Waterloo Application Deadlines, AIF & Admissions Office 2027

Fall 2027 applicant update

University of Waterloo admission requirements for 2027

For Ontario high school applicants, Waterloo generally needs an Ontario Secondary School Diploma. You also need six Grade 12 U/M courses (Grade 12 university (U) or university/college (M) preparation courses). These must cover every prerequisite for the program you choose. Waterloo works out the admission average using the required courses. It then uses the highest remaining eligible 4U/M grades to reach six. College-level, open, and co-op courses are not used. Program ranges can change based on the applicant pool and available space. An individual selection program also looks at required supplementary material.

Waterloo prerequisites and current admission averages

Waterloo publishes program-specific prerequisites and ranges. It does not publish one university-wide cut-off. The examples below were reviewed on July 29, 2026. Treat them as current planning evidence. Recheck the exact program before applying. Requirements and ranges can change during the 2027 cycle.

For a discipline-by-discipline Engineering table, interview rules, and adjustment-factor explanation, use the Waterloo Engineering admission requirements guide. For the shared prompts, word limits, Math applicability, and form deadlines, use the Waterloo AIF 2027 guide. Applicants comparing computing degrees can also use the Waterloo Computer Science and Software Engineering pathway.

Does the University of Waterloo require SAT or ACT scores?

No. Waterloo's current American-system admission pages state that SAT and ACT scores are not required for undergraduate admission. The application is not test-free in every other sense. Applicants still need an accredited U.S. high school diploma and the senior academic or AP prerequisites for their exact program. They also need the required grades and every document shown in the applicant portal.

Check the current Waterloo Computer Science U.S.-system requirements or search the official requirements tool for the program you actually plan to enter. Engineering, Mathematics, Arts, Health, Environment, Science, and Accounting programs do not share one prerequisite list.

When does Waterloo send admission offers?

Waterloo does not have a separate early-admission application. Decisions are made from December through May as grades and required materials arrive. A limited number of earlier offers can be issued, but Waterloo says most offers are made in May after Ontario schools report second-semester midterm grades. Its Fall 2027 timeline says all remaining offers will be sent by mid-May. Check the Waterloo applicant portal for the actual decision and conditions.

Repeated, online, night, and summer school courses

Waterloo accepts accredited day, summer, night, online, and private school courses. For most Arts, Engineering, Environment, Health, and Science programs, and for Architecture, a repeated course is not penalized. Waterloo uses the highest grade. Faculty of Mathematics applicants should avoid repeating required Grade 12 courses. A repeat may reduce competitiveness.

Some courses do not affect an application. These are accredited online or night courses taken through the regular school or board during the school year. Engineering and Mathematics applicants should avoid taking a required course outside the regular day school or school board when possible. Waterloo says the admission average may be adjusted to reflect earlier performance in that subject.