How to apply as a transfer student

If you plan to take three or more on-campus courses per term, you'll be considered a full-time Waterloo student. (Most students take five courses each term.) 

If you plan to take one or two courses per term, you'll apply to our part-time studies programs.

Applying to full-time studies

  1. Review the admission requirements and transfer credit information for your program(s) of interest.
    • Some of our programs have transfer credit agreements with Ontario colleges. Check to see if we have an agreement with your program.
    • If there isn't an agreement, that's okay! We'll review your courses individually for possible transfer credit.
  2. Apply to Waterloo through the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC) website.
    • If you're applying to an Engineering program (excluding Architecture), the application deadline is January 15, 2026.
    • The deadline for all other programs is January 30, 2026.
    • If you've previously attended Waterloo, complete the Application for Undergraduate Re-Admission form.
  3. Once we receive your information from the OUAC, we’ll email you with details of your next steps.

Applying to co-op programs

If you're interested in a co-op program, you must check the co-op box on your OUAC application.

If you apply to a co-op program that is also offered as a regular program and you're not admitted to co-op, you may be considered for the regular program if spaces are available.

Applying to the Architecture program

You may receive up to 1.5 transfer credits for courses taken at university. No transfer credits will be awarded for courses taken at a college.

Transfer students are eligible for admission to the first year of the program only.

Applying to Engineering programs

You may apply to only one Waterloo Engineering program, including Software Engineering. If you wish, you can apply to Architecture and an Engineering program.

You can request consideration for an additional Engineering program on the Engineering Program Alternate Choice form on the Waterloo applicant portal. You'll receive instructions for accessing your applicant portal once you've applied.

Engineering programs may grant a couple of transfer credits if you're transferring from another Canadian university. Transfer credits are not available in the Biomedical Engineering or Systems Design Engineering programs.

Transfer credit will not be awarded for courses taken at college. Transfer students are usually eligible for admission only to the first year of Waterloo’s five-year Engineering programs.

Applying to math and computer science programs

Admission to Computer Science is extremely competitive with very few spaces (if any) available for transfer students.

Transfer students are not eligible for the following programs.

  • Business Administration (Laurier) and Computer Science (Waterloo) Double Degree
  • Business Administration (Laurier) and Mathematics (Waterloo) Double Degree
  • Computing and Financial Management
  • Mathematics/Chartered Professional Accountancy

Next steps

Once you've applied

You'll need to ensure all official documents, transcripts, and any English language test results are sent directly to us from the authorized institutions and arrive by the document deadline.

  • Learn about required documents you may need to submit.

  • If you applied for a program in the Faculty of Mathematics or the Faculty of Engineering (excluding Architecture), to Computing and Financial Management, Geography and Aviation, and/or Science and Aviation, the Admission Information Form (AIF) is required for admission.

  • Check your document and application status in the Waterloo applicant portal for any actions you may need to take.

If you receive an offer of admission

We’ll get ready to welcome you to campus and help you get a great start as you begin your studies with us.

Course syllabi

  • As part of the process of evaluating your transfer credits we need to review the content of the courses you've taken. You'll need to submit detailed course descriptions/syllabi for the courses you've completed or are in the process of completing. Your admissions officer will reach out for more information.
  • Brief calendar descriptions are not sufficient for transfer credit assessment. Please contact us if detailed course descriptions/syllabi are not available from your institution.
  • Course syllabi are not required if you're applying to Engineering or Software Engineering.

Submitting course syllabi

Send us a copy of the course outline/syllabus for each course you have taken or are taking. See an example of a course syllabus.

Send your course syllabi to

Office of the Registrar
University of Waterloo
200 University Ave W
Waterloo ON N2L 3G1  CANADA
Email: myapplication@uwaterloo.ca

Please include your full name, program(s) applied to, Waterloo applicant number, and OUAC reference number in your correspondence. If you're emailing course descriptions, please send them in PDF format.

Submitting documents

We require transcripts from your high school and all post-secondary institutions you've attended and/or are attending. You can request transcripts from Ontario colleges and universities through MyCreds or when you apply through the Ontario Universities' Application Centre.

  • We can review your application and make a decision if you upload unofficial high school and college/university transcripts for courses you've completed or are taking.
  • If you receive an offer of admission, have your college and/or university send us an official final transcript by the deadline listed on your Offer of Admission.
  • Learn about sending required documents.