Biology at Waterloo
Not directly. At University of Waterloo you apply to Life Sciences, then choose biology you name Biology as your major when you apply to Life Sciences, and start those courses in first term.
The program you actually apply to
Life Sciences (Regular/Co-op)
80–83%OUAC WLSCo-op available
Prerequisites
- 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
When you choose biology
You name Biology as your major when you apply to Life Sciences, and start those courses in first term.
What to watch for
Waterloo's page says plainly: "Apply to Life Sciences and select Biology as your major." Life Sciences is an admission umbrella, not a degree — it holds exactly three majors (Biochemistry, Biology, Psychology). It requires English 70%, Advanced Functions 70%, Calculus and Vectors 70%, and two of Biology/Chemistry/Earth and Space Science/Data Management/Physics, admission average low 80s. The calculus requirement catches out students who took biology and chemistry but dropped calculus.
The same application also gets you to
Life Sciences (Regular/Co-op) is the entry point for 4 other majors at Waterloo. You are not choosing between these at application time.
Biology at the other campuses
Compare the entry programs side by side →- AlgomaDirect entry70%
- BrockDirect entry73–77%
- Carletonvia Science - Honours (CT)78%
- Guelphvia Bachelor of Science (BSc) Honours (GZ)80–91%
- LakeheadDirect entry70%
- LaurentianDirect entry70%
- Laurier (Waterloo)Direct entry73–77%
- McMastervia Life Sciences Gateway93–97%
- Nipissingvia Bachelor of Science (PS)70%
- Ontario TechDirect entry70–73%
- Queen'svia Science – Biological and Cognitive Sciences (QSB)80–87%
- TMUDirect entry75–80%
- TrentDirect entry70%
- U of T (Mississauga)via Life Sciences80–87%
- U of T (Scarborough)via Life Sciences73–80%
- U of T (St. George)via Life Sciences (including Psychology)83–90%
- Westernvia Science (ES)80–87%
- WindsorDirect entryNot published
- YorkDirect entry80–87%
Entry routes were researched against each university’s own program pages in 2026-08-16. Waterloo’s page. Faculties restructure — confirm before you apply.