University of Waterloo
Waterloo, Canada
- Cost of LivingCAD 19,560
- Tuition Fee FromCAD 10,862
- Country Rank-
- Batch Strength33,613
- Global Diversity22%
- Gender Ratio53 : 47
Overview
About
The University of Waterloo (UWaterloo or Waterloo) is an Ontario public research university. The institution has thirteen faculty-based schools and six faculties that oversee its academic programs. Waterloo runs the biggest post-secondary co-operative education program in the world. A network of 15 Canadian universities with a focus on research includes Waterloo in its membership. The school was born out of the Waterloo College Associate Faculties, a semi-autonomous division of Waterloo College, a University of Western Ontario affiliate that was founded on 4 April 1956. It is worth noting that the University of Waterloo's acceptance rate stands at 58% making it a moderately competitive institution.
The university's main campus is located in the Ontario city of Waterloo. The University of Waterloo is located on land that was pledged to the Six Nations and includes six miles on either side of the Grand River and is traditionally owned by the Neutral, Anishnaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. In 2020, there was around 36,000 undergraduate and 6,200 postgraduate students enrolled at the co-ed university. The university's alumni and former students can be found all around Canada and in more than 150 other countries; among them are a number of award winners, public servants, and business titans. The Waterloo Warriors, the varsity athletic teams from Waterloo, compete in the Ontario University Athletics division of the U Sports.
The alumni network of the university includes over 250,000 graduates. One Nobel Prize winner, five Killam Prize winners, and two Canada 150 Research Chairs are among the university's achievements. Mike Lazaridis, the co-founder of BlackBerry, and Kevin O'Leary, a former dragon on CBC's Dragon's Den, are two notable University of Waterloo graduates.
Ranking
QS World University Ranking 2024:
University of Waterloo has shown excellence by securing =158 spot on the global scale.The University of Waterloo received a position of 151-200 globally and 7-8 in Canada in the 2022 Academic Ranking of World Universities. Whereas Waterloo University was ranked 8-11 in Canada and 201-250 overall in the 2022 Times Higher Education World University Rankings. Similarly; the uni was ranked third in the comprehensive university category of Maclean's 2022 university rankings, which are based on nationwide rankings. The university came in third place in Maclean's 2022 reputational poll of Canadian universities in addition to its comprehensive university category. Let us see some of the most recent University of Waterloo rankings below:
- ARWU (Shanghai Ranking) - Universities Rankings 2020: #151-200
- THE (Times Higher Education) - University Ranking 2021: #201-250
Course Rankings
The university offers a multitude of programs and many of them have been recognized by world rankings; let us see some of them below:
Business Courses
- THE (Times Higher Education) - PG Business and Economics 2022: #201-250
- QS - Accounting & Finance 2021: #176-200
Engineering Courses
- QS - Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering Rankings 2021: #51-100
- THE (Times Higher Education) - PG Engineering and Technology 2022: #76
- QS - Architecture & Built Environment Rankings 2021: #51-100
Science Courses
- THE (Times Higher Education) - Life Sciences Rankings 2022: #301-400
- THE (Times Higher Education) - THE - Psychology Rankings 2022: #85
- QS - QS - Mathematics Rankings 2021: #35
Humanities Courses
- QS - QS - Sociology Rankings 2021: #251-300
- THE (Times Higher Education) - Arts & Humanities Rankings 2022: #301-400
Year
QS Ranks
US News Ranks
2025
#115
-
2023
#154
#191
Facilities
When it comes to the University of Waterloo facilities, the institution offers four libraries with a combined collection of more than 1.4 million books as well as electronic resources like databases, e-books, and serial publications. There are three libraries on campus: the Dana Porter Library, which houses resources for the humanities, social sciences, and the arts; the Davis Center Library, which houses resources for science, engineering, and mathematics; and the Winter Learning Resource Centre, which houses resources for the school of optometry and vision science.
The Earth Sciences Museum is run by the University of Waterloo and is located on campus in the Centre for Environmental Information Technology. In southern Ontario, it serves primarily as an earth science teaching museum for neighbourhood schools and natural science interest groups. The main exhibits feature dinosaurs, ice-age mammals, rocks and minerals, and the Great Lakes.
Notable Alumni
Courses
Admission
University of Waterloo Entry Requirements
One application can be made for multiple programs at the university. There are more than 100 undergraduate programs and almost 200 graduate programs, giving international students more options in both traditional and career-focused areas. The following information pertains to the University of Waterloo entry requirements for undergraduate and graduate admissions.
Applications are accepted through OUAC for undergraduate programs. The admissions application processing fee is 125 CAD.
UG Admission Requirements
- Academic transcripts of class X, XI, and XII
- For GPA, first or second division standing of minimum 50% and above is considered
- IELTS Score of 6.5 is a minimum requirement
- Relevant jobs, awards or any kind of accolades can be mentioned when filling the admission information form
Graduate Admission Requirements
- Academic transcripts of all courses, degrees, and results
- For GPA, 75% or equivalent must be there in last 2 years of a 4 year UG program
- GRE & GMAT scores are required which are course specific
- An IELTS score of at least 7.0 overall
- 2 Academic LORs and a profession LOR from a senior level employer
- Resume, writing sample, sponsorship, portfolio, letter
University of Waterloo Fees
The university has more than 30,000 students enrolled. Although a few graduate programs charge domestic and international students the same amount, tuition is often higher for overseas students. However, students can always look for financial aid to support their cost of studying at Waterloo. One must know that the fees with aid and without aid have a marginal impact on your overall cost. To understand the fees a little better and get an estimated cost; we have picked out some of the popular courses and listed down the University of Waterloo fees below:
- Bachelor of Computer Science [B.C.S]: CAD 64,893
- Bachelor of Architecture [B. Arch]: CAD 64,893
- Bachelor of Applied Science [B.ASc] Mechanical Engineering: CAD 64,893
- Bachelor Statistics: CAD 37,587
- Bachelor of Science [B.Sc] Health Studies: CAD 45,846
- Bachelor of Arts [B.A] Economics: CAD 37,587
University of Waterloo Placement
When it comes to the University of Waterloo placements; within three to six months of graduation, University of Waterloo assignments are made available to overseas students. Nearly 96% of the University of Waterloo graduates land jobs right away. Within six months of graduation, the employment rate reaches 100%. The university's Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Placement (MBET) program gives students who want to start their own businesses real-world experience.
Graduates from the university typically earn a base income of roughly 67,000 CAD annually. The base pay for Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business grads is 148,000 CAD annually. According to employment placements, the most sought-after degree at the university is a master's in finance, with an average income of 144,000 Canadian dollars.
Scholarship
Regardless of the program you are studying, there are several scholarship opportunities provided by University of Waterloo as well as other organisations. With so many scholarships available now, overseas students can significantly lower the financial burden of studying in a new country. You can apply for scholarships to study at the university through UniScholars. You can find the following types of scholarships based on your academic performance and financial situation:
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Merit-based scholarships
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Need-based scholarships
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Country-specific scholarships
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College-specific scholarships
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Student-specific scholarships
Finances
Most international students are obligated to show proof of sufficient funds in order to obtain a visa. While some students may have the opportunity to make use of scholarships, not all students cut the eligibility to get a scholarship or a grant. Moreover, not all scholarships cover 100% of your study abroad expenses. At such times, most students resort to acquiring education loans to avoid the financial hassles associated with studying at the University of Waterloo. For Indian students, UniCreds is the ideal education loan marketplace if you’re looking for low-interest rates and free consultation services!
Accommodation
There are several student housing options available for students planning to attend University of Waterloo. You may select from a wide choice of affordable yet elegant student flats, halls of residence, studios, ensuites, and more! You have the option of staying on campus in the university halls of residence or a private residence. Because of their proximity to the university, on-campus housing options may be ideal; nevertheless, they tend to fill up fast and are more expensive.
UniAcco simplifies the process of finding student housing and offers a variety of options. As a result, students can select from a wide range of available student accommodations near the university, such as luxury studios, en-suites, and shared apartments that are more inexpensive and student-friendly.
Cost of Living
If students understand how to manage their spending, the cost of living in Waterloo can be affordable. Prior to arriving on campus, every student is advised to make a monthly budget in order to estimate their costs. You will need the prices of numerous things in the city to do that, and we have already done the research for you! The various necessities and their projected costs are listed below to give you a better understanding of the pricing. There is little doubt that the cost of lodging takes up the largest portion of their money, but they can manage other expenses like food and entertainment.
|
Items |
Cost |
|
Off-Campus Accommodation (monthly) |
CAD 590 |
|
On-Campus Accommodation (monthly) |
CAD 1,125 |
|
Transportation (monthly) |
CAD 90 |
|
Food Cost (monthly) |
CAD 720 |
|
Utilities (monthly) |
CAD 209 |
|
Entertainment (monthly) |
CAD 48 |
|
Markets (monthly) |
CAD 60 |
|
Clothes (monthly) |
CAD 122 |
|
Health Insurance |
CAD 75 |
|
Total cost of living in off-campus accommodation (per month) |
CAD 1,914 |
|
Total cost of living in on-campus accommodation (per month) |
CAD 2,449 |
|
Annual Cost of living |
CAD 29,388 |