Accounting and Financial Management at University of Waterloo

Programme overview

Leads to the Bachelor of Accounting and Financial Management (BAFM). Today's organizations generate more data than ever. The challenge isn't finding information. It's knowing what matters, what doesn't, and what to do next. Offered as a co-op programme only.

Faculty: School of Accounting and Finance, Faculty of Arts | Study mode: co-op | Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

What you will study

After first year, 70 to 80% of the classes you'll take will be AFM courses. The number of electives you'll have will depend on which of the program's professional designations (i.e., CPA, CFA) or specializations (e.g., Assurance, Tax, Finance) you choose. Sample upper-year courses include Impact of Technology on Business, Corporate Taxation, Cases and Application in Corporate Finance, Business Strategy.

Career pathways

If you complete both the AFM and the eight-month Master of Accounting (MAcc) programs, you eliminate the need to take the two-year CPA Professional Education Program. Instead, you can proceed directly to the CPA Final Exam (CFE) as soon as you graduate.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Ontario applicants: Six Grade 12 U and/or M courses including Any Grade 12 U English (minimum final grade of 75% is required); Advanced Functions (minimum final grade of 75% is required); Calculus and Vectors (minimum final grade of 75% is required); Admission average: Mid-80s; Recommended courses: Principles of Financial Accounting; Mathematics of Data Management. How to apply: Apply directly to this program on your application. You can apply either to Accounting and Financial Management (AFM) or to Sustainability and Financial Management (SFM), but not both. If you're interested in other financial management programs, you can also apply to Computing and Financial Management and/or Science and Financial Management in addition to AFM or SFM.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the courses you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

First-year students are admitted for the September (fall) term only. Terms: fall (September to December), winter (January to April), spring (May to August). Part-time, online, post-degree and non-degree studies can start in the winter, spring or fall term.

Applications for September 2027 entry close on 1 February 2027 for programs other than Engineering (documents due 15 February 2027) and on 15 January 2027 for Engineering programs other than Architecture (documents due 1 February 2027). International students have the same deadlines. Full-time applicants apply through the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC).

Part-time, online, post-degree and non-degree studies: winter 2027 applications close 30 October 2026 for degree and non-degree (13 November 2026 for post-degree); spring 2027 applications close 26 February 2027 for degree and non-degree (12 March 2027 for post-degree). Optometry closes 12 November 2026 and Pharmacy closes 6 January 2027.

Apply through the official page: https://uwaterloo.ca/future-students/admissions/how-to-apply

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