University of Waterloo

Located in Waterloo, Canada, the University of Waterloo is one of the top public universities. Reputably distinguished as Canada’s leading comprehensive research institution by Research InfoSource Inc., it draws top-tier graduate students and researchers from across the world with its reputation for innovation and quality. The university was ranked No. 2 in Canada for professional success in the QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022.

The University of Waterloo is a major hub for Google recruitment among Canadian universities, which highlights its importance in the tech sector. With more than 42,000 students enrolled each year, it is the top institution in Canada for postgraduate education and for establishing strong employer-student relationships.

This page offers thorough insights into the educational offerings and financial elements of University of Waterloo courses, fees for Indian students, and costs for international students.

At a Glance:

Year of establishment1956
Also Known AsUWaterloo
Accepted ExamsTOEFL, PTE+1 More
Size of Campus in acres1000
UG/PG Course Ratio1.69
Endowments ValueCanadian Dollar 367 million
No. of Campuses4
Accommodation expenses6128 CAD for 2 sharing (UG),6518 CAD for 4 sharing (PG)
Meal expenses6330 CAD (UG),4270 CAD (PG)

University of Waterloo Programs:

More than 100 undergraduate courses in subjects including digital arts, biotechnology, robotics, and health, data science, and sustainability is available at the University of Waterloo. On the other side, the University of Waterloo offers more than 180 master’s and PhD degrees. Chemical engineering, chemistry, civil engineering, economics, and other subjects are among the topics covered in the master’s and doctoral degrees.

Type of programs                                         No. of programs offered

Undergraduate                                             100+

Master’s and doctoral                                 180+ programs

According to the QS subject rankings for undergraduate courses at the University of Waterloo, popular programs in computer science, electrical engineering, environmental sciences, physics and astronomy, and geography are among the top-ranked programs in Canada for 2022. With that exception, the 2023 Maclean University rankings place Waterloo University’s Computer Science program at the top of the country for the third consecutive year.

Courses/DurationFees
B.Sc. (4 - 5 years)₹25.21 L - 28.05 L
MS (12 months - 2 years)₹9.49 L - 29.32 L
B.A. (4 – 5 years)₹25.21 L - 28.18 L
M.A. (12 months - 2 years)₹13.41 L - 22.69 L
B.E./B.Tech (4 – 5 years)₹25.8 L - 40.68 L

University of Waterloo eligibility:

Course-specific eligibility restrictions apply at the University of Waterloo. Therefore, thoroughly review the University of Waterloo’s qualifying requirements before applying.

Students who wish to enroll in undergraduate programs must have earned a first or second division in any of the following: Any pre-university credential granted following 12 years of academic study, such as the All-India Senior School Certificate provided by the CBSE, the ISC Certificate granted by the CISCE, or any other credential. Please take note that board results will be used to determine final marks.

Indian applicants for graduate programs must have earned at least a 75% honors bachelor’s degree, or an equivalent, after completing a minimum of four years of coursework.

Students must have a 75% overall standing in their previous degree in order to be admitted for PhD programs.

Entrance Exams

The University of Waterloo requires applicants to have the average English language exam results listed below. With the exception of Duolingo, the ELP examinations listed below are approved for both UG and PG credit; nevertheless, the results are only formally stated for UG credit.

ExamThe score for UG programs
TOEFL90 & above
IELTS Academic6.5 & above
CAEL70
PTE Academic65
Cambridge English Test180
Duolingo120
EFAS75%

Required Documents

Before applying for admission to any Canadian university, arrange all your supporting documentation by going through the checklist for Canada provided below.

  • Filled-out application form.
  • Official GRE, TOEFL, SAT, and GMAT score reports will be sent by ETS.
  • A statement of purpose is optional for undergraduates and required for graduates.
  • Academic Certificates.
  • Statement of Financial Assistance.
  • bank statement.
  • CV/Resume for Students Pursuing MBA.
  • Passport-size photographs
  • Experience letter if you have one.
  • Additional Extracurricular Activity Certificates

Application Form

To be admitted to the university of your choice, you must properly complete the application form. Depending on the application forms’ availability, you can fill them out offline or online. While some institutions only accept online applications, others only accept paper applications submitted through their websites.

Competitive Exams Scores

Admission to Canadian universities is contingent upon passing entrance exams such as the GRE, TOEFL, GMAT, IELTS, and SAT. Depending on the course for which you are applying, you may need to take the appropriate exam and submit xerox copies of your test results to support the prerequisite admission exam. In Canada, applicants must take the SAT for all undergraduate courses and the GRE for graduate-level coursework. Nonetheless, applicants must pass the GMAT to enroll in any business school at a Canadian university. To demonstrate their proficiency in English, candidates for any of these courses should additionally take the English language proficiency exams in addition to the standardized exams.

Academic Certificates

You must submit the academic certifications that attest to your qualifications for education along with the application form. You must mail the university your SSC and upper secondary certificate if you recently finished your higher secondary education and are applying for undergraduate study. In addition, you must submit your grade transcripts and degree certificate if you have earned a bachelor’s or master’s degree.

Academic Certificates include.

  • 10th Grade Transcripts & Certificate.
  • 12th Grade Transcripts & Certificate.
  • Bachelor’s Transcripts & Degree (for Masters/PG Programs Only).
  • Master’s Transcripts & Degree (if available).
  • Diploma Transcripts & Certificate (if available).
  • Other Diplomas/Certificates (if available).

Bank statement

Additionally, you must demonstrate that you have the financial means to pay for your education to get admitted to Canadian universities. Therefore, a copy of your bank statement containing the date and account number, together with the manager’s signature and seal, must be sent.

Affidavit of Support

The application must be submitted with a Rs. 10 Stamp Paper fully signed by the Sponsor certifying that he or she would be sponsoring the student.

Statement of purpose.

A concise and targeted essay outlining a person’s professional and research objectives, as well as their accomplishments to date, is called a Statement of Purposes. You must explain to them through SOP why you chose this course, why you chose that specific university, what you intend to do once the course is over, your interests, and other personal information. Having a solid SOP in place will be essential to getting into the university. Thus, give the SOP some thought before submitting it.

Recommendation letter

A recommendation letter is a letter that someone has asked to be written on our behalf. Since people are naturally curious about what other people think of them, colleges request Letters of Recommendation to evaluate an applicant’s qualities, characteristics, and suitability for a given position. To help you get admitted, find the ideal person to approach for a reference letter. You’ll fall down the ladder with a depressing recommendation letter.

 

Experience Certificates

To be admitted to any business school in Canada, you must possess experience in the relevant field if you are applying for a business program. Experience is not a requirement for applying to undergraduate courses.

The primary records demonstrating work experience are.

  • Latest Joining Letter.
  • Latest Salary Slip.
  • Employment Certificates from all Previous Employers.

Resume

You must submit your resume, which should highlight your educational history and skill set, together with the aforementioned documents. Making a strong CV is always a smart idea. To create the strongest CV possible, it is advisable to get assistance when writing yours.

Passport-sized pictures

Even if it appears simple to obtain, you must focus on these pictures. To apply, you must organize the most recent, correctly sized photos in order. Your application can be denied if the proper-sized photos are not attached.

Supplementary Records

Together with the materials listed in the Checklist for Canada, you can also send any other documents you may have, such as paper presentations or documentation of your symposium organization abilities. The tiniest reward will encourage you to work a little harder on your application. Send in your certifications, which will highlight your skills and extracurricular involvement.

Scholarships Availability

  • Ontario Graduate Scholarships (OGS)

Applications for Ontario Graduate Scholarships (OGS) are open to international students attending the University of Waterloo to pursue master’s degrees. There are only five recipients of this merit-based prize each year.

Scholarship amount details
Max scholarship per student: CAD 15,000 => Rs 9,24,600
Conversion rate used: 1 CAD = Rs. 60.13 (last updated 14th November 2023)
Scholarship amount will be given: Yearly.

  • International Student Entrance Scholarships

International students pursuing bachelor’s degrees at the University of Waterloo can qualify for merit-based International Student Entrance Scholarships, though the scholarships are limited in quantity and vary depending on certain criteria. Those awarded may have their tuition subsidized when enrolled in bachelor’s programs. Eligible candidates will be evaluated on both academic achievement and personal attributes, with the most qualified receiving financial support as they further their education abroad.

Scholarship amount details
Max scholarship per student: CAD 10,000 => Rs 6,16,400
Conversion rate used: 1 CAD = Rs. 60.13 (last updated 14th November 2023)
Scholarship amount will be given: One Time

  • Merit Scholarship- Engineering

The University of Waterloo provides scholarships for admission. These scholarships are intended for first-time first-year university or college students who are enrolled full-time.  Students are given merit scholarships by the University of Waterloo based on their accomplishments both personally and academically.

Scholarships for admission are provided by the University of Waterloo to exceptional candidates who have demonstrated academic excellence.

 To be eligible for an admission scholarship, you must:

  • enrolled in a first-year degree program full-time.
  • starting college or university for the first time
  • Average admission is higher than 85%

Scholarship amount details
Max scholarship per student: CAD 1,000 => Rs 60,080
Conversion rate used: 1 CAD = Rs. 60.13 (last updated 14th November 2023)
Scholarship amount will be given: One Time

  • University of Waterloo Graduate Scholarship

The University of Waterloo provides graduate scholarships to international students pursuing master’s and bachelor’s degrees. There is a cap on how many students can get this merit-based scholarship, which varies every university. This award is available for both bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Scholarship amount details
Max scholarship per student: CAD 1,000 => Rs 60,180
Conversion rate used: 1 CAD = Rs. 60.13 (last updated 14th November 2023)
Scholarship amount will be given: Every Trimester

University of Waterloo Placements

The Center for Career Action assists students in identifying the skill sets that employers in Canada value in order to secure employment. The career center at the University of Waterloo provides courses and one-on-one assistance to educate the student body on nearly every facet of career development, including the following crucial areas of job searching:

  • Choosing a career path
  • constructing and improving the job seeking approach in Canada
  • assembling the materials for the employment application
  • Improving Your Interviewing Ability

As per the Waterloo Region Economic Development Corporation 2021 report, Waterloo is home to over 500 tech firms that are developing solutions related to Fintech, automation, robotics, artificial intelligence, and other related fields. Consequently, the city is a fantastic spot to launch a profession following academic graduation. View the incomes of Waterloo graduates and alumni by occupation, which is shown below.

JobsSample Salary
Education & ResearchUSD 152,000
Human Resources & RecruitingUSD 100,000
Financial ServicesUSD 83,000
IT & Software DevelopmentUSD 79,000
Executive Management & ChangeUSD 77,000
R&D, Pharmaceuticals & BiotechUSD 72,000

Rankings

The University of Waterloo has been listed in the QS rankings among the top 200 universities worldwide for the past five years, according to their rating. We have contrasted the University of Waterloo, University of Victoria, and University of Calgary’s QS rankings. From #163 in 2019 to #154 in 2023, the University of Waterloo’s ranking has improved. Waterloo University’s QS ranking did, however, decline in 2020 and 2021, however it was able to rise in subsequent years.

On the other hand, the University of Victoria, despite some declines in ranking between 2019 and 2023, remained at #359 until 2022 when it eventually rose to a higher spot. From #229 in 2019 to #242 in 2023, the University of Calgary’s QS ranking fell dramatically. Aside from this, the University of Waterloo continues to hold the seventh rank in Canada overall according to the QS World University Rankings 2023.

Work permit

One of the advantages of choosing to study in Canada is that you are allowed to get Canadian work experience while you are here! Some types of work require that you have a permit to work legally.

Study Permit with authorization to work conditions.

On-Campus Employment

  1. Be a full-time student.
  2. Have a valid Study Permit
  3. Work on the campus where you are registered.

Off-Campus Employment

  1. Up to 20 hours/week during regular academic sessions and full-time during scheduled breaks
  2. Have a valid Study Permit
  3. Be enrolled full-time in a degree program (ESL, visiting, exchange students excluded)

University of Waterloo Accommodation and Meals

On-Campus Accommodation

All UG and PG students are eligible for on-campus housing provided by the institution.

Columbia Lake Villages are the residence halls for graduate students, whereas Village 1, Ron Eydt Village, Mackenzie King Village, and New Residence Building are for undergraduate students.

University also provides Meal plans at affordable rates to all residents.

Master’s

Accommodation Expense

Total Annual Cost: CAD 6518

Includes Room $6,518/ year at Columbia Lake (South) and Meal plan (Super Saver) $2,135/semester (PG)

Meal Expense

Total Annual Cost: CAD 4270

Bachelor’s

Accommodation Expense

Total Annual Cost: CAD 6128

Includes Room $6,128/ year at Columbia Lake (South) and Meal plan (Hearty) $3,165/semester (UG)

Meal Expense

Total Annual Cost: CAD 6330

Off-Campus Accommodation

  1. Monthly rent ranges from 550 to 650 CAD on average.
  2. Studio apartments, three-bedroom apartments, four-bedroom apartments, and shared apartments are among the available dwelling types.
  3. The apartments come fully equipped with central air conditioning and free high-speed WIFI.
  4. The student apartments include contemporary suite features with fully functional kitchens that include dishwashers and new equipment.
  5. Usually, the lease lasts for 12 months.

Campus/Facilities

  • Rich Resources at Your Fingertips: Dive into a world of knowledge with our extensive libraries, packed with books, journals, and digital resources to fuel your academic journey.
  • Stay Active, Stay Fit: Enjoy top-notch recreational facilities! Our spacious gymnasium and natatorium are here to keep you physically well, and our serene gardens provide a mental escape whenever you need it.
  • Meals and More: It’s not just about food; it’s about community. Gather with friends in our meal halls, savoring diverse culinary options. The Student Life Center is the heartbeat of campus, buzzing with organizations, events, and support services.
  • Build Your Community: Beyond books, we’re passionate about building connections. Join clubs, engage in activities, and shape your own university experience. We believe in a well-rounded education that goes beyond textbooks.
  • Holistic Development: Your time here is more than lectures and exams. It’s about gaining skills and experiences that will shape your future. We’re here to support your journey, every step of the way. Welcome to a holistic and enriching university life at the University of Waterloo!

Living Cost.

The cost of living for University of Waterloo students might vary, but it typically ranges from about $8,000 to $15,000 per academic year. This variance depends on a number of factors, including your lodging preference and whether you cook for yourself or use a meal plan. The overall expense of rent and food, if you choose to live off campus in rental accommodation, may come to $15,000 or more. When making plans for living expenses during the academic year, it’s critical for students to take their budgetary limits and lifestyle choices into serious consideration.

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