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University of Waterloo Admissions 2023: Deadlines, Application Process, Eligibility, Decision and FAQs

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University of Waterloo admissions take place in Fall, Winter and Spring intakes. Admission to the majority of University of Waterloo programs begin a year prior to the program start date. Currently, 38,166 students are studying in the university including 5,800 international students from 120 countries. Around 21% undergraduate students and 40% students pursuing graduate programs at University of Waterloo are from international origin.
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University of Waterloo has an acceptance rate at 53%, demonstrating a moderately selective admission process. The university has enrolled 38,166 full time equivalent students in 2022. Students with an academic score of 75% and an an IELTS band score of 6.5 can apply for majority of the master courses. Students need a GRE score of 300 or equivalent GMAT score for admission to the graduate programs at University of Waterloo.
Also Check: University of Waterloo Students Reviews

Table of Contents

University of Waterloo Application Deadlines
University of Waterloo Graduate Admissions
University of Waterloo Undergraduate Admissions
University of Waterloo Selection Criteria
University of Waterloo Admission Decisions
Admission FAQs

University of Waterloo Application Deadlines

For the majority of bachelor’s courses, application deadlines of University of Waterloo are in February with sessions beginning in September only. The specific deadlines for the undergraduate courses at University of Waterloo are listed below:

Course	Application Deadline	Last Date for Documents
Undergraduate	February 1, 2023	February 17, 2023
Undergraduate Pharmacy	January 9, 2023	June 14, 2023
Undergraduate Optometry	September 30, 2022 (Closed)	End of March, 2023

Contrary to undergraduate applications, admissions for masters courses, there are two primary intakes, January and May. The graduate application deadlines at University of Waterloo are provided below:

University of Waterloo Graduate Admissions

Admission to University of Waterloo is offered to international students in nearly 200 graduate programs. For admission to the master’s programs in University of Waterloo, prospective students need a 75% overall score and 75% in the last 2 years of their bachelor’s program. Following are the details of admission to the graduate courses in University of Waterloo:

Application Portal: Online Graduate Studies Application
Application Fee: 125 CAD (7,680 INR)
Admission Requirements:

Academic transcripts with all courses, marks and degrees
GPA of 75% or equivalent in last 2 years of 4 year undergraduate program
Minimum GRE score of 300-310 or GMAT score of 550 and above
IELTS score of 7.0 overall, 6.5 in writing and speaking or equivalent
2 academic LORs and professional LOR from supervisor or senior-level employer
Resume
Writing sample
Portfolio
Sponsorship

The admission requirements for some of the top master courses at University of Waterloo are tabulated below:

Program	Degree requirements and Aggregate	LOR	ELP Score	Additional Requirements
MS in Physics	Honors bachelor’s degree in science with 75%	3 LOR (2 academic)	IELTS: 7.0 \| TOEFL-IBT: 90	GRE Physics subject test score (no minimum requirement)
MS in Chemistry	Honors Bachelor’s degree with 75%	3 LOR (2 academic)	IELTS: 7.0 \| TOEFL-IBT: 90	No additional requirements
M.Eng. in Electrical and Computer Engineering	4 year honors bachelor’s degree in in related field with 75%	2 LOR (1 academic)	IELTS: 6.5 \| TOEFL-IBT: 90	No additional requirements
M.ASc. in Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering	4 year honors bachelor’s degree in in related field with 75%	2 LOR (1 academic)	IELTS: 6.5 \| TOEFL-IBT: 80	No additional requirements
M.MSc. in Management Sciences	4 year honors bachelor’s degree in in related field with B+ or 77-79%	2 LOR (academic preferred, or professional)	IELTS: 7.0 \| TOEFL-IBT: 100	1 page SOP
M.ASc. in Electrical and Computer Engineering	Honors Bachelor’s degree with 75%	2 LOR (1 academic)	IELTS: 7.0 \| TOEFL-IBT: 90	Faculty supervisor who has endorsed the LOR

University of Waterloo Undergraduate Admissions

University of Waterloo applications can be submitted for more than one program at once. With over 100 undergraduate programs at University of Waterloo, international students can expand their choices to traditional as well as profession-oriented disciplines. The details of admission to University of Waterloo are as follows:

Application Portal: OUAC
Application Processing Fee: 125 CAD (7,620 INR)
Admission Requirements:

Academic transcripts and results of Class X, XI and XII
First or second division standing (minimum 50% and above)
IELTS score: 6.5 overall, 6.5 in writing and speaking, 6.0 in reading and listening or equivalent
Admission Information Form (Relevant jobs or awards if available)

Undergraduate Application Process: The step-by-step application process of University of Waterloo is provided below:

Step 1: Select the program(s) of your choice
Step 2: Check the admission requirements
Step 3: Log in to the application portal
Step 4: Apply to program & make arrangements to send transcripts to university
Step 5: Send all supplementary documents

Note: Students will receive an email with their Waterloo Student Number and any further instruction from the university through email within 2 weeks of applying.

International aspirants seeking enrolment into a program of a duration of 6 months and more requires a study permit and Canada student visa. Visa can be obtained from the nearest Canadian Embassy and should be applied for as soon as you receive the offer of a place.

University of Waterloo Selection Criteria

University of Waterloo acceptance rate of 53% demonstrates a moderately selective admission process. The acceptance rate trend for Fall, Winter, and Spring semesters in the previous academic year are discussed below:

Fall: The university has recorded an enrollment of 39,332 in Fall 2022, with a marginal reduction in number from 39,686 in 2021.
Winter: In Winter 2022, 37,884 students entered the university, with a marginal reduction in number from 37,947 in 2021.
Spring: In Spring 2022, only 25,068 students were admitted to the university. This includes 18,398 co-op students and 6,670 regular students

University of Waterloo seeks competent sociable leaders in its students. To satisfy its specifications, the university wants its aspirants to possess strong STEM credentials. For undergraduate admissions, an evaluation procedure will include:

Checking general admission requirements
Checking program-specific requirements
Evaluation of academic performance
English proficiency scores

For graduate admission, an application is evaluated and processed in 3 steps: -

The first step is the review by the academic unit (concerned faculty or school). It takes into account various factors like course taken, overall performance, references, research, etc.
After this, The Associate Dean’s Office reviews the application for admission requirements.
If approved by ADO, the application is sent to the Graduate Studies Office, where it is again evaluated. Here, activities like verifying the admissibility, evaluation departmental requirements etc. are done. If approved by GSO, an offer for admission is issued.

Explore: University of Waterloo Students Profile

University of Waterloo Admission Decision

The undergraduate admission decisions of University of Waterloo are declared by mid-May. Graduate applicants can expect the admission decisions within 5-6 weeks of applying.

The university releases admission decision through the application portal. To check your application status, you can log in to the portal after activating username and password.
If the students are not selected for admission to University of Waterloo, they will see the decision of the university in the portal. Students can check their application status by logging in to the application portal.

University of Waterloo pays quite a weightage on extracurricular activities, references, essays, and encourages aspirants to appear for an interview. This brings you one step closer to landing one of the high-paying jobs in Canada after graduating from the university.

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FAQs

Ques. What is the deadline to apply to the University of Waterloo?

Ans. University of Waterloo will accept applications for the undergraduate programs until February 1, 2023. Students applying to the graduate programs at University of Waterloo have course-specific deadlines for the fall and winter semesters.

Ques. Is University of Waterloo rolling admissions?

Ans. University of Waterloo accepts applications on a rolling basis as students submit updated grades until May. The university encourages students to apply by the specific application deadlines.

Ques. What time is Waterloo AIF due?

Ans. University of Waterloo recommends students to submit their Admission Information Form by February 18, 2023 except Pharmacy, Conditional Admission to Pharmacy, and Optometry.

Ques. How do I apply for masters at University of Waterloo?

Ans. You can apply to the masters programs at University of Waterloo through the Quest portal. Students should complete the Admission Information Form, submit the application fee of 125 CAD (7620 INR) and supplementary documents within the stipulated deadline.

Ques. Is GRE required for MS in University of Waterloo?

Ans. GRE/GMAT requirements are waived off at University of Waterloo. Neither domestic nor international students need to submit GRE score for admission to university.

Ques. What average do you need to get into University of Waterloo?

Ans. International students need a minimum overall score of 75% in their undergraduate program and 75% in the last 2 years of study for admission to the graduate programs at University of Waterloo. For undergraduate programs, the average of top 6 class 12 programs should be at least around mid-80s.

Ques. Do Grade 11 marks matter for Waterloo?

Ans. University of Waterloo requires class 10, 11 and 12 scores for admission to the undergraduate and graduate programs. Students are evaluated based on the scores of class X, XI and XII.

Ques. Is it difficult to get into the University of Waterloo?

Ans. The University of Waterloo is one of the toughest institutions in Canada to get in. Apart from the grades, students are assessed on the basis of their work experience, volunteer work, extra-curricular activities, skillset, and notable accomplishments. International students need at least 50% in overall and 80-90% in the related subject to the major for admission to the undergraduate programs. For graduate courses, an overall score of 75% with 75% in last 2 years of undergraduate program is required.

Ques. What is the acceptance rate of the University of Waterloo?

Ans. University of Waterloo has an acceptance rate of 53% indicating a moderately selective admission process. In 2022, the university has enrolled 38,166 full time equivalent students.

Ques. Can international students apply for co-op programs at University of Waterloo?

Ans. International students can apply for co-op programs for valuable work experience. The university encourages international students to complete at least 2 full-time academic terms before applying for a co-op program.

Ques. Can I apply for more than one program at Waterloo?

Ans. You can apply for a maximum of three programs at once at the University of Waterloo. However, students can choose only one Engineering program and 2 non-Engineering programs while applying for admission.

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Enrolled 2022 TOEFL Score : 100M.ArchOctober 18, 2023

3.3 /10

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academic: 10/10

accomodation: 10/10

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Enrolled 2021 B.C.SOctober 11, 2023

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why did you choose university of waterloo, How was the admission process, provide details of the GD/PI, SOPs, LOR, etc (if there were any) How was the admission process, provide details of the GD/PI, SOPs, LOR, etc (if there were any) How was the admission process, provide details of the GD/PI, SOPs, LOR, etc (if there were any) How was the admission process, provide details of the GD/PI, SOPs, LOR, etc (if there were any) How was the admission process, provide details of the GD/PI, SOPs, LOR, etc (if there were any) How was the admission process, provide details of the GD/PI, SOPs, LOR, etc (if there were any)

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Aritra Kar

Enrolled 2020 B.C.SMarch 20, 2021

7.8 /10

Even a rainbow can't shine as bright as this university

I was also accepted to the University of Toronto along with 3 other US universities that I applied to (the University of Michigan; University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign); and the University of Wisconsin), but I chose the University of Waterloo over all of them mainly because of the co-op program. UWaterloo has a renowned co-op program that offers students something more important than compensation to help pay the tuition fees: up to 2 years of work experience upon graduation. I was accepted into both Computer Science and Computer Engineering (Honors and Co-op for each) programs at UWaterloo, with scholarships, but I chose the former because I felt it would be more aligned with my career interests. Furthermore, UWaterloo has an exceptional Math/Computer Science department that offers several options to pursue different interests in the broad field of CS, such as Specializations in AI, Software Engineering, Human-Computer Interaction, etc. There is a lot of flexibility in exploring different career options with the different kinds of degree plans and options thus making it the ideal choice for me.

Scholarship:

President's Scholarship of Distinction. Awarded to students with admission averages greater than 95.0% when entering the University of Waterloo. Valued at CAD 2000. Mathematics International Students Entrance Scholarship - University of Waterloo. Valued at CAD 5000. International Student Entrance Scholarship - University of Waterloo. Did not accept it because it was for Computer Engineering which I did not choose to pursue. Valued at CAD 10,000.

academic: 10/10

faculty: 9/10

infrastructure: 9/10

accomodation: 9/10

placement: 10/10

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Abhi

Enrolled 2018 Bsc in ManagementMarch 10, 2021

it has an esteemed reputation in the sciences and associated disciplines. Computer science, math, engineering are all very strong and enjoy excellent reputations; for example, Waterloo graduates in computer science and engineering in California's silicon valley.The School of Architecture at the University of Waterloo is a leader in design education and research. All students gain valuable paid co-op work experience and the program has been rated the greenest architecture curriculum in Canada.