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St. Jerome's University
Small university

St. Jerome's University

Waterloo, Ontario

Compare St. Jerome's University programs, admissions, costs, residence, student support, and career pathways in one source-reviewed guide. Jump to the decision section you need below.

The short answer

  • Apply through Waterloo: pick WJA for Honours Arts or WJB for Honours Arts and Business on your OUAC (the Ontario Universities' Application Centre) form.
  • The Fall 2027 application deadline is February 1, 2027. Documents are due February 15, 2027, for international applicants too.
  • Ontario high school students need an OSSD (the Ontario Secondary School Diploma). They need six Grade 12 U/M courses (university or university/college preparation courses).
  • Grade 12 U English must be at least 70%. Waterloo publishes a low-80s range for regular and co-op Honours Arts.
  • College transfer applicants need a 75% cumulative average and Grade 12 U English at 70%.

Reviewed August 16, 2026 · Official university sources · How we review guides

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  • OUAC Group A deadline (Ontario high-school students)January 15, 2027

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Overview

Quick Facts

LocationWaterloo, Ontario
School TypeSmaller undergraduate-focused environment
Directory SizeSmall university
Campus SettingSmaller campus or close-knit community setting
Ranking SignalNo QS World 2026 position listed in this guide
Program StrengthsArts, Social Work, Humanities, Religious Studies

Start with campus and program fit. Then check official admissions, residence, and cost details before you build the final application list.

Detailed application guides

Admissions Planning

Fall 2027 admission planning

Apply through Waterloo, then make St. Jerome’s your Arts home

WJA and WJB are direct SJU choices inside Waterloo’s OUAC listing. Another route is to apply to Waterloo Honours Arts or Arts and Business and submit SJU’s co-registration form. Waterloo assesses the application and awards the degree in both cases.

OUAC 2027 start-up

September 17, 2026

Opened; the startup schedule had made this subject to OUAC production testing.

Application deadline

February 1, 2027

Waterloo’s non-Engineering deadline covers Arts routes.

Document deadline

February 15, 2027

Waterloo publishes the same date for international applicants.

Ownership boundary

SJU does not run a separate undergraduate assessment

SJU uses Waterloo's admission requirements and deadlines. It uses Waterloo's English rules and transfer review too. Co-registration changes the academic community. It does not replace Waterloo admission.

Admission route audit

RoutePublished requirementWho owns the decision?
Direct SJU choice on OUACSelect WJA for Honours Arts or WJB for Honours Arts and Business within Waterloo’s OUAC choices.OUAC forwards the file to the University of Waterloo for assessment; the resulting degree is Waterloo’s BA.
Waterloo Arts application + SJU co-registrationApply to Waterloo Honours Arts or Honours Arts and Business, then complete SJU’s co-registration form after applying or receiving an offer.Co-registration adds SJU as the academic home. It does not replace Waterloo admission, tuition or degree ownership.
Ontario high schoolComplete an OSSD or equivalent with six Grade 12 U/M courses, including Grade 12 U English at a minimum final 70%.Waterloo publishes a low-80s admission range for regular and co-op Arts. It is a competitive range, not an SJU-only guarantee.
Ontario college transferPresent Grade 12 U English at 70% and a minimum 75% cumulative college average.Waterloo reviews admission. After an offer, it assesses possible transfer credit using the course outlines you submit.
International / English evidenceMeet the country-specific Waterloo Arts requirements. Provide an approved English test when the exemption rules are not met.SJU does not publish a separate international admission or English-test standard.

Deadline audit

OUAC undergraduate system start-up

September 17, 2026

OUAC opened the 2027-cycle application; its startup schedule had made the date subject to production testing.

WJA/WJB Fall 2027 application

February 1, 2027

Waterloo applies its non-Engineering deadline to Honours Arts and Honours Arts and Business.

WJA/WJB documents

February 15, 2027

Waterloo publishes this deadline for programs other than Engineering.

International application and documents

Same February 1 / February 15

Waterloo says international applicants use the same deadlines.

SJU Fall 2027 entrance-award deadline

Pending

The SJU scholarship page currently publishes Fall 2026 dates.

Fall 2027 residence guarantee deadline

Pending

The current Waterloo guarantee instructions remain labelled for June 2026.

WJB is the direct SJU Honours Arts and Business OUAC choice

Fall 2027 · Published for this period

Applicants can select WJB within Waterloo’s OUAC program choices for Honours Arts and Business at St. Jerome’s.

Applies to: Ontario high school, Other Canadian, International

St. Jerome’s University: SJU admission, OUAC codes and co-registration · Verified August 16, 2026

Published Ontario admission range is low 80s

Current published information · Latest published information; newer cycle not yet confirmed

Waterloo publishes a low-80s range for regular and co-op Honours Arts. The range is based on prior admission cycles. It is not a guaranteed cutoff.

Applies to: Ontario high school

University of Waterloo: Ontario Honours Arts admission requirements · Verified August 16, 2026

English-language evidence follows Waterloo rules

Current published information · Published for this period

Some applicants do not meet Waterloo's exemption conditions. They must provide an approved English-language result. SJU has no separate test table.

Applies to: International, Other Canadian

University of Waterloo: Waterloo English-language requirements · Verified August 16, 2026

Programs and Pathways

Degree and program fit

Two Waterloo Arts routes, enriched by SJU teaching

The undergraduate routes are Honours Arts and Honours Arts and Business. SJU faculty teach distinctive Arts courses and plans, but Waterloo owns the BA and its major requirements. Cross-campus access does not turn the wider Waterloo catalogue into SJU programming.

Honours Arts

A Waterloo Bachelor of Arts with 28 listed majors and regular or co-op study, with major selection after first year.

Boundary: Students can apply through WJA or co-register from Waterloo Honours Arts; SJU does not award a separate BA.

Honours Arts and Business

A Waterloo BA combining an Arts major with 14 required Arts and Business courses, available regular or co-op.

Boundary: Students can apply through WJB or co-register from the main-campus program.

SJU-taught disciplines

SJU faculty teach many subjects. These are English, Health Humanities, History, Human Sciences, Italian and French Studies, Medieval Studies, Philosophy, Psychology, Religious Studies, SRF, Sociology and Legal Studies.

Boundary: These courses contribute to Waterloo Faculty of Arts degrees and plans; they are not thirteen standalone SJU degrees.

Human Sciences

This is an SJU-taught Waterloo minor. It combines Human Sciences with Philosophy, Sociology, and Italian and French Studies.

Boundary: The current page lists the minor and SJU courses, not a direct-entry Human Sciences bachelor.

Cross-campus study

Co-registered students can take courses at Waterloo’s main campus and all four University Colleges.

Boundary: Course access does not transfer ownership of every Waterloo program to SJU.

Master of Catholic Thought

SJU lists a Theology graduate field with degree and non-degree categories.

Boundary: The live page says the program is not currently accepting applications. So no Fall 2027 intake should be inferred.

Official-source conflict

Current Waterloo and SJU pages generally list 28 Arts majors, while SJU’s admission page says 30. Use the live Waterloo academic catalogue when choosing a major. Human Sciences is currently described as a minor, and the Master of Catholic Thought is not accepting applications.

Honours Arts is a Waterloo BA route

Current published information · Published for this period

WJA and co-registration connect students to Waterloo Honours Arts, with regular and co-op study and major choice after first year.

Applies to: All applicants

University of Waterloo: Waterloo Honours Arts program · Verified August 16, 2026

Honours Arts and Business combines a major with business courses

Current published information · Published for this period

The Waterloo BA requires an Arts major plus fourteen Arts and Business courses and is offered in regular and co-op formats.

Applies to: All applicants

University of Waterloo: Waterloo Honours Arts and Business program · Verified August 16, 2026

Official SJU pages conflict on the number of Arts majors

Official-source conflict · Current published information

SJU’s admission page says 30 majors, while current SJU and Waterloo program pages generally state 28.

Use the live Waterloo academic catalogue for the exact current major inventory.

Applies to: All applicants

St. Jerome’s University: SJU admission, OUAC codes and co-registration · Verified August 16, 2026

SJU teaches within named Arts disciplines

Current published information · Published for this period

SJU lists teaching in English, Health Humanities, History, Human Sciences, Italian and French Studies, Medieval Studies, Philosophy, Psychology, Religious Studies, SRF, Sociology and Legal Studies.

Applies to: All applicants

St. Jerome’s University: SJU undergraduate disciplines and Waterloo degree boundary · Verified August 16, 2026

Human Sciences is a Waterloo minor taught at SJU

Current published information · Published for this period

The current SJU page describes a minor. This minor draws from Human Sciences, Philosophy, Sociology, and Italian and French Studies.

Applies to: All applicants

St. Jerome’s University: SJU Human Sciences minor and courses · Verified August 16, 2026

Master of Catholic Thought is not currently accepting applications

2027 pending · Fall 2027

The live program page states that applications are not currently being accepted.

No Fall 2027 intake should be inferred until SJU publishes a reopened application cycle.

Applies to: All applicants

St. Jerome’s University: Master of Catholic Thought status · Verified August 16, 2026

Residence and Campus Fit

SJU residence audit

Priority for SJU is not a room guarantee at SJU

St. Jerome's runs a Waterloo residence community. A meal plan is included. It takes part in Waterloo's first-year and transfer residence guarantee. But that process guarantees one participating residence. It does not guarantee assignment specifically to SJU.

SJU residence capacity

398 students

Waterloo's University College comparison reports total SJU residence space. Its separate comparison lists 297 first-year beds.

Single room, 2026–27

$18,974.47

Exact SJU total: $11,194.68 in fall plus $7,779.79 in winter or spring.

Double room, 2026–27

$17,374.47

Exact SJU total: $10,394.68 in fall plus $6,979.79 in winter or spring.

Included

Meal plan, utilities and laundry

SJU also lists furnishings, housekeeping, community programming and recreation spaces.

Waterloo residence guarantee

One participating residence

SJU takes part in Waterloo's first-year and transfer guarantee. That does not guarantee assignment specifically to SJU.

SJU priority

Co-register + rank SJU first

SJU says co-registration increases priority but explicitly does not guarantee an SJU room.

Fall 2027 terms

Pending

The current $500 deposit, June 8 deadline and rates are for the 2026–27 cycle.

Fall 2027 housing pending

The exact SJU totals—$18,974.47 for a single and $17,374.47 for a double—are 2026–27 values. Waterloo’s comparison rounds them slightly differently. Confirm the Fall 2027 rates, deposit, deadline and contract before paying.

SJU residence has space for 398 students

Current published information · Latest published information; newer cycle not yet confirmed

Waterloo’s University College comparison publishes 398 total residence spaces at SJU.

Applies to: All applicants

University of Waterloo: Waterloo university-college comparison · Verified August 16, 2026

Official sources differ through rounding

Official-source conflict · 2026–27

SJU’s exact totals are $18,974.47 single and $17,374.47 double, while Waterloo’s comparison rounds them to $18,970 and $17,380.

Use SJU’s exact term arithmetic for budgeting and confirm the residence contract before payment.

Applies to: All applicants

University of Waterloo: Waterloo residence inventory and rate comparison · Verified August 16, 2026

Waterloo’s guarantee does not guarantee SJU assignment

Current published information · Published for this period

SJU takes part in Waterloo's first-year and transfer residence guarantee. But successful applicants are guaranteed a place in one participating residence. It is not specifically SJU.

Applies to: All applicants

University of Waterloo: Waterloo first-year and transfer residence guarantee · Verified August 16, 2026

Fall 2027 SJU residence rates and guarantee terms are pending

2027 pending · Fall 2027

The current Waterloo guarantee process and SJU rate table remain labelled for 2026–27.

When Waterloo publishes that cycle, check the 2027 deposit and deadline again. Also check the contract, rates and SJU priority instructions again.

Applies to: All applicants

University of Waterloo: Waterloo first-year and transfer residence guarantee · Verified August 16, 2026

Housing and Location Questions

Campus SettingSmaller campus or close-knit community setting
ResidenceCheck the residence guarantee rules and first-year room styles. Also check meal plans, deposit deadlines, and off-campus housing pressure.
City FitStudents should compare transit, weather, cost of living, safety, and community feel in Waterloo.
CommutingIf living off campus, map commute time to classes, labs, placements, and evening activities before committing.

Tuition, Scholarships, and Aid

Waterloo tuition and SJU awards

Budget with Waterloo fees and SJU-specific award rules

Co-registered students pay Waterloo Arts tuition. The current tuition estimates cover September 2026 entry, while SJU’s application-based award table covers Fall 2026. Neither is a published 2027–28 schedule.

CategoryPublished valueScope
Ontario Arts, two terms$9,000Waterloo estimate including incidental fees for September 2026 entrants.
Canadian outside Ontario, two terms$10,000Waterloo Arts estimate for September 2026 entrants.
International Arts, two terms$58,000Waterloo Arts estimate for September 2026 entrants.
Books and supplies$1,500Separate Waterloo first-year estimate for Arts.
Waterloo co-op fee$836 per school termOnly for students enrolled in a Waterloo co-op program; the number of assessed terms varies.
Fall 2027 / 2027–28 tuitionPendingThe current estimator is based on September 2026 entry.

Entrance-award evidence

Board of Governors’ Scholarship

Up to $5,000

Highest-achieving incoming SJU Faculty of Arts student.

President’s Scholarship of Distinction

$2,000 + possible $1,500 awards

Waterloo lists a 95%+ early-May average plus possible International Experience and Research awards.

President’s Scholarship

$2,000

Waterloo lists a 90%+ early-May admission average.

Entrance scholarship

$1,000

Waterloo lists an 85%–89.9% admission-average band.

Dietrich Memorial Scholarship

$10,000

Application-based SJU award requiring reflection on Catholic Social Thought and financial impact.

Suzanne Forth Bursary

$5,000

Four nominated awards for eligible Ontario Catholic-board students who are OSAP eligible.

Other application-based SJU awards

$1,500–$2,500

Current SJU webform range; the published deadline is March 31, 2026, not Fall 2027.

Award boundary

Waterloo says eligible co-registered students receive the SJU President or Merit award instead of the main-campus equivalent, not both. SJU's page also mixes a stale 2025 notice with a March 31, 2026 Fall 2026 deadline. So Fall 2027 dates remain pending.

Co-registered SJU students pay Waterloo tuition

Current published information · Published for this period

Waterloo states that co-registered students pay the same tuition. This matches students in the equivalent main-campus Waterloo Arts program.

Applies to: All applicants

University of Waterloo: Waterloo explanation of SJU co-registration · Verified August 16, 2026

Latest Ontario Arts tuition estimate

September 2026 entry · Latest published information; newer cycle not yet confirmed

$9,000 including incidental fees for two terms and a full course load for September 2026 entrants.

Applies to: Ontario high school, Transfer

University of Waterloo: September 2026 first-year tuition estimates · Verified August 16, 2026

Latest international Arts tuition estimate

September 2026 entry · Latest published information; newer cycle not yet confirmed

$58,000 including incidental fees for two terms and a full course load for September 2026 entrants.

Applies to: International

University of Waterloo: September 2026 first-year tuition estimates · Verified August 16, 2026

2027–28 Arts tuition is pending

2027 pending · Fall 2027

Waterloo's current estimator is based on September 2026 entry. It does not publish a 2027–28 SJU/Arts schedule.

Replace the current estimates only after Waterloo publishes fees explicitly covering September 2027 entry.

Applies to: All applicants

University of Waterloo: September 2026 first-year tuition estimates · Verified August 16, 2026

Waterloo lists an automatic SJU entrance-award ladder

Current published information · Latest published information; newer cycle not yet confirmed

You get $2,000 at 90%+. You get $1,000 at 85% to 89.9%. At 95%+, you get a $2,000 distinction award. You may also get $1,500 international-experience and/or research awards.

Applies to: All applicants

University of Waterloo: Waterloo and SJU entrance scholarship comparison · Verified August 16, 2026

SJU entrance awards replace Waterloo equivalents

Current published information · Published for this period

Waterloo says eligible co-registered students get the SJU President or Merit award. They do not get the matching main-campus Waterloo award. They do not get both.

Applies to: All applicants

University of Waterloo: Waterloo and SJU entrance scholarship comparison · Verified August 16, 2026

The SJU scholarship page contains conflicting cycle signals

Official-source conflict · Current published information

A stale notice says 2025 applications passed and 2026 information is coming. Later on the same page, it publishes a March 31, 2026 Fall 2026 deadline.

Do not use either signal as a Fall 2027 deadline; confirm the next cycle on the live form.

Applies to: All applicants

St. Jerome’s University: SJU entrance scholarships and bursaries · Verified August 16, 2026

Fall 2027 SJU entrance-award deadline is pending

2027 pending · Fall 2027

The current SJU application-based award table is labelled for Fall 2026.

SJU has not yet published a Fall 2027 table. After it does, recheck award values, eligibility and the application deadline.

Applies to: All applicants

St. Jerome’s University: SJU entrance scholarships and bursaries · Verified August 16, 2026

Cost Planning

TuitionTuition depends on your program, student status, and year. Check domestic and international tuition on the official fee schedule.
ScholarshipsCheck automatic entrance awards, competitive major awards, faculty scholarships, and international-student awards.
Living CostsBudget for residence or rent, food, books and transit. Also budget for health insurance, winter clothing and emergency funds.
Proof of FundsInternational students should confirm current study-permit financial requirements and school-specific cost estimates.

Student Life and Support

Fit Signals

CommunitySmall university profile: compare the class feel and access to professors. Also compare student clubs and how easy it is to build community.
Student SupportsReview academic advising, accessibility services, mental health supports, international student services, and writing centres.
Clubs and LeadershipLook for discipline clubs, cultural groups, entrepreneurship programs, varsity/intramural sports, and volunteering.
First-Year TransitionAsk how orientation, peer mentorship, residence programming, and advising help students settle in.

Co-op, Research, and Career Outcomes

Co-op, service learning and career planning

Separate Waterloo co-op from SJU experiential programs

Waterloo makes the 28 listed Arts majors eligible for co-op and runs WaterlooWorks. SJU adds advising and service-learning experiences. But neither co-op access nor an SJU program description guarantees an employer, a current opening or work-term credit.

Waterloo Arts co-op

All 28 Honours Arts and Honours Arts and Business majors are eligible. But students must choose co-op and follow Waterloo's employment process.

WaterlooWorks

Co-op students search, apply, interview and rank or match through Waterloo's job boards. Access is a Waterloo service, not an SJU employer guarantee.

SJU in Peru

A 2026 international service-learning course and ten-day experience. It is open to interviewed Waterloo students from any faculty.

SJU in Peru current cost

The 2026 page publishes $3,000 for flights, local transport, accommodation, most meals and program costs. There are also additional personal and health costs.

Beyond U

This is a 12-week local service-learning internship. It may qualify for co-op or EDGE. But its live page says applications are not currently accepted.

Advising and service

SJU advisors cover co-op, service learning, volunteering, careers and graduate study alongside Waterloo’s career infrastructure.

Current-cycle warning

SJU in Peru is a 2026 service-learning course, not a documented co-op term. Beyond U describes a twelve-week internship and $4,500 stipend, but the live page says applications are closed and retains a stale January 2025 prompt. Do not present either as open for Fall 2027.

All listed Arts majors are eligible for Waterloo co-op

Current published information · Published for this period

Waterloo’s current Honours Arts page says all 28 majors can be studied in co-op as well as regular format.

Applies to: All applicants

University of Waterloo: Waterloo Honours Arts program · Verified August 16, 2026

WaterlooWorks supports search, application and matching

Current published information · Published for this period

Waterloo says students search postings through its co-op system. They apply and interview there too. They also use rankings or direct offers through that system.

Applies to: All applicants

University of Waterloo: WaterlooWorks co-op job boards · Verified August 16, 2026

Co-op access is not an employer guarantee

Current published information · Published for this period

Waterloo describes an active job search and says students average more than 25 hours securing work each term.

Applies to: All applicants

University of Waterloo: Waterloo co-op job-search process · Verified August 16, 2026

Co-op infrastructure is Waterloo-owned

Current published information · Published for this period

SJU co-registered students can use Waterloo co-op where their program permits. But WaterlooWorks and employer matching are not SJU-owned guarantees.

Applies to: All applicants

University of Waterloo: WaterlooWorks co-op job boards · Verified August 16, 2026

SJU in Peru publishes a 2026 service-learning cycle

2026 · Latest published information; newer cycle not yet confirmed

Applications ran January 9 to February 22, 2026. The experience is ten days and includes an interview. It is scheduled October 9 to 18, 2026.

Applies to: All applicants

St. Jerome’s University: 2026 SJU in Peru service-learning program · Verified August 16, 2026

SJU in Peru publishes a $3,000 program cost

2026 · Latest published information; newer cycle not yet confirmed

The 2026 handbook says $3,000 covers flights, local transportation, accommodation, most meals and program costs. Personal and health costs are additional.

Applies to: All applicants

St. Jerome’s University: 2026 SJU in Peru student handbook · Verified August 16, 2026

SJU in Peru is not presented as a co-op work term

Current published information · Published for this period

SJU calls it a service-learning course and an international experience. So you should not infer Waterloo co-op credit.

Applies to: All applicants

St. Jerome’s University: 2026 SJU in Peru service-learning program · Verified August 16, 2026

Beyond U’s live page has stale and closed-cycle signals

Official-source conflict · Current published information

The page says applications are not currently accepted but also tells readers to check back in January 2025.

Treat the structure and stipend as latest available only. Do not present the internship as currently open.

Applies to: All applicants

St. Jerome’s University: Beyond U local service-learning internship · Verified August 16, 2026

Fall 2027 SJU-specific experiential dates are pending

2027 pending · Fall 2027

The current SJU in Peru evidence covers 2026. Beyond U is not accepting applications.

Check SJU for a cycle explicitly labelled 2027 before planning either experience.

Applies to: All applicants

St. Jerome’s University: 2026 SJU in Peru service-learning program · Verified August 16, 2026

Career Planning

Experiential LearningCheck if your target program offers co-op, internships, or clinical placements. Also check practicums, studios, field schools, or research terms.
Career ServicesCompare job boards, employer partnerships, resume support, interview preparation, and alumni mentoring.
Research AccessFor graduate-school or professional-school pathways, look for undergraduate research assistant roles and lab access.
Outcome QuestionsAsk where graduates work or study next, and whether outcomes differ by program, co-op stream, or campus.

St. Jerome's applicants should treat SJU and Waterloo as connected but distinct. Apply through Waterloo using WJA, WJB, or a Waterloo Arts application. Then do SJU co-registration. Waterloo assesses admission, governs the BA, charges tuition, and operates co-op. SJU provides the affiliated Arts community, its residence, entrance awards, advising, campus ministry, and service-learning opportunities. Fall 2027 application and document deadlines are confirmed. But 2027–28 tuition, SJU residence terms, award dates, and SJU-specific experiential cycles remain pending.

St. Jerome’s admission, Waterloo affiliation, tuition, residence, awards, and co-op FAQs

Current answers for Fall 2027 applicants comparing WJA, WJB and Waterloo Arts co-registration, with Waterloo-owned admission, degree, tuition and co-op kept separate from SJU residence, awards, supports and service learning.

Official Sources and Next Steps

Stellar keeps this guide structured for comparison. But official university pages remain the source of truth. They are the source for program requirements, tuition, residence, scholarships, deadlines, and policy changes.

Prepared by Stellar Advisers Editorial Team · Reviewed August 16, 2026 · Editorial, corrections, and source methodology

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