University in Canada
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
University profile
The University of Waterloo is a research-intensive university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, less than 120 km west of Toronto. It opened in 1957 with 74 engineering students and co-operative education as its cornerstone, and is known for entrepreneurship, innovation and work-integrated learning at scale. More than 41,000 full- and part-time students were enrolled across undergraduate and graduate programs in 2025, and the university counts more than 270,000 alumni in 160 countries. Its motto is Concordia cum veritate, "In harmony with truth".
The main campus covers 1,000 acres with more than 100 buildings, and there are three satellite campuses in Cambridge, Kitchener and Stratford. Academic work is organised in six faculties: Arts, Engineering, Environment, Health, Mathematics and Science. Four affiliated and federated institutions sit alongside them: Conrad Grebel University College, Renison University College, St. Jerome's University and United College. Departments and schools include the David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science, the Balsillie School of International Affairs, the Schools of Architecture, Optometry and Vision Science, Pharmacy, Public Health Sciences and Social Work, the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business, and the Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business. More than 100 undergraduate programs are offered.
Co-operative education is central to undergraduate study: 77% of students take part in co-op, more than 120 programs offer it, and over 8,000 employers in more than 70 countries hire co-op students. Graduates can leave with up to two years of paid work experience. Entrepreneurship is supported through Velocity, the GreenHouse Social Impact Incubator, the Grebel Peace Incubator and FlintHub for Indigenous entrepreneurship, and a creator-owned intellectual property policy gives students and researchers ownership of their work.
Student life includes more than 200 student clubs, student-led competitions and hackathons, intramural sport with more than 16,000 participants in 2024/25, and more than 100 exchange programs in over 30 countries. Campus housing is available for nearly 7,000 students. About 15% of undergraduate and 41% of graduate students were international in 2024/25, and international students come from more than 120 countries.
First-year undergraduate entry is for September, and full-time applicants apply through the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC).
Students admitted to a full-time, first-year degree program who are starting university or college for the first time in September are automatically considered; no application is needed. Awards are based on the early-May admission average (top six Grade 12 courses including required courses): 95% or higher, President's Scholarship of Distinction, $2,000 plus a $1,500 International Experience Award and/or $1,500 Research Award available in upper years; 90 to 94.9%, President's Scholarship, $2,000; 85 to 89.9%, Merit Scholarship, $1,000. Recipients must remain enrolled full-time for the September to December term. Scholarships are normally confirmed in mid-May and paid toward tuition from late July. Faculty and program scholarships can be held in addition (for example Engineering awards of $10,000 to $25,000 over eight terms; Honours Arts awards of $10,000 over eight terms).
International fee-paying students admitted to a full-time, first-year degree program receive $10,000 for first-year studies, paid in two $5,000 installments (late July and late November) toward first- and second-term tuition. No application is required and it can be held with other entrance scholarships. It is not available to transfer students admitted with transfer credits, deferred students from a previous year, or students in Medical Sciences, Social Work, Optometry, Pharmacy or 2+2 programs.
Ontario residents with financial need starting university for the first time receive an entrance bursary of $1,000 to $5,000; the form opens February 1 in the applicant portal and closes April 15.
Entrance scholarships | International scholarships | Entrance bursaries
President's and Merit Scholarships (University of Waterloo) →
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View scholarships for University of Waterloo →Each program sets its own required Grade 12 courses (or equivalents from other systems); some require a minimum final grade of 70% or 75% in certain courses, for example Advanced Functions, Calculus and Vectors, Chemistry, Physics or English in Engineering and science programs. The admission average is the average of the top six Grade 12 courses, including those required for the program. Admission requirements range from the high 70s to the mid-90s depending on program. Applicants from outside Ontario need the courses equivalent to the Ontario courses, with equivalencies set for systems such as British A Levels, IB, AP, CAPE and WAEC.
Full-time applicants apply through the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC), ticking the co-op box to apply for co-op. Waterloo emails next steps within 24 to 48 hours of receiving the application. Up to three Waterloo programs may be chosen, only one of them in Engineering (Architecture counts separately). Engineering applicants can name one alternate Engineering program; Software Engineering and Biomedical Engineering cannot be alternates.
Engineering programs other than Architecture: application January 15, 2027, documents February 1, 2027, plus a supplementary Admission Information Form and an online interview. All other programs: application February 1, 2027, documents February 15, 2027. International students follow the same deadlines. Optometry applications are due November 12, 2026 and Pharmacy January 6, 2027 (documents January 20, 2027). Part-time, online, post-degree and non-degree: winter 2027 term October 30, 2026 (documents November 27, 2026); spring 2027 February 26, 2027 (documents March 26, 2027). Late applications are reviewed only if space remains.
A test score is required if the four most recent years of full-time education were not in an English-language school system; exemptions apply for study in Canada, Francophone Canadians, and entirely English-language schools (confirmed by transcripts or an official school letter). Minimums: IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with 6.5 writing, 6.5 speaking, 6.0 reading and 6.0 listening (an overall 7.0 with 6.0 in all components is also accepted); TOEFL iBT 90 overall with 25 writing and 25 speaking for tests before January 21, 2026, and 4.5 overall with 5 writing and 5 speaking from that date (institution code 0996); PTE Academic 63 overall with 65 writing and 65 speaking; Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency 180 overall with 176 in each skill; Duolingo 120 overall with Literacy and Production 125 (tests after July 1, 2024); English for Academic Success (EFAS) 75% overall in level 400 with at least 70% in EFAS 420, 440 and 460. Scores must be from tests completed on or after May 1, 2025 and sent directly by the testing agency. Applicants below the minimum may study through the Bridge to Academic Success in English (BASE) program.
College and university transfer students apply through OUAC. Transfer credit is assessed by course, grade, program and transfer-credit maximums, with official transcripts sent directly to the Office of the Registrar. Credit may be considered for A Level courses (normally a minimum grade of B), AP (normally 4), CAPE Unit 1 and 2 (minimum 2) and Higher Level IB (normally 5).
Master's and graduate diploma applicants with international credentials need at least 75% overall standing in a four-year Honours Bachelor's degree or equivalent (domestic credentials: 75% in the last two years). Doctoral applicants need at least 75% overall in the previous degree plus other superior qualifications such as research ability. The application fee is $150 CAD per program, paid in the applicant portal. English proficiency tests accepted include TOEFL iBT (department code 01), IELTS Academic, Cambridge C1/C2, CAEL, PTE Academic and EFAS; scores are valid for two years, and letters stating that English was the language of instruction are not accepted.
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