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University of Waterloo

#133 QS World RankingCanadaPublic
  • QS ranking#133
  • Acceptance rate58%
  • Typical GPA3.8–3.9 GPA for…
  • Tuition / year$40,200

Overview

About University of Waterloo

World-leading co-op program; best CS school in Canada; birthplace of BlackBerry/Shopify; Canada's most corporate-connected tech university; quantum computing research center (IQC)

  • International environmentDiverse; ~30% intl UG; tech-focused campus culture
  • Teaching styleEngineering/CS: project + research; co-op alternating terms; very practical

Academics

Subjects and fit

Strongest subjects

  • Computer Science
  • Engineering
  • Mathematics
  • Accounting
  • Nanotechnology
  • Quantum Computing

Best for

  • CS
  • engineering
  • math students wanting best tech career preparation

Getting in

Admission requirements

  • GPA: 3.8–3.9 GPA for CS/Engineering; top math students
  • IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 90+
  • No SAT/ACT; Math/CS: AIF (Admission Information Form) required; math competitions considered
  • Difficulty: Competitive
  • Acceptance rate: 58% overall; CS/Math ~20%
  • Deadline: UG: Feb 1 | Graduate: Dec–Feb

On campus

Campus and location

Housing Y1 priority; Waterloo is affordable vs Toronto/Vancouver

Money

Costs and scholarships

  • Tuition (USD)40,200 (intl UG CS)
  • Living cost (USD)15,000–20,000
  • ScholarshipsMerit Award; President's Scholarship; Schulich Leader Scholarship

  • Graduate Assistantships at University of Waterloo 2026

    other

    Sinh viên quốc tế bậc Thạc sĩ và Tiến sĩ, mọi quốc tịch.

    Canada1 Oct 2026
    Official link

  • Entrance Scholarships at University of Waterloo 2026

    meritneed

    Sinh viên quốc tế bậc Cử nhân, mọi quốc tịch.

    Canada30 Jan 2026
    Official link

  • International Doctoral Student Award (IDSA) at University of Waterloo 2026

    meritneed

    Sinh viên quốc tế bậc Tiến sĩ, mọi quốc tịch.

    CanadaThe great news is that there is no specific deadline to apply for International Doctoral Student Award (IDSA)! While there is no fixed deadline to apply, you do need to apply for Ph.D. admissions at University of Waterloo . Ph.D. admissions timelines can differ by department or project—please check your department’s page for specifics.
    Official link
See all scholarships

After graduation

Careers and outcomes

  • Industry connectionsGoogle, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, Stripe, Shopify; all major Silicon Valley tech companies
  • InternshipsBest co-op in Canada: 6 work terms (30 months total); avg salary $32-40/hr in tech
  • EmployabilityTop employer preference for tech co-op students globally; highest tech starting salaries from Canada

The honest view

Why students choose University of Waterloo

  • Merit Award; President's Scholarship; Schulich Leader Scholarship
  • Employability: Top employer preference for tech co-op students globally; highest tech starting salaries from Canada

Worth knowing

Waterloo city lacks urban amenities; social scene limited; pure tech bubble environment

GlowBal's insider note

VERIFIED: Waterloo co-op is among highest-paid in the world (avg tech co-op $32–40 CAD/hr). INSIGHT: Waterloo has more alumni at major tech companies (Google, Microsoft, Apple) per grad than any Canadian university. IQC quantum research is world-leading.

Ask a human

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