The Diploma in Business and Entrepreneurship (BEDip) helps students, graduates, and professionals complement their existing expertise with practical business knowledge and an entrepreneurial mindset.
Entrepreneurship is about more than starting a business: it is about recognizing opportunities, solving problems, creating value, and leading innovation in any organization.
Designed to fit alongside your studies or career, the BEDip offers flexible course options that make it easy to build business acumen and entrepreneurial capability wherever you are in your educational or professional journey.
Why choose the BEDip?
Entrepreneurship is more than starting a business. It's about identifying opportunities, solving problems, creating value, and leading change — whether you're launching a startup, developing new products, improving processes, or driving innovation within an established organization.
The BEDip helps you build practical business and entrepreneurial skills that can be applied in virtually any career.
- Recognize opportunities others overlook
- Understand customers and markets
- Build support for new ideas
- Navigate uncertainty with confidence
- Lead innovation within organizations or launch new ventures
Entrepreneurship beyond startups
Entrepreneurship isn't just about launching a startup.
Graduates apply entrepreneurial thinking in many ways:
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launching ventures
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leading innovation projects
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creating new products and services
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driving organizational change
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advancing social impact
Diploma requirements
- A minimum cumulative diploma average of 70%.
Required courses:
- Complete 2 additional BET courses
Exceptions to the requirements listed above require prior approval from the Conrad School's Associate Director of Undergraduate and Non-degree Programs.
Current University of Waterloo undergraduate students
If you are currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree at the University of Waterloo, you do not apply separately to the diploma.
Simply complete the diploma requirements alongside your degree and indicate your intention to receive the Diploma in Business and Entrepreneurship when submitting your Intent to Graduate form.
Students outside the University of Waterloo
Whether you're studying at another institution, have already completed a degree, or are a working professional, you can enrol in the diploma as a non-degree student.
Follow the admissions process for non-degree students outlined here: How to apply as a non-degree student.
- Entrepreneurship Minor/Option: Current University of Waterloo undergraduate students may complete either the Diploma in Business and Entrepreneurship or the Entrepreneurship Minor/Option, but not both.
- Waterloo graduate: Waterloo Alumni may apply to eligible BET courses completed during their undergraduate degree toward the diploma.
- International students: The diploma is available to international students through online courses only. Only courses offered online may be used to complete the diploma.
- Post-degree Waterloo students: Students who previously completed Waterloo graduate-level BE courses may apply those courses toward the diploma. At least two required diploma courses must be completed after graduation. Standard double-counting and University 50% residency rules apply. Students who graduated with the Entrepreneurship Minor or Option are not eligible for the diploma.
- Non-degree admission: Applicants enrolling as non-degree students must have successfully completed a high school diploma (or equivalent).
Choose your entrepreneurial path
Add the Business Entrepreneurship Diploma, Minor in Entrepreneurship or Engineering Option in Entrepreneurship and addan entrepreneurial edge to your undergraduate degree at Waterloo.
Not sure which path is right for you? Connect with us!
Diploma in Business and Entrepreneurship
Add business and entrepreneurial expertise to your degree.
For students who want a formal credential that develops practical business knowledge, innovation skills, and entrepreneurial thinking alongside their primary field of study.
- Build business fundamentals
- Complement any degree
- Earn a diploma credential
- Develop innovation and leadership skills
Minor in Entrepreneurship
Go deeper into entrepreneurship and venture creation.
Designed for students who want extensive entrepreneurial training through a flexible pathway of BET courses and entrepreneurial experiences. The minor consists of eight courses and is open to students across most faculties.
- Eight-course specialization
- Flexible elective pathways
- Strong venture creation focus
- Open to most Waterloo faculties
Entrepreneurship Option in Engineering
Built specifically for engineers.
Engineering students combine six entrepreneurship courses with a hands-on entrepreneurial milestone, helping them move technical ideas from concept to commercial or social impact.
- Designed for Engineering students
- Six courses plus experiential milestone
- Integrates with engineering studies
- Apply entrepreneurship to technical innovation