How to apply

If you plan to be a full-time student, you'll apply to À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ through the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC).

Applying through the OUAC makes it easier for you to apply to multiple programs at À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ or other Ontario universities. The OUAC will send your application information to each Ontario university you apply to.

Steps in applying

  1. Review À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ's admission requirements for your program(s) of interest.
  2. Review the OUAC's , create an account on the OUAC website, and submit your application.
    • To apply to a co-op program, check the co-op box on your application.
    • Be sure to apply by our application deadline.
  3. Within two weeks of receiving your information from the OUAC, we'll email you with the next steps in the application process.

Tip: The OUAC offers .

Can you apply to more than one program at À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ?

Yes, you can apply to a maximum of three programs at À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ.

If you're interested in studying engineering, you can apply to only one Engineering program at À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ.

Applying only to Engineering programs

If we can’t accommodate you in your first-choice Engineering program (i.e., the one you chose on your OUAC application), we may be able to consider you for your alternate choice.

If you wish, you can apply to one À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Engineering program and then use the Alternate Engineering Form in your applicant portal to request consideration for an alternate Engineering program. Priority for a program may be given to those students who select it as their first choice.

Biomedical Engineering and Software Engineering are not available as alternate choices on the AIF, so you'll need to list one of those on your application if one of them is your main interest.

Applying to Engineering and to other programs

You can apply to one Engineering program and up to two other non-Engineering À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ programs that interest you.

If you're interested in an Engineering program and Architecture (which is offered by the Faculty of Engineering), you can apply to Architecture, one Engineering program, and another À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ program if you wish.

Applying to part-time and online studies

Interested in taking one or two courses per term for interest or to earn a degree?

Learn about courses, admissions, and requirements for part-time and online studies.

Applying to an Arts program and looking for a smaller community?

Interested in one or more of the 28 majors offered through Honours Arts or Honours Arts and Business? Looking for a smaller academic community as your home base? 

Through co-registration, you can immerse yourself in the liberal arts experience of St. Jerome’s University (SJU), one of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ's on-campus University Colleges. Your advisor and many of your courses would be at SJU but you'll have access to the classes and services available to all À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ students – and you'll still earn a valuable À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ degree.

Located in the heart of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ's campus, SJU offers the best of both worlds with additional scholarships, small class sizes, academic and personal support – and even the option to live in residence!

Honours Arts

You have two choices for studying Honours Arts.

  • Honours Arts – À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ's main campus (co-op and regular)
  • Honours Arts – St. Jerome's and À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ's main campus (co-op and regular)

Honours Arts and Business

You have two choices for applying to Honours Arts and Business.

  • Honours Arts and Business – À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ's main campus (co-op and regular)
  • Honours Arts and Business – St. Jerome's and À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ's main campus (co-op and regular)

How to apply

St. Jerome's is listed under the University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ section of the . You can apply to Honours Arts and/or Honours Arts and Business at À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ and/or at SJU.

You can also apply to co-register with SJU at a later date.

Applying as a college or university student

Looking to transfer to À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ from college or another university?

Visit our transfer student information for details.

Wish to take À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ courses towards a degree at your home university?

Apply using a Letter of Permission.

Questions and tips

How do you apply to a co-op program?

To apply to a co-op program, you must check the co-op box on your Ontario Universities' Application Centre application. Co-op programs are available to Canadian and international students.

If you apply to a co-op program that is also offered through the regular system of study and you're not admitted to co-op, you may be considered for the regular program if spaces are available.

If you're interested in both the co-op and regular systems of study for Health Sciences we recommend that you apply to both streams. Due to the competitiveness of the program, we can't guarantee that if you're not offered a space in a co-op program that you would be considered for the regular option.

Applying from outside of Canada?

Questions about applying, programs, co-op programs?

Email or book an online meeting with one of our international student recruiters.

Questions about your application or submitting documents? Email us.

Not sure which faculty offers your program of interest? Programs by faculty.

Protect yourself from fraud

If you're applying from outside of North America, learn how to protect yourself from fraud.

Are you an Ontario student doing IB?

Admission to À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ is based on your Ontario Grade 12 U and M courses. Your high school will convert your International Baccalaureate (IB) courses and grades to the equivalent Ontario U and M courses and grades. As a result, you should review the admission requirements for Ontario high school students.

If you're taking IB math, your school will convert this course to MCV4U, MHF4U, and/or MDM4U. If math is required for the program you've applied to, you can take any IB math course and be eligible for admission as long as you receive an Ontario credit for the required math course(s).

To be considered for potential transfer credits, you'll need to have your official IB results sent directly from the IBO to À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ.

Applying as a mature, home-schooled, or CAEC/GED student

Wilfrid Laurier University students

If you wish to take one or more courses at À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ to count toward your Laurier degree, at Laurier.

If you'd like to transfer and complete your degree at À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ, you'll apply as a transfer student.

Previous À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ students

If you've completed an undergraduate course or degree at À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ and wish to take further courses, use the Application for Re-Admission.

Tip

We recommend that you add myapplication@uwaterloo.ca to your contacts to ensure you receive our emails.

Services for students with disabilities

Learn about services and accommodations for students with disabilities during the application process, such as needing application material in an alternate format.

You've done your research, you've found the perfect programs, and it looks like you meet the admission requirements. Great! Now it's time to apply.

Review the steps of applying to university →

Students with backpacks walk across the University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ campus with fall colours in background

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