3 programs, side by side

Rows marked with a dot are where these differ. Everything is each university’s own published wording; the “your average” row is yours, calculated the way each program does it.

	Carleton Engineering – Mechanical OUAC CED Remove	OCAD Industrial Design OUAC HID Remove	Waterloo Systems Design Engineering (Co-op Only) OUAC WD Remove
Your average, their wayrequired courses forced in
Published rangetheir exact wording	88–90%“88–90% (regular and co-op)”	Not published“N/A”	87–93%“High 80s to low 90s”
Required coursesforced into your top 6 — options are the row below	MCV4U MHF4U SCH4U SPH4U	ENG4U	ENG4U MCV4U MHF4U SCH4U SPH4U
Choose one ofany of these satisfies it	—	—	—
Prerequisitesas published	Advanced Functions (MHF4U) Calculus (MCV4U) Chemistry (SCH4U) Physics (SPH4U) 2 best 4U/M courses +3 more on the program page	OSSD with an overall academic average of at least 70% in six 4U/M courses, including English 4U with a minimum final grade of 70%	English (ENG4U – min. 70%) Advanced Functions (min. 70%) Calculus and Vectors (min. 70%) Chemistry (min. 70%) Physics (min. 70%)
More than marks?supplementary application	Marks only	Yes Admission is based primarily on your portfolio assessment. All offers of admission are conditional on meeting the minimum academic requirements. Alternative Offers There are no alternative offers. Usually closes before January 15	Yes NEW: All Engineering program applications require an online video interview. You will receive more information after you apply. An Admission Information Form is also required. We will send you instructions when we acknowledge your application. Also considered: Involvement in extracurricular activities in school or community, evidence of interest in engineering and strong performance in mathematics, science or engineering-related competitions. Usually closes before January 15
Co-op	Available	No	Available
Degree	—	—	—
First-year intakewhere published	—	—	94
What you study	General or Integrated Engineering Mechanical Engineering Production & Manufacturing EngineeringTextile Technology	Computer Games Design General or Integrated Engineering Information Systems	Artificial Intelligence Computer Science Design General or Integrated Engineering
What it is	Mechanical Engineering teaches you to design, build, and improve machines and mechanical systems — everything from engines to robots to manufacturing equipment. You'll study physics, materials, thermodynamics, and how to turn ideas into working products. This program includes a co-op work term, so you alternate between classroom learning and paid engineering jobs at real companies, giving you hands-on experience before you graduate. It suits people who like solving practical problems, enjoy math and physics, and want to see their ideas come to life.	Industrial design is the practice of creating products and objects that people use every day — from furniture and tools to consumer electronics — by combining aesthetics, function, and how they're actually made. You'll learn to sketch, model, and prototype while understanding materials, manufacturing, and user needs. This program suits people who enjoy solving practical problems visually and want to bridge the gap between art and engineering.	This program teaches you to design and build complex systems — often combining software, hardware, human behaviour, and business — that solve real-world problems. Unlike a traditional engineering program focused on one discipline, it blends computer science, design thinking, and management so you learn how systems work across multiple fields. It suits students who want engineering skills but prefer understanding how all the pieces fit together and spending time working in industry during their degree.
The door tomajors you reach through it	Applied to directly	Applied to directly	Applied to directly
Entrance awardsat this campus, by average	16 published, 9 with no applicationfrom 75%See them	None published by average	4 published, 3 with no applicationfrom 80%See them
Source	Carleton University on OUInfo	OCAD University on OUInfo	University of Waterloo on OUInfo

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Ranges are what each university publishes, not guaranteed cutoffs, and limited-enrolment programs often admit above them. Confirm anything you are about to act on with the university; each column links to its source.