- HBA · 4 years
- Work experience details
- ~High 80s to low 90s
Mechanical Engineering
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5 years
Co-op required
~High 80s to low 90s
Entering average
Published approximate guidance: High 80s to low 90s. September 2027 admission guidance. Ontario high school applicants. Individual selection also uses the mandatory AIF and interview.
Waterloo Engineering · required subjects and competitive guidance
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
ENG4UEnglish70% min.
SPH4UPhysics70% min.
MHF4UAdvanced Functions70% min.
MCV4UCalculus and Vectors70% min.
SCH4UChemistry70% min.
- Complete six Grade 12 U or M courses and the Ontario Secondary School Diploma.
- Include one additional Grade 12 U or M course.
Application steps
Entry terms · Fall (September)
Full-time September 2027 entry directly to Mechanical Engineering (WWH).
Waterloo · September 2027 application and document deadlinesStep 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 4Apply to Mechanical Engineering on OUAC using WWH.
- Complete this item using the university’s applicant instructions.
Step 5Open your Waterloo applicant portal and complete the Declaration of Academic Experience.
- Complete this item using the university’s applicant instructions.
Step 6Submit any requested transcripts or English language results.
- Complete this item using the university’s applicant instructions.
Step 7Submit the Admission Information Form.
- Complete this item using the university’s applicant instructions.
Step 8Complete the mandatory asynchronous Engineering video interview in Kira Talent.
- Complete this item using the university’s applicant instructions.
The Admission Information Form and asynchronous video interview are required.
Waterloo Engineering · required video interviewApplicant pathways
Other Canadian provinces and territories
Other Canadian provinces and territories high school applicants
- Five or six Grade 12 academic courses, depending on province or territory.
- Provide English, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics or Pre-Calculus, and Calculus. Minimum 70% in each named subject.
International Baccalaureate
International Baccalaureate high school applicants
- Include English A, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics Analysis and Approaches. Higher Level Physics and Mathematics are recommended.
- Complete six IB courses with at least 4 in each and 31 points before diploma bonus points.
American curriculum
American curriculum high school applicants
- Complete six senior academic courses, including English, AP Physics or equivalent, Chemistry, Pre-Calculus and AP Calculus or equivalent. Minimum 75% in each named subject.
Degree requirements
Required courses and electives
- Complete 21.50 academic units, including required courses and 10 approved electives.
Credits and degree requirements
- 60% minimum cumulative overall average and term average.
- Complete the mechanical engineering design project sequence and the ethics requirement.
- Complete PD 11, PD 19, PD 20 and one additional professional development course. Complete WKRPT 300 in 3A for Stream 4 or 3B for Stream 8X.
- Communication requirement: ME 100.
Work and practical requirements
- Complete five credited co-op work terms.
- At least three credited work terms must be standard work terms.
- Complete Co-op Fundamentals for Engineering before your first work term.
Program facts
Entering average~High 80s to low 90s
Ontario high school applicants. Individual selection also uses the mandatory AIF and interview.
Waterloo Engineering · required subjects and competitive guidanceWaterloo Engineering · required subjects and competitive guidanceCo-opCo-op required
Six scheduled work terms. Five credited work terms are required.
University work-study information- Co-op schedule
- 6 scheduled terms · 4 months each · 24 scheduled monthsWaterloo Engineering · co-op study and work sequences
- Stream 4
- Year 1 winter, Year 2 fall and spring, Year 3 winter, Year 4 fall and spring.Waterloo Engineering · co-op study and work sequences
- Stream 8X
- Year 1 spring, Year 2 winter, Year 3 fall and spring, Year 4 winter and spring.Waterloo Engineering · co-op study and work sequences
Majors & specializations
Optional upper-year specializations within this direct-entry degree.
Welding and Joining Specialization
BASc
The specialization covers metallurgy, fatigue and fracture, and the design and quality control of welded parts.
Courses
Required term-by-term plan in the 2026–27 calendar. Waterloo has yet to publish the September 2027 academic calendar.
1A Term5 listed
- CHE 102Chemistry for Engineers0.5 credits
Use chemistry principles such as reactions, gases and solution properties in engineering.
Waterloo course description 
MATH 115Linear Algebra for Engineering0.5 creditsSolve linear systems and study vector spaces, determinants and eigenvalues.
Waterloo course description- MATH 116Calculus 1 for Engineering0.5 credits
Study engineering functions and use derivatives to analyse how they change.
Waterloo course description 
ME 100Introduction to Mechanical Engineering Practice 10.75 creditsLearn fundamental methods and professional skills for mechanical engineering.
Waterloo course description- PHYS 115Mechanics0.5 credits
Analyse motion, forces, energy, momentum and rotation.
Waterloo course description
1B Term5 listed
1 approved elective slot.
- MATH 118Calculus 2 for Engineering0.5 credits
Use integration techniques and approximations to solve engineering problems.
Waterloo course description - ME 100BSeminar0 credits
Explore the degree structure, student teams and academic opportunities.
Waterloo course description - ME 101Introduction to Mechanical Engineering Practice 20.75 credits
Develop technical communication and professional skills in mechanical engineering.
Waterloo course description - ME 115Structure and Properties of Materials0.5 credits
Connect material microstructure and deformation to engineering properties.
Waterloo course description 
ME 123Electrical Engineering for Mechanical Engineers0.5 creditsStudy electric and magnetic fields and analyse direct-current and alternating-current circuits.
Waterloo course description
2A Term6 listed
1 approved elective slot.
- ME 200ASeminar0 credits
- ME 201Advanced Calculus0.5 credits
ME 202Statistics for Engineers0.5 credits- ME 219Mechanics of Deformable Solids 10.5 credits
- ME 230Control of Properties of Materials0.5 credits
- ME 269Electromechanical Devices and Power Processing0.5 credits
2B Term6 listed
- ME 200BSeminar0 credits
- ME 203Ordinary Differential Equations0.5 credits
- ME 212Dynamics0.5 credits
- ME 220Mechanics of Deformable Solids 20.5 credits
- ME 250Thermodynamics 10.5 credits
ME 262Digital Logic, Microcontrollers, and Programmable Logic Controllers0.5 credits
3A Term6 listed
- ME 300ASeminar0 credits
- ME 303Advanced Engineering Mathematics0.5 credits
- ME 321Dynamics of Machines and Mechanical Vibrations0.5 credits
- ME 340Manufacturing Processes0.5 credits
- ME 351Fluid Mechanics 10.5 credits
- ME 354Thermodynamics 20.5 credits
3B Term7 listed
- ME 300BSeminar0 credits
- ME 322Mechanical Design 10.5 credits
- ME 353Heat Transfer 10.5 credits
- ME 360Introduction to Control Systems0.5 credits
- ME 362Fluid Mechanics 20.5 credits
- ME 380Mechanical Engineering Design Workshop0.5 credits
MSE 261Engineering Economics: Financial Management for Engineers0.5 creditsCompare engineering investments using cash flow, returns and depreciation.
Waterloo course description
4A Term4 listed
4 approved elective slots.
- ME 400ASeminar0 credits
GENE 403Interdisciplinary Design Project 10.5 creditsDefine an engineering design problem and plan a solution with students from different engineering programs.
Choose 1 from GENE 403 / ME 481 / MTE 481.
Waterloo course description- ME 481Mechanical Engineering Design Project 10.5 credits
Develop a mechanical engineering capstone proposal and apply engineering analysis to the design.
Choose 1 from GENE 403 / ME 481 / MTE 481.
Waterloo course description - MTE 481Mechatronics Engineering Design Project 10.5 credits
Apply engineering design methods to a substantial individual or team project.
Choose 1 from GENE 403 / ME 481 / MTE 481.
Waterloo course description
4B Term4 listed
4 approved elective slots.
- ME 400BSeminar0 credits
- GENE 404Interdisciplinary Design Project 20.5 credits
Refine and test the interdisciplinary capstone design.
Choose 1 from GENE 404 / ME 482 / MTE 482.
Waterloo course description - ME 482Mechanical Engineering Design Project 20.5 credits
Complete the detailed design and feasibility work for the project started in ME 481.
Choose 1 from GENE 404 / ME 482 / MTE 482.
Waterloo course description - MTE 482Mechatronics Engineering Design Project 20.5 credits
Build and demonstrate the prototype developed from the MTE 481 design.
Choose 1 from GENE 404 / ME 482 / MTE 482.
Waterloo course description
Ethics List2 listed
PD 22Professionalism and Ethics in Engineering Practice0.5 credits- PHIL 315Ethics and the Engineering Profession0.5 credits
Technical Electives · List 148 listed
- AE 572Building Energy Analysis0.5 credits
- AE 573HVAC Systems, Equipment, and Energy Efficiency0.5 credits
- CIVE 460Engineering Biomechanics0.5 credits
- ECE 481Digital Control Systems0.5 credits
- ECE 484Digital Control Applications0.5 credits
- ECE 486Robot Dynamics and Control0.5 credits
- ECE 488Multivariable Control Systems0.5 credits
- ME 423Mechanical Design 20.5 credits
- ME 435Industrial Metallurgy0.5 credits
- ME 436Welding and Joining Processes0.5 credits
- ME 452HVAC Load Analysis and Design Fundamentals0.5 credits
- ME 456Heat Transfer 20.5 credits
- ME 459Energy Conversion0.5 credits
- ME 524Advanced Dynamics and Vibrations0.5 credits
- ME 526Fatigue and Fracture Analysis0.5 credits
- ME 531Physical Metallurgy Applied to Manufacturing0.5 credits
- ME 533Non-Metallic and Composite Materials0.5 credits
- ME 535Welding Metallurgy0.5 credits
- ME 538Welding Design, Fabrication and Quality Control0.5 credits
- ME 540Fundamentals in Neural and Rehabilitation Engineering0.5 credits
- ME 547Robot Manipulators: Kinematics, Dynamics, Control0.5 credits
- ME 548Numerical Control of Machine Tools 10.5 credits
- ME 555Computer-Aided Design0.5 credits
- ME 557Combustion 10.5 credits
- ME 559Finite Element Methods0.5 credits
- ME 561Fluid Power Control Systems0.5 credits
- ME 562Experimental Methods in Fluids0.5 credits
- ME 563Turbomachines0.5 credits
- ME 564Aerodynamics0.5 credits
- ME 566Computational Fluid Dynamics for Engineering Design0.5 credits
- ME 567Fire Safety Engineering0.5 credits
- ME 571Clean Air Technologies0.5 credits
- ME 572Building Energy Analysis0.5 credits
- ME 573HVAC Systems, Equipment, and Energy Efficiency0.5 credits
- ME 574Engineering Biomechanics0.5 credits
- ME 595Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering0.5 credits
- ME 596Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering0.5 credits
- ME 597Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering0.5 credits
- ME 598Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering0.5 credits
- ME 599Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering0.5 credits
- MTE 420Power Electronics and Motor Drives0.5 credits
- MTE 421Introduction to Analog and Digital Transistor-Level Design0.5 credits
- MTE 460Mechatronic System Integration0.5 credits
- MTE 484Digital Control Applications0.5 credits
Model and simulate dynamic systems and design digital controls.
Waterloo course description - MTE 544Autonomous Mobile Robots0.5 credits
- MTE 545Introduction to MEMS Fabrication0.5 credits
- MTE 546Multi-Sensor Data Fusion0.5 credits
- SYDE 553Advanced Dynamics0.5 credits
Technical Electives · List 220 listed
- BME 522Foundations of Artificial Intelligence0.5 credits
- ECE 305Introduction to Quantum Mechanics0.5 credits
- ECE 406Algorithm Design and Analysis0.5 credits
ECE 457AArtificial and Natural Intelligence0.5 credits- ECE 457BMachine Learning0.5 credits
- ECE 459Programming for Performance0.5 credits
- ECE 495Autonomous Vehicles0.5 credits
- MSE 331Introduction to Optimization0.5 credits
- MSE 431Stochastic Models and Methods0.5 credits
- MSE 432Production and Service Operations Management0.5 credits
- MSE 446Introduction to Machine Learning0.5 credits
- MSE 452Decision Making Under Uncertainty0.5 credits
- MSE 551Quality Management and Control0.5 credits
- MSE 555Scheduling: Theory and Practice0.5 credits
- SYDE 522Foundations of Artificial Intelligence0.5 credits
- SYDE 532Introduction to Complex Systems0.5 credits
Study nonlinear interactions and dynamics in complex social and ecological systems.
Waterloo course description - SYDE 543Cognitive Ergonomics0.5 credits
- SYDE 548User Centred Design Methods0.5 credits
- SYDE 572Introduction to Pattern Recognition0.5 credits
SYDE 584Physiological Systems and Biomedical Design0.5 credits
Welding and Joining Specialization
Welding and Joining Specialization
Required courses5 listed
- ME 435Industrial Metallurgy0.5 credits
- ME 436Welding and Joining Processes0.5 credits
- ME 526Fatigue and Fracture Analysis0.5 credits
- ME 535Welding Metallurgy0.5 credits
- ME 538Welding Design, Fabrication and Quality Control0.5 credits
Elective choices
Welding and Joining Specialization
Welding and Joining Specialization
- Complete a total of five courses according to the requirements below.
Other requirements and route notes
- Choose four complementary studies electives: one each from Lists A and C, and two from Lists A, C or D.
- Choose six Technical Electives. One approved graduate course can count in Technical Electives List 2 with permission.
- The ethics course may also satisfy an eligible complementary studies or professional development requirement.
ReferencesWaterloo 2026–27 · Mechanical Engineering Academic CalendarWaterloo · Mechanical Engineering undergraduate degree and career examplesWaterloo Engineering · co-op study and work sequencesWaterloo 2026–27 · BASc degree requirements and study/work streamsWaterloo 2026–27 · Welding and Joining SpecializationWaterloo course descriptionWaterloo course descriptionWaterloo course descriptionWaterloo course descriptionWaterloo course descriptionWaterloo course descriptionWaterloo course descriptionWaterloo course description
Careers
- Mechanical design engineer
- Manufacturing engineer
- Automotive engineer
- Aerospace engineer
- Energy systems engineer
- Robotics engineer
- Project engineer
- Maintenance engineer
- Product development engineer
Quality assurance engineer- HVAC engineer (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning)
Technical sales engineer
- Assistant design / production engineering
- Mechanical designer
- Project engineering
- Quality assurance
- Machine operator
- Manufacturing student
- Product developer
Scope and qualifications
Waterloo-published career examples and sample co-op roles.
Professional recognition
CEAB accredited since 1965
Scope and qualifications
Waterloo-published career examples and sample co-op roles.
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$19,000
Books and supplies$1,500
Co-op fee$1,672
$836 × 2 study terms
Residence$8,254
Residence
Meal plan$8,040
Meal plan
Estimated total$38,466
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