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Master of Arts in Cultural Analysis and Social Theory - (Major Research Project Option)

Wilfrid Laurier University - Waterloo Campus

Canada,Ontario

0 Shortlist

12 Months

Duration

CAD 22,461/year

Tuition Fee

CAD 125

Application Fee

Sep 2026

Apply Date

Canada, Ontario

Type: University

Location Type: Urban

Founded: 1960

Total Students: 20,000 +

Int. Students: 12,232 +

Campus Detail

Main Campus Address

75 University Ave West, Waterloo, Ontario, CA

Overview
Key Facts
Fees & Funding
Admission Requirements
Additional Info
Scholarships
Student Visa
Work Permit

Master of Arts in Cultural Analysis and Social Theory - (Major Research Project Option)

Program Overview

The interdisciplinary Master of Arts (MA) in Cultural Analysis and Social Theory (CAST) is a 12-month program that provides dynamic graduate experience in an intimate intellectual community.

Our unique program brings together students with a wide variety of academic backgrounds to examine contemporary social and cultural issues while expanding and diversifying knowledge sets and developing advanced research and communication skills.

Program Highlights

Professional development in the program colloquium, including advanced research workshops, teaching and learning workshops, and research talks by scholars from both within and outside Laurier.
Participation in the activities of a research group. Students have contributed to the organization and execution of international and local conferences, participated in advanced workshops with visiting scholars, and presented their own research at student conferences.
Encouragement of non-traditional research projects and the development of new tools to address social justice, social and cultural difference, and social change in a supportive student-centred context.
Opportunities to work with faculty on grant-funded projects.

Major Research Project Option
For the Major Research Project option, you will take:

CQ600: Colloquium
CQ601: Cultural Analysis and Social Theory
CQ602: Approaches to Cultural Analysis
CQ695*: Major Research Project
Three electives to be taken in CAST offerings and in other complementary MA programs at Laurier (with permission)

*Under the supervision of a faculty member, students complete the major research project in which they engage in original research on an approved topic. Projects may take the form of a paper between 50 and 70 pages in length, or an equivalent alternative or creative project approved by the program.

Detailed Program Facts

Program Level

Master's Degree

Application Processing Days

14 Days

Program Intensity

Full-Time

Duration of Program

12 Months

Program Intakes

Intake Month/Year		Intake Status
may 2025		Not Available
sep 2026		Open
sep 2025		Closed
jan 2026		Not Available

Application Fee

Application Fee: CAD 125

Tuition Fee

CAD 22,461 per year

*Note: The fee is approximate and is subject to change

Living Cost in Wilfrid Laurier University - Waterloo Campus

CAD 20,600 per year

*Note: The fee is approximate and is subject to change

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

Funding

Check program website for more information about funding options.

English Test Requirements

IELTS
- Minimum Overall Score - 6.5 - 6 - With No Band Less Than
TOEFL
- Minimum Overall Score - 83 - 20 - With no score less than
PTE
- Minimum Overall Score - 59.0

Minimum Level of Education Required: To be accepted into this program, applicants must have a Bachelor of Arts (honours) degree or equivalent.

Minimum CGPA Required: 77.00 %

Additional Information

Careers

Graduates of the CAST program have identified the ways that their degree in CAST has helped them professionally, such as advanced skills in research, analysis, communication, critical thinking, and diversity and inclusion, among others. Alumni surveys show our students have high success rates in locating employment related to their studies following graduation and in securing admission to programs to continue their studies, including law school and PhD programs.

Graduates of our CAST program have pursued the following career options:

social policy researcher/advisor
cultural research assistant/associate
arts/culture critic
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion consultant
humanitarian aid worker/administrator
museum/gallery curator
college/university instructor
advocates for LGBTQ/women’s/disability/BIPOC/migrant worker rights
literacy education and programming
non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
settlement/health/legal agencies
writer/journalist/editor
community development/relations coordinator
project/grant writer/manager/coordinator/director
communication specialist
community instructor/educator/activism

Scholarships

Scholarships and Bursaries

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	Domestic Students	International Students
GPA to achieve offer - 79.9%	N/A	$5,000
80.0 - 84.9%	N/A	$5,000
85.0–89.9%	$2,500	$5,000
90.0–94.9%	$3,000	$5,000
95.0–100%**	$4,000	$6,000

Requirements to Receive Your Entrance Scholarship

You must be registered full-time (2.0 credits minimum per term) to receive the full entrance scholarship amount and you must be registered in two terms within your first academic year (an academic year at Laurier is from September to August). The value of your entrance scholarship is split between your first two terms of study.

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.

Stay Golden at Laurier: International Scholarship and Housing Guarantee

We are excited to offer the Stay Golden at Laurier program, which is exclusive to international undergraduate students. Through the program, we are offering two ways to support you in your upper years at Laurier:

The Stay Golden International Scholarship, worth up to $24,000 CAD over four years (and up to $30,000 CAD over five years for approved five-year degree programs).
The Stay Golden International Housing Guarantee, which ensures you have off-campus apartment-style housing throughout your degree.

1. Stay Golden International Scholarship

The Stay Golden International Scholarship is a renewable entrance scholarship. The value awarded is based on your final admissions average for your first year, then on your GPA during your studies at Laurier for upper years. This scholarship is available to international undergraduate students studying in Brantford, Milton or Waterloo.

**Stay Golden International Scholarship Values**
Final Admissions Average	Year 1 Scholarship Value	Years 2, 3 and 4 Scholarship Value**	Total Scholarship Value
95.0 - 100%*	$6,000	$6,000	$24,000
90.0 - 94.9%	$5,000	$5,000	$20,000
85.0 - 89.9%	$5,000	$5,000	$20,000
80.0 - 84.9%	$5,000	$5,000	$20,000
GPA to achieve offer - 79.9%	$5,000	$5,000	$20,000

*This is the President’s Gold Scholarship. To receive and maintain this scholarship, all renewal criteria must be met. Students who do not meet the renewal criteria for the President’s Gold Scholarship in years 2, 3 and 4 may qualify for the Stay Golden Scholarship if renewal criteria for that scholarship is met. The President’s Gold Scholarship and the Stay Golden scholarship cannot be combined.

**Students who maintain a GPA of 7.0 or higher in each year of study at Laurier are eligible to receive $5,000 CAD in their upper years of study. All renewal requirements must be met to maintain the scholarship.

How the Scholarship Works

Achieve an offer of admission to an undergraduate program at Laurier to earn an entrance scholarship, ranging in value from $5,000 to $6,000 CAD. The value of your entrance scholarship is split between your first two terms of study.
In your first year at Laurier, achieve a minimum overall GPA of 7.0 (70%) to receive $5,000 CAD in your second year. Your average will include grades from all courses.
Continue to achieve a minimum overall GPA of 7.0 (70%) or higher in each year of study and continue to receive $5,000 CAD the following year.
As long as you meet the renewal requirements in your previous year of study, you will receive the scholarship in each year of your program at Laurier, for a total of up to $24,000 CAD for four-year degrees (or up to $30,000 CAD for select five-year degrees).

2. Stay Golden International Housing Guarantee

We know it’s important to have a safe and comfortable place to live while you’re in university. We already have our residence guarantee for first-year undergraduate students and now we’re offering guaranteed housing for international students in all years of their studies at Laurier.

The upper-year housing guarantee is available to international undergraduate students beginning their studies in fall 2024, winter 2025 or fall 2025 in Brantford or Waterloo only.

Housing Styles
With the housing guarantee, you’ll live on campus in residence in your first year. In your upper years, you’ll live off campus in apartment-style housing, where you’ll have a full kitchen so you can prepare your own meals.

Housing Guarantee for Students Starting in the Fall

Accept your offer to Laurier to begin your studies in the fall (September).
Submit your residence application and deposit no later than the posted deadline.
Live in residence for your first year (required for the upper-year housing guarantee).
We’ll contact you each year with more information about upper-year housing for the following year.
Opt in to the upper-year housing guarantee by the communicated deadlines.
Live in off-campus housing in your upper years!

For more information, click here.

Student Visa For Canada

Any student who wishes to study in Canada requires a student visa. Some of the essential information for the application process is given below.

When Should I Apply?

4 to 6 months

Ideally, one should apply for the study permit at least 4 to 6 months before the commencement of your course/program.

Bank Account

No Need!

There is no need for a blocked bank account to apply for a student visa to Canada.

Duration of visa

Course Duration + 3 Months

The student visa is valid for the entire period of your course plus three months.

Time to Wait for Visa

35 Days

It takes time. It might take up to 35 days post your interview for the application process to complete and for you to finally receive your visa.

Appointment

Required

It varies from applicant to applicant, but one may have to take part in one or two visa appointments, namely a medical examination and a visa interview.

How you can apply

Application Process

An applicant can either apply online or offline by visiting a visa application centre and submitting their documents. After the analysis of your application, you might be called for an interview.

Fee

Visa Fee

The visa application fee for Canada is CAD 150.

Minimum Funds

833 CAD, 917 CAD

You require a minimum monthly amount to be deposited into your account to prove that you can sustain yourself while studying in Canada. If you are studying in Quebec, you need to have a monthly minimum of CAD 917, and if you are studying in a province except for Quebec, you need to have a minimum of CAD 833 per month.

Any other expenses

Required

You will have to pay a medical examination fee and a visa application service fee to the tune of CAD 15 if you visit a visa application centre to apply for your visa.

Medical Examination

Required

One has to undergo a series of medical examinations to be deemed fit for a student visa of Canada. The tests mostly include blood and urine tests, chest x-rays and other organ checkups.

Language Skills

Not Required

one doesn’t need to prove their language skills in applying for a Canadian Visa.

Disclaimer: The information provided about the work permit is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. All recommendations are made without any guarantee on the part of the author or the publisher. The author and the publisher, therefore, disclaim any liability in connection to and with the use of this information.

Work Permit

PGWP

Students who wish to work in Canada require a work permit to do so. A student in Canada can work part-time during the course of his studies and full-time during holidays and semester breaks and post the completion of their course/program.

Rules for getting a part-time work visa in Canada

You can also work part-time on campus at your university.

Work Permit

Duration

Your part-time work permit will be valid for as long as you have a valid study permit.

Working Hours

20 Hours/Week

As a full-time student, you can work for a maximum of 20 hours a week. However, you can work full- time during holidays and breaks.

Documents Required

List

To apply for a work permit, you will need a study permit that mentions that you are allowed to work part-time on campus.

Social Insurance Number

Study Permit

You will need a Social Insurance Number (SIN) to Service Canada. if you wish to work in Canada during the course of your studies. To apply for the same, you need a valid study permit, and you should be a full- time student at a recognized university.

You can work part-time off-campus if you are studying in the Quebec province.

Duration of Work Permit

Your part-time work permit will be valid for as long as you have a valid study permit.

Work Hours

As a full-time student, you can work for a maximum of 20 hours a week. However, you can work full- time during holidays and breaks.

Documents Required

To apply for a work permit, you will need a study permit that mentions that you are allowed to work part-time on campus.

Social Insurance Number

You will need a Social Insurance Number (SIN) to Service Canada if you wish to work in Canada during the course of your studies. To apply for the same, you need a valid study permit, and you should be a full- time student at a recognized university.

Working after completing your course

In Canada, you will need a work permit to get a full-time job in Canada after finishing your studies. You chose a work permit like the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) if you wish to stay back in Canada and work full-time.

Visit Government of Canada Website for more detail

Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)

The Post- Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) allows you to work for three years in Canada if you have completed a two years degree or more.

Application

how can i apply

You can either apply online or download the form and mail the application along with the required documents. Pay your fee and then wait for the decision to come.

Application Documents Required

List

To apply for the work visa, you need a degree from a recognized and accredited Canadian University along with an intention to stay and work in Canada only temporarily.

When to Apply?

One can apply for the full-time work permit in the first three months post the completion of their course during which the study permit is still valid.

How long does it take?

90 days

You will have to wait for 90 days for the decision on your work permit.

Duration

3 Years

The work permit is valid for 3 years if you have completed a two years degree program or more.

Fees

CAD 255

The fee for the work permit is CAD 255 plus the holder fee and the work permit processing fee.

Monthly Wages

CAD 1,600

An applicant is guaranteed a minimum salary of CAD 1,600 per month while working in Canada. This amount though varies on the job and the province you are working in.

Work Hours

No Limit

There is no maximum limit, and you can work for as many hours as you want on the full-time work permit.

Required Documents

List

To apply for the work visa, you will need the following documents:

Forms: IMM 5710, IMM 5476 and IMM 5475;
Graduation Proof
Proof of payment of work permit fees
Copies of your travel and identification documents, passport pages and current immigration document.

Till a decision is made on your work visa, you can continue to work full time. All you need to have is your completed degree, should have applied for the permit before the expiry of your study permit and you should be allowed to work off-campus.

Information

Disclaimer

The information provided about the work permit is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. All recommendations are made without any guarantee on the part of the author or the publisher. The author and the publisher, therefore, disclaim any liability in connection to and with the use of this information.

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Master of Arts in Cultural Analysis and ...

Program Level: Master's Degree
Duration: 12 months
Tuition Fee: CAD 22,461

Application Fee: CAD 125

English Requirement: IELTS TOEFL PTE

Work Permit:

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