Admission Averages

When assessing applicants, the Engineering Admissions Committee considers grades, mandatory Admission Information Form (AIF) responses, and online interview submissions (if provided). Admission to Waterloo Engineering is not guaranteed based on a specific average. As a result, there is no absolute cut-off for each engineering program, and the probability of admission varies from year to year, depending on the number of applications.

Our goal is to enrol students who will bring balanced and well-rounded skill sets to their academic and extra-curricular activities.

NOTE: Short-listed applicants to the School of Architecture will be requested to submit a portfolio, attend an interview, and write an English précis test. Review their admissions process online.

Admission Averages & Probabilities

Your admission average is based on our required courses and your top mark in a sixth grade 12 course. Admission averages are calculated based on the marks available at the time of review, and may include Grade 11 subjects if more recent marks are not yet available.

Admission probabilities for Fall 2023 are listed in the table below (averages for applicants with post-secondary experience may be calculated differently, depending on their specific background).

Program

Applicant's Average

(%)

Probability of receiving an offer
Biomedical and Software

95+

90 to 94

85 to 89

30%

7%

2%

Computer, Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, and Systems Design

95+

90 to 94

85 to 89

63%

21%

2%

Architectural, Chemical, Civil, Environmental, Geological, Management, and Nanotechnology

95+

90 to 94

85 to 89

95%

77%

44%

  • Architecture uses a special admission process, so it is not included in this table.
  • Probabilities of acceptance are shown for Ontario Secondary School domestic applicants admitted during the 2023 admission cycle.
  • Grade ranges indicate the range of unadjusted admission averages. 
  • Adjustment factors and other assessments may increase or decrease the probability of acceptance.
  • Probabilities of acceptance for visa students and out-of-province students will often vary significantly from those shown in the table.  These probabilities depend upon the competitiveness of the applicant pool.