Once you've applied, you'll need to submit documents so that we can review your application and make an admission decision.
Ontario high school students
Documents we need to review your application
| Document |
When to submit |
How to submit |
|---|
| Transcripts – current school* |
Sent automatically to us by your school |
|---|
| Transcripts – previous school (only if requested) |
By the date we provide (if requested) |
Upload using QUEST |
|---|
| English language test results (if applicable) |
By February 18, 2022 |
To be sent directly from testing centre |
|---|
| Admission Information Form |
By February 18, 2022 |
Complete and submit using QUEST |
|---|
*For any courses taken outside of your regular day school, arrange for your school to send your grades to the Ontario Universities' Application Centre as soon as your mid-term and/or final grades are available.
Documents such as recommendation letters, letters of achievement, and non-academic certificates will not be reviewed as part of the admissions process, and we discourage you from submitting these types of documents. You can mention any relevant achievements or awards you’ve received on your Admission Information Form.
Documents we need if you receive an offer of admission
If you receive a conditional offer of admission, we'll require official versions of your documents. All official documents, including transcripts and English language test results, must be sent directly to Waterloo by the issuing institution or testing authority. Your conditional Offer of Admission will provide details.
If you have studied outside of Ontario, be sure to review additional document information.
| Document |
When to submit |
How to submit |
Meets conditions for your Offer of Admission? |
|---|
| Transcripts – current school |
Sent automatically to us by your school |
Yes |
|---|
| Transcripts – previous school (if requested) |
By the deadline on your Offer |
To be sent directly from your school in a sealed envelope |
Yes |
|---|
| English language test results (if applicable) |
By the deadline on your Offer |
To be sent directly from testing centre |
Yes |
|---|
All other applicants (OUAC 105 application)
Documents we need to review your application
We can use unofficial documents to review your application. If you receive a conditional offer of admission, we will require official documents to meet your conditions.
Documents such as recommendation letters, letters of achievement, and non-academic certificates will not be reviewed as part of the admissions process, and we discourage you from submitting these types of documents. You can mention any relevant achievements or awards you’ve received on your Admission Information Form.
Documents we need if you receive an offer of admission
If you receive a
conditional offer of admission, we will require official documents to meet your conditions. All official documents, including transcripts and English language test results, must be sent directly to Waterloo by the issuing institution or testing authority. Your conditional Offer of Admission will provide details.
| Document |
When to submit |
How to submit |
Meets conditions for your Offer of Admission? |
|---|
| Transcripts – current school |
By deadline listed on your Offer |
To be sent directly from your school in a sealed envelope |
Yes |
|---|
| Transcripts – previous school(s) |
By deadline listed on your Offer |
To be sent directly from your school in a sealed envelope |
Yes |
|---|
| English language test results (if applicable) |
By deadline listed on your Offer |
To be sent directly from testing centre |
Yes |
|---|
Additional information is required from some students
Students from Canadian provinces other than Ontario
Please upload or have your high school send us a transcript listing your first term final grades and your second term mid-term grades (as soon as they are available). Most transcripts do not provide mid-term grades for courses you're currently taking.
Watch our video with tips for applying from outside of Ontario.
CEGEP students
No action is required for your CEGEP grades – your school will send them to us automatically. If you have applied to a Waterloo Engineering program, please have your high school send your Grade 11 transcript directly to Waterloo's Office of the Registrar.
Students from outside Canada
Upload English-language copies of your academic documentation, including predicted and/or mid-term grades as soon as they are available and no later than our document deadline. Review the admission requirements for the program(s) you've applied to and for your country or system of study. If math is required for admission to your program(s) of interest, you must submit your senior mathematics course descriptions for evaluation unless you're completing high school in one of the following systems or countries.
- A-Levels
- American system
- Cambridge Pre-U
- CAPE
- Chinese system
- French Baccalaureate
- HKDSE
- Indian system
- IB
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Malaysia
- Russia
- Thailand
- Vietnam
Students from China
Applying from a high school in China?
You are required to submit
- final high school transcript with completion of at least five Senior 3 academic courses,
- graduation diploma, and
- Chinese National University Entrance Examination/Gao Kao. We expect a minimum provincial Tier 1 (or equivalent) university cut-off score. If you are not writing the Gao Kao, you must submit a formal explanation directly to Waterloo.
You’ll be required to submit your official final documents directly through China Credentials Verification (CHESICC-Parchment Portal Service). CHESICC verification results must be sent electronically via Parchment.
We reserve the right to withdraw your Offer of Admission if there is a discrepancy between documents submitted and the official final results submitted by CHESICC or your high school.
Applying from a college or university in China?
You are required to submit
- final high school transcript,
- post-secondary transcript,
- high school graduation diploma, and
- Chinese National University Entrance Examination/Gao Kao. We expect a minimum provincial Tier 1 (or equivalent) university cut-off score. If you are not writing the Gao Kao, you must submit a formal explanation directly to Waterloo.
You’ll be required to submit your official final documents directly through China Credentials Verification (CHESICC-Parchment Portal Service). CHESICC verification results must be sent electronically via Parchment.
We reserve the right to withdraw your Offer of Admission if there is a discrepancy between documents submitted and the official final results submitted by CHESICC or your school.
College/university transfer students
We require transcripts from your high school and all post-secondary institutions you have attended and/or are attending. You can request transcripts from Ontario colleges and universities you've attended when you apply through the Ontario Universities' Application Centre.
Course outlines/syllabi for all courses you've completed (or are in the process of completing) must be emailed to myapplication@uwaterloo.ca in order to be considered for transfer credit and to meet your conditions. If you've taken a break in your studies, we may request an outline of your activities and/or a résumé.
Review how to apply and submit documents as a transfer student.
Mature students
If you have previously attended college or university, you are not considered a mature student for admission purposes. You will need to meet Waterloo's regular admission requirements.
For admission purposes, Waterloo’s definition of a mature student varies by faculty. Most faculties have additional requirements; please view our mature student admissions for details.
You are required to submit a final high school transcript, post-secondary transcript (if applicable), course syllabi (if applicable), a résumé, and the Admission Information Form.
Uploading unofficial transcripts
Once you've received your Waterloo ID number you can upload your transcripts using Quest, our online student information system. Transcripts will not be accepted via email.
- Your unofficial school transcripts must be saved as a PDF. The maximum file size is 3MB. The transcript must be legible when the document is viewed at 100% sizing.
- Keep the file name short and use letters and numbers only. Do not use brackets (), question marks (?), quotation marks ("), or any special characters (&, $, %) in the file name.
Do you need to upload additional transcripts or did you incorrectly upload a document?
You can upload documents once a day. You may not upload documents between 12 and 1 a.m. Eastern Time. Once a transcript had been added successfully to your file, the "date last received" field will be updated. After 24 hours, the upload link will reappear allowing you to submit new grade information, e.g., transcripts.
Uploading a document again will not replace what has already been submitted. After uploading, the upload button will appear again to enable you to upload new grade information.
What documents are accepted as official?
Paper documents
A paper document is considered official only if it is received by the University of Waterloo in a sealed envelope from the issuing institution or external examinations agency.
If you're sending documents by courier, the documents must be in a sealed envelope within the courier package. All transcript information is confidential, and envelopes must not be opened by the applicant. Photocopied, scanned, and faxed transcripts are not official.
Electronic documents
Transcripts received electronically through an external transcript service or external examination agency will be considered official. Documents received via email are not considered official.
Translated/notarized documents
Notarized documents must be sent directly to Waterloo from a notary public in a signed/sealed envelope in order to be considered official. Any document that is not in English must be accompanied by an English translation and an affidavit stating the contents of the translation are a true representation of the contents of the original document.
The affidavit must come from the person who translated the document(s). University of Waterloo officials can accept only translations produced by a certified translator whose certification can be confirmed by a stamp or a membership number of a professional translation association. Translations by family members or friends are not acceptable.
Transcripts issued by institutions within Canada do not require a translation.
Important notes
All documents and transcripts submitted to Waterloo become the property of the University and will not be returned.
International transcripts may need to be verified by World Education Services Canada as part of the admission process. We'll provide details once you apply.
All transcripts/documents will be verified for authenticity. If evidence of misrepresentation or fraudulent or falsified documentation is found, the penalty is severe. The University of Waterloo reserves the right to revoke any offer of admission, residence, and/or financial support.
We may disclose evidence of any misrepresentation, fraudulent or falsified documentation to all Canadian universities, to Citizenship and Immigration Canada, and to law enforcement personnel when appropriate.
University of Waterloo mailing address
Office of the Registrar
University of Waterloo
200 University Ave W
Waterloo ON N2L 3G1 CANADA
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