Come to Waterloo - graduate applications

Graduate exchange eligibility

In order to participate in an international exchange program at University of Waterloo, you must be enrolled at one of our exchange partner institutions. Contact your international office for information on the application process and selection requirements. Eligibility is first determined by your home institution.

Exchange students who qualify to study at Waterloo for one or two terms enrol as graduate non-degree exchange students. Normally, credits from courses that are successfully completed are transferable towards your degree at your home institution.

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

First, your home institution must submit the online student nomination form. Once they have done so please submit your online application. 

There is no application fee for students applying as an incoming exchange student. To have the fee waived, go to the application and under 'Select Programs' choose the 'department', choose 'non-degree' and select the applicable exchange agreement.

After submitting, you will receive a welcome email within two business days with instructions to confirm your identity and create an account in Quest—our student information system where you will upload your documents. The Documents you need to submit are:

• Master’s and bachelor’s transcripts (with English translations, if applicable). If you cannot provide a master’s transcript by the application deadline, include proof of enrollment in a graduate level program as part of your supporting documents. 
• Supplementary information form listing the graduate courses you wish to take as a part of your exchange (See the course selection guide for assistance)
• English language proficiency certification (official test score or English language equivalency letter from your home school)
• Resume/CV (if required by the department)
• Reference(s) (if required by the department)

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, Public Health and Health Systems, Social Work and some Master of Engineering courses.

Deadlines

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

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.