Mechanical engineers deal with any machine that moves, such as robots, motors, pumps, and vehicles.
As a graduate, you might design parts for small consumer products or design the latest commercial jets. You might work in industries ranging from manufacturing, robotics, and aerospace to biotechnology and the automotive sector.
At Waterloo, you'll have access to well-equipped labs for design and experimentation. You can gain hands-on experience by joining student teams such as the Formula SAE race car, Ethanol Vehicle Challenge, Midnight Sun solar car, SAE Cargo Aircraft, or CASI glider.
Through co-op, you'll gain 2 years of paid work experience relating to Mechanical Engineering. You'll also earn money to help pay for your education and test different career areas to see what you like.
Customize your skills by choosing to specialize in areas such as fluid mechanics, materials engineering and processing, welding and joining, automation and control, or thermal engineering in your fourth year.
Meet Aleks, a graduate who balanced school, projects, co-op, athletics, and a start-up to provide sustainable water in the developing world.
About Mechanical Engineering
Gain 2 years of experience in the co-op program
Apply directly to this program on your application
Earn a Bachelor of Applied Science degree
Admission requirements
- Ontario students: 6 Grade 12 U and/or M courses including
- Advanced Functions (minimum final grade of 70% is required)
- Calculus and Vectors (minimum final grade of 70% is required)
- Chemistry (minimum final grade of 70% is required)
- Physics (minimum final grade of 70% is required)
- English (ENG4U) (minimum final grade of 70% is required)
- Admission averages: Individual selection from the low 90s
- An Admission Information Form is required
- Not studying in Ontario? Search our admission requirements database
First-year courses
September to December
ME 100 - Mechanical Engineering Practice 1
CHE 102 - Chemistry for Engineers
MATH 115 - Linear Algebra for Engineering
MATH 116 - Calculus 1 for Engineering
PHYS 115 - Mechanics
January to April or May to August
ME 100B - Seminar
ME 101 - Mechanical Engineering Practice 2
ME 115 - Structure and Properties of Materials
GENE 123 - Electrical Circuits
MATH 118 - Calculus 2 for Engineering
1 Complementary Studies Elective Course
After first year
- See the range of courses available in Mechanical Engineering.
- View all the courses required for your degree.
Co-op
By alternating school terms and paid co-op work terms throughout your degree, you can explore new career areas and types of employers as your career interests evolve.
Sample co-op positions
- Business Analyst, Transportation, Canadian Tire Corporation
- Facilities Team Project Assistant, MDS Nordion
- Assistant Design / Production Engineering, Tokai Rika Group
- Junior Project Supervisor, Air Liquide
- Mechanical Engineering Assistant, Smith & Andersen
Careers in Mechanical Engineering
Recent graduates
- Processor Liability Coordinator, ArcelorMittal Dofasco Inc.
- Operations Program Manager, New Product, Apple
- Automation Engineer, Score Media
- Designer, Hitachi Canada Inc.
- Forensic Engineer, Samac Engineering Ltd.
- Integration Engineer, Ford Motor Co.
- President & CEO, BladeTech Hockey Inc.
- Aerospace Officer, Canadian Armed Forces
- Production Systems Control Engineer, General Motors of Canada Ltd.
