Earth Sciences - Master of Science (MSc) at University of Waterloo

Programme overview

Science Teaching Complex (STC) and Quantum-Nano Centre (QNC) Buildings Located on Waterloo's Campus. Get a quantitative and scientifically rigorous education in water sciences, sustainable mining, earth processes and geohazards with the Master of Science in Earth Sciences program. Join one of the leading groundwater hydrology research groups in the world, focusing on characterization of biogeochemical, hydrogeologic and geological systems, and the response of these systems to human interference, while learning from award-winning faculty members.

Faculty: Faculty of Science | Department: Earth and Environmental Sciences | Duration: 24 months (full-time) | Study mode: full-time | Intake: Fall (September - December), Winter (January - April), Spring (May - August); 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) | Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

What you will study

Research fields: Aqueous and Organic Hydrogeochemistry, Ecohydrology, Foundational Earth Sciences, Hydrogeology and Geophysics, Isotope Hydrology and Geochemistry, Research project opportunities for this program, Coastal Processes and Landforms, An opportunity to work with the Waterloo Coastal Group examining the response and recovery of coastal barriers and other environments to changes in water level, storm activity and ice cover in the Great Lakes and in the maritimes. The research ranges from geophysical surveys and geochronology of coastal systems to UAS-based remote sensing and advanced geospatial analysis of scale-dependent landscape morphology and evolution.. Study option(s): Thesis, Master's Research Paper.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Students should have a honours bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in earth sciences, or equivalent (e.g. Geology, Geosciences), with no less than a 75% standing. Outstanding students in other fields will also be accepted, but will have to take extra courses to strengthen their background preparation.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the courses you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Terms run fall (September to December), winter (January to April) and spring (May to August). Programmes are currently accepting applications for fall 2027; intake terms vary by programme.

Graduate applications are made online through the Graduate Studies Application and the non-refundable application fee is $150 CAD per program, paid in the applicant portal. Deadlines are set by each programme (for example MDSAI part-time: fall January 15, winter July 1). Apply two to four weeks ahead of the programme deadline.

Apply through the official page: https://grad.apply.uwaterloo.ca/apply/

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