Waterloo entrance scholarships
University of Waterloo lists 35 entrance scholarships, and 24 of them need no application — you are considered automatically when you apply. The lowest published band starts at 80%.
Awards listed
35
No application
24
Lowest band
80%
How Waterloo hands money out
From the OUAC guide written for guidance counsellors, September 2026 entry. Rules like these change rarely; dates do — check any deadline with the university.
- How automatic awards work here
NEW! International fee-paying students admitted to full-time, first-year degree studies starting September 2026 will receive $10,000 for their first-year studies. No application is required: https://uwaterloo.ca/future-students/financing/ international-scholarships
Students with an admission average of 85% or higher are eligible for scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $2,000. We calculate this average using the top six 4U/M or equivalent courses, including each of the required courses for the program(s) of admission. www.uwaterloo.ca/future/financing/scholarships
If a student's final grades are higher than their mid-May grades, we will upgrade their scholarship(s). We do not downgrade or cancel entrance scholarship offers based on final grades, provided the student fulfills all conditions on their offer of admission.
- Awards you have to apply for
We also offer program-specific entrance scholarships ranging from $500 to $80,000. Most of our scholarships do not require an application, but a small number of scholarships do require an application for consideration with varying deadlines. This includes specific awards for Black students and Indigenous students.
- Deadlines
https://uwaterloo.ca/future-students/financing/scholarships
- Bursaries
Each year we award Waterloo Entrance Bursaries, valued from $1,000 to $5,000, to Ontario students with demonstrated financial need who are entering their first year of postsecondary studies.
April 15, 2026, is the application deadline. www.uwaterloo.ca/future/financing/bursaries
24 you get without applying
Other Criteria
$1,000 - $57,000
Other Criteria
$1,000 - $40,000
Other Criteria· international students
For those studying on a visa; value $12,000 - $40,000
Other Criteria· international students
For those studying at a high school in India; value $20,000 - $40,000
Other Criteria
$1,000 - $25,000
Other Criteria
For Canadian and Permanent Residents; value $12,000 - $25,000.
Other Criteria· renewable
$1,000 - $25,000
Other Criteria
$1,000 - $20,000
Other Criteria
$1,000 - $10,000
Other Criteria· international students
Other Criteria
$500 - $5,000
< 75%· renewable
Approx. $5,000
80-85%
Approx. $2,500 to $5,000
Other Criteria
$3,000 - $4,000
< 75%· renewable
Approx. $3,000 (varies)
- President's Scholarship$2,000
90-95%
95-100%· international students
$2,000 plus $1,500 International Experience Award and/or $1,500 Research Award
Other Criteria· renewable
< 75%
Approx. $1,500
- Merit Scholarship$1,000
85-90%· renewable
< 75%· renewable
Approx. $900
< 75%· renewable
< 75%· renewable
Approx. $500
< 75%· renewable
Approx. $500
11 that need an application
Other Criteria· international students
For those studying on a visa; value $25,000 - $80,000 (some are renewable)
Other Criteria· April 15, 2027
$1,200 - $40,000
- Joyce Scholars Award$20,000
Other Criteria· April 15, 2027
Other Criteria
$500 - $10,000
- Entrance Bursaries$5,000
Other Criteria· April 15, 2027
$1,000 - $5,000
Other Criteria· April 15, 2027
$1,000 - $5,000
Other Criteria
Other Criteria· renewable
< 75%· renewable
< 75%· renewable
80-85%· renewable
Approx. $1,000 (50% in the student's first year and the remainder in their second year)
Scholarships follow your average. Work out what yours is first.
Award values and grade bands are published by the universities through Ontario Universities’ Info. Qualifying on average does not guarantee an award — several are competitive or pooled. Confirm with the university before you rely on anything here.