Waterloo awards approximately $17 million in scholarships and bursaries offered in year one. While entrance bursaries require an application, you're automatically considered for most entrance scholarships at Waterloo. Find out more on our Entrance Scholarships website.

By far, the most common way that Waterloo students get experience is through co-operative education, or "co-op." We offer the world's largest co-op program of its kind. Our co-op students completed nearly 25,000 work terms last year, earning between $9,600 and $22,500 CAD per work term. This totals up to $135,000 CAD earned over the course of your degree.

What does co-op mean for you? It means you get up to two years of relevant work experience built into your degree -- testing careers, making money, building your résumé, and accessing our network of 8,000+ employers (including many of the world's leading companies) before you even graduate. 

New for 2026! $10,000 International Student Entrance Scholarship

International fee-paying students admitted to full-time, first-year degree studies starting in September 2026 will receive $10,000 for their first-year studies. No application if required. Learn more on our website

Bursaries and government loans are typically available only to students who are Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents and eligible for the Ontario Student Assistant Program (OSAP).

However, we offer significant scholarships (up to $80,000) for international students. Find out more on our Entrance Scholarships website.

You should check with your high school, alumni association, national and local governments, and the Canadian Embassy, Consulate, or High Commission in your home country to see what other scholarships, loans, and grants are available for students studying abroad.

By far, the most common way that Waterloo students get experience is through co-operative education, or "co-op." We offer the world's largest co-op program of its kind. Our co-op students completed nearly 25,000 work terms last year, earning between $9,600 and $22,500 CAD per work term. This totals up to $135,000 CAD earned over the course of your degree.

What does co-op mean for you? It means you get up to two years of relevant work experience built into your degree -- testing careers, making money, building your résumé, and accessing our network of 8,000+ employers (including many of the world's leading companies) before you even graduate.  

In the first six months after graduation, our co-op grads are way ahead of the competition. They typically have higher employment rates AND wages.