Waterloo Mechanical Engineering (Co-op Only)
University of Waterloo
The published admission average for Mechanical Engineering (Co-op Only) at University of Waterloo is 87–93% for September 2027 entry, under OUAC code WWH. This program also requires a supplementary application. Applying adds a $60 program fee to the OUAC application fee.
This program teaches you how to design, build, and improve machines and mechanical systems, from engines to robots to manufacturing equipment. Unlike a standard mechanical engineering degree, co-op is mandatory here: you alternate between classroom terms and paid work terms at engineering companies, giving you real workplace experience before you graduate. It suits students who want hands-on learning alongside theory and who are ready to commit to the co-op schedule.
Plain-English summary. The universities publish requirements but not an explanation of the program, so this one is written for you and checked against the official listing above. Read the university’s own page before you decide.
Admission average
87–93%
OUAC code
WWH
First-year spaces
200
University of Waterloo publishes this as “High 80s to Low 90s”
What’s the Waterloo Mechanical Engineering (Co-op Only) acceptance rate?
University of Waterloo doesn't publish an acceptance rate for Mechanical Engineering (Co-op Only), and no Ontario university publishes one for any program. What it publishes is the admission average: 87–93% for September 2027 entry. Waterloo acceptance rate, program by program
Admission requirements
- Required
- ENG4U, MCV4U, MHF4U, SCH4U, SPH4U
Waterloo’s own wording
- English (ENG4U – min. 70%)
- Advanced Functions (min. 70%)
- Calculus and Vectors (min. 70%)
- Chemistry (min. 70%)
- Physics (min. 70%)
- + 1 additional 4U/M course
- + See Ontario high school course codes.
How many other programs require these outright:
Also required
- 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.
What it costs
First-year tuition at Waterloo is $6,250 for an Ontario student in arts and science in 2026–27. Engineering ($14,248) and Computer Science and Data Science ($13,126) cost more. Waterloo tuition, program by program
Source: University of Waterloo on Ontario Universities’ Info. Grade ranges change year to year and are not guarantees — confirm with the university before you apply.
What this leads to
The picture for aerospace engineering as of 2026-08-17, not a description of this particular program.
Aerospace engineers mainly work in educational institutions, aerospace manufacturing companies, and research laboratories. Graduates become structural engineers designing aircraft components, flight test engineers running certification tests, or systems engineers managing complex aerospace projects.
In its favour
- Job prospects are high in the province of British Columbia, Quebec, and Ontario.
- Entry salaries range from CA$84k to CA$105k, with senior roles reaching CA$177k.
- Despite growing automation, the industry is hiring in engineering roles, with the future depending on synergy between human skills and automation rather than pure replacement.
- The field is concentrated in major Canadian clusters (Mirabel Quebec, Ontario manufacturing), so if you're in the right place, there's steady demand.
Worth knowing
- Design and drafting work—creating 3D models and technical drawings—is increasingly automated by AI software, reducing the need for manual input.
- Up to 40% of engineering tasks could be automated by 2030, according to a 2023 World Economic Forum report.
- The shift requires new skills beyond classical principles, emphasizing data analysis, AI management, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
- You'll need Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) licensing to take on independent design responsibility, which adds time after your degree.
How AI is changing this work
Routine design tasks such as creating 3D models and drafting technical drawings are increasingly handled by AI-powered software. Over 50% of aerospace firms have integrated AI tools into their development processes. However, the need for human intervention and oversight will remain crucial in quality inspections, design, and decision-making, and AI integration is expected to create new job opportunities while shifting roles towards more intellectual and strategic tasks. The work you'd actually do—system design, safety analysis, testing oversight, problem-solving on real aircraft—is less automated than routine drafting, but the entry-level CAD-heavy work is shrinking.
Where this came from (6 sources)
- 1. 787 aerospace engineer jobs in Canada, July 2026 | Glassdoor
- 2. 794 aerospace engineer jobs in Canada, April 2026 | Glassdoor
- 3. Aerospace Engineer jobs | Eluta.ca
- 4. $64K–$125K Aerospace Engineering Jobs in Calgary, AB, 28 July 2026 | Indeed
- 5. 56 graduate aerospace engineer jobs in Canada, May 2026 | Glassdoor
- 6. 2026 AI, Automation, and the Future of Aerospace Engineering Degree Careers | Research.com
Deadline reminders
This program needs a supplementary application, and those close before the January OUAC deadline — some in early December. We’ll email you before the ones that apply to Mechanical Engineering (Co-op Only).
We send your email address and the programs you’ve starred, so the reminders are the right ones. Your marks and your average are never sent — they stay in this browser. Deadline emails only, a week before and the day before each date, and every one has a link to stop them.