Quick links Student fees Student enrolment Programs and degrees Student facilities and services University research International education Affiliated colleges Federated institution Web site: www.uwaterloo.ca

University of Waterloo

200 University Avenue W
Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1
Telephone: 519-888-4567

President: Prof. David Johnston

Profile

Located in the heart of southwestern Ontario, the University of Waterloo is recognized as one of Canada’s most innovative universities.

The University of Waterloo fulfills its commitment to teaching, research and scholarship in six faculties: applied health sciences, arts, engineering, environment, mathematics and science, and in our federated university and affiliated colleges: St. Jerome’s University, Conrad Grebel University College, Renison University College and St. Paul’s University College.

The faculties are also home to eight professional schools: Accounting and Finance, Architecture (at Waterloo’s satellite campus in neighbouring Cambridge, Ontario), Computer Science, International Affairs, Optometry, Pharmacy, Planning and Social Work.

The School of Pharmacy anchors a new Kitchener health sciences campus that includes a facility for McMaster University’s Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine. The Balsillie School of International Affairs, founded in 2007, is a collaborative initiative of the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University, with the support and involvement of the Centre for International Governance Innovation.

What sets the University of Waterloo apart is how its mission is accomplished. From its beginnings in 1957, Waterloo has been an outward-looking university, aware of and responsive to the needs of society.

The University of Waterloo has the world’s largest postsecondary cooperative education program, with more than half of its (Will update early Nov 09) undergraduates engaged in work/study programs. Students graduate with the knowledge, skills and practical experience required to solve today’s complex and pressing problems and to embrace future challenges.

However, producing the leaders of tomorrow is just part of the University of Waterloo's mission. A research-intensive university, Waterloo's 987 full-time faculty members and 4,000 graduate students are committed to discovering new knowledge and finding ways to use that knowledge for the benefit of all. The university is a national leader in the transfer of ideas and technology to the private sector.

To set goals for Waterloo’s next decade, the university has adopted Seizing Opportunities and Pursuing Global Excellence: The Sixth Decade Plan. Its four key areas are: expanding the quality and amount of research; significantly growing graduate student opportunities; enhancing undergraduate studies; and embracing the world, by expanding the University of Waterloo’s presence around the globe, providing international opportunities for Canadian students and attracting more international students to Waterloo.

History
Year of foundation: 1957
Former name of the institution: Waterloo College Associate Faculties.

Student fees

Canadian student fees  2008 - 2009 *
Undergraduate tuition fees: $4,718 - $5,936
Graduate tuition fees: $6,126 - $6,246

International student fees  2008 - 2009 *
Undergraduate tuition fees: $17,070 - $18,218
Graduate tuition fees: $15,258

* Source: University of Waterloo. Fees for general programs in arts.

Note: In addition to tuition fees, universities generally charge fees for goods and services supplied to students. This includes areas such as student associations, sports and health. These additional fees vary widely per university and per student and can run from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars. Check with the university for details.

Student enrolment

2008 preliminary fall enrolment *
Full-time (undergraduates): 19,200
Full-time (graduates): 3,303
Part-time (undergraduates): 2,500
Part-time (graduates): 700

* Source: University of Waterloo

Programs and degrees

Note: The program information is compiled by AUCC staff in cooperation with staff at member institutions. The programs are classified according to the Classification of Instructional Programs 2000. To search for the programs offered by this institution, please consult the Directory of Canadian Universities’ programs database online at http://www.aucc.ca/can_uni/search/index_e.html.

Student facilities and services

Personal support services
The University of Waterloo is committed to enhancing the quality of student life, through the provision of expert and skilled professionals in the departments of health services, counselling services, office for persons with disabilities, athletics and recreational services, international student office, theatre centre and the student life centre. These departments along with the Business Operations Group (housing and residences, food services and retail services), the Graduate Student Association and the Federation of Students, form the basis of the services to our students. 

The following are examples of the university's many personal support services: child care centres, gays and lesbians of Waterloo, International Student Office, living learning initiative, ministerial services, multifaith prayer room, museums, observatory, Conflict Management and Human Rights Office, ombudsperson, optometry clinic, parking services, bookstores, walksafe program, safety van, women’s centre. 

Academic support services
Academic advisors, career services, counselling, Graduate Student Association, Federation of Students, ESL tutoring, mature student services, peer mentors, services for students with disabilities, student advising co-op, work-study program. See www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosa for more information.

First-year student programs
To assist first-year students in their transition to university, the University of Waterloo hosts a full-week orientation program in September. Each summer, incoming students are sent copies of Student Life 101: your handbook to a happy, healthy and successful career at Waterloo. As well, students run a summer orientation, Student Life 101, designed for parents and students to have their questions answered before classes begin. Throughout the school year, first-year students receive the Student Life 101 E-zine, an electronic newsletter with updates on everything from academics to student activities. The university's Academic Integrity Office runs an online tutorial on academic integrity for all first-year students. The university's library offers workshops and tutorials to build research and Internet search skills, while counselling services offers a package of workshops on all aspects of study skills. For more information, see www.studentlife.uwaterloo.ca.

Housing
On-campus: The University of Waterloo offers six different residence communities to students and our federated university and affiliated colleges all have residence space. In total, 6,200 students can live on campus and first-year students are guaranteed a place in residence. There is a variety of meal-plan options available and residences range from shared rooms to townhouses. A vibrant community awaits you at the University of Waterloo. Residences are available to full-time UW students (including co-op) and their dependents, year-round. For more information, go to www.findoutmore.uwaterloo.ca/housing and www.housing.uwaterloo.ca.

Off-campus: Housing is readily available and very accessible. See www.och.uwaterloo.ca/ for details.

* All recreational sports are offered for co-ed, not male or female alone.

Student assistance
Undergraduate: The university offers a number of entrance scholarships to outstanding students entering first year.

The university also offers a President’s Scholarship – a scholarship offered to full-time students beginning postsecondary studies for the first time and admitted to a first-year program with a mid-May average of 85 percent or more. The awards range in value from $1,000 to $2,000.

The university guarantees to fund unmet need as defined by the Ontario Student Assistance Program or a student assistance program from another Canadian province. The university aspires to identify students in need and ensure that all eligible students admitted to full-time undergraduate programs have the financial assistance necessary to complete their studies. Students are required to seek financial support from all sources, including family, employment, loans and government support programs. Unmet need is calculated using OSAP allowable costs minus the student’s expected/actual resources. For more details, see www.findoutmore.uwaterloo.ca/financing.

Graduate: Eligible NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR and OGS award holders receive an additional President’s Graduate Scholarship of up to $10,000 per year. The University of Waterloo offers entrance and merit scholarships, teaching/research assistantships, travel funds, student bursaries and faculty scholarships. International Graduate Student Awards are available for highly qualified international students. For details, see www.grad.uwaterloo.ca.

University research

From its inception, the University of Waterloo has championed research as a vehicle for the generation of new knowledge.

Researchers actively pursue and exceed in their shared responsibility to transfer new knowledge and technological advances to society for its future benefit. The University of Waterloo has long been a leader in contract research with both private and public sectors.

From a strong and essential foundation in fundamental work, the University of Waterloo now encompasses a full spectrum of research in the arts, social and behavioural sciences, humanities, engineering, environmental studies, applied health sciences, physical and life sciences and mathematics.

For more information, see: www.research.uwaterloo.ca.

International education

The University of Waterloo is involved in over 300 international linkages in 56 countries – a number that has doubled since 2000. These linkages include 125 international exchange agreements with institutions in 32 countries and seven Study Abroad Agreements in six countries. There are also opportunities to work abroad through the university’s cooperative education program. In 2007 - 2008, more than 1,700 Canadian students set out from the University of Waterloo to study, work or volunteer abroad.

International students come to the University of Waterloo from 106 countries and make up 24 percent of UW graduate students and nine percent of undergraduates. There are work-study job opportunities available for international students on campus as well as a support office and social groups. The University of Waterloo is already part of  2+2 programs in science, math and environment, which allow students from China to earn degrees by studying for two years in their own country, followed by two years at the University of Waterloo. The university is exploring other opportunities for collaborative education.

For examples of student exchange programs, go to www.research.uwaterloo.ca/international/exchange.html and www.careerservices.uwaterloo.ca/resources/WorkingAbroad.asp

Affiliated colleges

Renison University College (Anglican)
Waterloo, ON N2L 3G4
Telephone: 519-884-4400, automated: 519-884-4404
Toll-free: 1-877-363-6592 (in Canada)
E-mail: ren-reg@renison.uwaterloo.ca
Website: www.renison.uwaterloo.ca

St. Paul’s University College (United Church)
Waterloo, ON N2L 3G5
Telephone: 519-885-1460, automated: 519-885-1465
E-mail: stpauls@uwaterloo.ca
Website: www.stpauls.uwaterloo.ca

Conrad Grebel University College (Mennonite)
Waterloo, ON N2L 3G6
Telephone: 519-885-0220
E-mail: congreb@uwaterloo.ca
Website: www.grebel.uwaterloo.ca

Federated institution

St. Jerome's University
(see corresponding chapter)