Admission averages and requirements
What are Waterloo’s admission averages?
Waterloo’s admission averages range from high 70s to mid-90s. Admission averages can vary depending on the number of applications we receive, the number of spaces available in each program, and the grades of students who apply.
Smaller or highly competitive programs will have higher admission ranges. Search our admission requirements to see specific admission averages.
What average do I actually need?
Admission averages are influenced by the number of students applying to a particular program, their overall average and grades in required courses, and available spaces in a particular program.
We don’t under or overestimate the admission ranges we publish. They’re always based on the students we admitted the previous year and what we expect the average to be for the current year.
For programs that have supplementary requirements such as interviews or a portfolio, those factors are in addition to your grades and influence admission decisions.
Do you weigh some courses more heavily than others on the average?
We don’t weigh courses differently, but we will always include the courses which are required for admission in your admission average. We will then use your remaining courses with the highest grades to calculate your overall admission average.
Do I need specific extracurriculars for specific programs?
No, but many of our programs like to see examples of initiative, leadership, time management, people skills, and a range of interests and involvement.
If you’re applying to programs in the Faculty of Mathematics or to Software Engineering, you’re encouraged to participate in Waterloo’s math and computing contests. Results of the contests will be used in scholarship decisions and possibly admission decisions for programs in the Faculty of Mathematics.
Do you look at Grade 11 marks?
For many programs, we can use Grade 11 marks and mid-term or predicted grades for the Grade 12 courses you're taking to make a conditional offer of admission. Your Offer of Admission would list the conditions you need to meet, i.e., the final grades you’ll need to achieve.
If your Grade 11 marks aren’t as high as you’d like them to be, we will refer to your Grade 12 grades when we make our admission decisions towards the end of the application process (March through mid-May).
If you're applying to the School of Architecture, we use grade 11 and grade 12 grades to select students for the interview and portfolio stage of the application process.
For highly competitive programs, we may wait until May to make offers of admission so that we can see mid-term grades for required courses you may be taking in second semester.
Applying
Does it matter how you rank Waterloo on your application?
No, it does not matter where you rank Waterloo programs on your application. At Waterloo, we examine each application equally. Please rank the Waterloo programs you're applying to based on your personal preference and in relation to other schools you're applying to.
If you apply to more than one Waterloo program, you'll receive a decision for each program, not just your top ranked Waterloo program.
Can you apply to more than one Waterloo program?
You can apply to a maximum of three programs at Waterloo except for Engineering, where you can apply to one program on your application.
If you wish to be considered for a second Engineering program at Waterloo, you can specify an alternate choice on your Admission Information Form once you've applied. Biomedical Engineering and Software Engineering are not available as alternate choices on the AIF.
For each Waterloo program you apply to, you will receive an admission decision (offer of admission or a refusal).
Can you repeat a course or take a course outside of regular day school?
This could affect your application depending on the program or faculty you apply to. Review Waterloo’s policy on repeated and non-day school courses for details.
How do you apply to co-op?
You need to select the co-op option on your application to be considered for a co-op program.
Where a program is offered through co-op and the regular system of study, if you apply to co-op and are not admitted, you may be considered for the regular version of that program if space is available.
If you're interested in both the co-op and regular systems of study for Health Sciences, we recommend that you apply to both streams. Due to the competitiveness of this program, we can't guarantee that if you're not offered a space in a co-op program that you'll be considered for the regular option.
How do you apply for admission?
Applications to Waterloo and all other Ontario universities are handled by the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC).
Applying through the OUAC means you can apply to multiple Ontario universities with a single application, saving you time.
How do you apply for early admission?
Waterloo does not have an 'early admissions' process. Admission decisions are made from December to May depending on the program you have applied to.
Since our admissions committees require at least mid-term grades for all required courses before decisions can be made (except for Architecture), most of our admission decisions are made in May once we receive mid-term marks from semestered high schools.
What is Waterloo's acceptance rate?
Waterloo’s acceptance rate varies by program and can vary by year. If you meet the admission requirements, you should apply.
Extra questions for Ontario students
Does Waterloo accept NBE3U (for Ontario students)?
Waterloo recognizes NBE3U (Understanding Contemporary First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Voices) as an acceptable 3U English course. Admission to Waterloo also requires the appropriate 4U English course. Please see our admissions requirements for details.
Are Ontario DU language courses (i.e. LKMDU, etc.) included in admissions averages?
Language courses taken at an institution accredited by the Ontario Ministry of Education and that have a DU level designation are considered as 4U/M courses and can be included in top 6 course averages.
I'm an Ontario high school student completing the IB program. Which admission requirements must I meet?
Ontario students completing the IB program would follow the admission requirements for Ontario high school students.
If you're applying to programs in the faculties of Engineering or Mathematics, you can indicate that you are taking IB courses on your Admission Information Form (AIF).
If you receive an offer of admission, you must have your official IB results sent directly to the University of Waterloo by the IBO to be considered for potential transfer credits.
Are Ontario high school O, C, and co-op courses included in the admission average for decision?
No, only U and M courses are included in the overall admission average.
Once you've applied
What is Quest? How do you log in?
Quest is Waterloo’s student information system. Learn about creating your Quest account so that you can complete your Admission Information Form, submit any necessary documents, and view your application status.
Can your parent or someone else inquire about your application on your behalf?
Due to privacy legislation, we can discuss details about your application only with you. We cannot discuss applications with parents, other family members, teachers, or counsellors. Please email us if you require more information.
What if you have questions about the Admission Information Form (AIF)?
Review the frequently asked questions about the AIF.
Haven’t received your Waterloo ID number after applying?
If you don't see the email with your Waterloo ID number within 10 business days of applying, be sure to check all your email folders, including junk, spam, and promotions for the email (subject line is "Thank you for applying to Waterloo").
Also make sure that you're checking the email address you used on your OUAC application.
If you still have not received the email, you can request it to be re-sent. Email myapplication@uwaterloo.ca and include your OUAC reference number, first and last name, and date of birth (MM/DD/YYYY) and we will re-send the email.
If your final grades aren't available before the deadlines, how will we make an admission decision?
We can make a conditional offer of admission using Grade 11 grades and mid-term/predicted grades for courses you're taking.
Your Offer of Admission would then list the conditions you need to meet, i.e., the final grades you’ll need to achieve.
How to check your application status
To check your application status, you’ll use Quest, Waterloo’s online student information system.
How to see if we've received your documents
To see if we've received your documents such as transcripts or English language scores, you’ll use Quest, our online student information system.
Do you need to submit a reference letter or essay?
Only the Conditional Admission to Pharmacy (CAP), Optometry, Pharmacy, and Social Work programs require letters of reference. Instructions will be sent to you.
If you've applied to Math or Engineering programs, Waterloo's Admission Information Form (AIF) allows you to tell us about your activities outside of the classroom.
What documents do you need to provide and when are they due?
The documents you may be required to provide vary depending on whether you're a high school student and where you're studying or have studied. The Admission Information Form is required for all programs in the faculties of Engineering and Mathematics.
Deadlines to submit documents depend on the program and whether you’re an Ontario high school student.
Does Waterloo accept transcripts from MyCredsTM?
Yes, Waterloo is a registered organization with MyCredsTM. If you're sending transcripts through the MyCredsTM portal, please select "send my documents to a registered organization." Do not select "generate a link to my documents."
Does Waterloo require SAT and/or ACT scores?
SAT and ACT scores are not required and will not be reviewed for admission. We discourage you from submitting these types of documents and we do not accept electronic scores.
Should I submit a résumé or recommendation letter?
Documents such as résumés, recommendation letters, SATs/ACTs, and letters of achievement will not be reviewed as part of the application process, and we discourage you from submitting these types of documents.
You can mention any relevant jobs or awards you’ve received on your Admission Information Form.
Do documents need to be translated/notarized?
Some documents may need to be notarized. Learn more about sending your documents.
English language requirements
Does Waterloo require an English language test score, e.g., IELTS?
You are required to provide an English proficiency test score if
- your first language is not English and
- your four most recent years of full-time education have not been in an English-language school system.
Learn more about Waterloo's English language requirements. The University of Waterloo reserves the right to request an English language test result from any student.
How do you send English language test score to Waterloo?
Request an official copy of your results to be sent directly to us from the English language testing centre.
For TOEFL, Waterloo’s institution code is 0996 and our department code is 00.
For IELTS, Waterloo’s e-Transfer Institution for electronic results is University of Waterloo - Admissions. Due to the volume of applications we receive, we cannot individually review scores on the IELTS website. However, we download results on a regular basis for students who have requested that their results to be sent to us electronically.
How will you know if we have received your English language test results?
When we receive official test results from an English language testing centre, we will record them in Quest, Waterloo's online student information system. Unofficial test results will not appear in Quest.
You can see your test scores in your Quest account by clicking on the Admissions tab and looking under the Test Summary section. Due to the volume of test scores we received, it can take up to ten business days for your English language test scores to appear on Quest after the official documents have been received from the testing centre.
What if your English language test scores don't meet our requirements?
If your English language test scores don't meet Waterloo's admission standards, you may still qualify for conditional acceptance through the Bridge to Academic Success in English program.
Can you apply directly to Bridge to Academic Success in English (BASE)?
No, you do not apply directly to Bridge to Academic Success in English (BASE).
If you meet the academic qualifications for the program you’ve applied to, but your TOEFL, IELTS, or other English language test score does not quite meet Waterloo's requirements, your application will be automatically reviewed for the BASE program and you may receive a conditional offer of admission to BASE.
Offers of admission
When will you receive an admission decision from Waterloo?
Admission decisions are made between January and May depending on the program and whether you’re an Ontario high school student or not.
Most offers of admission at Waterloo are made in May, once we’ve received mid-term marks from Ontario high schools. A limited number of earlier offers of admission may be made in some programs.
How do you view your offer of admission?
Log into Quest, click on the Admissions tab, then the name of the program you applied to, and click View Letter. Be sure to turn off pop-up blockers and use either Google Chrome, Firefox, or Safari as your web browser.
How do you view any conditions on an offer?
Your conditional offer of admission letter, available on your Quest account, lists any conditions you need to meet, usually a specified minimum final average and/or a minimum mark in required courses.
Do you have conditions on your offer?
Most offers of admission have conditions that need to be met by a certain date (usually over the summer). Conditions could include achieving a minimum final average or grade in a required course, submitting final transcripts, sending English language requirements, and more. By not meeting these conditions, your offer to Waterloo could be rescinded.
Will you receive an offer in the mail?
We do not send offers of admission by mail. If you are admitted to Waterloo, you’ll be able to see your Offer of Admission in your Quest account within 24-48 hours of the decision being made.
When will you know if your conditions have been met?
Final conditions are reviewed from mid-to late July for Ontario high school students and mid-July to mid-August for all other students.
If you have any issues or concerns, email the admissions office.
How do you accept an offer of admission?
You need to accept your offer through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC). Review the deadline date to accept your offer, important conditions, and instructions on accepting your offer in your Offer of Admission letter.
If you plan to live in residence, you need to pay your residence deposit by the deadline in order to reserve your spot. If you miss the deadline, we cannot guarantee a spot in residence.
Can you defer an offer of admission?
If you wish to take time before university to work, travel, or return to high school, you can request a deferral for up to a year.
Normally, a deferral will only be granted if you are not undertaking post-secondary studies during the deferral period, unless those studies are deemed to enrich your education and will not negatively affect your admissibility. Please email our admissions team if you have additional questions.
International students
Do you need a study permit?
If you're not a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident, you must have a study permit to attend university in Canada.
We encourage you to apply for your study permit as soon as possible after getting an Offer of Admission and Letter of Acceptance to Waterloo because processing times can vary. You may also need to request a Provincial Letter of Attestation before applying for your student visa.
Can visa students apply for co-op?
International students are eligible for all co-op programs.