Economic Development and Innovation - Master of Economic Development and Innovation (MEDI) at University of Waterloo

Programme overview

Find innovative solutions that facilitate prosperity, sustainability and inclusive growth in cities and communities in Canada and around the world with the Master of Economic Development and Innovation program. This on-campus, coursework-based program can be completed in one year of full-time study or can be completed part-time for flexibility if you’re a working professional. In addition to learning economic development theory and practice, you will be exposed to leading edge knowledge, tools, and approaches to address contemporary economic development challenges in cities and communities across Canada and internationally.

Faculty: Faculty of Environment | Department: School of Environment, Enterprise and Development | Duration: 12 months (Full-time) 24 months (Part-time) | Study mode: full-time | Intake: Fall (September - December); application deadlines: February 1 (for admission in September) | Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

What you will study

Study option(s): Master's Research Paper.

Career pathways

Advance your current career or prepare for a career in government, not-for-profit or private industry with hands-on, real-world experience in the economic development profession through a final capstone project where you’ll work with an outside organization.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

An honours bachelor's degree (or equivalent) with at least a 75% standing; the undergraduate degree may be in planning, geography, political science, business, commerce, economics, sociology or other social sciences or other fields related to economic development.

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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