Welcome to the graduate studies community at the University of Waterloo.

We are delighted to have you join our graduate student community! 

As you get closer to the start of your first term, you will receive communications about orientation and transition programming designed to support you as you enter your new graduate studies program. 

For the most up-to-date information about COVID-19, encourage you to visit the University of Waterloo COVID-19 information website and check back often. This site will provide information and guidance on vaccination requirements, exemptions and accommodations, and guidelines for on-campus activity.


Once you've received an offer

Congratulations! You've received an offer of admission to graduate studies at the University of Waterloo. Follow these steps to accept your offer.

After you've accepted an offer

After you've accepted your offer of admission, learn about what you need to do to get ready to begin your first term.

 

Waterloo Grad Ready

Waterloo Graduate Ready is a virtual transition and orientation program designed to support you as you begin your graduate studies.

Ask an admissions expert

If you have a specific question relating to your graduate admission, submit this form and one of our admissions specialists will respond.

 

Once you've received your offer of admission

Review and accept your offer of admission

Review the information on our future students page for details on viewing, and accepting your offer of admission. You can also meet some of the students in our graduate community and get a sneak peek at grad life.

Apply for your study permit (international students only)

University of Waterloo’s immigration consultants recommend applying for your Study Permit as soon as you’ve been accepted to the University of Waterloo. You may also be interested in reviewing the resources that the University of Waterloo offers to international students:

Estimate your tuition, fees and resources

No tuition deposit is required to hold your place in your program.

Prior to your tuition and fees being posted on Quest (approximately one month prior to the beginning of your admit term), you can estimate your tuition, fees, and living costs using the details on your program page. Ensure you review your offer of admission carefully to determine what funding may be available to you.

Student Financial Services has an Interactive Student Fee Estimator that will allow you to receive an estimate of your future tuition, incidental and residence fees.

You can also use the Student Fee Estimator if you are applying for a study permit and need to pay fees in advance to show proof of payment as part of your study permit application OR if you are applying for an education loan.

Review study and living costs and use the Student budget calculator to estimate your total costs/expenses and your resources to fund them, including things like rent for off-campus housing and groceries. 

Log into your WatIAM account

Log into your WatIAM account to change your password and enter your recovery email.

After you’ve accepted your offer of admission

You’re likely still several months away from beginning your new graduate program, but there are many things you can start thinking about to make your transition go smoothly.

Review and satisfy your conditions of admission

It’s important to satisfy your conditions of admission as soon as possible, or at least by the due date.

Your conditions of admission must be satisfied before we can matriculate you (make you active) into your program. For those who have satisfied their conditions of admission, matriculation takes place approximately six weeks prior to the beginning of the term. The matriculation process continues to take place on a rolling basis as conditions of admission are satisfied.

View and update your personal information

Ensure that you review and update your personal information, including emergency contacts, in Quest. Remember to keep your contact information up to date! Hint: If you know your new address, but haven’t yet moved, you can “future-date” an address by editing when the address change will take effect.

Review information about your program and graduate studies

Some important sources of information about your program and graduate studies can be found in:

Important dates

As you prepare for the beginning of the term, ensure you familiarize yourself with the important dates. All important dates can be found in the graduate studies important dates calendar.

Make note of the following dates, as they are of particular importance:

Winter 2024:

  • Dec 4: Class enrolment period begins
  • Dec 14: Tuition and fees are due
  • Jan 8: Classes begin
  • Jan 20: Not fees arranged (NFA) holds applied
  • Jan 26: Tuition and fee refund - 100%
  • Jan 31: Last day to arrange tuition and fees
  • Feb 16: Tuition and fee refund - 50%
  • Feb 17-25: Reading week
  • Feb 19: Family day
  • Mar 24: Last day to drop a class with a grade of Withdrawn, no credit granted (WD)
  • Mar 29: Good Friday
  • Apr 8: Classes end
  • Apr 11-25: Final exam period

Spring 2024:

  • Apr 1: Class enrolment period begins
  • Apr 24: Tuition and fees are due
  • May 6: Classes begin
  • May 18: Not fees arranged (NFA) holds applied
  • May 20: Victoria Day
  • May 27: Tuition and fee refund - 100%
  • Jun 21: Tuition and fee refund - 50%
  • Jun 30: Last day to arrange tuition and fees
  • Jul 1: Canada Day
  • Jul 14: Last day to drop a class with a grade of Withdrawn, no credit granted (WD)
  • Jul 30: Classes end
  • Aug 2-16: Final exam period
  • Aug 5: Civic Day
 

Prepare for coming to the Waterloo Region

If you are planning on moving to the Waterloo Region, here are a few things to consider:

Waterloo Grad Ready - Graduate student orientation and transition programming

Waterloo Grad Ready is run by grad students, for grad students, through the Student Success Office. It’s all about helping you transition to being a graduate student at the University of Waterloo. In the weeks before you begin class, you can connect with other new grad students, prepare for academics and get ready for life at Waterloo. 

What can you expect? 

  • Events for you to get to know your faculty, life at Waterloo, and your new peers 
  • In-person orientation before classes start 
  • Weekly email updates to keep you informed 
  • Online modules and resources so you're prepared for academics 
  • A new student checklist to help you stay on track