University in Canada
London, Ontario, Canada
University profile
Western University is a research-intensive public university in London, Ontario, and a founding member of the U15, the group of Canada's leading research universities. The main campus covers 495.7 hectares (about 1,300 acres) beside the Thames River, a short distance from downtown London, and combines Gothic and modern buildings with extensive green space. Students make up about 10% of the population of London.
Academic work is organized through 12 faculties and schools: Arts & Humanities, Don Wright Faculty of Music, Education, Engineering, Health Sciences, Information & Media Studies, Ivey Business School, Law, Schulich Medicine & Dentistry, Science, Social Science, and the School of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies. Undergraduates choose from more than 450 combinations of majors, minors and specializations, and there are 160 graduate degree programs and collaborative specializations. Three affiliated university colleges (Huron, King's and Brescia, which fully integrated with Western on 1 May 2024) sit alongside the main campus.
In the 2025 enrolment figures, full-time enrolment was 37,875 (30,647 undergraduates, 4,664 master's and 2,557 doctoral students), with a further 5,103 full-time students at the affiliated colleges Huron and King's. The university counts 5,445 full-time international students from 134 countries and more than 393,000 alumni in 160 countries. The first-year entering average is cited as 90.9% (2023-24 data), and first-to-second-year retention as 92.6%.
Student life centres on the Western Mustangs and a large network of clubs, music ensembles, student government through the University Students' Council, and the Western Launch and OWeek orientation programs led by upper-year Sophs. Twelve on-campus residences house students and scholars, and the campus has its own food outlets, health services and shops. Western leads Canada in U SPORTS Academic All-Canadians.
International students can apply directly to first year or enter Western International College, a first-year program for international students in Management & Organizational Studies, Science and Social Science that leads into a Western degree. Western is a degree-granting public university of the Province of Ontario.
Students admitted to an undergraduate program at the main campus directly from secondary school and registered full-time in first year are considered automatically; no application is needed. Western Scholarship of Excellence: 250 awards of $8,000 each ($6,000 in first year plus $2,000 for an optional study abroad experience) for the top high school admission averages; recipients from an international or out-of-province school may also receive a $2,000 Travel Grant. Western Scholarship of Distinction: $2,500 in first year plus $1,000 for optional study abroad, for a final admission average of 92.0% to 100.0%. Western Admission Scholarship: $1,500 in first year plus $1,000 for optional study abroad, for an average of 90.0% to 91.9%. Non-Ontario applicants are guaranteed consideration if their OUAC application and documents are in by 1 March. Recipients must accept the offer by the deadline and register full-time (at least 3.5 courses) at the main campus.
Awards recognize all-round excellence, including community service. They include the Neen Hodgins National Entrance Scholarship ($100,000 over four years), President's Entrance Scholarships ($50,000 to $93,000), the James Jenkins President's Entrance Scholarship for Black Students (5 at $50,000), the Beryl Ivey Continuing Entrance Scholarship ($96,000), international entrance scholarships (3 at $100,000 plus the Neen Hodgins President's International Entrance Scholarship), Faculty Entrance Scholarships (up to 15 at $30,000), study abroad awards and $2,000 National Merit Awards. Applicants need a minimum 90% average on Grade 12 U/M courses (or equivalent), a school nomination (up to four students per school, plus one international student) and an OUAC application; the online application and documents are due 14 February. The 2027-28 application opens in mid-November 2026. Canadian citizenship or permanent residence is required except for the international and Black student awards. National Scholarship Program
The Welcome to Canada Admission Scholarship ($10,000 for first year, with guaranteed residence for two years) and the Continue in Canada Admission Scholarship ($10,000 per year for four years, with four-year residence guarantee, for students entering from Canadian high schools on a study permit) apply for the 2024-25 to 2026-27 academic years only. Neither can be combined with other admission scholarships.
Schulich Leader Scholarships, the National Indigenous Scholarship Program, Project Hero, Medicine and Dentistry Schulich Scholarships, admission scholarships for Black and Indigenous students, and need-based bursaries and work study are also offered; more than $100 million is provided annually in scholarships, awards, fellowships, teaching assistantships and financial aid. The Admission Bursary and Youth in Extended Care bursary have separate deadlines (the latter 30 April). See Admission scholarships and the financial support overview.
Western Admission Scholarships (Scholarship of Excellence, Distinction and Admission) →
Schulich Leader Scholarships at Western →
Western Admission Scholarships for Black and Indigenous Students →
Western Bursaries (Admission and Fall/Winter Bursary) →
Browse the scholarships listed for Western University and check each award’s eligibility.
View scholarships for Western University →Admission is based on the applicant's grades in their most recent curriculum, grades in the courses required for the chosen program, English proficiency where applicable, supplemental information (profile, audition, portfolio, personal statement) and the admission average calculated by Western. The typical first-year class enters with an average of around 88%. Applicants may apply to up to three faculties or direct-entry programs.
Ontario Secondary School Diploma with a minimum of six Grade 12 U/M courses (excluding co-op), including English, plus all completed and in-progress Grade 11 U/M courses. Courses required for the program need at least 70%, and all required and recommended courses must be at Grade 12 U/M level. Programs set their own prerequisites; for example Computer Science requires Calculus and Vectors (MCV4U) and Advanced Functions (MHF4U), and Engineering applicants complete the Casper test.
Requirements differ by province. Decisions use self-reported grades submitted through Student Center, the highest grade is used where a course is repeated, and no minimum grade guarantees admission.
International applicants can apply directly to Western or to Western International College. Requirements are set by curriculum or country. Applicants from Ghana and Nigeria submit West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results listing all subjects and grades, with all required and recommended courses at senior level. GCE A-Level applicants (England, Wales, Scotland and other listed countries) need a minimum average of B in three distinct A-Levels (or four AS-Levels), a completed predicted-results form and a C in five GCSE/IGCSE/O-Level academic subjects. International Baccalaureate applicants need a full IB Diploma including Theory of Knowledge and Extended Essay, passes in at least six subjects (three at Higher Level), a minimum total of 27 and no mark below 4. U.S. high school and other country curricula have their own requirements.
Applicants whose first language is not English must provide proof of listening, speaking, reading and writing proficiency. For fall 2027 admission, tests must be written before March 2027 and not before 1 January 2025. Minimums for direct undergraduate admission: IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each section; TOEFL iBT 83 overall with 20 in each section (tests before 21 January 2026; a revised scoring scale applies to tests from that date, with an overall 4.5); PTE Academic 58 overall with 56 in each section; Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency 176 overall with 169 in each section; CAEL 60 overall and in each section; Duolingo English Test 115 overall with 100 in each subscore. Lower scores (for example IELTS 5.5, PTE 39, Duolingo 100) lead to the English Boost Program followed by an undergraduate degree. Exemptions may apply to applicants with four years of full-time secondary study in English, two years at an Ontario college in English or one year of university in English; Nursing programs have separate rules.
Separate pathways apply to students transferring from a college or university, former Western students seeking readmission, and applicants who already hold an undergraduate degree (Special Students). Mature applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents, at least 21 in the calendar year of entry, with no formal basis of admission, out of full-time education for four years and holding at least a C (60%) in academic work in that period. Senior citizens must be Ontario-resident Canadian citizens or permanent residents aged 60 or older in the first month of classes.
Applications for full-time undergraduate study are submitted through the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC), followed by a Student Center account, grade submission and any supplementary forms. For 2027 entry the OUAC deadline for equal consideration is 15 January 2027. Other dates include: Law (JD) 1 November and Dentistry (DDS) 1 November 2026; Education (BEd) 2 November 2026; Music audition and interview registration 1 February; Visual Arts Studio Arts portfolio 15 February; SASAH application 28 February; Commercial Aviation Management supplement, Special Consideration and extracurricular profiles 1 March; English proficiency results due mid-April 2027. Western International College and part-time studies follow a different application process.
Based on 2025-26 tuition, estimated year-one tuition and fees are $8,000 to $14,200 for Ontario students, $9,300 to $16,900 for Canadian students and $48,000 to $64,400 for international students. International undergraduate tuition increases are capped at 4% per year after year one.
Residence life is run by Housing & Ancillary Services with Residence Life Dons and Sophs; first-year students are guided through OWeek and Western Launch programming.
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