Scholarships allow us to celebrate and recognize your achievements! Entrance scholarships are available if you're starting full-time first-year degree studies and are beginning university or college for the first time.
Scholarships are awarded primarily on academic and personal achievement. Bursaries, another type of assistance, are awarded based on financial need.
- Most scholarships do not require an application, but there are some exceptions listed below.
- Scholarships are normally awarded in mid-May once we receive updated grades from Ontario high schools. Details will be listed in your Waterloo Quest account starting in mid-May.
You can also visit our awards website to search the full list of entrance scholarships, awards, and bursaries. Once you're a Waterloo student, there are scholarships and bursaries you can apply to throughout your degree.
Scholarships you'll automatically be considered for
The "admission average" we use to award scholarships generally consists of your top six grades, including the courses required for admission to your program(s) of interest.
President’s Scholarship of Distinction (admission average of 95%+)
Value
$2,000 Entrance Scholarship
$1,500 International Experience Award*
and/or
$1,500 Research Award*
Criteria
- Early May admission average of 95%+
- Available to students admitted to full-time first-year degree studies at Waterloo and who are beginning post-secondary studies for the first time in September.
Visit the President's Scholarship web page for full details. Note: The International Experience Award and/or Research Award are available after first year if you choose to claim them and if you complete your first year with at least an 80% average.
President’s Scholarship (admission average of 90% to 94.9%)
Value
$2,000 Entrance Scholarship
Criteria
- Early May admission average of 90% to 94.9%
- Available to students admitted to full-time first-year degree studies at Waterloo and who are beginning post-secondary studies for the first time in September.
Visit the President's Scholarship web page for full details.
Merit Scholarship (admission average of 85% to 89.9%)
Value
$1,000 Entrance Scholarship
Criteria
- Early May admission average of 85% to 89.9%
- Available to students admitted to full-time first-year degree studies at Waterloo and who are beginning post-secondary studies for the first time in September.
Visit the President's Scholarship web page for full details.
International Student Entrance Scholarships
Value
Several at $10,000 each
Criteria
- Available to international students admitted to first year of a full-time undergraduate degree program.
- Academic performance (minimum 90% admission average)
- Admission Information Form
Mathematics and Computer Science applicants only: Results of Euclid Mathematics Contest and/or Canadian Senior Mathematics Contest may be used to award scholarships.
Accounting and Financial Management applicants only: Results of the Accounting and Financial Management Admissions Assignment are used to award scholarships.
Additional scholarships
You'll also automatically be considered for hundreds of scholarships offered by our faculties. Details are listed below.
If you’re admitted to the Faculty of Arts and choose Renison University College or St. Jerome’s University as your academic home (by co-registering), any scholarships will be awarded by Renison or St. Jerome’s.
Scholarships and awards which require an application
Awards for Black and Indigenous students
Several at $1,200 – $40,000. The application deadline for these scholarships is April 15, 2023.
For Black students
For the purpose of these or other similar awards, Black students may include African, African American, Afro-Latine, Black Canadian, Caribbean, or other African descent. View our awards for Black students.
For Indigenous students
For the purpose of these or other similar awards, an Indigenous person is one who is a citizen or member of a First Nations community (Status/Non-Status), Inuit, and/or Métis. View our awards for Indigenous students.
General awards
Several at $1,000 – $20,000. The application deadline for these scholarships is April 15, 2023.
- Deer Ridge Entrance Award (for students from Waterloo Region, based on academic performance, financial need, and community involvement)
- Joyce Scholars Award (for students who face significant financial barriers and have demonstrated the ability overcome obstacles and adversity, preference to students from Waterloo Region)
- Serbian Education Fund Entrance Award (for students who demonstrate significant cultural contributions to Serbian community)
- Hong Kong Alumni Association Entrance Award (for students from or previously from Hong Kong, based on academic performance and community involvement)
- Waterloo – China Hong Kong Entrance Scholarship (for students who reside in or who previously resided in Hong Kong or mainland China. Based on academic performance and community involvement)
Schulich Leader Scholarships
Up to 100 scholarships awarded annually across 20 partner universities in Canada. Half are valued at $120,000 for engineering scholarships and half are valued at $100,000 for science and math scholarships.
Criteria
- For students admitted to programs in science, technology, engineering, and math who intend to pursue a career in technology, engineering, entrepreneurship/business enterprise, and/or applied scientific research.
- Recipients must be a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident of Canada.
- Based on academic excellence, STEM innovation, and entrepreneurial leadership. Financial need may also be considered.
- To be considered, students must be nominated by their high school or CÉGEP by January 31, 2023.
Visit the Schulich Leader Scholarships website for additional details.
Scholarships awarded by faculties
Faculty of Mathematics Scholarships
Several at $10,000 – $50,000. The application deadline is February 17, 2023.
- National and Global Scholarships (All Math programs, excluding Computing and Financial Management and Software Engineering)
- CIBC National Scholarship (Computer Science Co-op, Mathematics/Business Administration)
Faculty of Environment Scholarships
Several at $2,000 – $10,000. The application deadline is mid-April 2023.
- Dean of Environment’s Scholarship for Excellence (open to all programs in Environment)
- Faculty of Environment Student Engagement Award (open to all programs in Environment)
Did you know? If you're in a co-op program, you'll earn money during each of your four to six co-op terms to help pay for school.
Additional scholarships awarded by faculty/program
Not sure which faculty offers your program of interest? View programs listed by faculty.
If you receive an offer of admission, you'll be considered for the following scholarships along with those listed in the available to any student section above. An application is not required for most of these scholarships.
Faculty of Arts
Programs: Honours Arts, Honours Arts and Business, Global Business and Digital Arts
| Eligible programs | Value | Criteria | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Various entrance scholarships | Honours Arts
Honours Arts and Business |
|
Academic performance
An application is not required |
Accounting and Financial Management, Sustainability and Financial Management
| Value | Criteria | |
|---|---|---|
| Various entrance scholarships |
|
An application is not required. |
Faculty of Engineering
Programs: all Engineering programs, Software Engineering, and Architecture
| Eligible programs | Value | Criteria | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Various entrance scholarships | Architecture |
Several at $1,000 - $2,500 |
An application is not required. |
| Various entrance scholarships | All Engineering programs |
Several at $10,000 over eight academic terms (normally the length of your degree) Several at $1,000 to $5,000 for one year |
An application is not required. |
| Entrance scholarships for international students | All Engineering programs |
Several at $10,000 for one year |
International students admitted to full-time, first-year studies in Architecture, Engineering, or Software Engineering who are studying on an international study permit. An application is not required. |
| Other entrance scholarships | All Engineering programs |
One at $18,250 |
An application is not required. |
| Various entrance scholarships | Software Engineering |
One at $15,000 over eight academic terms (normally the length of your degree) Several at $4,000 for one year |
An application is not required. |
| Engineering Entrance Awards for Black and Indigenous Students | All Engineering programs | Up to five awards, valued at $5,000 each |
An application is required by April 15. |
Faculty of Environment
Programs
- Climate and Environmental Change
- Environment and Business
- Environment, Resources and Sustainability
- Geography and Aviation
- Geography and Environmental Management
- Geomatics
- International Development
- Knowledge Integration
- Planning
Scholarships
| Eligible programs | Value | Criteria | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jean Andrey Environment Leadership Scholarship | All programs (including Sustainability and Financial Management) | One valued at up to $7,500 for one year |
Academic performance (minimum 85% admission average) Demonstrated interest and/or passion for all environmental issues. An application is required by mid-April. |
| Dean of Environment’s Scholarship for Excellence | All programs (excluding Sustainability and Financial Management) | Several at $7,500 for one year |
Academic performance (minimum 85% admission average) Demonstrated interest and/or passion for environmental issues. An application is required by mid-April. |
| Faculty of Environment Entrance Scholarships | All programs (excluding Sustainability and Financial Management) | $2,000 for one year plus President’s Scholarship of Distinction valued at $2,000 | Early May admission average of 95.0% or above
An application is not required. |
| Faculty of Environment Entrance Scholarships | All programs (excluding Sustainability and Financial Management) | $1,000 for one year plus President’s Scholarship valued at $2,000 | Early May admission average of 90.0% to 94.9%
An application is not required. |
| Faculty of Environment Student Engagement Award | All programs (excluding Sustainability and Financial Management) | Up to 10 awards valued at $4,000 each for one year |
Academic performance (minimum 85% admission average) Demonstrated interest in sustainability-related activities in your community. An application is required by mid-April. |
| Other entrance scholarships | All programs (excluding Sustainability and Financial Management) | Several from $500 to $3,000 |
Academic performance |
Faculty of Health
Programs: Health Sciences, Kinesiology, Public Health, Recreation and Leisure Studies (including Recreation and Sport Business, Therapeutic Recreation)
| Eligible programs | Value | Criteria | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Various entrance scholarships | All Health programs | Several ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 for one year |
Academic performance Community leadership and good citizenship as indicated on the Admission Information Form. An application is not required. |
| Faculty of Health entrance scholarships | All Health programs | $500 | Early May admission average of 80.0% to 84.9%. An application is not required. |
Faculty of Mathematics
Programs
- Business Administration (Laurier) and Computer Science (Waterloo)
- Business Administration (Laurier) and Mathematics (Waterloo)
- Computer Science
- Mathematics (which includes 14 Math majors)
- Mathematics/Business Administration
- Mathematics/Chartered Professional Accountancy
- Mathematics/Financial Analysis and Risk Management
Scholarships
| Eligible programs | Value | Criteria | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Various entrance scholarships | All Math programs (excluding Computing and Financial Management and Software Engineering) |
|
An application is not required. |
| National and Global Scholarships | All Math programs (excluding Computing and Financial Management and Software Engineering) | Up to 30 awards at $10,000 to $50,000 over eight academic terms (normally the length of your degree) |
An application is required by February 17, 2023. |
| CIBC National Scholarship | Computer Science Co-op, Mathematics/ Business Administration | $25,000 over eight academic terms (normally the length of your degree) |
An application is required by February 17, 2023. |
Note: For more information visit the Mathematics Scholarships website.
Faculty of Science
Programs: Biotechnology/Chartered Professional Accountancy, Environmental Science, Honours Science, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Science and Aviation, Science and Business
| Eligible programs | Value | Criteria | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Various entrance scholarships | All programs | Several at $1,000 - $10,000 for one year | Academic performance
An application is not required. |
| Various entrance scholarships – Physics | Science program leading to a Physics major | Several at up to $5,000 for one year |
An application is not required. |
| Optometry, Pharmacy | Entrance scholarships are not available. | ||
Computing and Financial Management
| Value | Criteria | |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance scholarships | Several at $3,000 - $4,000 for one year |
An application is not required. |
Renison University College
Entrance scholarships
If you receive an offer of admission to Honours Arts, Honours Arts and Business, or Social Development Studies, you can choose Renison University College as your academic home base by co-registering. You would then be eligible for the following scholarships.
| Value | Criteria | |
|---|---|---|
| President’s Scholarship for Excellence | $2,000 | The top two students achieving 90%+ will receive an additional $2,000 for a total of $4,000. |
| President’s Scholarship | $2,000 | Students with an admission average of 90.0% or higher. |
| Entrance scholarships | $1,500 | Admission average of 87%-89.9%. |
| $1,000 | Admission average of 82%-86.9% | |
| $500 | Admission average of 80%-81.9% |
An application is not required for these scholarships. For more information, visit the Renison University College scholarships website.
Social Development Studies Equity and Diversity Entrance Scholarship
Availability: Two scholarships valued at up to $6,000 ($3,000 in first year and $1,000 in second, third, and fourth year).
While studying Social Development Studies (SDS) at Renison University College, students explore how human interactions are influenced by individual, collective, and structural forces including mental health, social relationships, economic conditions, education and politics, and movements for social justice and social change. The common aim of those who study SDS is to help people, communities, and nations flourish. Renison values diversity and equity and has designed this scholarship to address historical and contemporary injustices that have created barriers to higher education for members of marginalized groups (with priority going to self-identified Indigenous students; Black students; students of colour; LGBTQ+, queer, trans*, and/or Two-Spirit students; and students with disabilities).
An application is required for this scholarship. For more information, visit the Renison University College scholarships website.
Town and Gown Society Entrance Awards
Two scholarships valued at $1,000 each are available to students starting in September. These awards are offered by the Renison Town and Gown Society, a network of active and involved women from the local community, to encourage transfer students embarking upon their degrees in Social Development Studies.
An application is required for this scholarship. For more information, visit the Renison University College scholarships website.
St. Jerome's University
If you receive an offer of admission to Honours Arts or Honours Arts and Business, you can choose St. Jerome's University as your academic home base by co-registering.
| Eligible programs | Value | Criteria | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Board of Governor's Scholarship | Honours Arts, Honours Arts and Business | $3,000 in first year
$2,000 available in upper years |
Academic performance
An application is not required. |
| President's Scholarship of Distinction | Honours Arts, Honours Arts and Business | $2,000 Entrance Scholarship;
$1,500 International Experience Award and/or; $1,500 Research Award |
Open to students admitted to full-time first-year degree studies at St. Jerome’s University, who are beginning post-secondary studies for the first time.
Early May admission average of 95%+ View the President's Scholarship web page for complete eligibility details. An application is not required. |
| President's Scholarship | Honours Arts, Honours Arts and Business | $2,000 |
Open to students admitted to full-time first-year degree studies at St. Jerome’s University, who are beginning post-secondary studies for the first time.
Early May admission average of 90%+
|
| Entrance scholarships |
Honours Arts, Honours Arts and Business |
$1,000 | For students with averages between 85% and 89.9%.
An application is not required. |
| Founder's Scholarship | Honours Arts, Honours Arts and Business | $1,000 | One student each from selected Catholic schools in Brantford, Cambridge, Kitchener-Waterloo, and North Bay. This may be awarded in addition to a St. Jerome's entrance scholarship.
Academic performance An application is not required. |
| Application-based awards | All | $1,000 - $2,500 | Awarded to one or more students who demonstrate academic achievement and/or financial need and who are co-registered at St. Jerome's University (SJU), living in the SJU residence, or have another connection to the SJU community. |
Note: For more information and conditions, visit the St. Jerome’s University scholarships website.
Bursaries
A bursary is awarded based on financial need rather than on academic achievement. Students who are Ontario residents with financial need and who are starting university or college for the first time may receive a Waterloo entrance bursary.
Ready to learn more?
- Use our student budget calculator to estimate your costs and resources for first year.
- Subscribe to our newsletter to get tips and advice from current students.
- Discover our ultimate guide to funding your university education.
