Come to Waterloo - graduate applications

Graduate exchange eligibility

First, you must check with your home institution to see if they have an exchange agreement with the University of Waterloo. Your exchange coordinator at your home university will help determine if you are eligible to come to Waterloo. Your home university will then be able to submit the online student nomination form. Once they have done so, all incoming non-degree exchange students can complete Waterloo's online exchange application.

To meet the eligibility requirements, students applying for the exchange program must:

  • have completed an Honours Bachelors’ degree or equivalent and be actively enrolled in a graduate-level program
  • 75% (or equivalent) overall standing in the past two years of study
  • be currently enrolled at one of Waterloo’s exchange partner institutions
  • be nominated by their home institution as an exchange applicant
  • meet Waterloo’s graduate English language proficiency (or equivalent)

Application procedure

If you would like to improve upon your English language skills, the English Language Institute (ELI) at Renison University College is University of Waterloo's home for English language classes. You can visit ELI to register for credit courses in spoken or written English or to find out more about how to increase your English language proficiency.

Please note that non-degree exchange students may not be approved for some graduate/professional programs/courses. For example, the following programs are restricted: Accounting, Clinical Psychology, Social Work and some Master of Engineering courses.

Fields of study

  • Actuarial Science, Non-degree
  • Applied Math, Non-degree
  • Architecture, Non-degree
  • Biology, Non-degree
  • Chemical Engineering, Non-degree
  • Chemistry, Non-degree
  • Civil Engineering, Non-degree
  • Combinatorics and Optimization, Non-degree
  • Computer Science, Non-degree
  • Earth Sciences, Non-degree
  • Economics, Non-degree
  • Electrical and Computer Engineering, Non-degree
  • English, Non-degree
  • French Studies, Non-degree
  • Geography, Non-degree
  • German, Non-degree
  • Global Governance, Non-degree
  • History, Non-degree
  • Mechanical Eng, Non-degree
  • Management Sciences, Non-degree
  • Pharmacy, Non-degree
  • Philosophy, Non-degree
  • Physics, Non-degree
  • Planning, Non-degree
  • Psychology, Non-degree
  • Pure Math, Non-degree
  • Recreation and Leisure, Non-degree
  • Social and Ecological Sustainability, Non-degree
  • Sociology, Non-degree
  • Statistics, Non-degree
  • Systems Design Engineering, Non-degree
 

Note: Courses are subject to restrictions and availability.  

Deadlines

Graduate applications must be received by the exchange program deadline below.

Admission term

Nomination deadline

Application deadline

Fall: September - December

March 15 April 1

Winter: January - April

August 15 September 1

Spring: May - August

November 15

December 1

Admission results

The application processing time is up to eight weeks or longer from the date that all required documents are received by the departmental graduate coordinator to the completion of the application, according to the departmental review application process. If admissible, once your complete application has been reviewed by the department of choice, an Offer of Admission and a Letter of Acceptance from the Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs will be uploaded to your Quest account. You will be notified via email.

Contact information

Email your questions to Hope Salese, Global Learning Coordinator.