Public Health Sciences - Master of Science (MSc) at University of Waterloo

Programme overview

Tackle some of the biggest health concerns of today’s world with the Master of Science 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.

Faculty: Faculty of Health | Department: School of Public Health Sciences | Duration: 24 months (full-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

Research fields: Aging and Health, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Global Health, Health and Environment, Health Evaluation, Health Informatics, Work and Health, Research project opportunities for this program, Exploring the Impact of Finite Sample Size and Missing Data on Statistical Modeling Decisions, Statistical models play a critical role in data applications for explanatory and predictive purposes. The model-building process involves use of various statistical tools, some of which make certain assumptions to yield good statistical properties like consistency. Such properties enable researchers to make reliable statistical inferences. However, when samples are small to moderate in size, issues arise when applying common model-building tools due to deviations from underlying assumptions. Such deviations can lead to unreliable parameter estimates, reduced statistical power, thereby affecting data-driven decisions. The process of model-building and conducting statistical tests is further impeded when data are incomplete due to missing values.. Study option(s): Thesis.

Career pathways

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.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Successful completion of a four-year honours bachelor's degree (or equivalent) with a minimum 75% average. The bachelor's degree will normally be in the biological sciences, behavioural health, health, public health, or social sciences. Undergraduate experience including coursework in one or more of the behavioural, biological, developmental, health, or social sciences is advantageous, given the multidisciplinary nature of the program. Students should also have a suitable background in research design and statistics to meet prerequisite standards for all graduate level courses. 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).

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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