At a glance
- City
- Waterloo, Ontario
- Country
- Canada — process, visa & costs
- Website
- uwaterloo.ca
- Type
- Public
- Founded
- 1956
- Students
- 29,956
- Map
- Open the campus on a map ↗
Where it ranks
151–200 in the world — ShanghaiRanking ARWU 2025.
Strongest subjects (GRAS 2025)
| Remote Sensing | #20 |
| Telecommunication Engineering | #21 |
| Energy Science & Engineering | #21 |
| Electrical & Electronic Engineering | #27 |
| Hospitality & Tourism Management | #30 |
| Environmental Science & Engineering | #34 |
How to get in
read on the university's own pages, 28 September 2026Bachelor's (after Class 12)
- Apply via
- OUAC — application page ↗
- Cycle
- Fall 2027 entry (September entry only)
- Intake
- September
- Tests
- No standardized admission test required for most programs
- English
- IELTS 6.5 overall (6.5 writing, 6.5 speaking, 6.0 reading, 6.0 listening), or 7.0 overall with no band below 6.0 · TOEFL 90 overall, 25 writing/25 speaking (before 2026-01-21); 4.5 overall, 5 writing/5 speaking (from 2026-01-21)
- Financial aid
- CAD 10,000 entrance scholarship available to eligible international fee-paying students admitted to full-year degree studies
Deadlines
| Round | Apply by | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering (excl. Architecture) | 15 January 2027 | |
| All other programs | 1 February 2027 |
Master's / PhD (after graduation)
Not researched yet — check the official admissions pages.
Scholarships
- International student entrance scholarship — international UG
Studying in Canada
Canada combines relatively affordable, English/French-taught degrees with a clear post-graduation work permit (PGWP) and strong pathways to permanent residence. Since 2024 the programme has been through major tightening - a national intake cap, a provincial attestation letter for most applicants, higher proof-of-funds amounts, and a language-test requirement for the PGWP - so an Indian family planning now must check current rules close to application time.
- Visa
- Study permit
- Work while studying
- Up to 24 hours/week off campus during academic sessions (raised from 20 hours; page confirms holders of older permits referencing 20 hours may now work up to 24), unlimited hours during scheduled school breaks (canada.ca).
- After graduating
- Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP): length depends on programme length - 8 months to under 2 years gives a PGWP up to the same length as the programme; programmes of 2+ years give up to 3 years; master's programmes of at least 8 months (even if under 2 years) give a 3-year PGWP as of 15 February 2024. Proof of a language test result has been required with PGWP applications since 1 November 2024. A PGWP cannot be issued for longer than the applicant's passport validity, and cannot be obtained twice.
Every subject ranking
ShanghaiRanking GRAS 2025Prepare here, free
Admission facts on this page were read from: uwaterloo.ca/future-students/international · uwaterloo.ca/future-students/admissions/english-language-requirements · uwaterloo.ca/future-students/admissions/deadlines — checked 28 September 2026.