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General admission
Only students who are graduates of approved universities and colleges* are eligible for admission to Graduate Studies. Application for admission should be made as early as possible using our online application for admission. Please check with your chosen department/school for application deadlines and additional application requirements. A non-refundable application fee of $125.00 must be paid with each application.
The department/school of the University of Waterloo in which the applicant intends to pursue graduate study must approve the application and the applicant’s proposed program. In addition, applicants must be recommended for admission by the Associate Dean (Graduate Studies) of the appropriate Faculty. At the discretion of the committee, an applicant may be required to write a set of qualifying examinations.
Official admission to any program of graduate studies is in the form of an “Offer of Admission” issued only by Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA).
For further information, prospective graduate students should contact the department/school to which they seek admission.
* Information on approved universities and colleges is available in Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA).
Master’s admission
A 75% overall standing in the last two years, or equivalent, in a four-year Honours Bachelor’s degree or equivalent is the minimum requirement for admission to a Master’s program. Departments and Faculties may set higher admission requirements.
A minimum of two letters of reference are required for admission to a Master’s program. Academic references are required unless a professional reference is specified (see program admission requirements). Departments or Faculties may set higher requirements.
Doctoral admission
A 75% overall standing, or equivalent, in the previous degree is the minimum requirement for admission to a PhD program. In addition, candidates must demonstrate other superior qualifications, such as advanced research ability. It should be noted that many departments have standards higher than the minimum. Some departments admit exceptional applicants directly into the PhD from an Honours undergraduate program; most admit from the Master’s into the PhD; and in certain instances a candidate who has successfully completed one PhD may be admitted into a second PhD in a complementary area.
A minimum of three letters of reference are required for admission to a PhD program. Academic references are required unless a professional reference is specified (see program admission requirements).
Non-degree admission
Applicants who have already earned a degree and who wish to enrol in a graduate level course to upgrade or add to their skills might consider applying to become non-degree students.
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Admission of students from outside Canada
If international applicants intend to undertake full-time studies on entry to Canada, they must apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, in their home country, for a Study Permit. Admitted students should not leave for Canada until they have in their possession a Letter of Acceptance issued by Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA) and a Study Permit (IMM 1442) valid for study at the University of Waterloo, issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Without these two documents, applicants cannot enrol at the University. Applicants should consult the appropriate Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada office abroad for instructions to apply for a Study Permit.
An official academic transcript from each post-secondary institution must be submitted if an applicant is offered admission. Transcripts must show all courses, marks and the awarding of degrees. A transcript is considered official only if it is received in a signed and sealed university envelope (signed on the flap by the official in the university office issuing the transcript). A certified English translation must also be included if the official transcripts are written in a language other than English. All transcripts will be verified by the University of Waterloo for authenticity.
Re-admission
The University reserves the right to refuse admission to any candidate and to refuse re-admission if, in the opinion of the Faculty Graduate Committee, the student’s previous progress has not been satisfactory. Students who reapply to a program and are approved for readmission will be required to register for a minimum of one full term, without tuition refund, to complete their program.
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
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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.
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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
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