Visit our COVID-19 information website to learn how Warriors protect Warriors.University of Waterloo

INFORMATION FOR

Undergraduate Programs

Admissions and applying

Student leaning against low wall talking on phone in the fall

Requirements

View our admission requirements which range from low 80s to the mid-90s.

How to apply

Learn about applying to Waterloo and our application deadlines.

Once you’ve applied

Review what to do after you’ve applied, such as complete your Admission Information Form.

Questions?

Review our tips for understanding university admission requirements.
Check out our video series about common admission questions.
Visit our Beyond Ideas website to view the six steps of applying for admission to an Ontario university.

COVID-19 and the application process

We recognize that the global pandemic has had a profound impact upon your school experience as you prepare to apply to university. In many schools and regions, access to courses, testing, and extracurricular activities have been limited. We’ll review all applications for admission with that in mind and endeavour to assess each application fairly.

How we’ll review applications

We can make offers of admission based on your Grade 11 marks and any Grade 12 classes you’ve completed.
If you don’t have a Grade 12 mark yet for a course that’s required for admission, we’ll consider the corresponding Grade 11 course until we receive your Grade 12 marks.
We can review your application without having all your final marks as long as you’re registered in the Grade 12 courses required for the program you’ve applied to.

We’ll continue to monitor the impact of the pandemic on schools in Canada and globally and be as flexible as we can be to minimize the impact of any disruption on your application.

200 University Avenue WestWaterloo, ON, Canada N2L 3G1+1 519 888 4567

@uwaterloo social directory

The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is centralized within our Indigenous Initiatives Office.LOG IN

Visit our COVID-19 information website to learn how Warriors protect Warriors.University of Waterloo

SEARCH GRADUATE STUDIES AND POSTDOCTORAL AFFAIRS

Admission and English language proficiency requirements

Minimum academic requirements

The University of Waterloo, Senate Graduate and Research Council (SGRC) establishes the minimum academic admission requirements common to all graduate students. Learn more about our minimum academic admission requirements in the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

While the university establishes minimum guidelines, your program may indicate higher or additional requirements.

Master’s program and Graduate Diploma admissions

Applying with domestic credentials:

Have at least a 75% overall standing in the last two years of a four-year Honours Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Applying with international credentials:

Have at least a 75% overall standing in a four-year Honours Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Doctoral admissions

Applying with either domestic or international credentials:

Have at least a 75% overall standing, or equivalent, in your previous degree
Demonstrate other superior qualifications, such as advanced research ability
In certain instances, if you have successfully completed one PhD you may be admitted into a second PhD in a complementary area

English language proficiency (ELP)

The official language of instruction at the University of Waterloo is English. It’s our responsibility to ensure that all students have the English language skills required to be successful.

Please visit the GSPA webpage for COVID-19 updates for graduate students for more ELP test taker options while ELP Testing Centres remain closed.Accepted ELP tests:

Internet-based TOEFL – Test of English as a Foreign Language
- We are not accepting TOEFL MyBest^TM scores to meet the ELP requirement, the required scores must be met in a single test.
- When ordering your TOEFL from the Education Testing Service (ETS) use:
  - Institution code – 0996 (University of Waterloo).
  - Department code – 01 (Graduate Studies).
IELTS (academic) – International English Language Testing System
MELAB – Michigan English Language Assessment Battery
- The MELAB is no longer being offered, however, results can still be submitted until July 2020. After July 2020, we will no longer accept MELAB results to meet our English language requirements.
CAEL – Canadian Academic English Language
PTE (academic) – Pearson Test of English
EFAS – English for Academic Success

It is important to know:

ELP scores are valid for two years from the test date.
Visit our program pages for specific ELP program requirements.
Letters from your university stating the medium of instruction is English do not satisfy Waterloo admission requirements.
Complete your test at least two months before the application deadline to ensure your scores reach us in time. It will take 4-6 weeks for your official test score to reach Waterloo.
Learn more about our ELP tests and scores in the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

Conditional English language proficiency admission

If you are applying to a graduate program, have supplied an ELP test but and are slightly below the required score, conditional admission may be offered.
If you are applying with a sponsorship that includes funding for English language studies, conditional admission may be offered.

ELP exemptions

You are exempt from submitting an English language proficiency examination score if any one of the following conditions is true at the time of application to Waterloo:

You have completed three or more years of post-secondary education at a Canadian institution or university. or
You have completed a graduate degree at a Canadian university. or
You have completed three or more years of post-secondary education, or completed a graduate degree in an exempt country listed below. or
You have been employed for at least three years in a position in which English was the language of business in a country listed below. or
You have completed three or more years of post-secondary education, or completed a graduate degree at a university where English is listed as the only language of instruction on the International Association of Universities World Higher Education Database (WHED).
1. Note: ELP exemption from a WHED institution expires two years after graduation.

ELP exempt country list

American Samoa

Anguilla

Antigua and Barbuda

Australia

Bahamas

Barbados

Belize

Bermuda

Botswana

Canada

Cayman Islands

Falkland Islands

Fiji

Gambia, The

Ghana

Gibraltar

Grenada

Guam

Guyana

Ireland (Republic of)

Jamaica

Kenya

Lesotho

Liberia

Malawi

Malta

Montserrat

Namibia

New Zealand

Nigeria

Papua New Guinea

Sierra Leone

Singapore

South Africa

Sri Lanka

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Swaziland

Tanzania

Trinidad and Tobago

Turks and Caicos Islands

Uganda

United Kingdom

United States of America

Vanuatu

Virgin Islands

Zambia

Zimbabwe

GRADUATE STUDIES AND POSTDOCTORAL AFFAIRS

Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA)

Needles Hall, second floor, room 2201

Graduate Studies Academic Calendar

Website feedback

Contact us200 University Avenue WestWaterloo, ON, Canada N2L 3G1+1 519 888 4567

@uwaterloo social directory

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjUR-4ux0lo

College Learners

university of waterloo admission requirements