University of Waterloo
Overview
In just half a century, the University of Waterloo, located at the heart of Canada’s technology hub, has become a leading comprehensive university with more than 36,000 full- and part-time students in undergraduate and graduate programs.
Consistently ranked Canada’s most innovative university, the University of Waterloo is home to advanced research and teaching in science and engineering, mathematics and computer science, health, environment, arts and social sciences. From quantum computing and nanotechnology to clinical psychology and health sciences research, the University of Waterloo brings ideas and brilliant minds together, inspiring innovations with real impact today and in the future.
Quick facts
- Post Graduation Work Permit
- Co-op / Internship Participation
- Work While Studying
- Conditional Offer Letter
- Type of Accommodation
Why This University
- Location: Waterloo is a vibrant and multicultural community that is perfect for university students; the Uptown area has everything from restaurants and bars to various boutique stores, parks and hiking trails to enjoy.
- Research: The University of Waterloo is a world-leading research institution in a wide-range of fields and disciplines, at all levels of study. Built to answer the challenges of a rapidly advancing society, Waterloo is a place where ideas are innovated, tested and proven.
- Co-op Opportunities: As home to the world’s largest post-secondary co-operative education program, the University embraces its connections to the world and encourages enterprising partnerships in learning, research, and commercialization.
- Community Outreach: At local, regional, provincial and national levels, the University is regarded as an institution with a vast array of expertise and resources that help contribute to a strong and vibrant community.
Courses
- Bachelor of Arts – Honours Arts and Business – Fine Arts
- Bachelor of Global Business and Digital Arts
- Bachelor of Science – Science and Business
- Bachelor of Science – Honours Science
- Bachelor of Mathematics – Business Administration
- Bachelor of Applied Science – Civil Engineering (Co-op)
- Bachelor of Computer Science
- Bachelor of Arts – Honours Arts and Business
- Bachelor of Accounting and Financial Management (Co-op)
- Bachelor of Science – Health Studies
- Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology
- Bridge to Academic Success (BASE)
Direct Entry
If your student meets the academic and English language requirements for the degree program, they can apply directly to the university program.
Top subjects
- Computer Science
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Accounting and Financial
- Public Health
- Recreation and Sport Business
- Geographical Engineering
Campus and location
Accommodation
Students need to plan their accommodations well in advance of their arrival as all accommodation options fill up quickly, well before the start of the semester.
On-Campus Residence Accommodations
On-Campus residence accommodations are provided per discretion by the school.
Off-Campus Accommodations
The local area has a variety of off-campus rental housing options including single homes, duplexes, apartments and rooms for rent. Students wishing to live off-campus need to research availability on their own and should arrive well before the start of term to do so.
Homestay
There are a wide variety of homestay options available, and our partners do their best to match students and hosts according to their interests and preferences. Homestay hosts include single people, young couples with children and pets, and older couples. All homestay accommodations have been inspected, and all adults in the home have completed a required criminal reference check.
University facilities
- Academic advising
- Chapel
- Events and Meeting Requests
- Smudging procedure and request form
- Campus security
- Quest
- Facility rentals
- Facility work request
- Harassment and discrimination
- Accessibility
- Centre for career action
- WatCARD
- I.T. services
- Library
- Ministry Centre
- Athletics
- Counselling services
- Distance education
- Parking
- Residence
- RASC & renisix
- Bookstore
- Health services
Tuition Fees
Fees for international students
| Faculty or program (Not sure which faculty offers your program of interest? View programs listed by faculty.) | Approximate tuition and incidentals | Books, supplies |
|---|---|---|
| Faculties of Applied Health Sciences and Arts | $40,900 | $2,290 |
| Faculty of Engineering, Software Engineering | $61,300 | $2,290 |
| Faculty of Environment | $41,100 | $2,290 |
| Faculty of Mathematics | $45,500 | $2,290 |
| Faculty of Science | $42,700 | $2,290 |
| Accounting and Financial Management* | $40,900 | $2,290 |
| Architecture | $59,700 | $4,100 |
| Biotechnology/Chartered Professional Accountancy | $42,900 | $2,290 |
| Business Administration (Laurier) and Mathematics (Waterloo) Double Degree | $45,500 | $2,290 |
| Computer Science, Business Administration (Laurier) and Computer Science (Waterloo) Double Degree | $61,300 | $2,290 |
| Computing and Financial Management* | $45,700 | $2,290 |
| Global Business and Digital Arts | $45,100 | $2,290 |
| Mathematics/Chartered Professional Accountancy | $44,100 | $2,290 |
| Mathematics/Financial Analysis and Risk Management | $45,500 | $2,290 |
| Fees are for two terms/eight months of school, based on September 2020 and a full course load (5 courses per term). Fees for September 2021 will be available in July and will likely be higher. You pay fees one school term at a time (not the entire year at once). Co-op students pay a fee of $734 per term to cover some costs of the co-op program. If you’re in a co-op program, you don’t pay tuition during your co-op work terms. *For accounting and finance programs, tuition is significantly higher in your upper years. For the two aviation programs, professional pilot training is estimated to be an additional $77,000 over 3 calendar years. All figures are in Canadian dollars. Convert Canadian dollars to INR (Indian rupees), USD, CNY (Yuan Renminbi), AED (UAE Dirham), PKR (Pakistani rupee), and more. | ||
Scholarship
Available to students in any program (no application required)
Once you’ve applied for admission, we’ll automatically consider you for these awards.
If you’re admitted to the Faculty of Arts and choose Renison University College or St. Jerome’s University as your academic home (by co-registering), any scholarships will be awarded by Renison or St. Jerome’s.
| Value | Criteria | |
|---|---|---|
| President’s Scholarship of Distinction |
|
Visit the President’s Scholarship web page for full details. *Note: The International Experience Award and/or Research Award are available after first year if you choose to claim them and if you complete your first year with at least an 80% average. |
| President’s Scholarship | $2,000 Entrance Scholarship |
Visit the President’s Scholarship web page for full details. |
| Merit Scholarship | $1,000 Entrance Scholarship |
Visit the President’s Scholarship web page for full details. |
| Entrance scholarships sponsored by alumni and donors | Several at $1,000 – $5,000 | Academic performance |
| International Student Entrance Scholarships | Several at $10,000 each | Available to international students admitted to first year of a full-time undergraduate degree program
Mathematics and Computer Science applicants only: Results of Euclid Mathematics Contest and/or Canadian Senior Mathematics Contest may be used to award scholarships. Accounting and Financial Management applicants only: Results of the Accounting and Financial Management Admissions Assignment are used to award scholarships. |
Admission Requirements & Deadline
- General Certificate of Secondary Education or equivalent
- Passes in at least five unique subjects, three of which must be at the Advanced Level
- The faculties of Engineering, Mathematics, and Science may consider GCSE-level English as a Second Language provided that you also submit a satisfactory English Language test score.
- Applied Health Sciences, Arts, Accounting and Financial Management, Environment, and Architecture will not accept GCSE-level English as a Second Language to satisfy the academic English course requirement.
- Applicants admitted to programs in the faculties of Applied Health Sciences, Arts, Environment, Mathematics, or Science will be given consideration for transfer credit for Advanced Level courses in which a minimum final grade of “B” is attained.
- IGCSE and GCE (O-level) courses are assessed as equivalent for programs that require courses at the GCSE level.
- For programs that require A-level Mathematics, Mathematics or Pure Mathematics are accepted.
For more information regarding transfer credits and advanced standing for A-Level courses, please visit our A-Level transfer credit policy page.
- An Admission Information Form (AIF) is required for admission to this program. Instructions for the AIF will be sent once we receive your application.
- You’re strongly encouraged to write the Euclid Mathematics Contest and/or the Canadian Senior Mathematics Contest. Results of the contests will be used in scholarship decisions and possibly admission decisions for programs in the Faculty of Mathematics.
- If your first language is not English, you may need to meet our English language requirements.
- If you repeat a required course or take a course outside of your regular day school, you may jeopardize your chances of being admitted to the Faculty of Mathematics. You should take all your courses in regular day school and do well in your first attempt. There will normally be no penalty if you take online courses during your regular school year along with a full course load through your high school or school board.
- Required courses that are more than three years old may need to be updated. Email the admissions office for more information.
| Program | Application deadline | Documents deadline (What documents are due?) |
|---|---|---|
| Most programs | February 1, 2021 | February 19, 2021 |
| Conditional Admission to Pharmacy (CAP) | February 1, 2021 | Admission Information Form: March 1, 2021 Other documents: April 2, 2021 |
