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Wilfrid Laurier University

75 University Avenue W
Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3C5
Telephone: 519-884-1970

Brantford Campus
73 George Street
Brantford, Ontario N3T 2Y3
Telephone: 519-756-8228

Profile

Wilfrid Laurier University is known for academic excellence and a culture that inspires lives of leadership and purpose. Laurier has a distinct commitment to teaching, research and scholarship combined with a strong student focus, high levels of student satisfaction and a deep sense of community. Laurier fosters personal growth and the development of excellence in academic programs, research, creativity and professional achievement.

Laurier offers a broad range of full and part-time graduate and undergraduate degree programs through seven faculties: arts, music, science, education, social work, graduate studies and the School of Business and Economics.

Its Brantford campus is dedicated to innovative programming within the liberal arts. Its core interdisciplinary program in contemporary studies can be combined with a number of other programs including law and society, leadership, journalism, human rights and human diversity, and health studies. Laurier Brantford offers concurrent BA/BEd degrees in conjunction with Nipissing University as well as consecutive and embedded college programs with Mohawk and Conestoga colleges.

Laurier offers doctoral and master’s programs, including the only master of music therapy program in Canada. Programs linked to the Balsillie School of International Affairs include Laurier’s master’s in international public policy and a PhD in global governance (joint with the University of Waterloo).

Laurier’s innovative business programs include Canada’s first 12-month MBA program, the largest part-time weekend MBA program (based in Toronto), an Innovation and Entrepreneurship MBA, and a BBA program with streams in brand communication, entrepreneurship, financial planning and risk management.

Laurier launched a new health sciences program in fall 2009.

In September 2009, Laurier opened an office in Toronto to support co-op students and partners, assist the weekend-format MBA program, and provide a base of support for alumni relations, student recruitment and government relations.

The university is home to 32 research centres and chairs, the Academic Council on the United Nations System, the internationally acclaimed Penderecki String Quartet, WLU Press and the Robert Langen Art Gallery.

Located one hour west of Toronto, the university’s Waterloo campus is part of Canada’s Technology Triangle, one of Canada’s fastest-growing economic regions known for innovation, technology, advanced manufacturing and a focus on international governance.

History
Year of foundation: 1911
Former names of the institution: Evangelical Lutheran Seminary of Canada (1911); Waterloo College of Arts (1925); Waterloo Lutheran University (1960); Wilfrid Laurier University (1973).

Student fees

Canadian student fees  2009 - 2010 *
Undergraduate tuition fees: $4,894 - $4,989
Graduate tuition fees: $4,183 - $4,346

International student fees  2009 - 2010 *
Undergraduate tuition fees: $14,126 - $17,971
Graduate tuition fees: $9,403 - $9,770

* Source: Statistics Canada. Fees for general programs in arts and humanities.

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

2009 rounded preliminary fall enrolment *
Full-time (undergraduates): 13,100
Full-time (graduates): 820
Part-time (undergraduates): 2,000
Part-time (graduates): 350

* Source: Council of Ontario Universities

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
Athletic physical therapy, bookstore, career services, charity council, copy centre, counselling services (academic and non-academic), cultural events office, diversity affairs office, employment equity office, foot patrol, harassment/discrimination office, health services, legal resources, off-campus student group, ombudsperson, peer helpline, Rainbow Centre, religious/spiritual support, special needs office, student centre, student publications and women’s centre.

Academic support services
Academic clubs, accessible learning office, art gallery, community service-learning, co-op office, counselling services (academic and non-academic), international student advising, learning services, recital hall, student literacy group, study skills and writing centre.

First-year student programs
Introduction to university for students and parents; Laurier Co-curricular Record; ‘My Laurier’ student portal; residence programs; orientation week; central academic advising; Head Start program; writing centre; math assistance centre; supplemental instruction and study skills; seminars and workshops on topics that include health, wellness, study skills and stress management; student leadership centre.

Housing
On-campus: At the Waterloo campus, Laurier can accommodate close to 3,000 students in 19 buildings. Residences are co-ed, male-only and female-only dormitories and co-ed apartment complexes. First-year, first-entry students are guaranteed residence if applications are submitted before the deadline. Approximately 90 percent of the available space is reserved for first-year students. Annual costs: apartments, $3,461 - $5,966; dormitories, $3,920 - $5,966. On-campus meal plan costs (compulsory for dorm residents) range from $2,782 - $3,260. Laurier Brantford can accommodate 450 students in seven co-ed, apartment buildings. First-year, first-entry students have the same guarantee as Waterloo, and 97 percent of spaces are reserved for them. Annual costs are $4,700 - $5,000. All buildings are less than eight years old.

Off-campus: In Waterloo, the vacancy rate is very low. Most accommodations are very accessible to campus. Prices (per month): room with kitchen privileges, $450 - $500; bachelor, $600 - $750; one-bedroom apartment, $700 - $1,000; two-bedroom, $850 - $1,200; houses, $1200. These facilities do not usually include furnishings, utilities, cable TV or telephone.

Brantford has a high vacancy rate. Prices begin at $300-$400/month per bedroom and are generally close to campus or on a transit route.

Student assistance
Undergraduate: Entrance scholarships, ranging in value from $500 to $2,000, are available to students with a minimum 80 percent average. In addition, a limited number of $3,000 renewable scholarships are offered to students with at least a 95 percent average. In-course scholarships range from $500 to $1,500.

Graduate: All full-time graduate students are automatically considered for Laurier graduate scholarships and teaching assistantships. Students in research master’s and doctoral programs are guaranteed a minimum level of financial support, from a variety of sources including teaching assistantships, internal and external scholarships. The university offers top-up scholarships to students holding major external awards.

University research

Laurier is home to 32 research centres and chairs, incorporating a variety of theoretical and applied research studies.

Many of Laurier’s research concentrations address current issues of societal importance, including health (preventing falls and coping with cancer and movement disorders); environment (water quality, pollution and resource management); social work (family support systems, child abuse and aboriginal issues); business and finance (entrepreneurship, brand management financial mathematics and supply chain management); and criminology (crime and delinquency).

Laurier’s research facilities and opportunities include access to SHARCNET – a shared supercomputing network enabling researchers to gain results thousands of times faster than a conventional desktop. In addition to innovative, interdisciplinary research opportunities, other highlights include eight research and professional centres in the School of Business and Economics and four research centres established in 2008: Centre for Community Research, Learning and Action; International Migration Research Centre; Laurier Institute for Water Science and Tshepo Institute for the Study of Contemporary Africa. Laurier also has a master of social work Aboriginal field of study program with Elders-in-residence, and offers an inter-disciplinary master’s program in international public policy.

Laurier is expanding its research-intensive graduate programs, providing networks with other universities and offering co-op placements at home and abroad. Laurier’s Centre for Community Service Learning encourages knowledge transfer and enhances research by incorporating hands-on community group work into degree programs.

Laurier’s growth and innovation, combined with its energetic, research-focused faculty are key factors that attract students to Laurier to pursue their research interests.

International education

In an effort to educate engaged and aware citizens of an increasingly complex world, Laurier strives to be the regional leader in international education and scholarship. Its programs are known for giving students an in-depth knowledge and understanding of other cultures, languages and global issues necessary for them to develop into global citizens.

Laurier welcomes students from other countries through its degree visa, international exchange programs and distance education programs. Students from more than 60 countries are currently studying at Laurier.

Laurier’s China Office in Chonqqing serves as central support for academic initiatives with 18 Chinese university partners, strengthens the international elements of Laurier’s research and academic programs and enhances government and private sector relationships.

In addition to institutions within Canada, Laurier offers bilateral and consortium exchange agreements with institutions in 28 countries: Australia, Austria, Brazil, Chile, China, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Guyana, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, the Netherlands and the United States.

Contact
Mr. Peter Donahue, Director
Laurier International
Telephone: 519-884-0710 ext. 6704
E-mail: pdonahue@wlu.ca

Federated institution

Waterloo Lutheran Seminary