Come to Waterloo - undergraduate applications

Undergraduate exchange eligibility

Start by checking with your home institution to see if it has an exchange agreement with the University of Waterloo. If an agreement exists, your exchange coordinator will help you determine whether you’re eligible to participate in the exchange program.

Once your eligibility is confirmed, your home university will submit an online student nomination form to Waterloo on your behalf. After your nomination is received, you’ll be invited to complete Waterloo’s online exchange application as an incoming non-degree exchange student.

To be eligible for the undergraduate exchange program at Waterloo, students must:

  • Be currently enroled at one of the University of Waterloo’s exchange partner institutions
  • Be nominated by their home institution as an exchange applicant
  • Meet University of Waterloo’s undergraduate English language proficiency (or equivalent)
  • Have a minimum cumulative average of 70% (or equivalent) at their home institution

Application procedure 

Once your nomination is accepted by Waterloo, you will receive an email to complete the following steps: 

1. Submit your online application

Submit your Waterloo International Incoming Exchange Program Application online. There is no application fee for incoming exchange students.

When filling out the online application, ensure that all information is accurate and complete. If you've attended more than one post-secondary institution, you must list each one and upload the corresponding transcripts. 

As part of the application, you’ll need to list five to seven proposed courses to give Waterloo an idea of what you plan to study. This information will help us place you in the appropriate faculty for admission purposes only. You will receive separate instructions for course registration after you are admitted.   

2. Create your quest account

Within five business days of submitting your application, you will receive a welcome email with instructions on how to claim your identity and create your Quest account —Waterloo's student information system where you will upload your required documents. 

3. Upload your documents to Quest

Upload the following supporting documents to your Quest account:

  • Official transcript(s) in English, including the grading scale. Save each institution’s transcript as a single PDF file.  
  • A digital copy of your English language proficiency scores or equivalent documentation supporting your language proficiency. 

Important: If your transcript changes, please re-upload the updated version. Only the most recent version will be considered.

Note: Admission Information Form (AIF) is not required for exchange applications

Architecture exchange students–additional requirements

In addition to the general eligibility criteria, architecture exchange applicants must have:

  • Completed at least two years of study (equivalent to 4 terms/5 terms is ideal) before exchange.
  • A minimum cumulative average of 75% (higher than the 70% required for general undergraduate exchange students).

Architecture applicants must also submit a portfolio via email to studyabroad@uwaterloo.ca, in addition to the documents listed above. 

Deadlines for student applicants

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

To be considered for the exchange program, your complete application must be submitted by the specified deadlines.  

Admission results

We aim to send all offers of admission via email within eight weeks of the application deadline. 

Contact us

If you have questions, please contact a Global Learning Coordinator at studyabroad@uwaterloo.ca.