University of Waterloo International Master's and Doctoral Awards
IELTS Requirement & Application Guide
- IELTS
- 6.5
- Components
- L 6 / R 6 / W 6.5 / S 6.5
- Level
- PG, PhD
- Deadline
- December–February
Last verified: 2026-03
About University of Waterloo International Master's and Doctoral Awards
The University of Waterloo International Master's and Doctoral Awards support international graduate students across all faculties. Master's students receive $2,500 per term, while PhD students often receive comprehensive funding packages that combine tuition coverage, teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and scholarship components.
IELTS Required
| Overall | L | R | W | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.5 | 6 | 6 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
Accepts: Academic ✓ / General ✗
Also accepted: TOEFL iBT 90, PTE Academic 63
Tips for Meeting the Requirement
- 1Waterloo requires IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 in Listening and Reading, and 6.5 in Writing and Speaking. Note the higher Writing and Speaking minimums — these reflect the communication demands of graduate study.
- 2Practice academic writing with a focus on clarity and argumentation. The 6.5 Writing minimum means you need to demonstrate the ability to construct well-organized essays with clear thesis statements and supporting evidence.
- 3Application deadlines are December–February. Schedule your IELTS test by October to ensure scores arrive in time and to allow for a retake if Writing or Speaking falls short of 6.5.
Frequently Asked Questions
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