Applying

Are you ready to apply? Here's what you need to know to take the next steps in the application process.

How to apply

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If you would like to join any of our math programs, including computer science, you will need to submit an application for consideration. You can apply to 3 programs at Waterloo. As our programs are competitive and we cannot guarantee alternate offers. We recommend reviewing all of our programs before you apply.

Ask an expert

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We're happy to help you compare our programs. Connect with us to discuss your interests in math.

We can support you through email, a virtual event, a one-on-one meeting with a recruiter, a chat with one of our student ambassadors and more!

Applications for Faculty of Mathematics programs are completed through the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC), and subsequent documentation can be submitted through the Waterloo Application Portal. To be considered for Mathematics programs, you will need to complete a Declaration of Academic Experience (DAE), Admissions Information Form (AIF), and Supplementary Information Form (SIF) along with your transcripts. Depending on your Canadian province, country, or system of study, you may need to send your documents directly to us. Explore the required documents and submission deadlines.

Contest participation is NOT required for admission, but we strongly encourage you to participate in the Euclid Mathematics Contest and/or Canadian Senior Mathematics Contest (CSMC) as they can be an asset to your application. The Euclid and/or the CSMC contest is required to be considered for our Math Entrance Scholarships. Students applying to a computer science program are encouraged to participate in the Canadian Computing Competition (CCC).

To help you practice for these mathematics contests, the Faculty of Mathematics and The Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing (CEMC) offer preparatory webinars that provide sample questions, walk you through solutions, and discuss problem-solving techniques.

How we assess students for admissions

We consider each applicant individually. We read and score your AIF and SIF, calculate your overall admission average, and review your individual course marks, including your Math and English grades. It's with this information that we determine which students are admissible. Each year, the quality and quantity of applicants change, and as a result, we're unable to share cut-off information.

In some cases, we will use your score on the Canadian Senior Mathematics Contest and/or the Euclid Contest to help increase your chances of an offer.

Repeated courses and non-day school courses

You should avoid repeating any of the required Grade 12 courses. Doing so may reduce your chances of being admitted to a program with a competitive applicant pool. It is recommended that you take all required Grade 12 courses during the regular school year and do well in your first attempt. Find more information on our repeat and non-day school course policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

When can I expect to hear back about my application?

We'll begin to review your application and make decisions as soon as we receive all of your required documentation, and your Admission Information Form (AIF) has been scored. For the majority of applicants, this will be in mid-May.

We have competitive programs and we receive a number of qualified applications. To select the right students using the most up-to-date grade information, we wait as long as possible. Most of the grade information that we need to make our decisions is not available to us until April and May.

There are few "early offers" that we send students. The majority of our offers are conditional based on the information that we have from your in-progress grades.

Why should I participate in a math contest?

The Euclid Mathematics Contest and the Canadian Senior Math Competition (CSMC) are administered by the Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing (CEMC), an outreach affiliate of the Faculty of Mathematics. The results of these contests are used to make math scholarship decisions for students who have applied to programs in the Faculty of Mathematics, including computer science.

While the contests are used primarily to award scholarships, a strong score can be an asset to your application. For students whose grades and Admission Information Form scores are on the borderline of receiving admissions, a good score could result in them receiving an offer. A missing score or bad score will not be used. Participation in the contests will not hurt your chances of admissions as they are NOT required for consideration.

Contests need to be written in the year that you are applying to Waterloo for the results to be applicable for scholarships and possibly admissions. Students in grades 9, 10 and 11 are welcome to write the contests as preparation for grade 12.

Should I participate in one or both contest(s)?

It is recommended that you participate in both the Euclid Mathematics Contest and the Canadian Senior Math Competition (CSMC). If that's not possible, participating in at least one contest is beneficial. If you're applying to one of our computer science programs, you're also encouraged to participate in our Canadian Computing Competition (CCC). See all of our contests.

If you are applying as a transfer student, you do not need to participate in our contests as transfer students are not eligible to receive our math entrance scholarships. They are designed for high school applicants.

How can I prepare for the contest(s)?

You can practice for our contests by trying out questions from past contests, using our problem generator, and/or working through our Courseware. All of these resources are free for you to use!

How do I participate in the contest(s)?

Your school will need to register on your behalf to participate. Registration details, contest dates and other FAQS are online. Applicants to the Faculty of Math attending secondary school in Ontario must write the Euclid Contest at their regular school for the Admissions and Scholarship Committees to consider their score.

What if I don't satisfy the English language requirements?

If your grades and Admission Information Form (AIF) are eligible for admissions but your English language test scores fall below our requirements, you may receive an offer to participate in Math/Bridge to Academic Success in English (Math/BASE). The program is designed to allow students to improve their English before beginning in their mathematics program. Students cannot apply directly to Math/BASE.

Do you offer a waitlist?

It is competitive to receive admissions to programs in the Faculty of Mathematics, including computer science.

Our most competitive programs are direct entry from the time of admissions. If you do not receive admission to your program of interest, we do not offer a waitlist for later consideration. Knowing that not every offer that we make will be accepted, we make a sufficient number of offers to fill every program.

While not impossible to transfer, it can be very hard to transfer programs in the Faculty of Mathematics. Students should not accept an offer of admissions with the expectation of transferring to the program that they were not originally admitted to, if they become a Waterloo student.

Can I transfer from another college or university?

Have you studied at a college or university and considering applying to a program in the Faculty of Mathematics? There is a lot to consider. Here is what you need to know:

Competition for a spot:

Admission into upper year (transferring into a program) is extremely competitive in our Faculty, with very few spaces available for students who are currently studying at another college or university.

Eligibility:

Should you decide to apply, you can view college/university transfer admission requirements. You'll notice we require strong grades in mathematics courses and an overall high GPA. Even with meeting those benchmarks, there is no guarantee of admission as we don't often have many spaces for new students in upper years. Both domestic and international students can apply, but admission is extremely competitive with very few spaces for incoming transfer students. If you have already completed more than two years in any post-secondary institution (university, college), we will be unable to consider your application.

If you are admitted and receive more than 6.5 transfer credits, you will not be eligible to take part in our co-op option and we only be able to be a part of the regular stream. For more information, read more about transfer credits.

Ineligible programs for transfer:

Due to sequencing and scheduling issues, we do not accept transfer applications for the following programs:

Already have a Math, CS or Engineering degree?

Applicants who have previously completed or are in the final stages of completing a Mathematics or Computer Science degree at another institution are not eligible to enter a second BMath or BCS at Waterloo due to the structure of the curriculum and overlap in subject matter. For these students, we'd recommend exploring our many graduate programs through the Graduate Studies office.

Contests & Scholarships

We do not encourage post-secondary applicants to participate in the Euclid Contest because it is geared towards Grade 12-level Math. As a post-secondary applicant, you are ineligible for entrance scholarships at Waterloo.

Timing of decisions:

We don't make any admission decisions until the end of May/beginning of June for external transfer applicants. We need to wait for the final winter term grades to make a decision on your application. Because of this, we are unable to give earlier decisions.