Request for Special Consideration

You can complete this form if you have, or had, a significant circumstance or event that is not medical or disability-related that affected your grades and for which you did not receive academic support or accommodation of any form.

This information is most relevant if your grades are slightly below the range we require for admission to your program(s) of interest.

Requests must be submitted by the document deadline for the program(s) that you have applied to. If you have any questions, please email specialconsideration@uwaterloo.ca.

How to log in

You can use this form once you've applied for admission to the University of Waterloo and set up your Quest account. You'll log in using your Quest username and password. When logging in, you'll enter your username followed by "@uwaterloo.ca". For example, if your name is Alex Kai Student, you'll need to use be akstuden@uwaterloo.ca as the username for logging in.

Once you've logged in, you'll be able to complete the form and submit your information to our special consideration committee. Note: Due to the volume of applications, we do not follow up once your submission has been reviewed. All submissions are addressed by the appropriate individuals based on the situation and the outcome is relayed to the admissions committee and added to your file.

Refer to our help page if you've forgotten your Quest username or password.

Notes

  • If you received an accommodation such as an individualized education program (IEP) through your school, or were accommodated for your circumstances in another way (extra time, extended deadline, etc.), you are not eligible for special consideration.
  • Requests must be made by the applicant due to privacy regulations. Parents or guardians cannot make requests on behalf of their child.
  • Requests must be submitted by the document deadline. Submissions that are incomplete or received after we’ve made an admission decision will not be considered. 
  • If you applied to a part-time or online program, follow the deadlines for your program, available on the Undergraduate Programs' website.
  • All documents will be verified for authenticity. If evidence of misrepresentation or fraudulent or falsified documentation is found, the University of Waterloo reserves the right to revoke any application, Offer of Admission, residence, and/or financial support.

Questions? Email our admissions team at specialconsideration@uwaterloo.ca.