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Master of Arts in Communication Studies - Thesis Option (Co-op)

Wilfrid Laurier University - Waterloo Campus

Canada,Ontario

0 Shortlist

16 Months

Duration

CAD 21,171/year

Tuition Fee

CAD 125

Application Fee

Sep 2025

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 Communication Studies - Thesis Option (Co-op)

Program Overview

Our Master of Arts (MA) in Communication Studies program seeks students with open minds to explore new approaches to media, communication and culture in a challenging, rewarding and supportive environment.

Exploring the interplay of power and communication, our program provides advanced training in core theories and methodologies in communication studies and critically engages contemporary research themes in the discipline.

Thesis Option

In exceptional circumstances, students may be allowed to complete the thesis option instead of the MRP option.

Students in the thesis option will take four one-term courses plus CS699: Thesis, consisting of the two required courses (CS600 and CS601) and two elective courses. The thesis shares the same basic properties and structure of the MRP, but is considerably larger in scope (100-120 pages) and must contain a substantive amount of original scholarly research.

Students wishing to write a thesis should consult with the graduate program director during the fall term of their first year. A thesis abstract, of approximately 500 words, is due December 15 to the graduate co-ordinator. The abstract, along with the student's academic record from the fall term, will be assessed by the graduate co-ordinator and the graduate committee and, if approved, a supervisory committee will be established. Students will be notified of the committee's decision within three weeks of the submission deadline. The committee will then decide upon a work schedule, using the MRP guidelines as a template.

On completion of the thesis, students will be expected to pass an oral defence of the work by an examining committee, which will include the student’s supervisor and reader(s), and an external examiner who is at arm’s length from the student. The purpose of the oral defence is to demonstrate to the examiners that the candidate fully understands the work that was completed, how the research was completed, and the meaning and significance of the findings and conclusions. The candidate must have a clear understanding of how the work fits with the relevant literature and/or practice. The thesis is graded on a pass/fail basis.

About Co-op

The MA in Communication Studies program offers a Co-operative Education option. Co-op students have the unique opportunity to obtain paid employment and professional communication experience in non-profit organizations, the public sector, community groups, and organizations in creative industries. Co-op students are encouraged to pursue work terms in sectors and roles that align with their research interests.

The co-op option is a competitive entry and a limited enrolment option available to full-time students. Students in the co-op option complete their coursework in the fall and winter terms (September to April), have their co-op work term in the spring/summer (May to August), and write their major research paper or thesis in the subsequent fall semester (September to December), typically completing all MA program requirements in approximately 16 months.

Detailed Program Facts

Program Level

Master's Degree

Application Processing Days

42 Days

Program Intensity

Full-Time

Duration of Program

16 Months

Program Intakes

Intake Month/Year		Intake Status
may 2025		Not Available
sep 2024		Closed
sep 2025		Open

Application Fee

Application Fee: CAD 125

Tuition Fee

CAD 21,171 per year

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

Living Cost in Wilfrid Laurier University - Waterloo Campus

CAD 11,000 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 in Communication Studies (honours) degree or equivalent.
Minimum B+ in your undergraduate major program of study and a B+ overall for your last two years of study.

Minimum CGPA Required: 77.00 %

Additional Information

Careers

Our graduates have gone on to work in education, public relations and communications. Examples of jobs held by our graduates include:

national social media specialist for a cancer charity
journalist for national newspapers and television
social and digital strategist for an advertising agency
strategic communication
product content copywriter
communication and education manager
magazine editor
professor of communication studies (university and college)
marketing and communications coordinator
concert booker for event planning and talent agency

Scholarships

Entrance Scholarships

You are automatically assessed for an entrance scholarship when you apply to Laurier and are offered based on your admission average. No application required.

Fall 2024 and Winter 2025 Scholarships

Admission	Award
95.0 – 100%	$6,000
90.0 – 94.9%	$5,000
85.0 – 89.9%	$3,000
80.0 – 84.9%	$1,500

Important Notes:

Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and BBA double-degree students are now eligible for entrance scholarships with an admission average of 80% and higher.
The scholarship for the admission average of 95.0 - 100% is the President's Gold 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. At Laurier, an academic year is from September to August.
The value of your entrance scholarship is split between your first two terms of study.

Stay Golden at Laurier Scholarship

The Stay Golden at Laurier scholarship is for international undergraduate students who begin their studies in fall 2024 or winter 2025 and achieve an admissions average of 80% or higher. In the first year, the scholarship ranges in value from $1,500 to $6,000 CAD, and as long as you meet the renewal requirements, you will receive $5,000 CAD in each upper year of your program at Laurier.

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.