If you have dual U.S. and Canadian citizenship, you may be eligible for Canadian government aid through the province/territory in which you and/or your parents last resided.
U.S. Department of Education - Direct Loans
The University of Waterloo is listed as an eligible international institution with the U.S. Department of Education. Details on University of Waterloo program eligibility and application process is found on our U.S. Direct Loans page.
In School Deferment
Loans from previous study periods may be deferred while you are studying full time. Students should review the Federal Student Aid website for details on deferment.
In-School Deferment Forms can be completed by the Student Awards & Financial Aid office or submitted online through NSLDS.
529 Plans
The University of Waterloo is listed as an eligible international institution with the U.S. Department of Education.
Consult your state 529 plan to discuss how to begin the distribution process for the funds. The following specific institutional details are required to process the payment.
- Federal School code G08526
- OPE ID school code #00852600
Sallie Mae Student Loans
The University of Waterloo is set up to administer Sallie Mae loans.
- Apply directly with Sallie Mae Student Loans
- Once your application is submitted to Sallie Mae, please notify our office that you applied.
- Our office will reivew your loan application and contact you with an asessment by email.
- Funds will be adding as anticipated aid to use for the promissory note. All loan amounts issued are in U.S. dollars. The U.S. exchange rate is effective the day the funds are posted to your account.
Your private loan funding will be released in instalments each term. The funds are sent electronically to the University of Waterloo. The funds will be applied first to any fees outstanding. Once the student account has been paid in full, you may request a refund of any excess funds with the Student Financial Services department.
If you decide to apply for both FAFSA Direct Loans and Sallie Mae, your Sallie Mae loans will impact your FAFSA Direct Loan assessment, as your Sallie Mae funding is counted as a resource toward your financial need calculation.
U.S. Veterans Affairs GI Bill
The University of Waterloo is a Veteran Affairs (VA) approved institution to certify the VA Enrollment Certification form through the U.S. Veterans Affairs GI Bill.
Students may qualify for financial aid through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
To determine if you are eligible, please visit the Veterans Affairs' Education Benefits Eligibility page. To apply, please visit the Veterans Affairs' How to Apply page.
Current list of approved programs - November 2023
| Undergraduate programs | Graduate programs |
|---|---|
| Biochemistry | Physics (Quantum Information) - Masters |
| Chemical Engineering | Physics (Nanotechnology) - PhD |
| Computer Engineering | |
| Electrical Engineering | |
| Environmental Studies | |
| Mechanical Engineering |
If your program is not on the list of currently approved programs, contact us to inquire how to submit an application for program approval. This can take several months.
Other resources
International Student Loan is a comparison tool to help students find out if they are eligible for an international student loan.
