The University of Waterloo’s Science and Financial Management (ScFM) program combines science, finance, technology and business. Learn the science, understand the business behind it and gain the skills to bring new solutions to life.
A joint initiative between the School of Accounting and Finance and the Faculty of Science.
Degree
Graduate with a Bachelor of Science and Financial Management degree.
Co-op outcomes
$64K CAD average total co-op earnings, with some SAF students earning $107K+ before graduation.
CPA/CFA
A distinct pathway to a CPA or CFA professional designation, built into your degree from the start.
Global network
10,000+ SAF alumni. 38 countries worldwide. A global community driving business.
The best of both worlds
Science drives discovery, but without the right strategy, even the most promising ideas can remain stuck in the lab.
Science and Financial Management lets you explore the scientific fields that excite you while learning how to bring ideas to market. You'll develop the financial and business expertise needed to fund innovation, evaluate opportunities and turn breakthroughs into real-world impact.
Whether it's helping a biotech company bring life-saving treatments to patients or securing investment for the next renewable energy solution, ScFM bridges the gap between scientific innovation and the business decisions that help change the world.
Five parts. One different kind of business education. Together, they give you the perspective, expertise, credentials and experience to see the bigger picture and turn what you know into action.
Value Suite
See business as a whole. The Value Suite brings business disciplines together around value creation, combining human skills, business insight and technology to prepare you for a changing world.
Tech Stack
Work with what’s changing. The Tech Stack builds the skills to use data, AI and emerging technology to make smarter decisions.
Specializations
Build expertise where business needs it most. Choose a specialization in areas like assurance, tax, corporate finance or venture capital and private equity, plus four ScFM specializations: Biodiversity, Biotechnology, Earth and Water Science and Physics of Systems and Energy.
Professional designations
Earn a degree with pathways to the most respected professional credentials in business, including the Chartered Professional Accountant and Chartered Financial Analyst designations.
Co-op
With co-op, you’ll graduate with a degree, a track record and a path to full-time work. Nearly 60% of SAF students are hired by a previous co-op employer after graduation.
Your first year
You won't spend your first year choosing between accounting, finance, science and business. You'll learn how they connect and build the skills that support every stage of your ScFM journey.
1A: Build your foundation
Develop skills in:
- Analyzing business data
- Understanding financial information
- Applying analytical methods
- Communicating scientific ideas
- Solving problems with evidence
1B: Put science and business together
Develop skills in:
- Understanding financial markets
- Exploring cell biology and molecular processes
- Connecting science, finance and business
- Evaluating opportunities and making evidence-based decisions
Your degree gives you the flexibility to take what you’ve learned in different directions and build a career around your strengths, interests and ambitions.
Accounting
Assurance. Advisory. Tax. Corporate reporting. Life sciences accounting.
Finance
Investment banking. Asset management. Corporate finance. Private equity. Financial analysis.
Consulting
Strategy. Technology. Risk. Transformation. Science and technology consulting.
Analytics
Data analytics. Business intelligence. Financial analysis. Research and development. Decision science.
Entrepreneurship
Biotechnology ventures. Health technology. Venture creation. Venture capital. Scientific commercialization.
Business leadership
Management. Strategy. Corporate governance. Executive leadership.
ScFM graduates build careers with leading organizations worldwide.
Your network starts with the people beside you. Then it gets bigger.
In ScFM, you’re part of both the School of Accounting and Finance and the Faculty of Science. You’ll build relationships with classmates, faculty, staff, alumni, recruiters and industry professionals across both worlds.
You’ll meet people who see problems differently. People who challenge how you think, share what they know and help you see opportunities you might not have found on your own.
And when you graduate, those connections don’t stop. They go with you, across industries and around the world.
Co-op gives you experience. ScFM gives you a professional network that spans science and business.