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.

	McMaster Engineering I - Software Engineering OUAC MES Remove	Waterloo Management Engineering (Co-op Only) OUAC WEM Remove	Waterloo Mathematics (Regular/Co-op) OUAC WM Remove
Your average, their wayrequired courses forced in
Published rangetheir exact wording	87%“A minimum of 87% is required for consideration. Admission is by selection.”Admission by selection — the real bar may sit above this	83–90%“Mid- to high-80s”	83–87%“Mid 80s”
Required coursesforced into your top 6 — options are the row below	ENG4U MCV4U SCH4U SPH4U	ENG4U MCV4U MHF4U SCH4U SPH4U	ENG4U MCV4U MHF4U
Choose one ofany of these satisfies it	—	—	—
Prerequisitesas published	English 4U Calculus & Vectors 4U Chemistry 4U Physics 4U	English (ENG4U – min. 70%) Advanced Functions (min. 70%) Calculus and Vectors (min. 70%) Chemistry (min. 70%) Physics (min. 70%)	Any Grade 12 U English Advanced Functions Calculus and Vectors One other Grade 12 U course
More than marks?supplementary application	Yes OUAC application deadline: January 15, 2027 Mandatory supplementary application 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	Yes An Admission Information Form is required. We will send you instructions when we acknowledge your application. You are strongly encouraged to write the Euclid Mathematics Contest and the Canadian Senior Mathematics Competition. Individual selection may vary. Usually closes before January 15
Co-op	Available	Available	Available
Degree	Bachelor of Engineering, BEng, Bachelor of Engineering and Management, BEng&Mgt, Bachelor of Engineering and Society, BEngSoc	—	—
First-year intakewhere published	—	90	479
What you study	Software Engineering	Artificial Intelligence Business Studies Economics General or Integrated Engineering	Artificial Intelligence Economics Education Studies Entrepreneurship
What it is	You study how to design, build, and test software systems that solve real problems. Software engineering goes beyond pure coding to include planning, teamwork, and understanding what users actually need. This program includes mandatory co-op work terms where you apply what you learn in paid positions, and you can choose a degree stream that adds management skills or explores the social impact of technology alongside the technical core.	This program teaches you how to manage engineering projects and operations by combining business decision-making with technical knowledge of systems, data analysis, and software. Unlike a straight engineering degree, it focuses equally on the management and optimization side of engineering work, drawing from fields like operations research and artificial intelligence. It suits students who are strong in math and science but interested in leadership roles, problem-solving with data, and working on real problems through mandatory paid work terms.	You study pure and applied mathematics, with courses ranging from algebra and calculus to artificial intelligence and data analysis. The co-op option means you alternate between study terms and paid work terms at companies or organizations, giving you real workplace experience alongside your degree. This program suits students who want strong mathematical foundations and are willing to structure their degree around multiple internships.
The door tomajors you reach through it	software engineering	Applied to directly	mathematics statistics
Entrance awardsat this campus, by average	5 published, 3 with no applicationfrom 75%See them	4 published, 3 with no applicationfrom 80%See them	4 published, 3 with no applicationfrom 80%See them
Source	McMaster University on OUInfo	University of Waterloo on OUInfo	University of Waterloo on OUInfo

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