- HBA · 4 years
- Work experience details
- ~High 80s to low 90s
Global Business and Digital Arts
University of Waterloo · University of Waterloo main campus.
Image source
AI-generated ink illustration
Conceptual study artwork, not a photograph of teaching facilities.
Unidex · generated with ImageGen
Checked 2026-11-05
Symbolic subject artwork; no university facility depicted
Final study term: Fall of Year 5
Final study term
Final study term: Fall of Year 5
Waterloo undergraduate admissions: Global Business and Digital Arts campuses and co-op work-study sequenceRequired co-op · four scheduled work terms, three credits required
Work experience
Required co-op · four scheduled work terms, three credits required
Waterloo Global Business and Digital Arts · programme and work-study examples~Low 80s
Entering average
Published approximate guidance: Low 80s. Fall 2027 application guidance. Waterloo’s approximate Ontario guidance based on previous years.
Waterloo Global Business and Digital Arts · Ontario admissions
Deadlines
November 2026
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Next deadline
OUAC. Ontario high schools report midterm/final 4U/M grades
2027 entry
School deadline, not a student task. Universities receive these grades by November 26. Verbatim: "Deadline for the OUAC to receive all midterm or final grades available for 4U/M courses from Ontario high schools. Schools may report in-progress grades for full-year courses as soon as they are available." Universities receive these by the target date of November 26, 2026. This is a deadline on the high school, not on the student, but it governs which grades a university sees in the first round.
Other deadline details
No single OUAC deadline, deadlines are set by each university and sometimes by programOUAC Undergraduate application, applicants who are not Ontario high school students (Group B)2026 entry
- No single OUAC deadline, deadlines are set by each university and sometimes by program
- No single OUAC deadline
- University, program, transcript, portfolio, interview, and audition dates still apply
Full source wording
Verbatim: "There is no specific Undergraduate application deadline if you are a Group B applicant. Deadlines vary at each university and sometimes depend on the program. Visit the university websites or contact the universities directly for their deadlines. If you are interested in a program but the deadline has passed, you may contact the university's admission office for help. Be aware of university-specific deadlines for submitting transcripts and portfolios, if required, and for arranging interviews and auditions. You must ensure the OUAC has enough time to process your choices before the universities' program deadlines." OUAC defines Group B as anyone who does not meet the Group A criteria, e.g. not currently taking an Ontario high school course, a Canadian outside Ontario, an international applicant, a postsecondary transfer student, or a mature applicant.
SourceChecked
Requirements
Admission requirements
High-school prerequisites
ENG4U / EAE4UAny Grade 12 U English75% min.
- Complete an Ontario Secondary School Diploma and six Grade 12 U/M courses including the required courses.
Application steps
Entry terms · Fall 2027
September 2027 first-year applicants to Global Business and Digital Arts
Waterloo first-year application and document deadlines · September 2027Step 1Check the admission requirements
- Check the published entry route for your applicant category.
Step 3Declaration of Academic Experience (DAE)
- Complete the DAE in the Waterloo applicant portal. It updates your checklist with any required documents.
Step 4Select Global Business and Digital Arts in OUAC.
- Complete this item using the university’s applicant instructions.
Step 5Complete the Declaration of Academic Experience.
- Complete this item using the university’s applicant instructions.
Step 6Check the Waterloo applicant portal for required documents.
- Complete this item using the university’s applicant instructions.
Degree requirements
Credits and degree requirements
- Complete 20.0 units and maintain a 60% overall average and 70% major average.
- Complete the required digital business and design courses, including the capstone.
- Complete ARTS 160 or 160E and 1.0 unit of approved language courses.
Work and practical requirements
- Complete at least three credited co-op work terms and four professional development courses.
Program facts
Entering average~Low 80s
Waterloo’s approximate Ontario guidance based on previous years.
Waterloo Global Business and Digital Arts · Ontario admissionsWaterloo Global Business and Digital Arts · Ontario admissionsCo-opRequired co-op · four scheduled work terms, three credits required
Courses
Level I · Published first-year courses5 listed
Take GBDA 101 and 102 across the two terms. Complete CS 105 before CS 106. Add the Arts communication course, language study and electives.
GBDA 101Introduction to Digital Media Design0.5 unitsDevelop foundational skills for designing digital media.
Waterloo academic calendar · Global Business and Digital Arts (Bachelor of Global Business and Digital Arts - Honours)
GBDA 102Introduction to Global Business0.5 unitsExplore how organizations operate in a global business context.
Waterloo academic calendar · Global Business and Digital Arts (Bachelor of Global Business and Digital Arts - Honours)
CS 105Introduction to Computer Programming 10.5 unitsPractice introductory programming through design and media examples.
Waterloo academic calendar · Global Business and Digital Arts (Bachelor of Global Business and Digital Arts - Honours)- CS 106Introduction to Computer Programming 20.5 units
Extend programming skills to more complex interactive projects.
Waterloo academic calendar · Global Business and Digital Arts (Bachelor of Global Business and Digital Arts - Honours) 
ECON 101Introduction to Microeconomics0.5 unitsStudy decisions by consumers and firms and how markets allocate resources.
Waterloo academic calendar · Global Business and Digital Arts (Bachelor of Global Business and Digital Arts - Honours)
Other calendar courses24 listed
The complete calendar marks required courses and alternatives. Where it lists a choice, complete only the specified option or options.
- CS 330Management Information Systems0.5 units
GBDA 201Digital Media Project 10.5 units- GBDA 202Digital Media Project 20.5 units
- GBDA 203Introduction to Digital Culture0.5 units
- GBDA 204Working in Teams and Project Management0.5 units
- GBDA 205Quantitative Methods0.5 units
- GBDA 206Introduction to Business Financials0.5 units
- GBDA 207Global Development and Business0.5 units
- GBDA 210Introduction to User Experience Design0.5 units
- GBDA 228Digital Imaging for Online Applications0.5 units
- GBDA 301Global Digital Project 10.5 units
- GBDA 302Global Digital Project 20.5 units
- GBDA 303Data and Society0.5 units
- GBDA 304Marketing in the Digital World0.5 units
- GBDA 306Ethics and Values in Design0.5 units
GBDA 307Organizational Behaviour0.5 units- GBDA 308Entrepreneurship0.5 units
- GBDA 310Advanced User Experience Design and Research0.5 units
- GBDA 402Capstone Course: Cross-Cultural Digital Business1.5 units
Develop a capstone project in cross-cultural digital business.
Waterloo academic calendar · Global Business and Digital Arts (Bachelor of Global Business and Digital Arts - Honours) - GBDA 405Strategic Management0.5 units
- GBDA 410Seminar in User Experience Research0.5 units
- GBDA 412Special Topics in Digital Cultures0.5 units
- GBDA 413Special Topics in Design and Society0.5 units
- GBDA 414Special Topics in Interaction Design0.5 units
Study locations
- Teaching campus, Year 1
- University of Waterloo main campus.Waterloo undergraduate admissions: Global Business and Digital Arts campuses and co-op work-study sequence
- Teaching campus after Year 1
- Almost all courses move to Waterloo’s Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business.Waterloo undergraduate admissions: Global Business and Digital Arts campuses and co-op work-study sequence
Careers
Digital marketing strategist
User experience designer- Graphic designer
- UX/UI design intern
- Digital marketing specialist
- Graphic design and animation associate
- Videographer
- Marketing communications coordinator
- Interactive designer
Scope and qualifications
Waterloo publishes example roles and co-op jobs for this programme.
Costs
Program or faculty
| Program or faculty | Ontario | Other Canadian | International | Books and supplies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Financial Management, Sustainability and Financial Management | $9,000 | $10,000 | $58,000 | $1,500 |
| Architecture | $14,000 | $15,000 | $75,000 | $8,100 |
| Business Administration (Laurier) and Computer Science (Waterloo) Double Degree | $17,000 | $20,000 | $75,000 | $1,500 |
| Business Administration (Laurier) and Mathematics (Waterloo) Double Degree | $15,000 | $15,000 | $64,000 | $1,500 |
| Computer Science | $16,000 | $18,000 | $73,000 | $1,500 |
| Computing and Financial Management | $11,000 | $12,000 | $64,000 | $1,500 |
| Faculty of Arts | $9,000 | $10,000 | $58,000 | $1,500 |
| Faculty of Engineering, Software Engineering | $19,000 | $21,000 | $75,000 | $1,500 |
| Faculty of Environment | $9,000 | $10,000 | $51,000 | $1,500 |
| Faculty of Health | $9,000 | $10,000 | $54,000 | $1,500 |
| Faculty of Science | $9,000 | $10,000 | $54,000 | $1,500 |
| Geography and Aviation | $9,000 | $10,000 | $51,000 | $1,500 |
| Science and Aviation | $9,000 | $10,000 | $54,000 | $1,500 |
| Global Business and Digital Arts | $14,000 | $16,000 | $56,000 | $1,500 |
| Mathematics (includes 16 majors), Mathematics/ Business Administration, Mathematics/Chartered Professional Accountancy | $9,000 | $10,000 | $62,000 | $1,500 |
| Mathematics/Financial Analysis and Risk Management | $12,000 | $14,000 | $63,000 | $1,500 |
First-year estimate
2026–27 · Two terms · CAD
Ontario example · Choose your fee category
Tuition and incidental fees$14,000
Books and supplies$1,500
Residence$8,254
Residence
Meal plan$8,040
Meal plan
Estimated total$31,794
Last updated
