Laurier traces its roots to the opening of the Evangelical Lutheran Seminary in Waterloo more than 100 years ago in 1911. We’ve gone through several changes since then, and in 1973 our name changed from Waterloo Lutheran University to Wilfrid Laurier University. In 1999, we opened our campus in Brantford.
At Laurier, community is at the heart of who we are. A deep sense of connection and belonging is felt across our campuses and resonates into the communities we call home.
Laurier students aren’t content with simply earning a university degree. To them, education is a springboard to something greater: it’s the key to shaping a life, building a community and making a difference.
Our programs provide a broad spectrum of traditional and innovative learning across arts and social sciences, business and economics, music, science, social work and education. Ultimately, they reflect a common purpose: Laurier’s determination to address global social, health and environmental problems and advance creative pursuits.
Our world faces complex challenges; Laurier graduates are ready to tackle them.
In-class learning is only part of the educational equation. Putting knowledge to work in the world is a hallmark of the Laurier experience. Experiential learning opportunities such as co-op work terms and community service are purposefully designed to help students relate what they learn in the classroom to what they experience outside of it. As a result, Laurier students graduate with both the theory and skills needed to succeed in the world that awaits them after university.
It’s about forming a foundation of service that our students continue long after graduation.
At Laurier, we measure our success by the impact we make. Purposeful teaching, learning, research, and community experiences enable our students, alumni, staff and faculty to make a meaningful difference in their communities and the wider world.
- 108: age of the institution
- 20,000: students
- 1:25: Laurier’s faculty-to-student ratio
- 100+: courses taught in active learning classrooms
- 25: countries with which we have exchange programs
- 100,000+: alumni worldwide
- 9: faculties
- 6: campuses and locations
- 20+: research centres and institutes
- 530,000+: people in Waterloo Region
- 1.5: hours from the Brantford campus to Toronto
- 1: hours from the Waterloo campus to Toronto
- <1: hours from the Milton campus to Toronto
- 10: minutes it takes to walk across Laurier's Waterloo campus
- 240+: community partnerships between Laurier and organizations in Brantford
- x2: new One Market campus expansion will double the footprint of the Brantford campus
- 98%: graduates from 2018 who have secure employment or undertook postgraduate studies after graduation
- 900: employers who recruit co-op students at Laurier every year
- 4,900: co-op jobs posted every year
- 99.8%: employment rate for Business and Economics co-op in 2018/19
- 800+: events and workshops held at Laurier’s Career Centre every year
- #1: most sustainable campus in Ontario (2017, Corporate Knights)
- #1: national ranking in “student career services” (CERIC), the highest score among Canadian postsecondary institutions with most impressive career services models.
- #1: national ranking in “satisfaction with decision to attend Laurier” (2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, Maclean's)
- #1: national ranking in “residence living” and “extracurricular activities” (2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, Maclean’s)
- #1: national ranking in “course instructors” (2020, Maclean’s)
- #1: national ranking in “student life staff” and “administrative staff” (2020, 2019, 2018, Maclean's)
- #1: Laurier has the largest business degree co-op program in Canada
