First-year students

Welcome to the Software Engineering program!

We understand that the first year of university can be overwhelming, so we want to help make your transition as easy as possible.

The links and information contained on this page and on your class homepage are intended to get you settled in and to help you find everything you need to succeed in your first year!

If you have any questions that have not been addressed on these pages, then feel free to contact us.

In addition, both the University of Waterloo and the Faculty of Engineering offer personal and academic counseling to students.

Software student laughing with another student.

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Class enrolment

You will automatically get enrolled in your first year courses. You will be able to view your schedule and fee statement on Quest, as well as update your personal information. Starting in 2A, you will use Quest to enroll for your elective courses, so become familiar with Quest.

Registrar's office

As a student at uWaterloo, you can use this site to

access Student Awards & Financial Aid information
access our online forms
view the final examination schedule and exam relief information

Computing on campus

As a Software Engineering student, you belong to both the Faculty of Mathematics and the Faculty of Engineering, thus you will be issued a Math student.math Unix account and an Engineering Nexus account.

Textbooks

You can look up your textbooks for the term through My Booklook. Once you know which textbook your instructor will be using, you can also try to find them at the Feds Used Books store - these books are not refundable so make sure you have the correct textbook and edition before making a purchase.

WatCard

The WatCard is your one card to access many facilities and services both on and off campus.

Class representatives

Students elect their class representatives in their concepts course (SE101) during their 1A term. New student representatives are elected each subsequent academic term.

Among other things, class reps act as the main liaison between their classmates, professors, and the SE administration. They also attend 3 meeting throughout the term and bring forward any class concerns.

Communication Skills Requirement

Strong communication skills are essential to academic, professional, and personal success. As such, Software Engineering students must take a course from the Linkage Elective Communication List in the 2A term. This elective list parallels the Math Communication Skills Requirements List 1.

Workplace Hazardous Material Information System (WHMIS)

All students in the Faculty of Engineering must have appropriate instruction on issues of workplace safety: Workplace Hazardous Material Information System (WHMIS) training satisfies this requirement. Software Engineering students will receive the appropriate level of WHMIS training in ECE 140.

Extra help sessions

First Year Engineering offers both weekly extra help session and evening help sessions. Students will be invited to attend these sessions based on the results of their practice midterm and midterm exams.