How to apply

If you plan to be a full-time student, you'll apply to Waterloo through the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC).

Applying through the OUAC makes it easy for you to apply to multiple programs at Waterloo or other Ontario universities. The OUAC will send your application information to each Ontario university you apply to.

Steps in applying

  1. Review Waterloo's admission requirements for your program(s) of interest.
  2. Review the OUAC's Undergraduate Application Guide, create an account, and submit your application on the OUAC website.
    • To apply to a co-op program, check the co-op box on your application.
    • Be sure to apply by our application deadline.
  3. Within two weeks of receiving your information from the OUAC, we'll email you with your Waterloo student number and the next steps in the application process.

Tip: The OUAC offers videos on how to complete your application.

Applying to an Arts program and looking for a smaller community?

If you're applying to Honours Arts or Honours Arts and Business, you can study those two programs through Renison University College and St. Jerome’s University.

Renison and St. Jerome’s are two of Waterloo’s University Colleges, which are smaller communities located in the heart of Waterloo’s campus. University Colleges offer academic programs along with the option to live in residence. Earn your Waterloo degree while enjoying smaller classes!

Honours Arts

You have three choices for applying to Honours Arts.

  • Honours Arts – University Main Campus (co-op and regular)
  • Honours Arts – St. Jerome's University (co-op and regular)
  • Honours Arts – Renison University College (co-op and regular)

Honours Arts and Business

You have two choices for applying to Honours Arts and Business.

  • Honours Arts and Business – University Main Campus (co-op and regular)
  • Honours Arts and Business – St. Jerome's University (co-op and regular)

How to apply

Renison and St. Jerome's are listed under the University of Waterloo section of the Ontario Universities' Application Centre website.

You can apply directly to Renison or St. Jerome's or "co-register" at a later date.

Co-registration

If you apply to Waterloo's main campus and later decide that you'd like to have Renison or St. Jerome’s as your academic home, you can “co-register” with one of them after you apply or receive an offer of admission.

Co-registration means that you’ll be both a Waterloo student and a student at Renison or St. Jerome’s.

Benefits of co-registration →

Applying to part-time and online studies

Interested in taking one or two courses per term for interest or to earn a degree?

Learn about courses, admissions, and requirements for part-time and online studies.

Applying as a college or university student

You've done your research, you've found the perfect programs, and it looks like you meet the admission requirements. Great! Now it's time to apply.

Review the steps of applying to university →

Students with backpacks walk across the University of Waterloo campus with fall colours in background

Questions and tips

Can you apply to more than one program at Waterloo?

Yes, you can apply to a maximum of three programs at Waterloo.

If you're interested in studying engineering, you can apply only to one Engineering program at Waterloo.

Applying only to Engineering programs

You can apply to one Waterloo Engineering program on your OUAC application and then use your Admission Information Form (AIF) to request consideration for an alternate Engineering program.

If we can’t accommodate you in your first-choice Engineering program (i.e., the one you chose on your OUAC application), we may be able to consider you for your alternate choice. Priority for a program may be given to those students who select it as their first choice.

Biomedical Engineering and Software Engineering are not available as alternate choices on the AIF, so you'll need to list one of those on your application if one of them is your main interest.

You'll receive instructions for completing your AIF once you've applied.

Applying to Engineering and to other programs

You can apply to one Engineering program and up to two other non-Engineering Waterloo programs that interest you.

If you're interested in an Engineering program and Architecture (which is offered by the Faculty of Engineering), you can apply to Architecture, one Engineering program, and another Waterloo program if you wish.

Applying from outside of Canada?

Questions about applying, programs, co-op programs?

Email or book an online meeting with one of our international student recruiters.

Questions about your application or submitting documents? Email us.

Not sure which faculty offers your program of interest? Programs by faculty.

Protect yourself from fraud

If you're applying from outside of North America, learn how to protect yourself from fraud.

Are you an Ontario student doing IB?

Admission to Waterloo is based on your Ontario Grade 12 U and M courses. Your high school will convert your International Baccalaureate (IB) courses and grades to the equivalent Ontario U and M courses and grades. As a result, you should review the admission requirements for Ontario high school students.

If you're taking IB math, your school will convert this course to MCV4U, MHF4U, and/or MDM4U. If math is required for the program you've applied to, you can take any IB math course and be eligible for admission as long as you receive an Ontario credit for the required math course(s).

To be considered for potential transfer credits, you'll need to have your official IB results sent directly from the IBO to Waterloo.

How to apply as a mature, home-schooled, or CAEC/GED student

Wilfrid Laurier University students

Previous Waterloo students

How do you apply to a co-op program?

To apply to a co-op program, you must check the co-op box on your Ontario Universities' Application Centre application. Co-op programs are available to Canadian and international students.

If you apply to a co-op program that is also offered through the regular system of study and you're not admitted to co-op, you may be considered for the regular program if spaces are available.

If you're interested in both the co-op and regular systems of study for Health Sciences we recommend that you apply to both streams. Due to the competitiveness of the program, we can't guarantee that if you're not offered a space in a co-op program that you would be considered for the regular option.

Tips

We recommend that you add myapplication@uwaterloo.ca to your contacts to ensure you receive our emails.

Review our guide to applying to university for an overview of the application process.

Services for students with disabilities

Learn about services and accommodations for students with disabilities during the application process, such as needing application material in an alternate format.

Related links

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