collageVisit our COVID-19 information website to learn how Warriors protect Warriors.University of Waterloo
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INFORMATION FOR
- Students who have applied
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Admissions and applying
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.
More questions?
Review our common questions about COVID-19 and the application process.
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200 University Avenue WestWaterloo, ON, Canada N2L 3G1+1 519 888 4567
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
SEARCHGRADUATE STUDIES AND POSTDOCTORAL AFFAIRS
- Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs home
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- Before you apply
Admission and English language proficiency requirements
- Minimum academic requirements
- English language proficiency requirements (ELP)
- Conditional ELP admission
- English language proficiency exemptions
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 MyBestTM 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).
- 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
Contact us200 University Avenue WestWaterloo, ON, Canada N2L 3G1+1 519 888 4567
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
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