BASE is a 4- or 8-month program that allows you to improve your reading, writing, and speaking skills with a focus on using English in a university setting while earning credit towards your Waterloo degree.
Arts/BASE
Global Business and Digital Arts*, Honours Arts, Social Development Studies, Honours Arts and Business.
Health/BASE
Health Sciences^*, Kinesiology^*, Public Health^*, and Recreation and Leisure Studies^.
Engineering/BASE
All Engineering programs* except Architecture.
Mathematics/BASE
Computer Science^, Mathematics/Business Administration^, Mathematics/Financial Analysis and Risk Management (Math/FARM)^,
Mathematics^. See MATH NOTES.
Environment/BASE
Climate and Environmental Change*^; Environment and Business*^; Environment, Resources and Sustainability*^; Geography and Environmental Management^; Geomatics^; Knowledge Integration; Planning*^. Sustainability and Financial Management and Geography and Aviation is not available through BASE.
Science/BASE
All programs^ except Biotechnology/Chartered Professional Accountancy and Science and Aviation.
* You will be enrolled in 2 terms of the BASE program, due to course sequencing.
^ If you apply to a co-op program, you'll be offered co-op immediately after BASE.
- The Faculty of Mathematics offers the iBASE program and the 1-term (4 month) BASE program only.
- If you've applied to Mathematics/Chartered Professional Accountancy (CPA), Computing and Financial Management, Mathematics Double Degree, or Computer Science Double Degree, and are eligible for BASE, we will consider you for an alternate Mathematics program that supports BASE.
- If your English language test scores fall within the 2-term BASE range, we will consider you for the 1-term BASE program, followed by a regular Mathematics program.
- If your English language test scores fall within the 1-term BASE range, you may enter a co-op Mathematics program directly after completion of the 1-term BASE program.
I know most people can be hesitant about BASE because it means extra terms, but it significantly helps you practice and improve your English, while also gaining other skills that will help you thrive in your university and personal life.