Public Health at University of Waterloo

Programme overview

Leads to the Bachelor of Public Health (BPH). While doctors treat individual patients, you think bigger. From tobacco control to vaccine programs, public health professionals save millions of lives each year. You’ll study the social, cultural, political, biological, and geographic forces that impact individual, community, and population health. Available in the regular system of study or the co-op system.

Faculty: Faculty of Health | Study mode: full-time | Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

What you will study

Your upper-year courses will span global and community health, methods and application, biohealth, social sciences, and more. Sample upper-year courses include Canadian Health Systems, Public Health Nutrition, Social Neuroscience 1: Mental Health and Addiction, Health Policy, Pandemic Preparedness, Gender, Sex, and Health.

Career pathways

Graduates typically pursue careers in community health centres, public health departments, social services agencies, non-profit organizations concerned with social justice and social services, and health consulting.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Ontario applicants: Six Grade 12 U and/or M courses including Any 4U English (minimum final grade of 75% is required); Any 4U Mathematics (minimum final grade of 70% is required); Admission averages: low 80s (regular) and mid-80s (co-op). How to apply: Apply directly to this program on your application.

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.

First-year students are admitted for the September (fall) term only. Terms: fall (September to December), winter (January to April), spring (May to August). Part-time, online, post-degree and non-degree studies can start in the winter, spring or fall term.

Applications for September 2027 entry close on 1 February 2027 for programs other than Engineering (documents due 15 February 2027) and on 15 January 2027 for Engineering programs other than Architecture (documents due 1 February 2027). International students have the same deadlines. Full-time applicants apply through the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC).

Part-time, online, post-degree and non-degree studies: winter 2027 applications close 30 October 2026 for degree and non-degree (13 November 2026 for post-degree); spring 2027 applications close 26 February 2027 for degree and non-degree (12 March 2027 for post-degree). Optometry closes 12 November 2026 and Pharmacy closes 6 January 2027.

Apply through the official page: https://uwaterloo.ca/future-students/admissions/how-to-apply

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