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MasterRecommended
Master of Cultural Analysis and Social Theory
- Waterloo, Canada
- 1 year
- English
- On campus
- Master
About the program
Twelve-month interdisciplinary master's examining contemporary social and cultural issues.
Program highlights
- Internship available: no
- Placement support: yes
- Work during study: yes
- Post-study work rights (Up to 3 years (master's programmes of at least 8 months get 3 years, since 2024-02-15) (Post-Graduation Work Permit; one-time; programme of at least 8 months, full-time, at a PGWP-eligible DLI; language CLB/NCLC 7; no field-of-study requirement; apply within 180 days of completion)): yes
- PR pathway friendly: no
Curriculum
- Courses include the Colloquium
- Cultural Analysis and Social Theory
- Approaches to Cultural Analysis and electives on race
- gender and imperialism
- multiculturalism
- memory and biopolitical theory. Students choose coursework or a Major Research Project.
Entry requirements
Academic
- Four-year honours bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in the same or a related field
- usually with a B to B+ average in the last two years; some programmes ask for work experience
- GMAT/GRE
- a portfolio
- audition or interview as stated on the programme page.
Accepted academic background
Four-year honours bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in the same or a related field, MSW and MBA also look for relevant work experience
Language tests
- IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0)
- TOEFL iBT 83 (20 per skill
- TOEFL PBT 4.5 overall and 4.0 per band from January 2026)
- PTE Academic TOEFL PBT 560
Documents you’ll need
- OUAC Application Summary
- Postsecondary Transcripts
- Confidential References
- English Proficiency Evidence if Applicable
- Program-Specific Statement of Intent or Resume if Required
How to apply
- Check the programme page for requirements and the deadline (international deadlines are usually March 30). Apply online through OUAC and pay the non-refundable application fee
- 130 CAD standard and 105-230 CAD by programme. Upload the documents in the programme checklist to the application portal. Accept the offer and pay the 2
- 000 CAD tuition deposit within two weeks (credited to first-term tuition). Apply for the study permit. Graduate students need no provincial attestation letter from 2026-01-01.
Other costs
| Tuition per year | $25,979 CAD |
|---|---|
| Application fee | $130 CAD |
| Deposit | $2,000 CAD |
Program details
| Campus | Waterloo |
|---|---|
| Faculty or school | Faculty of Arts |
| Department | _ |
| Teaching language | English |
| Credit value | _ |
| Study pace | _ |
| Post-study stay | Up to 3 years (master's programmes of at least 8 months get 3 years, since 2024-02-15) (Post-Graduation Work Permit; one-time; programme of at least 8 months, full-time, at a PGWP-eligible DLI; language CLB/NCLC 7; no field-of-study requirement; apply within 180 days of completion) |
| Scholarship note | _ |
Intakes and deadlines
Program starts
September 2027
Apply by
No deadline listed
Frequently asked questions
The program takes 1 year.
Tuition is $25,979 CAD per year. The application fee is $130 CAD. The deposit is $2,000 CAD. The estimated living cost is $24,000 CAD.
Accepted language tests: IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0), TOEFL iBT 83 (20 per skill, TOEFL PBT 4.5 overall and 4.0 per band from January 2026), PTE Academic TOEFL PBT 560.

