynamic, committed and engaged. Our faculty are internationally recognized researchers, and they serve on a wide range of local, national and international organizations and committees in support of global sustainability, and our students are recognized for their research impact. Once your own graduate journey is complete, you’ll be joining a large community of School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability (SERS) successful alumni actively involved in local and global resources, environment and sustainability efforts in government, academia, civil society and industry.

When your own graduate journey is complete, you’ll be joining a large community of SERS successful alumni actively involved in local and global resource, environment and sustainability efforts in government, academia, civil society and industry.

As a PhD student, you will be guaranteed funding through teaching assistantships, research assistantships or stipends, and additional scholarships for qualified applicants.

Learn more about the Collaborative Water Program →

Program overview

Department/School: School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability
Faculty: Faculty of Environment
Admit term(s): Fall (September - December)
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

Application deadlines

  • February 1 (for admission in September)

Key contacts

sers.gradadvisor@uwaterloo.ca

Supervisors

Admission requirements

  • Students must hold a master's degree with distinction (typically an overall average of at least 83%) or the equivalent.

Degree requirements

Application materials

  • Resume
  • 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)
  • References
    • Three references are required, at least two academic.
  • 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