Deadlines
Admission deadlines for all MMath programs are:
- Fall term (September): February 1 of the same year
- Spring term (May): December 1 of the previous year
*For the MMath Statistics-Finance program the deadline is February 1 and entry is in September only.
Applicants who are not citizens or permanent residents of Canada and who are not already in Canada on a student visa should apply at least two months earlier than the above dates, to allow time for a visa application.
Admission into the MMath program will correspond to one of the categories outlined below.
Admission requirements for students admitted into these MMath programs are as follows:
- a four-year honour's Bachelor's degree with a significant statistics or/and actuarial science component;
- an overall B+ (78%) average from a Canadian university (or its equivalent);
- three letters of reference, normally from academic sources;
- proof of competency in English (if applicable), including a TOEFL score of at least 600 and TWE of at least 4.5 for students required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language. (A score of at least 250 is required on the computer version of the TOEFL.) (See Academic Regulations-English language Proficiency Certification for other acceptable tests of English.)
The Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science and the Department of Computer Science offer a Collaborative Master's Program in Statistics and Computing. This program is intended for students with an outstanding background and interest in quantitative or computational methods. Typically the student will have an honours bachelor's degree either in Computer Science or Statistics, or in a related technical area such as engineering or mathematics. Students are registered in one of the collaborating departments and, upon successful completion of the program, will obtain an MMath degree with the designated specialty (Statistics - Computing).
Admission requirements for students admitted into the Collaborative MMath Program in Statistics and Computing are as follows:
- a four-year honour's Bachelor's degree with a significant statistics component. Students should have completed courses at the third-year level equivalent to University of Waterloo courses covering the following topic areas: numerical methods, data structures, algorithm design and analysis, softwre systems, statistical theory and methods, and applied linear regressin analysis with intermediate programming and mathematical skills.
- an overall B+ (78%) average from a Canadian university (or its equivalent);
- three letters of reference, at least two from academic sources;
- proof of competency in English (if applicable), including a TOEFL score of at least 600 and TWE of at least 4.5 for students required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language. (A score of at least 250 is required on the computer version of the TOEFL.) (See Academc Regulations-English Language Proficiency Certification for other acceptable tests of English.)
The MMath in Statistics-Finance is a Collaborative Master's Program in Finance, offered by the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, and the School of Accountancy.
Admission requirements for students admitted into the regular MMath Statistics-Finance program are as follows:
- a four-year honour's Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) with a strong background in quantitative methods. Such a background may be in mathematics, statistics, actuarial science, economics, engineering, physics, provided there is a strong component of high level mathematics in the program. Strong communication skills are also highly desirable.
- an overall B+ (78%) average from a Canadian university (or its equivalent);
- three letters of reference, at least two from academic sources;
- proof of competency in English (if applicable), including a TOEFL score of at least 600 and TWE of at least 4.5 for students required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language. A score of at least 250 is required on the computer version of the TOEFL. (See Academic Regulations - English Language Proficiency Certification for other acceptable tests of English.)
- Applicants will initially be assessed by a special interdepartmental committee consisting of faculty from Accounting and, Statistics and Actuarial Science.
- Students whose academic background does not meet the admission requirements, but who otherwise show outstanding promise for graduate work in finance, may be admitted as qualifying students. Admission to the qualifying program does not guarantee admission to the Master's program. The number of courses required in the qualifying period will depend on the student's prior educational background. Interested applicants should consult with the Director of the Centre for Advanced Studies in Finance.
- Application Deadline for September admissions is February 1st.
A student with an honours degree as above but in a discipline other than statistics or actuarial science can be admitted to the Master's program as a transitional student. In the past, students with degrees in engineering, mathematics, various sciences, computer science, economics and psychology have completed this program. A reasonable mathematics background and some experience with statistics or actuarial science seem to be the essential requirements for success.
A student with an honours degree as specified for admission as a regular student, who has not attained the appropriate overall standing, but who has either (i) substantial relevant occupational experience (normally three years) beyond the Bachelor's degree or (ii) standing in the final year substantially better than a full B (normally at least 78%), can be admitted as a probationary MMath student.
Students with undergraduate qualifications other than the above are encouraged to apply as qualifying students. In this program, undergraduate courses are taken to bring a student up to the level of an honours graduate in statistics or actuarial science. To be eligible for the qualifying program, a student must have obtained a Bachelor's degree with at least a B+ (78%) average. Students who are admitted to the qualifying program must re-apply to be admitted into a Master's program.
The requirements for the MMath degree in Statistics are as follows:
(i) Course Work Option :
Eight (8) one-term courses with an overall average of at least 70%, satisfactory completion of the research and teaching seminar, and a master's research paper. The required total of eight one-term courses should include STAT 830 or 835, 850, 854. Exemptions can be made at the discretion of the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies.
(ii) Thesis Option: Four (4) one-term courses (0.50 unit weight) with an overall average of at least 70%, satisfactory completion of the research and teaching seminar, and a thesis. The four one-term courses should include STAT 850 and at least two 900-level Statistics courses.
A student can select which of these two options to follow after registering.
The requirements for the MMath degree in Statistics-Biostatistics are as follows:
- Eight (8) one-term (0.50 unit weight) courses with an overall average of at least 70%,
- satisfactory completion of the research and teaching seminar,
- and a master's research paper.
The required total of eight one-term courses should include STAT 830 or 835, 831, 850, 854, 935, 937 and 938 (and the practical experience of the master's consulting requirement);
With permission, an advanced course in Biostatistics under Stat 947 may be substituted for Stat 935.
Students with a strong interest in applied statistics are encouraged to consider the co-operative option.
Participants gain valuable experience as practising statisticians through employment in business, industry, government or a research laboratory for a period of eight months (normally, two consecutive work terms). The usual pattern of study and work consists of two academic terms, two work terms, and a final academic term.
The degree requirements are the same as for the regular MMath degree program in Statistics or Statistics-Biostatistics with the course work option except that one of the eight one-term course credits is obtained by writing a report which describes some aspect of the student's work term experience. Credit for the Master's Co-op Project can only be obtained by submitting a report to the Department Graduate Office.
An extension of the co-op project report may be submitted in order to satisfy the research paper requirement of the MMath degree.
Students in the Statistics-Biostatistics co-op option may substitute another graduate course for Stat 938 and are not required to obtain credit for the MMath Consulting Requirement.
The requirements for the MMath degree in Actuarial Science are as follows:
i ) Course work option:
- Eight term-courses with an overall average of at least 70%. Courses are selected in consultation with the advisor, and the Graduate Officer for Actuarial Science. Normally, at least six of the eight term-courses should be labelled ACTSC. At least three 900-level courses must be taken, at least two of which must be labelled ACTSC. Substitution of relevant non-ACTSC courses is subject to approval of the Associate Chair of Graduate Studies.
- Completion of Research and Teaching Seminar during the first year of the program.
- MMath Milestone Master's Research Paper
ii) Thesis option:
- Four one-term courses with an overall average of at least 70%. The four one-term courses should include at least one 900-level Actuarial Science course.
- Completion of Research and Teaching Seminar during the first year of the program
- A Master's Thesis
A student can select which of these two options to follow after registering.
As well as the courses which are offered by the Department on a regular basis, students may choose relevant courses from other departments in the University. Reading courses in areas of special interest can sometimes be arranged.
The requirements for the MMath degree in Statistics-Computing are as follows:
- Eight (8) one-term (0.50 unit weight) courses,
- satisfactory completion of the research and teaching seminar,
- a master's research paper,
- and presentation of the research paper topic in a publicly announced seminar
Students must maintain an average of 75% in order to remain in good standing.
The required total of eight one-term courses should include STAT 840,841, CS 648, and CS 686 or CS 657.
Four optional courses, normally split evenly between CS and Statistics, must be taken.
At least one of the CS courses must be a 700-level course.
Normally, this program consists of two academic terms (Fall and Winter), followed by an internship with an industrial partner in the Spring term, and then two additional academic terms (Fall and Winter). In exceptional circumstances, the program can be completed in three academic terms.
The academic requirements are:
- ten one-term (0.50 unit weight) courses,
- satisfactory completion of the research and teaching seminar,
- and the Master's Research Paper.
The required courses are ACC 770,771,772, ECON 601,621, and STAT 850,901,902,906.
In addition, students are required to take at least one further graduate level course approved by their supervisor for a total of ten courses.
A special interdepartmental committee, consisting of faculty from the School of Accountancy and the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, will review the record of a candidate whose cumulative average at the end of any term is below B (75%) and the candidate may be required to withdraw from the program.
Application deadline each year is February 1.
Only students who have been admitted into the Statistics-Finance program can receive the MMath degree with the Statistics-Finance designation.