Congratulations, Warrior!

Waterloo student wearng bright gold Warriors t-short cheering at outdoor event.

Welcome to your Waterloo

You've worked hard to get here. Now it's time to get excited about all the experiences, opportunities, and fun you'll have as a Waterloo student.

Your community will have your back every step of the way! Between joining clubs, exploring your new stomping grounds, bonding with your orientation crew, and diving into real-world experiences, you've got a lot to look forward to.

Accepting your offer

We want to give you a warm Warrior welcome – accept your Offer of Admission and make sure to review any conditions you need to maintain your offer.

The deadline for accepting your offer is 11:59 p.m. ET on June 3, 2024.

Reserve your spot in residence

Want to level up your Waterloo experience? Living in residence connects you to a vibrant, supportive community – and your spot is 100% guaranteed. Here's what you can do to prepare.

Explore if the residence experience is for you.
When you're ready to sign up, submit your Residence Guarantee Application Form and your $500 non-refundable residence deposit by 11:59 p.m. ET on June 3, 2024.
Have you been admitted to the Architecture program? There is no residence in Cambridge, but the School of Architecture can help you find housing.

Why students love Waterloo

Waterloo is well known for its entrepreneurial culture, but it's also home to over 200 clubs and societies! No matter what you're interested in, you'll find others who share your passion. Getting involved was one of my most gratifying experiences.Michelle, second-year Environment and Business

Being a Waterloo student, you're part of a community. The city is very student friendly – plus you'll meet like-minded people in school who share similar passions that allow you to work together on projects but also to build life-long friendships.Taryn, fourth-year Therapeutic Recreation

The best part of being a Waterloo student is the welcoming and engaging community atmosphere. There are all kinds of events and activities to help you get involved and meet people. Abby, fourth-year Planning

With countless clubs, organizations and student societies, you can definitely find your community and niche by following your passions. The university community is incredibly supportive and open to helping other students!Xenia, fourth-year Health Studies

At Waterloo, you’re not just exposed to an great learning environment! Waterloo’s community of innovative thinkers is truly what makes Waterloo stand out: you gain access to experiences that you truly don’t get to experience anywhere else. Martin, second-year Geomatics

The best thing about being a Waterloo student is the high-quality education that you receive. Every class I've taken has been amazing, mainly because the professors are passionate about their fields and helping students succeed.Lindsay, fourth-year Honours Science

I love being a Waterloo student because of the sense of community I felt as soon as I arrived. We're like a close-knit family and it makes you feel right at home.Prithika, first-year Management Engineering

Getting ready for Warrior life

Stay on top of your budget

Don't stress! Start planning your finances now. Check out these helpful tips and resources.

Use our student budget calculator to see what first year might cost.
Check your Quest account in late July for fall term fees. You'll also find your scholarship and bursary information there, if applicable (in the Entrance Awards tab).
Learn strategies to help you pay for your university education.

hand with people icons above

Get support before you start

Beginning in June, you'll receive lots of information about Waterloo Ready, our transition program that guides you through your journey up to – and into – first year.

You'll meet your future classmates, learn what to expect, and get set up for success. Because no Warrior gets left behind.

Group of students wearing Waterloo black and gold clothing, standing outside and smiling at camera.

Say hello to your next chapter

Here at Waterloo, you'll find experiences that ignite your passion, a community that supports you, and countless opportunities to make the world a better place.

Check out our student life section to learn more about day-to-day life as a Warrior, including

exciting extracurriculars, from clubs to athletics;
our inclusive, tight-knit campus community;
career building opportunities to prepare you for what's next; and
residence options designed to support your journey.

First-year Waterloo students are much more likely to join extracurriculars than students at other universities (71% vs 57%).

National Survey of Student Engagement

Explore careers before you graduate! Waterloo is ranked #2 in Canada for connecting students with employers.

QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022

Next steps for international and transfer students

International students

We're here to make your transition to life in Canada a smooth one. Here are some tips.

If you've been admitted to co-op, apply for a work permit at the same time you apply for a study permit.
If you need to prepay your tuition as part of your study permit application, use our fee estimator to estimate how much you should pay.

Transfer students

Here are some things to keep in mind if you're making the switch to Waterloo.

Submit documents, such as final transcripts and course syllabi, for possible transfer credit. Once we've reviewed your documents, we'll email you a transfer credit assessment.
Looking for a fun, supportive place to live? Take advantage of our residence guarantee for transfer students.

To keep track of all these steps, download our checklist for admitted students (PDF).