COVID-19 continues to change rapidly across the world and we're taking steps to limit the spread of the disease in our community. Our admissions team is monitoring impacts of the pandemic (including school closures) and is continuing to review applications for admission. We anticipate having the grades we need to make admission decisions in the vast majority of cases. We understand that factors outside of your control may affect your ability to provide us with updated information. You will not be penalized for that and we are accounting for that in our admission decisions.

Ontario’s universities and the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre are monitoring the Ontario high school labour disruptions as well as school closures due to COVID-19. As a result of these closures, there may be a delay in the OUAC receiving your grades.

Be sure to review our common admissions questions for further details or visit our coronavirus information website for more information.

How to apply

If you plan to be a full-time student, you'll apply through the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC), which processes applications to each of Ontario's universities.

If you're an Ontario high school student, you should use the OUAC 101 application.
All other students should use the OUAC 105 application.

Be sure to apply by the application deadline. Once we receive your application information from the OUAC, we'll email you within 2 weeks with the next steps in the admissions process.

If you're interested in part-time or online studies, there is a separate application process.

Applying through the OUAC

By applying through the OUAC, you can use one application to apply to multiple Waterloo programs or to multiple universities in Ontario.

We recommend adding myapplication@uwaterloo.ca to your email contacts to ensure you receive our emails.

Mature, home-schooled, and GED students

Previous Waterloo students

If you've completed an undergraduate course or degree at Waterloo and wish to take further courses, you should submit an Application for Re-Admission.

Find out what happens when: your guide to the university admissions process.

Can you apply to more than one program at Waterloo?

Yes, you can apply to multiple programs at Waterloo except for Engineering programs. You may apply to one Engineering program on your application.

Applying to Engineering programs only

If you wish to be considered for two Engineering programs at Waterloo, choose one on your application and then use your Admission Information Form (AIF) to request consideration for a second program.

You'll receive instructions for completing your AIF once you've applied. Biomedical Engineering and Software Engineering are not available as alternate choices on the AIF, so you'll need to apply directly if one of them is your main interest.

Applying to Engineering and other programs

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

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

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. 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'll automatically be considered for the regular program if spaces are available.

Co-op and regular systems of study are available to Canadian and international students.

Part-time and online studies

Part-time studies (one or two courses per term), online learning, post-degree, non-degree, and letter of permission use a different application process.

Take courses for general interest

To take courses for general interest, apply to non-degree studies (if you don't have a degree) or to post-degree studies (if you have completed an undergraduate degree).