The University of Waterloo (UW) is a public research university located in the Canadian province of Ontario. Established in 1959, it is one of the most sought-after universities in Canada. UW operates the world’s largest post-secondary co-operative education program, with over 20,000 undergraduate students enrolled in the university’s co-op program. UW’s motto is “Concordia cum Veritate” which means “In harmony with truth”.
Campuses:
The main Waterloo campus is constructed on 404 hectares (998 acres) of land adjacent to “Uptown” Waterloo and Waterloo Park. It is divided into three major areas: South Campus, North Campus, and Northwest Campus. South Campus is the academic core of the university, while North Campus holds the Research and Technology Park. Northwest Campus is the least developed area of the main campus, made up primarily of farm fields and an environmental reserve, which divides it from North Campus.
Apart from the main campus, the university has 3 satellite campuses:
Cambridge Campus: The Cambridge Campus is home to the School of Architecture. It offers a fully cooperative professional program and has been rated the greenest architecture curriculum in Canada. It is also the only Canadian school of architecture to have a permanent international facility, which has operated since 1979 in Rome, Italy. The school attracts top students from across Canada and around the world.
Kitchener Campus: The School of Pharmacy finds its home at the Kitchener Campus. As Canada’s most innovative pharmacy school, it offers a strategic integration of experiential learning, impact-driven research, entrepreneurial culture, community partnerships, and teaching and academic excellence.
Stratford Campus: This campus belongs to the Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs in digital arts and design within a global business framework.
Faculties:
Students can opt for any one of the six faculties at UW:
Faculty of Arts
Faculty of Engineering
Faculty of Environment
Faculty of Health
Faculty of Mathematics
Faculty of Science
International students targeting UW need to have an excellent academic profile as a prerequisite to apply to most of the programs offered here. When assessing applicants, the admissions committee considers grades, mandatory Admission Information Form responses, and online interview submissions (if required). Let us look at some of these requirements.
Academic Requirements
UW has specific requirements for Indian students applying to different programs offered there
Course/Degree | Minimum Requirements for CBSE | Minimum Requirements for IB |
Architecture | At least 70% in:
At least 75% in:
Overall 80% |
Total 32 |
Civil Engineering | At least 70% in:
Overall 85% |
Total 32 (6s and 7s recommended) |
Computer Science | At least 90% in:
At least 85% in all other courses Overall 85% |
Total 32 |
Environmental Science | At least 70% in:
Overall mid-80s *Any two courses |
Total 27 |
Geography and Aviation | At least 70% in:
Strongly Recommended:
Overall 80% |
Total 27 |
Health Sciences | At least 70% in:
Overall 80% |
Total 28 |
Life Sciences | At least 70% in:
Overall mid-80s *Any two courses |
Total 27 |
Mathematics | At least 85% in:
Overall 80% |
Total 32 |
Public Health |
Overall 80% |
Total 27 |
Science and Business | At least 70% in:
Overall mid-80s *Any two courses |
Total 27 |
Sustainability and Financial Management | At least 75% in:
Overall 85% |
Total 28 |
2. Essays
Students applying to UW’s undergraduate programs must write effective essays to secure admission. This section is referred to as the “Admission Information Form” and plays a crucial role in the admission process. It’s an online form that consists of short answer questions and helps the admissions committees learn more about the applicant. It’s a mandatory part of the application process for all programs in the Faculties of Engineering and Mathematics, along with the Architecture, Computing and Financial Management, Conditional Admission to Pharmacy, Optometry, and Pharmacy programs. It’s highly recommended for all other programs.
Sample Questions on the Admission Information Form:
What extracurricular activities have you participated in? What did you learn?
If you took courses outside of your regular day school, why?
Tell us what you’ve learned through any volunteer experiences.
If you’re applying to any math, engineering, science, and computer science programs, have you completed any of Waterloo’s math and science contests?
Extra-curricular Activities
As is evident from the questions listed above, UW looks for students with a holistic profile. Students interested in applying to UW should participate in at least one extracurricular activity. Students must devote at least a few hours every week to this activity – ideally starting from Grade 9 – so that they can have something substantial to mention in their answers. These activities not only help students with securing admissions at UW but can also play an important part while the admissions committee decides their suitability for an entrance scholarship.
English Language Proficiency
Most prospective students are required to demonstrate a minimum level of English before they’re admitted to their preferred course at UW. International students can appear for any one of the IELTS, TOEFL, or PTE to meet the English requirements. The minimum scores are listed below:
Exam | Minimum Score Requirement |
IELTS (International English Language Testing System)* Scores are out of 9.0 Bands | Overall: 6.5 Bands
|
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) Scores are out of 120 (overall) and 30 (sectional) | Overall: 90
|
PTE (Pearson Test of English) Scores are out of 90 | Overall: 63
|
*A minimum overall IELTS score of 7.0 with a minimum band score of 6.0 or better in all components, is also acceptable for admission.
Applicants for the 2023/2024 Winter Session must submit test scores from May 1, 2021 onwards.
Students are not required to provide an English language test score if:
their first language is not English AND
their four most recent years of full-time education were taught in an entirely English-language school system either in Canada or in another country.
How To Apply?
All prospective students must apply to UW through OUAC – a common portal that helps students apply to multiple universities in the province of Ontario. Students need to sign up on this portal to initiate the application. They are then required to fill in personal and academic information, post which they can choose the university and course they wish to apply to.
All things considered, UW offers a great college experience for international students. Being among the top universities in Canada, UW offers excellent academic and extracurricular opportunities for students to discover their true potential.
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