University of Waterloo
Gallery
Overview
At a Glance
Visit Website (Opens In A New Tab)
- Urban Centre Size
- Medium (150-500K)
- Number of Students
- 42,000
- DLI Number
- O19305471522
- Main Campus Region
- West
- Phone
- 1-519-888-4567
- askus@uwaterloo.ca
- Summary
Ranked as Canada’s most innovative university for 30 of the last 32 years (Maclean’s), the University of Waterloo offers 100+ programs in business, health, engineering, math, science, the arts, and environment.
We offer the world’s largest co-op program of its kind. Our co-op students completed nearly 25,000 work terms last year, earning between $9,600 and $22,500 CAD per work term (which could total up to $135,000 CAD earned over the course of your degree). What does co-op mean for you? It means you get up to two years of relevant work experience built into your degree – testing careers, making money, building your résumé, and accessing our network of 8,000+ employers (including many of the world’s leading companies) before you even graduate.
Waterloo ranks among the world’s top 115 universities (QS World University Rankings 2024) and is Canada’s #1 comprehensive research university (Research Infosource 2023). Physics and Astronomy professor Donna Strickland won the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics, only the third woman in history to do so. Plus, we have a first-year residence guarantee, 200+ clubs, and Canada’s largest campus recreation program.
With 42,000+ students, the surrounding community provides an exciting range of shops and restaurants and is home to residents from 200 cultural backgrounds. The University is located in the city of Waterloo, 110 km west of Toronto, Canada’s largest and most dynamic city. Learn more at uwaterloo.ca/future.
Profile
The best and brightest are drawn to the University of Waterloo for our renowned academic programs , North America’s largest co-operative education program (paid internships), and our reputation as one of Canada’s leading universities. Many of our programs rank among the top 50 in the world.
Waterloo champions a culture of curiosity, exploration, risk-taking, entrepreneurship, global stewardship and leadership. We bring bold ideas and brilliant minds together — inspiring innovations with global impact today and in the future.
With more than 41,000+ students attending annually, Waterloo is #1 in Canada for experiential learning and employer-student connections.
With a global network spanning more than 263,000 alumni in 160 countries, Waterloo attracts world-class scholars including a Nobel Laureate, leads in providing work-integrated learning opportunities with 8,000+ active co-op employers and fosters an entrepreneurial spirit that’s created 10,000+ jobs through Velocity alone, Canada’s most productive startup incubator by private investment.
Guided by our Waterloo at 100 strategic vision , the University of Waterloo continues to spur innovation to solve problems on a global scale. Together, with the help of our partners and community, we can accomplish even more.
Requirements and Admissions
Requirements for Students Based Outside of Canada
High school diploma or equivalent
- View specific program requirements and recommendations .
- You may be required to submit detailed course descriptions and reading lists from previous classes to ensure that you have met the program requirements.
- You are advised to send predicted grades for all courses for which midterm marks are not available.
Requirements for Students Based in Canada
High school diploma
- Specific admission requirements vary based on the provincial curriculum.
- For Ontario students: Ontario Secondary School Diploma, including a minimum of six Grade 12 U or M courses or a combination, which must include specific program requirements.
- Minimum average of 80% on the best six Grade 12 courses including required courses. Higher averages are required for admission to programs in which the demand for places by qualified applicants exceeds the number of places available.
- Repeated courses may be taken into consideration depending on the program.
All Applicants
- We may require supplemental forms with your application.
- All Engineering programs (excluding Architecture), all programs in the Faculty of Mathematics, Computing and Financial Management, Geography and Aviation, Science and Aviation
-
Conditional Admission to Pharmacy (CAP), Optometry, Pharmacy, and Social Work
Instead of the AIF, you’ll complete a series of short supplementary forms. These will be listed in an easy-to-follow checklist in the Waterloo applicant portal . We’ll send you login information once we receive your application.
- All applications for full-time, on-campus studies at Waterloo are handled by the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC ).
- Find more about important dates and deadlines .
Have questions about admissions requirements?
Find more information on our admissions requirements page .
Programs
View Institution Programs (Opens In A New Tab)
- Anthropology
- Applied mathematics
- Architectural engineering
- Architecture (BArch, BA, BS, BSc, MArch, MA, MS, MSc, PhD)
- Astronomy and astrophysics
- Biochemistry/biophysics and molecular biology
- Bioengineering and biomedical engineering
- Biological and biomedical sciences, other
- Biology, general
- Biomathematics, bioinformatics, and computational biology
- Biotechnology
- Business administration, management and operations
- Business, management, marketing and related support services, other
- Business/commerce, general
- Chemical engineering
- Chemistry
- City/urban, community and regional planning
- Civil engineering
- Classics and classical languages, literatures and linguistics
- Communication and media studies
- Computer engineering
- Computer science
- Criminology
- Drama/theatre arts and stagecraft
- Ecology, evolution, systematics and population biology
- Economics
- Electrical and electronic engineering technologies/technicians
- Engineering, other
- English language and literature, general
- English rhetoric and composition/writing studies
- Finance and Financial Management Services
- Fine arts and art studies
- French literature
- Genetics
- Geography and cartography
- Geological and Earth sciences/geosciences
- Geological/geophysical engineering
- Health and physical education/fitness
- Health/medical preparatory programs
- History
- Housing and human environments
- Human Resources Management and Services
- International relations and national security studies
- Materials sciences
- Mathematics
- Mathematics and statistics, other
- Mechanical engineering
- Mechatronics, robotics, and automation engineering
- Microbiological sciences and immunology
- Music
- Nanotechnology
- Natural resources conservation and research
- Natural resources management and policy
- Neurobiology and neurosciences
- Optometry (OD)
- Parks, recreation and leisure facilities management
- Parks, recreation and leisure studies
- Parks, recreation, leisure and fitness studies, other
- Pharmacology and toxicology
- Pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences and administration
- Physical Science Technologies/Technicians
- Physical sciences, general
- Physics
- Physiology, pathology and related sciences
- Political science and government
- Pre-Health Sciences
- Psychology, general
- Public health
- Rehabilitation and therapeutic professions
- Sociology
- Sociology and anthropology
- Soil sciences
- Statistics
- Systems engineering
- Taxation
- Teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas
- Urban studies/affairs
- Visual, digital and performing arts, general
Student Experience
How would it feel to step into your dream job right out of university?
Waterloo’s co-op program is an amazing way to explore careers and gain paid work experience while earning your university degree. You’ll graduate with up to two years of valuable experience – and make money! Learn more about co-op and careers .
We also have more than 200 student clubs , 250 athletic and fitness programs , and a variety of services specifically for international students .
Want to explore more? Our international student guide is a great resource for what it’s like to be a Waterloo student.
Explore our international student guide (Opens In A New Tab)
Scholarships and Bursaries
Scholarships allow us to celebrate and recognize your achievements! Entrance scholarships are available if you’re starting full-time first-year degree studies and are beginning university or college for the first time.
- NEW: International Entrance Scholarships
- Learn about scholarships you’ll be automatically considered for .
- Most scholarships do not require an application, but there are some exceptions .
- Scholarships are normally awarded in mid-May once we receive updated grades from Ontario high schools.
You can also visit our awards website to search the full list of entrance scholarships, awards and bursaries . Once you’re a Waterloo student, there are scholarships and bursaries you can apply to throughout your degree.
Housing
With Waterloo’s guaranteed residence for first-year and transfer students , you can live in the middle of the action and be close to your classes, labs and tutorials, the Student Life Centre, gyms, places to eat, and more.
From traditional dorm-style rooms to apartment-style suites , Waterloo offers 12 accessible residences, including four University Colleges (Conrad Grebel, Renison, St. Jerome’s University, and United College). Like the Waterloo campus, residence is a global community with students who bring diverse experiences and perspectives. In residence, you’ll find both spaces and people to help you thrive.
Each of Waterloo’s first-year residences offer personal and academic support, such as Living Learning Communities, residence life staff and social activities to help you adjust to living away from home.
Contact Information
-
Marketing and Undergraduate Recruitment
- Address
200 University Ave W.
Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1 Canada- Phone Number
- 1-519-888-4567
- askus@uwaterloo.ca
Profile
The best and brightest are drawn to the University of Waterloo for our renowned academic programs , North America’s largest co-operative education program (paid internships), and our reputation as one of Canada’s leading universities. Many of our programs rank among the top 50 in the world.
Waterloo champions a culture of curiosity, exploration, risk-taking, entrepreneurship, global stewardship and leadership. We bring bold ideas and brilliant minds together — inspiring innovations with global impact today and in the future.
With more than 41,000+ students attending annually, Waterloo is #1 in Canada for experiential learning and employer-student connections.
With a global network spanning more than 263,000 alumni in 160 countries, Waterloo attracts world-class scholars including a Nobel Laureate, leads in providing work-integrated learning opportunities with 8,000+ active co-op employers and fosters an entrepreneurial spirit that’s created 10,000+ jobs through Velocity alone, Canada’s most productive startup incubator by private investment.
Guided by our Waterloo at 100 strategic vision , the University of Waterloo continues to spur innovation to solve problems on a global scale. Together, with the help of our partners and community, we can accomplish even more.
Requirements and Admissions
Requirements for Students Based Outside of Canada
High school diploma or equivalent
- View specific program requirements and recommendations .
- You may be required to submit detailed course descriptions and reading lists from previous classes to ensure that you have met the program requirements.
- You are advised to send predicted grades for all courses for which midterm marks are not available.
Requirements for Students Based in Canada
High school diploma
- Specific admission requirements vary based on the provincial curriculum.
- For Ontario students: Ontario Secondary School Diploma, including a minimum of six Grade 12 U or M courses or a combination, which must include specific program requirements.
- Minimum average of 80% on the best six Grade 12 courses including required courses. Higher averages are required for admission to programs in which the demand for places by qualified applicants exceeds the number of places available.
- Repeated courses may be taken into consideration depending on the program.
All Applicants
- We may require supplemental forms with your application.
- All Engineering programs (excluding Architecture), all programs in the Faculty of Mathematics, Computing and Financial Management, Geography and Aviation, Science and Aviation
-
Conditional Admission to Pharmacy (CAP), Optometry, Pharmacy, and Social Work
Instead of the AIF, you’ll complete a series of short supplementary forms. These will be listed in an easy-to-follow checklist in the Waterloo applicant portal . We’ll send you login information once we receive your application.
- All applications for full-time, on-campus studies at Waterloo are handled by the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC ).
- Find more about important dates and deadlines .
Have questions about admissions requirements?
Find more information on our admissions requirements page .
Programs
View Institution Programs (Opens In A New Tab)
- Anthropology
- Applied mathematics
- Architectural engineering
- Architecture (BArch, BA, BS, BSc, MArch, MA, MS, MSc, PhD)
- Astronomy and astrophysics
- Biochemistry/biophysics and molecular biology
- Bioengineering and biomedical engineering
- Biological and biomedical sciences, other
- Biology, general
- Biomathematics, bioinformatics, and computational biology
- Biotechnology
- Business administration, management and operations
- Business, management, marketing and related support services, other
- Business/commerce, general
- Chemical engineering
- Chemistry
- City/urban, community and regional planning
- Civil engineering
- Classics and classical languages, literatures and linguistics
- Communication and media studies
- Computer engineering
- Computer science
- Criminology
- Drama/theatre arts and stagecraft
- Ecology, evolution, systematics and population biology
- Economics
- Electrical and electronic engineering technologies/technicians
- Engineering, other
- English language and literature, general
- English rhetoric and composition/writing studies
- Finance and Financial Management Services
- Fine arts and art studies
- French literature
- Genetics
- Geography and cartography
- Geological and Earth sciences/geosciences
- Geological/geophysical engineering
- Health and physical education/fitness
- Health/medical preparatory programs
- History
- Housing and human environments
- Human Resources Management and Services
- International relations and national security studies
- Materials sciences
- Mathematics
- Mathematics and statistics, other
- Mechanical engineering
- Mechatronics, robotics, and automation engineering
- Microbiological sciences and immunology
- Music
- Nanotechnology
- Natural resources conservation and research
- Natural resources management and policy
- Neurobiology and neurosciences
- Optometry (OD)
- Parks, recreation and leisure facilities management
- Parks, recreation and leisure studies
- Parks, recreation, leisure and fitness studies, other
- Pharmacology and toxicology
- Pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences and administration
- Physical Science Technologies/Technicians
- Physical sciences, general
- Physics
- Physiology, pathology and related sciences
- Political science and government
- Pre-Health Sciences
- Psychology, general
- Public health
- Rehabilitation and therapeutic professions
- Sociology
- Sociology and anthropology
- Soil sciences
- Statistics
- Systems engineering
- Taxation
- Teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas
- Urban studies/affairs
- Visual, digital and performing arts, general
Student Experience
How would it feel to step into your dream job right out of university?
Waterloo’s co-op program is an amazing way to explore careers and gain paid work experience while earning your university degree. You’ll graduate with up to two years of valuable experience – and make money! Learn more about co-op and careers .
We also have more than 200 student clubs , 250 athletic and fitness programs , and a variety of services specifically for international students .
Want to explore more? Our international student guide is a great resource for what it’s like to be a Waterloo student.
Explore our international student guide (Opens In A New Tab)
Scholarships and Bursaries
Scholarships allow us to celebrate and recognize your achievements! Entrance scholarships are available if you’re starting full-time first-year degree studies and are beginning university or college for the first time.
- NEW: International Entrance Scholarships
- Learn about scholarships you’ll be automatically considered for .
- Most scholarships do not require an application, but there are some exceptions .
- Scholarships are normally awarded in mid-May once we receive updated grades from Ontario high schools.
You can also visit our awards website to search the full list of entrance scholarships, awards and bursaries . Once you’re a Waterloo student, there are scholarships and bursaries you can apply to throughout your degree.
Housing
With Waterloo’s guaranteed residence for first-year and transfer students , you can live in the middle of the action and be close to your classes, labs and tutorials, the Student Life Centre, gyms, places to eat, and more.
From traditional dorm-style rooms to apartment-style suites , Waterloo offers 12 accessible residences, including four University Colleges (Conrad Grebel, Renison, St. Jerome’s University, and United College). Like the Waterloo campus, residence is a global community with students who bring diverse experiences and perspectives. In residence, you’ll find both spaces and people to help you thrive.
Each of Waterloo’s first-year residences offer personal and academic support, such as Living Learning Communities, residence life staff and social activities to help you adjust to living away from home.
Contact Information
-
Marketing and Undergraduate Recruitment
- Address
200 University Ave W.
Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1 Canada- Phone Number
- 1-519-888-4567
- askus@uwaterloo.ca
Location
Student Testimonials
Read about the experiences of past international students.
-
I really got to explore every facet of research during my co-op term at Waterloo. It spanned from government clinical trials to even starting up some of my own smaller research projects.
, -
Even though I was shy about getting involved, I joined and volunteered in many campus activities. The more I got involved at Waterloo, the more I felt comfortable being myself and being a part of this great community.
, -
One of the first people I met was an upper-year mentor who took the time to help me through tough times in first year, giving me a broader perspective on my education and the decisions I made. I’m truly grateful for such a helpful and supportive community.
,
Have questions about admissions?
To learn more about the admissions criteria for each of our programs please contact the admissions office.
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