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.

	Ottawa Financial Mathematics and Economics (4 years) (French Immersion Stream is available) OUAC OUT Remove	Queen's Physical and Chemical Sciences Pathway OUAC QSP Remove	Waterloo Physical Sciences (Regular/Co-op) OUAC WPS Remove
Your average, their wayrequired courses forced in
Published rangetheir exact wording	80%	80–87%“Low to Mid-80s”	80–83%“Low 80s”
Required coursesforced into your top 6 — options are the row below	MCV4U MHF4U	ENG4U MCV4U	ENG4U MCV4U MHF4U
Choose one ofany of these satisfies it	one of ENG4U, FRA4U	one of SCH4U, SPH4U	two of MDM4U, SBI4U, SCH4U, SES4U, SPH4U
Prerequisitesas published	ENG4U or FRA4U MHF4U MCV4U A combined minimum average of 70% is required for all prerequisite courses in mathematics. If you are missing MCV4U, you may take the equivalent course at the university the summer before or during your first semester. +2 more on the program page	ENG4U MCV4U 1 of SCH4U or SPH4U 3 additional 4 U/M courses	English (ENG4U – min. 70%) Advanced Functions (min. 70%) Calculus and Vectors (min. 70%) Any two of the following: Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Space Science, Mathematics of Data Management, or Physics
More than marks?supplementary application	Marks only	Marks only	Marks only
Co-op	Available	Available	Available
Degree	Bachelor of Science, BSc, Bachelor of Science (Co-op), BSc (Co-op)	—	—
First-year intakewhere published	—	—	250
What you study	Economics Finance Interdisciplinary Studies Mathematics	Astronomy Biotechnology Chemistry Mathematics	Astronomy Chemistry Geology Materials Science
What it is	Financial Mathematics and Economics is a mathematics-based degree that combines the study of economic systems and financial markets with advanced math and statistics. Unlike a pure economics or pure mathematics program, it trains you to use mathematical models and analysis to solve real-world problems in finance and economics. It suits students who want rigorous quantitative training and are interested in how money, markets, and economies actually work.	This pathway lets you study the fundamental sciences — physics, chemistry, astronomy, mathematics, and biology — together rather than committing to a single discipline right away. You'll take core courses across all these fields in your first year, then gradually specialize based on your interests. The included co-op option means you'll do work terms in research labs or industry, giving you hands-on experience alongside your coursework.	Physical Sciences is a broad first-year program where you study foundational chemistry, physics, mathematics, and biology before choosing a specialization in second year. The co-op option means you alternate between study and paid work terms at companies or research labs, giving you real experience in your field. This program suits students who are strong in math and science but not yet certain which specific physical science direction — from astronomy to polymer chemistry — they want to pursue.
The door tomajors you reach through it	Applied to directly	chemistry physics	chemistry earth science physics
Entrance awardsat this campus, by average	22 published, 5 with no applicationfrom 75%See them	None published by average	4 published, 3 with no applicationfrom 80%See them
Source	University of Ottawa on OUInfo	Queen's University on OUInfo	University of Waterloo on OUInfo

Also compare with

Same subject area and a similar published range, at a campus you have not got in the table yet.

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.