University of Waterloo

At the University of Waterloo, 41,000 full-time and part-time students have been successfully admitted to various academic programs, and over 203,000 University of Waterloo graduates have entered global job markets after obtaining their degrees from this university. 

Since Waterloo's academic and educational standards are very high, every year, many individuals from different countries around the world apply for admission to this university. According to official university statistics, 21% of undergraduate students and 40% of graduate students are international students at this university.

The main focus of this university is on providing experiential, entrepreneurship-based education, and innovation in the world of science and knowledge. It is recognized as a strong entrepreneurial engine in Canada and globally. It is also worth noting that the University of Waterloo has always aimed to provide the highest quality education.

The entrepreneurial spirit that governs the academic body of the University of Waterloo teaches students the ability to offer new solutions to problems and consistently provides students, faculty members, and staff with the necessary resources to realize their ideas. 

Experiential learning increases students' willingness to take risks and have experiences that lead to their growth and change, with the University of Waterloo being a pioneer in this area. In this regard, it constantly collaborates with industry to create cooperative educational programs to enhance the employability skills of its students.

Admission to the University of Waterloo

Applicants for academic admission from 120 countries around the world choose the University of Waterloo annually due to its reputation as one of the top universities in North America. The requirements for obtaining academic admission and successfully obtaining a student visa vary for each university. 

Thus, the first step for applying for academic immigration to Canada is selecting a university, followed by choosing the desired academic program. The general requirements for international students to obtain academic admission from the University of Waterloo are as follows:

• Pre-university certificate
• High school diploma
• High school academic records
• Official translation of documents into English
• Proficiency in English

If the applicant's first language is not English or they have not completed their last four years of study in English-speaking countries or institutions, they must provide one of the following recognized certificates to the university to prove their English proficiency:

• CAEL with a minimum score of 70 and no section less than 60
• TOEFL with a minimum score of 90 and no section less than 25 in writing and speaking
• IELTS with an overall minimum score of 6.5 and no less than 6.5 in writing and speaking, and no less than 6 in reading and listening
• PTE with a minimum score of 63 and no less than 65 in writing and speaking
• EFAS with an overall score of 75%

 University of Waterloo Tuition Fees

The cost of education in various academic programs at the University of Waterloo varies depending on the level and duration of each program. The estimated average tuition fee for international students intending to enroll in one of the university's programs is around CAD 40,900 to CAD 61,300 per academic year. 

The annual tuition fee for some undergraduate and graduate programs, according to the faculties of this university, is listed below: For example, the annual tuition fee for the Software Engineering program, offered by the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Waterloo, is approximately CAD 61,300. Similarly, the tuition fees for programs in the Faculty of Arts and the School of Public Health Sciences are around CAD 40,900.

In addition to tuition, other expenses during the study and living period in Canada are estimated, which international students must cover. These living expenses include accommodation in dormitories or rented housing, educational supplies, meals, and more, which are approximately estimated to be between CAD 5,000 to CAD 7,000 per year.

University of Waterloo Rankings

According to the latest statistics reviewed at the beginning of 2025, the global ranking of the University of Waterloo has been announced as 115, naming it one of the best universities in Canada. Waterloo is a member of the group of Canadian research universities known as U15, offering many cooperative educational programs for those interested in studying at this university through its six faculties and several affiliated educational institutes.