Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Applied Economics - Water

The program information below was valid for the fall 2017 term (September 1, 2017 - December 31, 2017). This is the archived version; the most up-to-date program information is available through the current Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

The Graduate Studies Academic Calendar is updated 3 times per year, at the start of each academic term (January 1, May 1, September 1). Graduate Studies Academic Calendars from previous terms can be found in the archives.

Students are responsible for reviewing the general information and regulations section of the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

Program information

  • Admit term(s) 
    • Fall
  • Delivery mode 
    • On-campus
  • Length of program 
    • The program is designed to be completed within four years.
  • Program type 
    • Collaborative
    • Doctoral
    • Research
  • Registration option(s) 
    • Full-time
  • Study option(s) 

Admission requirements

  • Minimum requirements 
    • Master's degree in Economics.
    • Minimum 80%, first class average in Master of Arts (MA) Economics degree.
    • A one-page statement of Academic Interest.
    • A GRE score is not required but is recommended for all international students applying to the program.
  • Application materials 
    • Supplementary information form
    • Transcript(s)
    • Writing sample
  • References 
    • Number of references:  3
    • Type of references: 

      academic
  • English language proficiency (ELP) (if applicable)

Degree requirements

    Thesis option:

  • Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)
  • Courses 
    • Students must complete 13 courses (8 required and 5 elective).
    • The core courses are as follows:
      • ECON 600 Mathematics for Economists
      • ECON 601 Microeconomic Theory I
      • ECON 701 Micro II
      • ECON 602 Macroeconomic Theory I
      • ECON 702 Macro II
      • ECON 621 Econometrics I
      • ECON 721 Econometrics II
      • ECON 722 Applied Microeconometrics II or ECON 723 Applied Macroeconometrics II
    • Water core courses:
      • WATER 601 Integrated Water Management
      • WATER 602 Integrated Water Management Project
    • Students are allowed to take 1 elective outside of the Department of Economics, with the approval of the Graduate Advisor. The electives have to be 600, 700, or 800 level graduate courses.
    • WATER 601 or WATER 602 can be counted as 1 of the 5 additional ECON electives required for the PhD degree.

    • This degree is offered through the Collaborative Water Program. This program, jointly offered by a range of departments across several academic faculties, promotes the development of interdisciplinary perspectives on water. Collaborative Water Program students complete their specialist training in their respective home departments, while working with colleagues from a variety of other departments in core interdisciplinary courses (WATER 601 and WATER 602).

    • Students who have already completed WATER 601 and WATER 602 as part of their Masters Water degree, must complete the following course requirement:

      • 1 graduate level water course from outside the student’s home Faculty agreed to by the student’s Supervisor and the Collaborative Water Program Director.

  • Link(s) to courses
  • Academic Integrity Workshop
  • PhD Seminar I
    • Completion of the first seminar milestone requires attendance at a minimum of 50% of the Department's seminars offered during the Fall and Winter terms.
  • PhD Seminar II
    • Students must complete 2 seminar presentations of their own work, 1 in year three and 1 in year four, which will fulfill the requirements for the second seminar milestone.
  • Collaborative Research Seminar I
    • Students are required to present a seminar on their thesis or major paper research proposal and, if appropriate, early stage results to current and past Water students and Water Institute faculty members. Seminars will normally occur following the completion of WATER 601 and WATER 602. Seminars will provide the opportunity for students to discuss how learnings from Water courses were applied in, or influenced, research proposals or research work in the student’s home department. Seminars will normally be poster presentations at Water Institute organized events. The seminar is not an oral examination of the thesis or paper; rather, its purpose is to develop the student's ability to communicate their research in an organized and informative manner.
  • Collaborative Research Seminar II

    • Students who have completed the Collaborative Research Seminar 1 as part of their Masters Water degree, must complete the Collaborative Research Seminar 2.

    • Students are required to present a seminar on their PhD thesis proposal to current and past water students and Water Institute faculty members. Seminars will normally occur following the completion of required courses and the comprehensive exam. Seminars should present how learnings from the Collaborative Water Program were applied in, or influenced, thesis proposals. Seminars will normally be poster presentations or talks at Water Institute organized events. The seminar is not an oral examination of the thesis proposal; rather, its purpose is to develop the student's ability to communicate their research in an organized and informative manner.

  • Collaborative Academic Contribution

    • Students who have completed the Collaborative Water Program Research Seminar 1 as part of their Masters Water degree, must complete the Collaborative Academic Contribution milestone.

    • Students are required to make an academic contribution to the Collaborative Water Program. The proposed contribution will be documented by the student and approved by the student’s Supervisor and the Collaborative Water Program Director. Potential contributions may include, but not be limited to:

      • Development of new or improved curricula or course content;

      • Delivery of a lecture(s);

      • Preparation of a publication;

      • Preparation of a case study;

      • Mentorship of a group of students.

  • PhD Comprehensive Examination I and PhD Comprehensive Examination II
    • The comprehensive examinations are a two-part examination process, consisting of written comprehensive examinations and an oral thesis prospectus examination.
    • Part 1 - Written Comprehensive Examinations:
    • 3 written examinations covering microeconomic theory, macroeconomic theory and econometrics. One re-write per topic, to be taken in August of the first year, will be allowed. No student will be granted a third attempt.
    • Normally, three Department of Economics members will comprise the Examining Committee.
    • Part 2 - Oral Thesis Prospectus Examination:
    • An oral examination covering the candidate's thesis prospectus.
    • A committee of four people including the student's thesis supervisor, two Department of Economics faculty members, and one internal/external examiner, comprise the Examining Committee.
    • When the student has passed both the written and oral comprehensive examinations and completes the required elective courses, the Department will admit the candidate to the research portion of the Doctoral program. The coursework should be completed by the end of second year, and the oral thesis prospectus examination should be completed by the end of the Winter term of the third year.
  • PhD Research Paper
  • PhD Thesis
    • At the conclusion of the thesis research, a final oral examination will be taken. The thesis defence will consist of a public seminar (at which the candidate presents the thesis) and a meeting between the candidate and the appointed Examining Committee.
Approved Doctoral Dissertation Supervisors (ADDS) list
Department of Economics website
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