In 1957, the University of Waterloo opened its doors to 74 engineering students with co-operative education as its cornerstone.
Today, with more than 42,000+ students attending annually, Waterloo is #1 in Canada for experiential learning and employer-student connections.
With a global network spanning more than 244,000 alumni in 156 countries, Waterloo attracts world-class scholars including a Nobel Laureate, leads in providing work-integrated learning opportunities with 7,500+ active co-op employers and fosters an entrepreneurial spirit that’s created 5,000+ jobs through Velocity alone, Canada’s most productive startup incubator by private investment.
The University of Waterloo continues to spur innovation to solve problems on a global scale. Together, with the help of our partners and community, we can accomplish even more.
In 1957, innovation and entrepreneurship brought the University of Waterloo into being, as a group of business leaders imagined a new university built to tackle some of the world’s most daunting challenges.
It was the age of the Cold War and the space race when a single computer filled a room. Discoveries in science, medicine and engineering were coming fast and furious. Industry leaders in Kitchener-Waterloo knew moving forward meant more than just training people in the technology of the day.
The best and brightest are drawn to the University of Waterloo for our renowned academic programs, world-leading co-operative education and teaching/research excellence. We embrace the opportunity to collaborate with, and be elevated by, a world-class peer group.
At the forefront of innovation, Waterloo champions a culture of curiosity, exploration, risk-taking, entrepreneurship, global stewardship and leadership. We bring bold ideas and brilliant minds together — inspiring innovations with global impact today and in the future.
Our differentiators
Our focus on strategic integration of teaching and academic excellence, experiential education, entrepreneurial spirit and impact-driven research makes the University of Waterloo one of the most relevant, connected and innovative institutions in the world.
As a robust entrepreneurial engine and home to the world’s leading cooperative education program, Waterloo is a beacon for creators, explorers and boundary-pushing thinkers.
Where innovation and opportunity meet
The University of Waterloo has 42,000 full and part-time students cumulatively between undergraduate and graduate programs (fall 2022)
1000-acre main campus, 100+ buildings with six faculties
1957: University of Waterloo opens with 74 students, with engineering and co-operative education as cornerstones
Academic strength
Building academic success starts in the classroom but doesn't end there. Waterloo nurtures community, contributing to a positive and successful student experience.
200+ student clubs, pitch competitions and hackathons
100+ student support and wellness programs
19% undergraduate and 41% graduate students are international (2022/23)
Experience-rich education
World-class scholarship deepens with work-based learning in the world's leading co-operative education program.
Students graduate with up to 2 years of paid work experience
Students earn on average $14,000 on a co-op student work term
96% of co-op grads employed six months after graduation worked in positions related to skills they acquired at Waterloo compared to 79% of Ontario graduates
Entrepreneurship driving innovation
Waterloo students, faculty, alumni and staff have founded more than 1,000 ventures — finding solutions to some of the world's most complex challenges.
Waterloo's flagship Velocity has supported 400+ companies since 2008
Home to the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business and the GreenHouse Social Impact Incubator
Creator-owns intellectual property (IP) policy grants students and researchers full ownership of their work and innovations
World-changing research
Changing the world begins with a passion for discovery, broad research intensity and focus on frontier disciplines.
1 Nobel Laureate
5 Killam Prize winners
73 Canada Research Chair, 3 Canada Excellence Research Chair and 2 Canada Excellence Research Chair Laureates
25+ university and senate-approved centres and institutes with world-leading expertise that includes:
Artificial intelligence
Automotive
Cybersecurity and privacy
Energy
Global governance
Nanotechnology
Population health
Quantum information
Water
Students from across Canada and around the world choose Waterloo each year because of our reputation as one of North America's top universities.
Many of our undergraduate programs (for high school and transfer students) and our graduate programs rank among the best in the world.
Most innovative
university in Canada for 30 of the last 32 years
Maclean's 2024 university rankings
3rd
for best overall university in the country
Maclean's 2024 university rankings
4th
in Canada (tie)
Times Higher Education World University Reputation Rankings 2024
#2 in Canada for connecting students with employers
Meet employers and explore careers before you graduate through co-op work terms, career fairs, job search workshops, and one-on-one support.
QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022
#1
in Canada for environmental science and engineering
Academic Ranking of World Universities 2023
#1
in Canada for physics
Academic Ranking of World Universities 2023
#1
in Canada for hospitality and tourism management
Academic Ranking of World Universities 2023
#1
in Canada for computer science and engineering
Academic Ranking of World Universities 2022
#1
in Canada for remote sensing
Academic Ranking of World Universities 2023
#1
in Canada for mechanical engineering
Academic Ranking of World Universities 2023
#2 in Canada for graduate employment rate
QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022
Canada's #1
comprehensive research university for the past 16 years in a row
Research Infosource Canada's Top 50 Research Universities 2023
#1 in Canada
for hands-on experiential learning
Maclean's Student Voices Survey 2022
