- HBA · 4 years
- Work experience details
- ~High 80s to low 90s
Sustainability and Financial Management
Image source
AI-generated ink illustration
Conceptual study artwork, not a photograph of teaching facilities.
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Checked 2026-11-05
Symbolic subject artwork; no university facility depicted
Required co-op
Work experience
Waterloo’s co-op examples and a published student profile.
Waterloo Sustainability and Financial Management · programme, admissions and careers~Mid-80s
Entering average
Published approximate guidance: Mid-80s. Fall 2027. Ontario high-school admission guidance.
Waterloo Ontario high-school prerequisites for Sustainability and Financial Management
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
Any Grade 12 U English75% min.
MHF4UAdvanced Functions75% min.
MCV4UCalculus and Vectors75% min.
- Complete a high-school diploma and six Grade 12 U or M courses including the prerequisites.
- Apply to either Sustainability and Financial Management or Accounting and Financial Management.
- SAF uses grades for Fall 2027 selection and does not use SAFAA or AIF for this program.
Application steps
Entry terms · September
First-year Sustainability and Financial Management.
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 directly through OUAC.
- Complete this item using the university’s applicant instructions.
Step 5Complete the Declaration of Academic Experience in your Waterloo applicant portal.
- Complete this item using the university’s applicant instructions.
Step 6Provide the documents requested in the portal by the document deadline.
- Complete this item using the university’s applicant instructions.
Applicant pathways
British Columbia high school with AP
British Columbia secondary students taking AP courses
- English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12 · minimum 75
- Pre-Calculus 12 · minimum 75
- Calculus 12 or AP Calculus · minimum 75
Alberta high school
Alberta secondary students
- English Language Arts 30-1 · minimum 75
- Mathematics 30-1 · minimum 75
- Mathematics 31 · minimum 75
IB Diploma
International Baccalaureate Diploma applicants
- HL or SL English A, minimum 4, or HL English B, minimum 5. HL (recommended) or SL Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches, minimum 4. Total 28
Recommended courses
Optional Ontario preparation
- Principles of Financial Accounting
- Mathematics of Data Management
Degree requirements
Required courses and electives
- Complete 20.0 units: 12.5 required, 6.0 in one specialization and 1.5 elective.
- Maintain at least a 70% average in first-year required courses to progress into second year.
ReferencesWaterloo 2026–27 Sustainability and Financial Management Honours requirementsWaterloo School of Accounting and Finance academic and work-term schedules by graduating classWaterloo academic calendar · Sustainability and Financial Management Corporate Sustainability specializationWaterloo academic calendar · Sustainability and Financial Management Government Policy and Financial Markets specializationWaterloo academic calendar · Sustainability and Financial Management Indigenous Entrepreneurship specializationSEED Sustainability and Financial Management degree overview
Grades and academic standing
- Graduation requires a cumulative overall average of at least 60% and a cumulative major average of at least 70%.
ReferencesWaterloo 2026–27 Sustainability and Financial Management Honours requirementsWaterloo School of Accounting and Finance academic and work-term schedules by graduating classWaterloo academic calendar · Sustainability and Financial Management Corporate Sustainability specializationWaterloo academic calendar · Sustainability and Financial Management Government Policy and Financial Markets specializationWaterloo academic calendar · Sustainability and Financial Management Indigenous Entrepreneurship specializationSEED Sustainability and Financial Management degree overview
Credits and degree requirements
- Earn four satisfactory work-term credits and complete PD 1, PD 12 and two additional PD courses. The calendar describes limited exceptions.
ReferencesWaterloo 2026–27 Sustainability and Financial Management Honours requirementsWaterloo School of Accounting and Finance academic and work-term schedules by graduating classWaterloo academic calendar · Sustainability and Financial Management Corporate Sustainability specializationWaterloo academic calendar · Sustainability and Financial Management Government Policy and Financial Markets specializationWaterloo academic calendar · Sustainability and Financial Management Indigenous Entrepreneurship specializationSEED Sustainability and Financial Management degree overview
Program facts
Entering average~Mid-80s
Co-opRequired co-op
Waterloo’s co-op examples and a published student profile.
University work-study informationMajors & specializations
Direct first-year entry.
Assurance and Advisory
BSFM (Honours)
Study assurance, business controls and ways to assess the reliability of financial information.
Courses
The effective 2026–27 degree calendar and published first-year examples. Confirm the course calendar for your admission year.
1A · Fall5 listed
Waterloo’s published first-year sample.
AFM 112Analytic Methods for Business 10.5 unitsUse quantitative tools to analyze business information and solve practical business problems.
Waterloo course calendar · AFM 112- AFM 191Introduction to Financial Reporting and Managerial Decision Making 10.5 units
Read financial statements and connect reporting to management decisions.
Waterloo course calendar · AFM 191 
SFM 101Introduction to Sustainability and Financial Management0.5 unitsConnect sustainability decisions with financial management practices.
Waterloo course calendar · SFM 101- ENVS 195Introduction to Environmental Studies0.5 units
Study environmental change and relationships between people and natural systems.
Waterloo course calendar · ENVS 195 - ENBUS 103Economics and Sustainability 10.5 units
Use introductory economics to analyze environmental and sustainability issues.
Waterloo course calendar · ENBUS 103
1B · Winter5 listed
Waterloo’s published first-year sample.
- AFM 111Professional Pathways and Problem-Solving0.5 units
- AFM 113Analytic Methods for Business 20.5 units
Extend quantitative analysis and apply it to business decisions.
Waterloo course calendar · AFM 113 - AFM 121Introduction to Global Financial Markets0.5 units
Learn how global financial markets function and how participants use financial instruments.
Waterloo course calendar · AFM 121 - AFM 182Introduction to Financial Reporting and Managerial Decision Making 20.5 units
Build on introductory accounting to interpret financial information and support management decisions.
Waterloo course calendar · AFM 182 - ENBUS 104Economics and Sustainability 20.5 units
Build on introductory economics and examine policy and sustainability decisions.
Waterloo course calendar · ENBUS 104
Other required courses14 listed
Named requirements in the effective 2026–27 calendar.
- AFM 205Introduction to Financial Services0.25 units
- AFM 208Introduction to Assurance0.25 units
- AFM 244Analytic Methods for Business 30.5 units
- AFM 273Financial Instruments and Capital Markets0.5 units
- AFM 274Introduction to Corporate Finance0.5 units
- AFM 291Intermediate Financial Accounting 10.5 units
- AFM 335Business Law for Financial Managers0.5 units
- AFM 373Cases and Applications in Corporate Finance0.5 units
- AFM 391Intermediate Financial Accounting 20.5 units
- ENVS 200Field Ecology0.5 units
- SFM 201Social Issues in Sustainability0.5 units
- SFM 205Advancing Sustainability: A Systems Approach0.5 units
Use a systems approach to examine sustainability problems.
Waterloo course calendar · SFM 205 - SFM 301Enterprise Carbon Accounting0.5 units
Measure and account for greenhouse gas emissions in organizations.
Waterloo course calendar · SFM 301 - SFM 309Sustainability and Business Ethics0.5 units
Business strategy2 listed
Choose one.
- AFM 433Business Strategy0.5 units
- ENBUS 302Strategies for Environment and Business0.5 units
Climate change fundamentals2 listed
Choose one equivalent.
- GEOG 207Climate Change Fundamentals0.5 units
- SCI 205Climate Change Fundamentals0.5 units
Corporate Sustainability specialization13 listed
The published specialization requires 6.0 units.
- AFM 321Personal Financial Planning and Taxation0.5 units
- AFM 341Accounting Information Systems0.5 units
- AFM 362Corporate Taxation0.5 units
- AFM 382Cost Management Systems0.5 units
- AFM 451Audit Strategy0.5 units
- AFM 462Specialized Topics in Taxation0.5 units
AFM 482Performance Measurement and Organization Control0.5 units- AFM 491Advanced Financial Accounting0.5 units
- SFM 401Social and Human Capital Accounting0.5 units
- SFM 402Natural Capital Accounting0.5 units
- SFM 403Integrated Planning, Reporting, and Risk Management for Sustainability0.5 units
- AFM 345Business Applications of Social Media Analytics0.5 units
- AFM 346Applications of Predictive Analytics in Accounting and Finance0.5 units
Government Policy and Financial Markets specialization13 listed
The published specialization requires 6.0 units.
- AFM 322Derivative Securities0.5 units
- AFM 425Fixed Income Securities0.5 units
- AFM 427Intermediate Portfolio Management0.5 units
- AFM 434Corporate Governance and Risk Management0.5 units
- ENBUS 408Policy Instruments for Sustainability0.5 units
- ENBUS 410Engaging Stakeholders0.5 units
- SFM 310Sustainability in Capital Markets0.5 units
- SFM 311Social Systems Finance0.5 units
- SFM 411Natural Systems Finance0.5 units
SFM 412Investor Behaviour0.5 units- SFM 413Integrating Natural and Social Systems in Finance 0.5 units
- AFM 323Quantitative Foundations for Finance0.5 units
- STAT 374Quantitative Foundations for Finance0.5 units
Indigenous Entrepreneurship specialization15 listed
Complete 4.5 named units and 1.5 units of approved courses at the 300 level or above.
ENVS 401Canadian Law, Indigenous Peoples, and Natural Resource Development0.5 units- ERS 200Indigenous Sustainability Entrepreneurship0.5 units
- INDENT 200The Past, Present, and Future of Indigenous Entrepreneurship0.5 units
- INDENT 210Fundamentals of Indigenous Entrepreneurship0.5 units
INDENT 225Practicum in Indigenous Entrepreneurship 10.5 units- INDENT 310Case Studies in Indigenous Venture Creation0.5 units
- INDENT 325Practicum in Indigenous Entrepreneurship 20.5 units
- ANTH 272Issues in Contemporary Indigenous Communities in Canada0.5 units
- CDNST 201The Indigenous Experience in Canada0.5 units
HIST 269Indigenous Histories in Canada0.5 units- INDG 201The Indigenous Experience in Canada0.5 units
- INDG 272Issues in Contemporary Indigenous Communities in Canada0.5 units
- INDG 301Critical Theories of Indigeneity in a Global Perspective0.5 units
- INDG 318Indigenous Worldviews and Spirituality0.5 units
- RCS 318Indigenous Worldviews and Spirituality0.5 units
Elective choices
- Choose one of the published academic calendar specializations and complete its 6.0 units.
- Complete 1.5 free elective units.
Study routes
Direct first-year entry.
- Co-op
ReferencesWaterloo 2026–27 Sustainability and Financial Management Honours requirementsWaterloo Sustainability and Financial Management · programme, admissions and careersWaterloo School of Accounting and Finance academic and work-term schedules by graduating classWaterloo academic calendar · Sustainability and Financial Management Corporate Sustainability specializationWaterloo academic calendar · Sustainability and Financial Management Government Policy and Financial Markets specializationWaterloo academic calendar · Sustainability and Financial Management Indigenous Entrepreneurship specializationSEED Sustainability and Financial Management degree overview
Careers
- Carbon accountant
- ESG reporting professional
Sustainability auditor- Sustainability reporting manager
- Climate risk advisor
Environmental finance professional- Impact investing professional
- Sustainable investment manager
- Entrepreneur
- Sustainability consultant
- Staff accounting associate
- Environment, sustainability and governance student
- Audit and assurance analyst
- Corporate finance student
- Staff accountant
Compliance analyst
Employers in student profiles
3
- Ontario Power Generation
- KPMG
- Definity Financial Insurance
Scope and qualifications
CPA and CFA are separate professional qualifications. Check the requirements for your chosen pathway.
Waterloo’s published Sustainability and Financial Management career examples.
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$9,000
Books and supplies$1,500
Residence$8,254
Residence
Meal plan$8,040
Meal plan
Estimated total$26,794
Accounting and finance tuition increases significantly in upper years.
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