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Home > Study in Canada > Wilfrid Laurier University - Waterloo Campus > Master of Arts in Religion, Culture and Global Justice (Thesis-Based Option)

Master of Arts in Religion, Culture and Global Justice (Thesis-Based Option) Wilfrid Laurier University - Waterloo Campus Wilfrid Laurier University - Waterloo Campus, Canada

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CAD 21171

Annual Tuition Fee

!
*Subject to change and other fees
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CAD 125

Application Fee

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24 months

Duration

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6.5

IELTS

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83

TOEFL

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77%

Min GPA

Program Overview

Our faculty, drawn from Laurier’s departments of Religion and Culture and Global Studies, are specialists in disciplines across the social sciences and humanities and conduct research around the world. We bring our diverse knowledge and expertise into the classroom and to our student supervision to foster transformative learning and the spirit of free inquiry.

The interdisciplinary nature of the Master of Arts (MA) in Religion, Culture and Global Justice program prepares you to move into professional arenas within and outside of academia, such as:

  • International relations and public policy
  • Interreligious dialogue and peace-building
  • Refugee and migrant resettlement
  • Institutional human rights and diversity policy
  • Journalism and communications
  • Programming on multiculturalism and community development

We encourage you to interrogate conventions and develop new modes of ethical engagement. In doing so, we seek to cultivate the critical skills and the knowledge that you need to succeed both within and beyond the university.

 

Thesis Option

A full-time, two-year, thesis-based option is available for those who wish to pursue a topic in greater depth. In the thesis option (in place of the major research project), you will complete a thesis proposal by the end of your first year, and in your second year complete a thesis and an oral defence.


Note: Internal funding is typically only available for the first year; students thinking of completing the two-year thesis option or a sixteen month internship option should have alternate funding (e.g. hold an external scholarship such as SSHRC or have assured research assistantship funding from their supervisor) for their second year.

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Additional Information

Program Level Master's Degree

College/University Processing Time 42 Days

Program Format Full-Time

Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) work permit

Program Intake

Open

Sep 2025

Closed

Sep 2024

General Admission Requirement

  • IELTS
    • Minimum Overall Score - 6.5 - With No Band Less Than - 6
  • TOEFL
    • Minimum Overall Score - 83 - With no score less than - 20
  • PTE
    • Minimum Overall Score - 59

Academic Requirement

  • Minimum Level of Education Required: To be accepted into this program, applicants must have a four-year (honours) undergraduate degree (or equivalent).
  • A minimum B average in your fourth year of undergraduate study and a B+ in your major.

6.5 IELTS Score
83 TOEFL Score Minimum Overall Score
59 PTE Score Minimum Overall Score
77% CGPA Minimum Overall Score

Similar Programs

Tuition Fee

The values given below are estimated figures, excluding extra charges like material fee, student activity fees, athletic fees, health care, etc., for courses. To know more, please visit the Programs page.

Average Tuition Fee Per Year

21171

Tuition Fee
(CAD)

CAD 125

Application Fee
(CAD)

11000 Per year

Average Cost of Living
(CAD)

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The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Check program website for more information about funding options.

Scholarships

You’re investing in your future by getting a university education, so we invest in you also. We have several funding opportunities available for your first year at Laurier and after. Our newest scholarship, the Laurier Scholars Award, recognizes academic achievement and leadership qualities with an award valued up to $40,000 over four years.


Entrance Scholarships

When you apply to Laurier, you’re automatically considered for an entrance scholarship if you are:

  • Attending postsecondary for the first time.
  • Starting your degree at Laurier with fewer than 4.0 university credits previously attempted (at any university) or less than 1 year of full-time college education.


Entrance scholarships are offered based on your admission average as of July 2025. No application is required. If you are not eligible for an entrance scholarship, you may be eligible for other scholarships, awards and bursaries.

 

Entrance Scholarship Values

Admission Average

International Students

80.0 - 84.9%

$1,500

85.0–89.9%

$3,000

90.0–94.9%

$5,000

95.0–100%**

$6,000

 


Laurier Scholars Awards

The prestigious Laurier Scholars Award is an annual entrance scholarship that was established in 2021 to offer high-achieving students the opportunity to participate in a dynamic learning environment that will foster innovative thinking and ethical, visionary leadership. This award is worth up to $40,000 over four years.

This scholarship requires an application. The application will open December 2, 2024 and the deadline to apply for fall 2025 is Feb. 25, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.

 

President's Gold Scholarship

If your admission average is 95% or higher, we will award you with the President's Gold Scholarship for your first year at Laurier, which is worth $4,000 for domestic students and $6,000 for international students. If you maintain the eligibility requirements, you will receive another $4,000 (domestic) or $6,000 (international) per year for four years (or up to five for some programs).


This scholarship is automatically renewable if you achieve an annual GPA (grade point average) of 10.5 or higher based on the completion of a minimum of 5.0 full credits during the past academic year. Students who receive the President's Gold Scholarship are not eligible to receive in-course scholarships. See the full eligibility requirements to maintain your President’s Gold Scholarship.

 

Competitive Scholarships, Awards and Bursaries

Every year, you can apply for competitive scholarships, awards and bursaries by completing an online student profile about yourself. Awards are granted based on the information you provide, including your interests, involvement, financial need, academic achievement and more. The application process begins in June and there are up to three profiles to complete once you accept your offer.

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