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.

	Waterloo Honours Science (Regular/Co-op) OUAC WS Remove	Ontario Tech Pre-Engineering OUAC DEZ Remove	McMaster Engineering I - Discovery Track OUAC MED Remove
Your average, their wayrequired courses forced in
Published rangetheir exact wording	80–83%“Low 80s”	Not published“N/A”	87%“A minimum of 87% is required for consideration. Admission is by selection.”Admission by selection — the real bar may sit above this
Required coursesforced into your top 6 — options are the row below	ENG4U MCV4U MHF4U	No course codes parsed — see prerequisites	ENG4U MCV4U SCH4U SPH4U
Choose one ofany of these satisfies it	two of MDM4U, SBI4U, SCH4U, SES4U, SPH4U	one of ENG4U, MCV4U, MHF4U, SCH4U, SPH4U	—
Prerequisitesas published	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	Current Ontario secondary school students must complete the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) with six 4U or 4M credits including English (ENG4U) and Advanced Functions (MHF4U), with a minimum grade of 60% in both. Should applicants present any of the following courses, their pre-engineering year may be adjusted accordingly: Calculus and Vectors (MCV4U), Chemistry (SCH4U) and/or Physics (SPH4U).	English 4U Calculus & Vectors 4U Chemistry 4U Physics 4U
More than marks?supplementary application	Marks only	Marks only	Yes OUAC application deadline: January 15, 2027 Mandatory supplementary application Usually closes before January 15
Co-op	Available	No	Available
Degree	—	—	Bachelor of Engineering, BEng, Bachelor of Engineering and Management, BEng&Mgt, Bachelor of Engineering and Society, BEngSoc
First-year intakewhere published	130	—	—
What you study	Biology Chemistry Materials Science Molecular Biology, Biochemistry	Chemistry Civil Engineering Electronic & Electrical Engineering General or Integrated Engineering	Chemical Engineering Civil Engineering Electronic & Electrical Engineering General or Integrated Engineering
What it is	This program lets you study science broadly — chemistry, physics, biology, materials science, and related fields — at university level. Unlike a specialized honours program in a single science, this one gives you flexibility to explore multiple areas before focusing deeper. The co-op option lets you alternate study terms with paid work in science-related industries. It suits students who are strong in math and sciences but not yet sure which direction to specialize in, or who want practical work experience alongside their degree.	Pre-Engineering is a one-year program that strengthens your math and science foundations before you move into a specialized engineering degree. You'll take courses in chemistry, physics, and advanced mathematics to prepare for civil, mechanical, electrical, or general engineering programs. It's designed for students who want to study engineering but need to build up their technical skills first.	Engineering I – Discovery Track lets you explore multiple engineering specializations during your first year before committing to a specific stream like chemical, civil, electrical, mechanical, or software engineering. You can also choose to combine engineering with management or social studies. The co-op option means you'll alternate between classroom and paid work terms, giving you real experience in the field while studying.
The door tomajors you reach through it	Applied to directly	Applied to directly	engineering
Entrance awardsat this campus, by average	4 published, 3 with no applicationfrom 80%See them	3 published, 3 with no applicationfrom 85%See them	5 published, 3 with no applicationfrom 75%See them
Source	University of Waterloo on OUInfo	Ontario Tech University on OUInfo	McMaster University on OUInfo

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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.