No question, university is a big investment in your future. The money that you – and possibly your family members – contribute is the foundation for your financial plan, but you may need more to cover all of your university costs.
Expenses
Your main costs in university will be your tuition and living expenses.
Tuition and fees
Waterloo's tuition fees vary by program and type of student.
Living expenses (for two terms of school)
- Textbooks and supplies: $2,500 (most programs)
- Residence: $6,400 to $8,500
- Meal plan: $5,800 to $6,700
- Personal expenses: $4,300 (e.g., phone, clothing, Internet, entertainment, and laundry; depends on your lifestyle)
- Overall living expenses estimate: $19,000 to $23,700
Resources
Common ways to cover your costs include
- scholarships (based on academic or personal achievement),
- bursaries (based on financial need), and
- government loans and grants such as Canada Student Loans, the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), and programs for Canadian students from outside Ontario.
Earn money through co-op
Through co-op at Waterloo, you could make $9,000 to $16,000 during your first four-month co-op work term. The good news? Our students have four to six co-op work terms!
Ways to pay for your education
Scholarships, bursaries, student loans, and part-time jobs are just some of the ways to help pay for university.
Budget calculator
Calculate your first-year expenses and see how much money you have to cover your costs.
