Doctorate in Philosophy Environmental Engineering at University of Ottawa - Program overview

Program overview

Admission Requirements

Intakes

Last updated on 2026-10-05

Program overview

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Program overview

The Doctorate in Philosophy (PhD) in Environmental Engineering at the University of Ottawa is designed for students who wish to engage in advanced research in the field of environmental engineering. This program is offered through the Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Environmental Engineering (OCIENE), which combines the expertise of the University of Ottawa and Carleton University. Students will have the opportunity to conduct research in various areas, including water treatment, ecological engineering, and sustainable waste management. The program is primarily conducted in English, with research activities available in both English and French, depending on the faculty and research group.

Program structure

The Doctorate in Philosophy in Environmental Engineering is structured to be completed within four years. The program includes a combination of coursework, research, and a thesis. Key components of the program structure include:

Compulsory courses and optional courses tailored to the student's research interests.
A comprehensive examination that must be completed within the first 16 months of enrollment.
A doctoral thesis based on original research conducted under the supervision of a faculty member.

Students are encouraged to engage in research activities that align with their interests and career goals. The program also offers opportunities for collaboration with faculty members from both the University of Ottawa and Carleton University, enhancing the research experience.

Featured Experiences

The Doctorate in Philosophy in Environmental Engineering program offers several unique features and experiences, including:

Access to state-of-the-art research facilities shared between the two campuses.
Opportunities for interdisciplinary research through collaboration with various engineering departments.
Participation in seminars and workshops that enhance research skills and academic networking.
Potential for joint research projects with industry partners and government agencies.
Flexibility in conducting research in English or French, depending on the research group.

Career Options

Graduates of the Doctorate in Philosophy in Environmental Engineering can pursue a variety of career paths in Canada, including:

Environmental Consultant: Provide expert advice on environmental regulations and sustainability practices to businesses and government agencies.
Research Scientist: Conduct research in academic or government laboratories, focusing on environmental issues such as water quality and pollution control.
Project Manager: Oversee environmental engineering projects, ensuring compliance with regulations and successful project delivery.
Policy Analyst: Analyze and develop environmental policies for government or non-profit organizations, focusing on sustainability and climate change initiatives.
University Professor: Teach and mentor students in environmental engineering while conducting research in specialized areas of the field.

DISCLAIMER: The information above is subject to change. For the latest updates, please contact LOA Portal's advisors.

Visit University of Ottawa official website

Last updated on 2026-10-05

Program overview

Admission Requirements

Environmental Engineering, PhD

Degree Offered: PhD

Available Options for Program

Student status

Full-Time:	Yes
Part-Time:	No

Language

English:	Yes
French:	No

Minimum Requirements

B+ in a related master's degree

Average time to completion

12 terms

Area(s) of specialization

Environmental Engineering

Your complete admission package must include

Application Fee:	CA$125.00 (non-refundable)
Recommendation letter(s):	2 It is highly recommended that you contact your referee prior to submitting your application to confirm their email address and their availability to complete your letter of recommendation.
Transcript(s):	1 You must upload copies of all transcripts from universities you have attended by using the uoDoc application. Transcripts must cover all courses and programs at any university you have attended, including regular programs (whether completed or not), exchanges, letters of permission, online or correspondence courses, courses taken as a non-degree student or visiting students, etc. If your transcript and degree certificate are not in English or French, you must submit a copy of a certified translation. Once you've received your offer of admission, if the offer contains any conditions for submitting official documents, you will need to upload them to uoDoc. Some exceptions apply. Previous or current Ottawa students do not need to submit a transcript of their studies at the University of Ottawa. Professional programs in rehabilitation require all transcripts, including those from uOttawa.
Language requirements (if applicable) Language proficiency test scores equivalencies:	TOEFL 84/New TOEFL 4, 24 (Writing); 20 (Individual)/IELTS 6.5, 6.5 (Writing); 6 (Individual) (Internet-based)
Required document(s):	Preference form Resume Graduates from other Science and Engineering programs must complete 1) Mathematics, Statistics & Programming courses equivalent to engineering programs. Please note that non required admission documents will not be consulted, conserved or returned to the student. These documents will be destroyed according to our administrative procedures.

Language Requirements

Program-Specific English Requirements

Language Requirements

Applicants must be able to understand and fluently speak the language of instruction (French or English) in the program to which they are applying. Proof of linguistic proficiency may be required.

Applicants whose first language is neither French nor English must provide proof of proficiency in the language of instruction.

Note: Candidates are responsible for any fees associated with the language tests.

General Graduate English Requirements

English proficiency test chart

Test	Minimum Required Score
TOEFL iBT Internet-based/Home Edition/Paper (for tests taken before January 21, 2026)*	84 (overall); 24 (writing); no partial score below 20
TOEFL iBT Internet-based / Home Edition/ Paper (for tests taken after January 21, 2026)*	4.5 or 86 (overall); 4.5 or 21 (writing); 4.5 or 22 (reading); 4.5 or 20 (listening); 4 or 20 (speaking)
IELTS Academic/ IELTS Academic One Skill Retake	6.5 (overall); 6.5 (writing); no partial score below 6
Cambridge English Proficiency Tests (B2 First, C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency)	170 (overall); no partial score below 160
PTE (Pearson Test of English)	60 (overall); no partial score below 59
CAEL (Canadian Academic English Language Test)	70 (overall); no partial score below 60

* Effective January 21, 2026, TOEFL is changing its grading system to a 1-6 band scale instead of a 1-120 band scale. Score reports will include results on both scales for the next two years.

The University of Ottawa accepts TOEFL MyBest^®scores for the TOEFL iBT test.

French proficiency test chart

Test	Minimum Required Score
DALF (Diplôme approfondi de langue française)	C1/C2
TCF (Test de connaissance du français)	B2 (overall); no partial score below B2
TEF Canada (Test d’évaluation de français)	B2 (overall); no partial score below B2

Where the program-specific and general graduate requirements above differ, whichever score is higher (stricter) applies.

DISCLAIMER: The information above is subject to change. For the latest updates, please contact LOA Portal's advisors. The listed minimum requirements are a guideline and do not guarantee admission. Do not worry, we will notify you of any changes during the application process.

Not meeting the minimum language requirements?

You may still be able to apply!