The University of Waterloo, one of Canada’s top universities for engineering, computer science, maths and its famous co-op work programme, offers scholarships worth CA$10,000 to CA$80,000 to international undergraduate students. Every international student admitted to first year automatically gets a new CA$10,000 International Student Entrance Scholarship — no application needed.
Even better for African students: Waterloo also offers dedicated scholarships for Black students of African descent, worth CA$1,200 to CA$40,000.
Key Details
- University: University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
- Level: first-year undergraduate (full-time degree)
- Automatic award: CA$10,000 for international fee-paying students
- Top awards: up to CA$80,000 (Faculty of Science international scholarships)
- How to apply: through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC)
Benefits: Scholarships for International Students
- International Student Entrance Scholarship — CA$10,000 for first year; automatic for all international fee-paying students admitted to full-time first-year degree studies
- Faculty of Science International Student Scholarships — up to 15 awards of CA$25,000–80,000 (application required)
- Faculty of Mathematics Global Scholarships — up to 10 awards of CA$12,000–40,000 (automatic)
- Scholarships for Black students — CA$1,200–40,000 for students of African, African American, Afro-Latine, Black Canadian, Caribbean or other African descent (application required)
- President’s Scholarship of Distinction (admission average of 95%+) — CA$2,000 plus optional CA$1,500 International Experience Award and CA$1,500 Research Award; President’s Scholarship (90–94.9%) and Merit Scholarship (85–89.9%) also available automatically
- faculty and programme scholarships on top of these
You can hold several scholarships at once — for example the CA$10,000 entrance award plus a President’s Scholarship and a faculty award.
More Ways to Fund Your Studies
- co-op work terms: most students complete five or six paid work terms during their degree
- international work-study: earn up to CA$2,000 per term in on-campus jobs
- bursaries of up to CA$2,000 based on financial need after first year
Note: these scholarships don’t cover full international tuition, which is much higher. Plan your full budget and Canadian study permit proof of funds.
Eligibility
- an international (fee-paying) student
- admitted to a full-time, first-year undergraduate degree
- beginning university for the first time (for the President’s and Merit Scholarships, starting in September)
- strong grades — President’s and Merit awards are based on your top six final-year subjects, including required courses
How to Apply
- Check admission requirements for your programme, then apply to Waterloo through the OUAC (how to apply).
- Apply by Waterloo’s application deadline — usually early February for September entry (check your programme).
- You’ll be automatically considered for the CA$10,000 award and most merit scholarships. For awards that need an application (Faculty of Science, scholarships for Black students), follow the steps on Waterloo’s international scholarships page.
- Scholarship results usually appear in your Waterloo applicant portal from mid-May.
See all options on the official Waterloo scholarships page.
Tips
- Aim for an admission average of 90%+ to add a President’s Scholarship.
- Apply separately for the Black students’ and Science scholarships — they are not automatic.
- Highlight maths and science results; Waterloo is very competitive in STEM.
- Start your study permit planning early once you get an offer.
