Wilfrid Laurier University
Waterloo, Canada
- Cost of LivingCAD 19,560
- Tuition Fee FromCAD 5,163
- Country Rank#30
- Batch Strength18,589
- Global Diversity5.2%
- Gender Ratio44.9: 55.1
Overview
About
Wilfrid Laurier University (also known as WLU or Laurier) is a public research university located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1911 with campuses in Waterloo, Brantford, and Milton in Canada when the Evangelical Lutheran Seminary in Waterloo was founded. Since then, the university has gone through various name changes, including the move from Waterloo Lutheran University to Wilfrid Laurier University in 1973. The university established its Brantford campus in 1999. From 1896 to 1911, Sir Wilfrid Laurier was Canada's seventh prime minister hence the university was given its final title in his name.
The university refers to itself as a "multi-campus multi-community university" rather than considering the more recent campuses in Brantford and Milton to be satellite campuses of the original Waterloo site. The university currently also has locations in Toronto, Yellowknife, and Kitchener. Laurier's education focuses on developing the full person: mind, body, and soul. They believe that a successful university career should result in more than just a job. Wilfrid Laurier University’s acceptance rate stands at 89% with around 20,000+ students enrolled in full-time and part-time programs. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs in a range of fields with 100+ courses taught in active learning classrooms, 4 fully online undergraduate degrees, and 3 full online graduate degrees.
The varsity athletic teams of the university, known as the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks, compete in the West Conference of the Ontario University Athletics, a division of U Sports. Over 1,00,000 alumni from the university have come from 85 different countries. Some notable graduates include Brad Katsuyama (the founder of the stock exchange) and Carolyn A. Wilkins (the first woman to hold the position of Senior Deputy Governor of the Bank of Canada). Others include Paul Heinbecker (Canada's ambassador to the UN from 2000 to 2004), Bill Downe (CEO of Bank of Montreal from 2007 to 2017), Heather Monroe-Blum (principal of McGill University), Shad (rapper) and many more.
Ranking
WLU has evolved from a predominantly undergraduate institution to a mid-sized research university over the years. The university was placed 7th out of 15 Canadian universities in the Maclean magazine's comprehensive university category in 2022. According to the Registrar's Report for Winter 2016, the six most popular majors at the university were Business, Communications Studies, Psychology, Criminology, Economics, and Biology. WLU’s internationally recognized Faculty of Music is regarded as one of the best in the country. According to a September 2017 article, students could major in Composition, Comprehensive Music Education, Music History, Theory, Critical Analysis, Performance, or Community Music. Music Therapy is an option for second-year Bachelor of Music students. Here are the rankings for Wilfrid Laurier University courses in 2022 -
- 29th in the Best Global Universities in Canada by US News & World Report
- 451st - 500th in QS WUR Rankings by Subject
Course Rankings
- Business & Management Studies: #451 - 500
- Economics & Econometrics: #501 - 520
Year
QS Ranks
US News Ranks
2023
-
#1271
2022
-
#1271
Facilities
The Athletic Complex, Football Stadium, and outdoor turf field are all part of Wilfrid Laurier University's facilities for athletes. Three gyms, two squash courts, an Olympic-sized pool, a rock climbing wall, and aerobics/weight rooms are all located in the athletic complex. Field turf football field and a sizable indoor gymnasium are both located in the university’s stadium.
There are three physical locations for the Library: the main library on the Waterloo Campus, the Digital Library and Learning Commons space on the Brantford Campus, and the collection space in the Brantford Public Library, as well as the Social Work Library in the Social Work Department. Scholars Commons at WLU is an institutional repository hosted by the library in association with Wilfrid Laurier University Press that aims to foster open academic communication, collaboration, and long-term visibility and acknowledgement of the Laurier scholarship.
Notable Alumni
Courses
Admission
Wilfrid Laurier University Entry Requirements
WLU’s future undergraduate students can apply through the Online OUAC application portal and register on LORIS with an application fee of CAD 70 which is non-refindable; whereas graduate students can apply through the Online LORIS application portal with a fee of CAD 75. Remember that application deadlines can vary from program to program, so check the specific deadline dates online. Let’s take a look at some of Wilfrid Laurier University’s entry requirements -
Undergraduate Admissions:
- Academic transcripts
- English Proficiency Testing Results
- Documentation of financial support in the form of bank statements or sponsor documents showcasing the availability of required funds.
- Statement of Purpose
- 1-2 Letters of Recommendation
- Copy of ID pages of Passport
- SAT/ACT scores are not required but accepted
Graduate Admissions:
- 4-year bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an approved university.
- Academic transcripts of an undergraduate degree and secondary education records.
- English Proficiency Test Scores
- Complete the online applicant background summary
- Statement of Purpose in 300-500 words
- GRE/GMAT scores
- Resume
- 3 Letters of Recommendations
- Documentation of Financial Support in form of bank statements or sponsor documents showcasing the availability of required funds.
- Copy of ID pages of Passport
Students from India require 5 courses from class 12 and must submit one of the following for admission -
- Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC)
- Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC)
- Senior Secondary Certificate
- All India and Delhi Senior School Certificate
- Indian School Certificate Examination
English Language Proficicieny Scores:
- TOEFL iBT - An overall score of 83 or higher with atleast a score of 20 in each component
- TOEFL - An overall score of 560
- IELTS or IELTS Online - An overall score of 6.5 or more with a minimum score of 6.0 in each band
- CAEL - An overall score of 70 with a minimum score of 60 in each band
- PTE Academic - An over all score of 56 or higher
- Duolingo - A minimum score of 115
Wilfrid Laurier University Fees
WLU fees can vary for each student based on the type of program they choose. There are undergraduate and postgraduate programs offered by the university. Along with the cost of tuition fees at the university, the university also charges for additional amenities and services provided on campus. Below is a list of some of the Wilfrid Laurier University fees based on the type of program a student selects -
- Business Management & Entrepreneurship: CAD 46,212
- Computer Science & Technology: CAD 10,944 (per term)
- Kinesiology: CAD 33,888
- Biological & Chemical Sciences: CAD 11,276
- Data Science: CAD 19,938
- Applied Computing: CAD 16,582
Wilfrid Laurier University Placements
Wilfrid Laurier University Placements Center assists students in their search for internships and placements. Every year, it organizes over 800 workshops to help students with resumes, cover letters, and networking. According to the Emolument, the following are the top earnings among university graduates and alumni -
- Master’s Degrees: CAD 110,000
- Bachelor of Science: CAD 105,000
- Bachelor of Business Administration: CAD 78,000
- Bachelor of Arts: CAD 77,000
- Other degrees: CAD 75,000
- Master of Arts: CAD 65,000
Within a year of graduation, 97.5% graduates secure a job or career objectives. Every year, 1,000 employers recruit students from the university's campus. The university’s Career Centre posts about 6,300 co-op positions for students each year.
Scholarship
Regardless of the program you are studying, there are several scholarship opportunities provided by Wilfrid Laurier University 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:
-
Merit-based scholarships
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Need-based scholarships
-
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 Wilfrid Laurier University. 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 Wilfrid Laurier University. 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
Toronto is one of the most expensive countries to live in, Waterloo is 27% cheaper than Toronto in terms of living expenses. When students go overseas, they may face certain expenditures while attending university. Expenditures such as groceries, transportation, entertainment, lodging, and other things can all be classified as living expenses for a student. The cost of living in Waterloo, Canada, is broken down below -
|
Item |
Cost (Per Month) |
|
Off-Campus Accommodation |
CAD 590 |
|
On-Campus Accommodation |
CAD 1,125 |
|
Transportation |
CAD 90 |
|
Food |
CAD 720 |
|
Utility |
CAD 209 |
|
Entertainment |
CAD 48 |
|
Groceries |
CAD 60 |
|
Clothes |
CAD 122 |
|
Health Insurance |
CAD 75 |
|
Total Cost of Living with Off-Campus Accommodation (Per Month) |
CAD 1,914 |
|
Total Cost of Living with On-Campus Accommodation (Per Month) |
CAD 2,449 |
|
Annual Cost of Living |
CAD 29,388 |