Data Science at University of Waterloo

Programme overview

Leads to the Bachelor of Computer Science or a Bachelor of Mathematics in Data Science. Data science has become indispensable to industries around the world. In this program you’ll merge programming, mathematics, statistics, and analytical skills to answer challenging questions. Find out how data from sensors, digital images, streaming videos, satellites, medical imagery, and interactions with cloud computing shape our future. Available in the regular system of study or the co-op system.

Faculty: Faculty of Mathematics | Study mode: full-time | Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

What you will study

Most of your courses will be in Statistics and Computer Science, along with others from Applied Mathematics and Combinatorics and Optimization. Additional foundational courses in Mathematics will also be required. Sample upper-year courses include Computational Statistics and Data Analysis, Optimization Models and Algorithms for Data Science, Scientific Machine Learning, Data-Intensive Distributed Analytics, Capstone in Data Science.

Career pathways

Every day, huge amounts of data are generated by the business, scientific, and social activity taking place all around us. With data now coming from sensors, digital images, streaming video, satellite and medical imagery, and interactions with cloud computing, data-driven approaches to decision making are being applied in areas as diverse as medicine, business, advertising, and entertainment.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Ontario applicants: Six Grade 12 U and/or M courses including Advanced Functions; Calculus and Vectors; Any Grade 12 U English; One other 4U course; Admission averages: Individual selection from the mid-80s if applying directly to Data Science or through Mathematics low to mid-90s if applying through Computer Science; Recommended course; Grade 11 U Introduction to Computer Science; For all students; The Admission Information Form is required for admission; Participation in the Canadian Senior Mathematics Contest and/or the Euclid Mathematics Contest is not required for admission, but writing one of these contests is required for some scholarships offered by the Faculty of Mathematics. How to apply: You can apply directly to Data Science on your application or apply to Computer Science or Mathematics and choose Data Science as your major at the end of first year.

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

Explore more study programmes

Engineering