The Institution of Waterloo (UWaterloo or Waterloo) is an Ontario, Canada-based public research university with its main campus in Waterloo. The main campus spans 404 hectares (998 acres) and is situated near "Uptown" Waterloo and Waterloo Park.

The institution also has three satellite campuses and four associated university colleges. Six faculties and thirteen faculty-based schools oversee academic programs at the institution.

Waterloo has the world's biggest post-secondary co-operative education program, with over 20,000 undergraduate students engaged in the university's co-op program. Waterloo is a member of the U15, a Canadian association of research-intensive institutions.

The Waterloo College Associate Faculties, founded on April 4, 1956, were a semi-autonomous body of Waterloo College, an associate of the University of Western Ontario.

The University of Waterloo Act, passed by the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in 1959, separated this organization from Waterloo College and established it as a university.

It was founded in response to Canada's growing demand for engineers and technicians in the postwar economy. During the next decade, it expanded rapidly, acquiring an arts college in 1960 and the College of Optometry of Ontario (now the School of Optometry and Vision Science), which relocated from Toronto in 1967.

Alumni and former university students may be found throughout Canada and over 150 countries, and Waterloo has also produced countless award winners, government figures, and business leaders.

The institution has 42,500+ full and part-time students and a world rank of 24 in graduate employability according to QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2023. With over 100 undergraduate and numerous master's and doctorate programs, international students may take advantage of the opportunity to study among world-class peers.

Students studying at the University of Waterloo can apply for on-campus accommodation. Some of the options are

Village 1 (V1),

Ron Eydt Village (REV),

Claudette Millar Hall (CMH),

Mackenzie King Village (MKV),

UW Place (UWP),

Columbia Lake Village South (CLV-South),

Columbia Lake Village North (CLV-North),

Minota Hagey (MH)

Waterloo's varsity teams, also called the Waterloo Warriors, participate in the U Sports' Ontario University Athletics league.

Missions

The purpose of the University of Waterloo is to promote learning and knowledge nationally and worldwide through teaching, research, and scholarship in an atmosphere of free expression and inquiry.

Faculties

Arts and Humanities 

Business & Management 

Engineering and Technology 

Life Sciences and Medicine 

Natural Sciences 

Social Sciences and Management 

University Ranking,

The University of Waterloo is one of Canada's finest public institutions. The QS World University Rankings for 2023 are ranked 154.

University highlights

University Type	Public
Established Year	1959
No of Students	40000+
Number of Courses	200+
Tuition Fees for International Students Yearly(Postgraduate Programs)	27,000 - 47,000
Tuition Fees for International Students Yearly(Undergraduate Programs)	44,000 - 66,000 per two terms
Research Ph.D.	26,000
Intakes	September, January, and May.

Main intakes

The main intakes are in September, January, and May.

Scholarship

David Johnston–Lebovic Foundation International Experience Awards

Range: 2500-10000

Candidates with good academic standing (usually a minimum 70% average at the undergraduate level; usually a minimum 75% average at the graduate level) are eligible to apply for these scholarships.

Application Process/ documents needed for admission

Academic Documents (For Bachelor)

• SLC Mark sheet
• School Leaving Certificate
• SLC Character Certificate
• Transcript of 12th-grade
• Individual Mark sheet of 12th-grade
• Character Certificate of 12th-grade
• Provisional Certificate of 12th-grade
• Migration Certificate of 12th-grade

Academic Documents (For Masters)

• Transcript of Bachelor's Degree and 12th-grade
• Individual Mark sheets of Bachelor's Degree and 12th-grade
• Character Certificate of Bachelor Degree and 12th-grade
• Provisional Certificate of Bachelor Degree and 12th-grade
• Migration Certificate of Bachelor Degree and 12th-grade

• IELTS/TOEFL/PTE scores
• Passport
• Experience letter
• Statement of Purpose
• 2-3 LORs 
• GRE/GMAT Scores
• Application Fees
• Proof of Scholarships - If any
• Marriage Certificate (if applicable)
• College Recommendation (if a current student)

Language Requirement

Test	Minimum Score Requirement(Under Graduate)
TOFEL Requirements	A Minimum score of 90 overall with a minimum of 25 in writing and speaking sections
IELTS Requirements	6.5 or better; individual component scores of 6.5 in writing and speaking and 6.0 in listening and reading
PTE	63 or better; individual component scores of 65 in writing and speaking

Famous Alumni

David Johnston, 28th Governor General of Canada

Robert Mundell, Nobel laureate in economics

Donna Strickland, Nobel laureate in physics

Chris Hadfield, retired Canadian astronaut.

Mike Lazaridis, founder of BlackBerry Limited.

Kevin O'Leary is a Canadian businessman, author, politician, and television personality.

Chamath Palihapitiya, CEO of Social Capital and minority owner of the Golden State Warriors.

Beckie Scott, Olympic gold medalist in cross-country skiing.

Rupi Kaur is a famous Canadian poet and author of Milk and Honey.

FAQ

Q. Can I work as a student in Canada?

Yes, International students in Canada can work part-time (up to 20 hours per week) during school terms.

Q. What are the different intakes at the University of Waterloo?

Generally, September, January, and May are the time when intakes occur.

Q. Does the university offer any accommodation?

Yes, the university does provide accommodation. The University of Waterloo offers accommodation options if you want to live and study on campus. The cost ranges from 15120 CAD per year.

Q. Do I have to meet language requirements?

Yes, the applicant must satisfy the language criteria mentioned above in the language requirements section. 

Q. Which are the other top Universities in Canada?

University of Toronto, McGill University, and the University of British Columbia are the top 3 universities in Canada.