At the University of Waterloo, engineering isn’t just about solving complex technical problems; it’s about building what's next and bringing those solutions to the world. Driven by our creator-owned IP policy, high-density startup ecosystem, and seamless co-op integration, Waterloo Engineers build venture-backed, world-changing companies.
First-year launchpad & entrance award
Are you coming to Waterloo Engineering with the drive and ambition to solve real-world problems and launch bold ideas? We recognize exceptional entrepreneurial potential early and provide the high-impact environment needed to thrive from Day 1.
The Entrepreneurship Entrance Award recognizes incoming students with exceptional entrepreneurial potential and provides a unique first-year experience designed to help them grow as innovators, founders, and problem-solvers.
Recipients receive:
$10,000 entrance award
Up to 30 select incoming Engineering undergraduates demonstrating strong initiative, curiosity, and ambition will receive a $10,000 award to support their academic and startup journey. This will be in addition to university-wide automatic entrance scholarships, such as the President's and Merit Scholarships and the $10,000 International Student Entrance Scholarship.
Exclusive first-year experience
In addition to the $10,000 award, recipients gain access to a curated first-year experience designed to accelerate their growth without interfering with their rigorous Engineering coursework:
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The Entrepreneurial Living-Learning Community (LLC): Live, collaborate, and innovate on a dedicated residence floor alongside other like-minded engineering builders and innovators.
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LLC initiatives: community building, pitch prep, ecosystem tours, and networking events.
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Dedicated mentorship circles: Direct access to Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business faculty, alumni founders, and ecosystem mentors starting in your first term.
Enterprise Co-op Award for Engineering
Recipients of the Entrepreneurship Entrance Award who later pursue an Enterprise Co-op (E Co-op) opportunity will be eligible to receive a one-time Enterprise Co-op Award for Engineering, valued at $10,000. Interested students must apply and be accepted into the Enterprise Co-op program by the start of one of their scheduled co-op work terms.
Ecosystem programming throughout your degree
No matter your discipline or year, Waterloo provides a continuous pipeline of extracurricular programs, incubators, and pitch competitions through the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business, Velocity, GreenHouse and the Grebel Peace Incubator.
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Ideation & exploration |
Validation & building |
Commercialization & launch |
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Explore & validate (ideation phase)
- Problem Pitch (Conrad School): Win funding not by pitching solutions, but by demonstrating a deep, rigorous understanding of an industry problem worth solving.
- Hackathons & Design Competitions: Join a variety of hackathons (like North America’s largest student-run, Hack the North) to build rapid prototypes and test product viability in 36 hours.
- Bridging Entrepreneurs to Students (BETS) Program: Get hired for co-op terms by early-stage, high-growth startups to gain real-world venture operational experience.
- Velocity Cornerstone: Early-stage programming to help you test ideas, validate problem spaces, and find co-founders before writing a line of code or building hardware.
- Map the System: A global competition that uses systems thinking as a guiding approach to explore some of the most complex issues facing the world today.
Build & scale (execution phase)
- Enterprise Co-op (E Co-op): Earn your co-op credit by working full-time on your own startup. Receive dedicated funding, office space, and specialized mentorship from Conrad School advisors while building your company.
- Capstone Catalyst: Transform your senior year Engineering Capstone Design project into a market-ready business venture with funding and advisory support from the Conrad School.
- Social Innovators in Training: You’ll work alongside like-minded innovators to create tangible social or environmental change through your own project or venture.
- Esch Pitch Competition: Outstanding Capstone fourth-year student teams pitch to win one of six $12,000 or four $5,000 prizes. Teams are shortlisted from over 50 entries representing most programs in the Faculty of Engineering. The Esch Awards support creative and entrepreneurial students in the pursuit of research and development and its commercialization for the benefit of Canada.
- Velocity Summer Accelerator: An immersive program helping recent & soon-to-be graduates make the leap to full-time entrepreneurship. Participants are invited to a 3-month-long program covering everything you need to know to successfully validate your venture opportunity and build readiness for the long journey ahead.
Credentials & academic pathways
Engineering schedules are demanding, but Waterloo makes business and entrepreneurship education fit seamlessly into your degree. Combine your technical expertise with commercial strategy through targeted credentials offered by the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business.
Option or diploma in business and entrepreneurship
Add a recognized business credential directly to your Engineering degree transcript:
- Option in Entrepreneurship: Designed for students who want to integrate foundational business, technology management, and venture creation courses into their upper-year elective slots.
- Diploma in Business & Entrepreneurship: A flexible academic credential for students seeking structured training in marketing, finance, leadership, and commercialization strategies.
Undergraduate courses for engineers
While upper-year electives typically open up in Year 3, Engineering students can plan ahead to enrol in high-impact Conrad School courses such as: