Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Chemistry - Nanotechnology

The program information below was valid for the spring 2023 term (May 1, 2023 - August 31, 2023). 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.

• Admit term(s) 
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Spring
• Delivery mode 
  • On-campus
• Program type 
  • Collaborative
  • Doctoral
  • Research
• Registration option(s) 
  • Full-time
• Study option(s) 
  • Thesis

• Minimum requirements 
  • A Master of Science (MSc) degree (or equivalent) in Science with at least a minimum overall standing of 75% in the last 2 years (domestic students only).
  • Direct admission to the PhD program from a Bachelor of Science (BSc) program is also possible for outstanding students who graduated with an overall 89% standing at the undergraduate level. Course requirements are reduced by one course for students admitted directly to the PhD program from a BSc.
• Application materials 
  • Supplementary information form
  • Transcript(s)
• References 
  • Number of references:  3
  • Type of references: 

    academic

• English language proficiency (ELP) (if applicable)

Thesis option:

Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)

Courses 

• Students must complete 3 half credit core courses (0.50 unit weight) including NANO 600 Introduction to Nanotechnology, 1 nanotechnology core course, and 1 elective graduate level CHEM course (0.50 unit weight).
• Students who have completed their Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc) degree in Nanotechnology Engineering or a Master’s degree in Nanotechnology at the University of Waterloo can not take NANO 600 Introduction to Nanotechnology. Instead, they can choose any 1 course from the list of nanotechnology core courses.
• Students admitted with an appropriate Honours Bachelor’s degree who transfer directly to the PhD program must complete 5 half credit courses (0.50 unit weight) including NANO 600 Introduction to Nanotechnology, 1 nanotechnology core course, CHEM 784 Foundations of Literature Review, CHEM 794 Master's Seminar, and 1 elective graduate level CHEM course.
• Students who transfer directly from a Master’s program to the PhD program must complete 6 half credit courses (0.50 unit weight) including NANO 600 Introduction to Nanotechnology, 1 nanotechnology core course, CHEM 784 Foundations of Literature Review, CHEM 794 Master's Seminar, 1 elective course, and 1 graduate level CHEM course.
• Nanotechnology core courses:
  • NANO 601 Characterization of Nanomaterials
  • NANO 602 Structure and Spectroscopy of Nanoscale Materials
  • NANO 603 Nanocomposites
  • NANO 604 Nanomechanics and Molecular Dynamics Simulations
  • NANO 605/SYDE 683 Design of MEMS & NEMS
  • NANO 606/SYDE 682 Advanced MicroElectroMechanical Systems: Physics, Design & Fabrication
• Core courses are designed to provide the base knowledge and skill set required to prepare students for more specialized courses and to conduct interdisciplinary nanoscale research.

Link(s) to courses

• Chemistry (CHEM) courses
• Nanotechnology (NANO) courses

PhD Seminar

• Students must present a 30-minute seminar.
• Seminar attendance requirements can be completed by attendance at any combination of Chemistry and Nanotechnology seminars.

PhD Comprehensive Examination

• Students are required to meet the University-level PhD Comprehensive Examination minimum requirements outlined in the “Minimum requirements for the PhD degree” section of the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar (GSAC).
• In addition to the University-level PhD Comprehensive Examination minimum requirements, students in the PhD in Chemistry - Nanotechnology program are also required to meet the following requirements:
  • PhD students admitted with a Master’s degree must complete the examination during their 2nd term. Students admitted directly from a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree must complete the examination during their 5th term.
  • The Examining Committee will consist of two Chemistry graduate faculty members and one member from the opposite campus (where applicable, from Guelph or Waterloo).
  • The examination will be chaired by the GWC² (Guelph-Waterloo Centre for Graduate Work in Chemistry and Biochemistry) Director, or designate. The supervisor will not attend the examination.
  • If the first attempt is unsuccessful, the student will be granted a 2nd attempt to take place not less than 2 and not more than 4 months from the date of the 1st attempt.

PhD Thesis

• Students must complete an original research thesis dissertation.