Rankings
How every major ranking places the University of Waterloo. Lower is better.
Strongest subjects in the QS subject rankings (2025):
Postgraduate courses by field
Number of courses and typical yearly tuition for international students.
| Field | Courses | Typical fee | Courses in Course Explorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering & technology | 32 | $16,632 | See → |
| Natural sciences | 26 | $16,632 | See → |
| Humanities & languages | 18 | $16,632 | See → |
| Social sciences | 18 | $16,632 | See → |
| Economics, finance & accounting | 13 | $16,632 | See → |
| Environment, sustainability & agriculture | 11 | $16,632 | See → |
| Public health & allied health | 11 | $16,632 | See → |
| Computer science & data technology | 7 | $16,632 | See → |
| Law, politics & governance | 6 | $16,632 | See → |
| Psychology | 5 | $16,632 | See → |
| Arts, design & creative studies | 3 | $16,632 | See → |
| Business & management | 3 | $16,632 | See → |
| Life sciences & biotechnology | 2 | $16,308 | See → |
| Medicine & clinical health | 2 | $16,308 | See → |
Costs and entry
1 course mentions scholarships. 196 publish an application deadline for international students.
Jobs after studying at the University of Waterloo
The job market for the University of Waterloo's biggest fields, and how graduates stay to work in Canada.
Questions students ask
How much does a postgraduate course at the University of Waterloo cost?
Typical tuition for international students is about $16,632 a year; half of the University of Waterloo's postgraduate courses with a published fee cost between $15,983 and $16,632. Most courses last 2 years. Fees vary by field: engineering & technology courses are typically $16,632, life sciences & biotechnology $16,308.
How is the University of Waterloo ranked?
The University of Waterloo is ranked #119 by QS (2026), #162 by Times Higher Education (2026) and #151–200 by ARWU (2025) in the world. Its strongest QS subjects include Engineering - Electrical & Electronic (#30) and Computer Science & Information Systems (#33).
What IELTS score does the University of Waterloo need for a postgraduate course?
Many postgraduate courses (89 of the 223 that list it) ask for IELTS 7.5 overall.
How many postgraduate courses does the University of Waterloo offer?
157 postgraduate courses across 14 fields; the largest are engineering & technology (32), natural sciences (26) and humanities & languages (18).
Shortlisting the University of Waterloo?
Compare its courses side by side with other universities, or let UNIFER handle your applications for one flat fee.
Updated 9 September 2026. Courses and fees from the University of Waterloo's own course pages; fees converted to US dollars. Rankings: QS World University Rankings 2026, Times Higher Education 2026, ARWU 2025, QS subject rankings 2025.