Admissions

Most of our programs in the Faculty of Environment admit students only for the fall term, and most of the information on this website is geared toward fall admissions. The Geography and Environmental Management program also admit students in for the terms starting in January and May.

A degree from the Faculty of Environment will get you noticed. UW is one of the few Canadian universities granting a Bachelor of Environmental Studies degree and the only university awarding the Bachelor of Knowledge Integration.

We hope that you apply to UW and we look forward to getting to know you as you complete the next steps in the admissions process!

Any questions? Contact our Recruitment Officer Steve Krysak.

Program Specific Admissions
Minimum requirements for all programs
Out of Province
Admission Information Form (AIF)
Financing
How to Apply

Additional Information (links to findoutmore.uwaterloo.ca):

Program specific admissions

Required courses	Courses for success (These courses are not required for admission but will help you succeed academically on campus)	Strongly Recommended	Admission averages (based on previous year)
Environment and Business
Required: Grade 12 U English (final grade of at least a 70% is normally required)	Recommended: One Grade 12 U Mathematics One Grade 12 U Science Grade 12 M Principals of Financial Accounting Analyzing Current Economic Issues (where offered)	Completing an Admission Information Form (AIF) is strongly recommended.	Low 80s
Environment and Resource Studies
Required: Grade 12 U English (at least a 70% is normally required)	Recommended: at least one Grade 12 U or M course from Canadian and World Studies or Social Sciences & Humanities or The Arts at least one Grade 12 U or M Mathematics or Science	Completing an Admission Information Form (AIF) is strongly recommended.	High 70s (regular) Low 80s (co-op)
Geography and Aviation
Required: Grade 12 U English (at least a 70% is normally required) Any Grade 12 U Mathematics (at least a 70% is required)	Recommended: One or more Grade 12 U or M Geography courses (strongly recommended) One or more Grade 12 U Mathematics Earth and Space Science	Completing an Admission Information Form (AIF) is strongly recommended.	High 70s
Geography and Environmental Management
Required: Grade 12 U English (at least a 70% is normally required)	Recommended: One or more Grade 12 U or M Geography courses (strongly recommended) One or more Grade 12 U Mathematics Earth and Space Science	Completing an Additional Information Form (AIF) is strongly recommended.	High 70s
Geomatics
Required: Grade 12 U English (at least a 70% is normally required) Any Grade 12 U Mathematics (at least a 70% is required)	Recommended: A second Grade 12 U Mathematics Grade 12 U Computer Science Grade 12 M Computer and Information Science	Completing an Admission Information Form (AIF) is strongly recommended.	High 70s
International Development
Required: Grade 12 U English (at least a 70% normally required) One Grade 12 U Math or Science course (at least a 70% is normally required)	Recommended: At least one Grade 12 U course in a second language	Completing an Admission Information Form (AIF) is strongly recommended.	High 70s
Knowledge Integration
Required: Grade 12 U English (at least a 75% is normally required) Any Grade 12 U Mathematics (at least a 75% is normally required) Any Grade 12 U Science (at least a 75% is normally required)	Recommended: Admission Information Form (strongly recommended) Find out more about it here.		Low to mid-80s
Planning
Required: Grade 12 U English (at least a 75% is normally required)	Recommended: Grade 12 U or M courses from Canadian & World Studies Mathematics or Science (preferably Biology or Earth & Space Science).	Completing an Admission Information Form (AIF) is strongly recommended.	Mid- 80s

Minimum requirements for all programs

Admission requirements are explained in terms of the Ontario secondary school system. Minimum requirements include:

Ontario Secondary School Diploma
A minimum of 6 Grade 12 university (U) preparation or university/college (M) preparation courses
Grade 12 U English
An overall average of at least 70% on the best 6 Grade 12 U and/or M courses

Not an Ontario high school student?

U and M codes refer to courses in the Ontario high school system. "U" courses are University preparation while "M" courses are "mixed" university/college preparation. Students from other provinces or countries should take equivalent courses, usually those courses at the most advanced level offered by your high school.

We would normally require an English course at the most advanced level offered by your high school as an equivalent. If you're unsure of equivalencies, visit our Registrar's Office website which provides a list of specific courses from other Canadian provinces and other countries which are equivalent to the required and recommended Ontario Grade 12 courses.

Distinguish yourself - Admission information forms

As part of the admissions process, you will be asked to complete an Admission Information Form. This form gives you the opportunity to tell us about yourself, such as your goals, interests, or extracurricular activities and jobs you have been involved with and why you would like to study your chosen area of interest. The information you provide can play an important role in admission and scholarship decisions. Find out more about Admission Information Forms