Updated: September 1, 2026 | Reading time: 5 min | Written by: StudyTribune Team
University of Waterloo now automatically awards a $10,000 International Student Entrance Scholarship to every eligible international undergraduate admitted for first-year study — with top entrance scholarships reaching as high as $80,000 for the most competitive applicants. Combined with one of the world’s largest co-op programs and guaranteed minimum PhD funding of $28,351/year, University of Waterloo Scholarships for International Students is genuinely one of the stronger funding packages among Canadian universities for international students. Here’s exactly what’s automatic, what’s competitive, and how the numbers actually work.
Quick Facts
- University: University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada (founded 1957)
- Ranking: #115 globally, #5 in Canada (QS World University Rankings)
- Degree Levels: Undergraduate, Master’s, PhD
- Automatic Undergraduate Award: $10,000 International Student Entrance Scholarship, first year, no application required
- Full Entrance Scholarship Range: $10,000 to $80,000, some renewable across your program
- Merit Thresholds: Roughly 90% admission average for the most competitive undergraduate scholarships; 75%+ for graduate-level awards
- PhD Minimum Funding: $28,351 per year, guaranteed
- Differentiator: Waterloo’s co-op program lets students earn substantial income during their degree, on top of any scholarship
Undergraduate Scholarships
Automatic: Waterloo International Student Entrance Scholarship Every eligible international fee-paying student admitted to a full-time first-year degree program automatically receives $10,000 toward their first year — this requires no separate application, just a completed admission.
Competitive Entrance Scholarships (up to $80,000) Beyond the automatic award, Waterloo’s most competitive entrance scholarships can reach as high as $80,000, often renewable across multiple years for students who maintain strong academic standing. These are typically awarded to applicants with admission averages around 90% or higher, and specific program/faculty scholarships may carry their own additional criteria — check your target program’s page directly, since exact figures and renewal conditions vary by scholarship.
Graduate Scholarships
International Master’s Award of Excellence (IMAE) Offers automatic consideration for eligible incoming international Master’s students — no separate application beyond your program admission in most cases.
International Doctoral Student Award (IDSA) Similarly offers automatic consideration for incoming international PhD students.
Guaranteed Minimum Waterloo PhD funding Waterloo guarantees a minimum funding package of $28,351 per year for PhD students, recently increased from previous levels. This typically combines scholarship funding, teaching assistantships, and research assistantships rather than coming from one single source — ask your specific department how their funding package is structured.
Research-based Master’s and PhD funding is available across Waterloo’s faculties, including Arts, Engineering, Environment, Health, Mathematics, and Science, generally covering tuition and living expenses for two to three years depending on your program and funding package.
The Co-op Advantage
This is worth understanding separately from the scholarships themselves: Waterloo runs one of the largest cooperative education programs in the world, alternating academic terms with paid work terms in your field. Waterloo co-op international students can earn meaningful income during their degree — enough that several independent guides describe the practical effect as making a Waterloo degree close to self-funding once you combine co-op earnings with your scholarship. If you’re comparing Waterloo against a university with a larger scholarship but no equivalent work-integrated learning option, factor this in.
Eligibility
- Admitted, or in the process of applying, to a full-time undergraduate, Master’s, or PhD program at Waterloo
- Paying international (non-domestic) tuition fees, with a valid Canadian study permit for enrolled students
- Meet the merit threshold associated with your target scholarship — roughly 90%+ admission average for the most competitive undergraduate awards, 75%+ for graduate-level consideration
- Meet Waterloo’s English language proficiency requirements for your program
How to Apply for University of Waterloo Scholarships for International Students
- Apply for admission to your undergraduate, Master’s, or PhD program — the $10,000 Entrance Scholarship and IMAE/IDSA consideration are typically automatic upon a qualifying admission, with no extra form required.
- For the most competitive, higher-value entrance scholarships (up to $80,000), check whether your specific faculty or program requires an additional application or supplementary materials.
- For PhD applicants, discuss your funding package directly with your prospective department, since guaranteed minimum funding is usually combined from multiple sources (scholarship, TA, RA) rather than a single flat award.
- Confirm your program-specific deadline directly on Waterloo’s website — graduate deadlines in particular vary significantly by department and don’t follow one shared date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to apply separately for the $10,000 International Student Entrance Scholarship? No. It’s automatically awarded to every eligible international fee-paying student admitted to a full-time first-year undergraduate program — a qualifying admission is all that’s required.
What’s the maximum entrance scholarship value at Waterloo? Up to $80,000 for the most competitive awards, some renewable across your degree, generally requiring an admission average around 90% or higher.
How much guaranteed funding do PhD students receive? A minimum of $28,351 per year, typically combining scholarship funding with teaching or research assistantship income.
Does Waterloo’s co-op program actually help fund my degree? Indirectly, yes. Co-op work terms provide paid employment during your studies, which can substantially offset your overall cost of the degree, even though it’s not a scholarship in the traditional sense.
What GPA or admission average do I need? Roughly 90%+ for the most competitive undergraduate scholarships, and 75%+ for graduate-level consideration, though specific thresholds vary by program and award.
Are graduate scholarships available across all fields? Yes, across Waterloo’s faculties including Arts, Engineering, Environment, Health, Mathematics, and Science.
Official Resources
University of Waterloo Student Awards & Financial Aid: uwaterloo.ca/student-awards-financial-aid
More Scholarships:
Canada Hub, Africa Hub, Europe Hub,