Master of Science (MSc) in Physics - Nanotechnology

The program information below was valid for the winter 2023 term (January 1, 2023 - April 30, 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
  • Master's
  • Research
• Registration option(s) 
  • Full-time
  • Part-time
• Study option(s) 
  • Thesis

• Minimum requirements 
  • An Honours Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in Science with at least a 75% standing.
• Application materials 
  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Physics subject test scores for all students who have completed their post-secondary education outside of Canada.
  • Supplementary information form
  • Transcript(s)
• References 
  • Number of references:  3
  • Type of references: 

    2 of which are normally from academic sources

• English language proficiency (ELP) (if applicable)

Thesis option:

Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)

Courses 

• Students must complete the following 4 one-term courses (0.50 unit weight):
  • NANO 600 Introduction to Nanotechnology
  • 1 nanotechnology core course
  • 1 of PHYS 701, PHYS 704 or PHYS 706
  • 1 graduate level or 300 or 400 level undergraduate course. Undergraduate courses must be approved by the student’s supervisor, the Associate Chair of Graduate Studies, Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Associate Dean of Science for Graduate Studies prior to enrolment in the 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.
• Students who have completed their Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc) degree in Nanotechnology Engineering at the University of Waterloo can not take NANO 600. Instead, they can choose any 1 course from the list of nanotechnology core courses.
• An average of at least 70% must be obtained in the required courses. A minimum grade of 65% is required for a pass in each course. If a student does not meet these minimum grade requirements, or receives a failing grade in any course, the student may be required to withdraw from the program.

Link(s) to courses

• Physics (PHYS) courses
• Nanotechnology (NANO) courses

Academic Integrity Workshop

• This is a milestone requirement for all full-time students. Part-time students are not required to complete this workshop. This is a mandatory workshop on academic integrity and intellectual property which will be offered to all new incoming graduate students within the Faculty of Science during the first term of each Fall and Winter.
• Note: students will be required to complete both the Academic Integrity Module as a required course along with the Academic Integrity Workshop milestone. The Module will appear on the student's transcript as a course. The Workshop will appear on the student's transcript as a milestone.

Nanotechnology Seminar

• This seminar is a forum for student presentation of research results or proposals. Invited speakers from academia and industry will also present results of research from time to time. The range of topics that will be addressed in the seminar crosses all areas of research in the collaborative program. Each student is required to present at least 1 research seminar. To receive credit, students are required to attend at least 8 seminars other than their own before completing their program.
• The seminar is graded on a Credit/Non-Credit basis.

Master’s Thesis

• Students must complete a thesis based on original research. The subject of research must be approved by the candidate's supervisor.
• Acceptance of the thesis requires the approval by an Examining Committee following an oral defence of the thesis.

Other requirements 

• Advisory Committee meetings: it is required that the student meet formally with their Advisory Committee within the first six months of registration and subsequently at least once per year. If the student receives more than oneunsatisfactory evaluation from an advisory committee meeting, they may be required to withdraw from the program.
• The MSc Advisory Committee must consist of at least three members, including:
  • The student’s supervisor(s); the primary supervisor acts as the Committee Chair.
  • At least one Committee member that is a regular faculty member of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Waterloo. Note: This requirement does not apply for MSc students who are supervised by a Perimeter Institute faculty member with ADDS status.
  • At least two Committee members that are regular, adjunct, or cross-listed faculty members of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Waterloo or the Department of Physics at the University of Guelph.
• The MSc Defence Committee must consist of a minimum of three voting faculty members, including:
  • The supervisor(s).
  • Two other faculty members, of which one must be a regular faculty member of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Waterloo.