Become the next Einstein. Wild hair optional.
Study the most fundamental aspects of nature in one of Canada’s largest and most innovative physics departments.
Physics at Waterloo offers award-winning teaching, 20 months of optional co-op experience, and partnerships with one of the world's leading institutes for research and training in foundational theoretical physics.
Join a program that fosters curious minds to question the smallest particles, the largest forces, and everything in between. Where you'll get the support you need to succeed (and maybe win a Nobel Prize like Waterloo professor Donna Strickland or be part of a team to take the first image of a black hole, like professor Avery Broderick).
Choose from a broad range of courses in applied physics, astrophysics, biophysics, chemical physics, mathematical physics, and quantum computing. Then supplement your learning with hands-on labs and tutorials. Over the course of your degree, you’ll develop the strong quantitative and analytic skills that industry is looking for.
What courses will you take in Physics?
First-year courses
In your first year, you'll take a mixture of Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, and Computer Science courses to give you the foundations for your upper-year classes. After first year, most of your classes will be Physics courses with some Mathematics courses.
September to December
- CHEM 120/CHEM 120L – General Chemistry 1/Laboratory or EARTH 121/121L – Introductory Earth Sciences or 100- or 200-level BIOL with lab (if applicable)
- CS 114 – Principles of Computing for Science
- MATH 127 – Calculus 1 for Sciences
- PHYS 10 – Physics Seminar
- PHYS 121/PHYS 121L – Mechanics/Laboratory
- ENGL 193/COMMST 193 – Communication in the Sciences
January to April
- CHEM 123 – General Chemistry 2 or EARTH 122/122L – Introductory Environmental Sciences, or 100- or 200-level BIOL with lab (if applicable)
- MATH 128 – Calculus 2 for the Sciences
- PHYS 10 – Physics Seminar
- PHYS 122/122L – Waves, Electricity and Magnetism/Laboratory
- PHYS 124 – Modern Physics
- PHYS 160L – Introductory Measurement Laboratory
- Plus one elective
After first-year
Most of the classes you’ll take will be Physics courses and some Math courses. With your remaining classes, you can choose electives from many of the 100 subject areas at Waterloo.
View a list of all the courses required for your Physics major.
Types of courses you'll take
This is a general guideline. The ratio of courses may change slightly from year to year.
Skills you'll develop with this major
- Systematic, rigorous, and flexible problem solving
- Qualitative and quantitative/numerical analysis
- Applied programming and data analysis
- Laboratory experimental procedures and methodologies
- Communication of complex ideas
This isn't an exhaustive list – rather a glimpse into the skills a Physics major can provide.
Your experience will be unique, and the skills you develop will depend on your goals; which courses you take; and your involvement with any clubs, jobs, or research projects.
Customize your Physics degree
Within the program, you can focus on applied physics, astrophysics, biophysics, chemical physics, mathematical physics, or quantum computing. You can also add additional areas of interest from other subjects by including one or more of the minors available to all Waterloo students.
Faculty:
Faculty of Science
Degree:
Bachelor of Science in Physics
Available as a co-op program?
Yes
Available as a regular program?
Yes
Available as a minor?
Yes
Learn from top physicists. Waterloo is ranked #1 in Canada for physics (Academic World Ranking of Universities 2023). Be sure to take advantage of public lectures at the nearby Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, located just south of campus.
Do scientific research. In your fourth year, you can undertake a cutting-edge research project to explore your interests in physics — perhaps at Waterloo’s Institute for Quantum Computing.
Co-op = relevant paid work experience
Waterloo's co-op program, the largest in North America, is an amazing way to explore potential careers, learn to interview for jobs, graduate with up to two years of valuable experience — and make money!
Sample co-op job titles
- Ultrasound image reconstruction specialist
- Defence analytics research assistant
- Software developer
- Undergraduate research assistant
- Science math peer tutor
- Modelling support technician
Co-op work-study sequence
Starting in second year, you'll normally alternate between school and work every four months, integrating your classroom learning with real-world experience. You can return to the same employer for a couple of work terms to gain greater knowledge and responsibility or work for different employers to get a broad range of experience.
| Year | September to December (Fall) | January to April (Winter) | May to August (Spring) |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | Study | Study | Off |
| Second | Study | Co-op | Study |
| Third | Co-op | Co-op | Study |
| Fourth | Co-op | Study | Co-op |
| Fifth | Study | Study | - |
Your first work term will be halfway through second year (January to April 2027).
Admission requirements
Ontario students: six Grade 12 U and/or M courses including
- English (ENG4U) (minimum final grade of 70% is required)
- Advanced Functions (minimum final grade of 70% is required)
- Calculus and Vectors (minimum final grade of 70% is required)
- Two of Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Space Science, Mathematics of Data Management, or Physics
Admission averages: Low 80s
Not studying in Ontario? Search our admission requirements.
How to apply
Apply to Physical Sciences and select Physics as your major in first year.
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Please contact our Faculty of Science recruitment team who can answer any questions you have.