Editing University of Waterloo (section)

== Academics ==
Waterloo is a publicly funded research university, and a member of the [[Universities Canada|Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aucc.ca/canadian-universities/our-universities/university-of-waterloo|title=University of Waterloo|publisher=Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada|year=2012|access-date=9 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218151812/http://www.aucc.ca/canadian-universities/our-universities/university-of-waterloo|archive-date=18 February 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/eng/postsecondary/schoolsprograms/university/|title=Universities|publisher=Queen's Printer for Ontario|year=2011|access-date=9 February 2012|archive-date=5 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110105121251/http://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/eng/postsecondary/schoolsprograms/university/|url-status=dead}}</ref> It functions on a term-based system, with fall, winter and spring terms.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://quest.uwaterloo.ca/help/glossary.html#T|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050407172116/http://www.quest.uwaterloo.ca/help/glossary.html#T|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 April 2005|title=Glossary of terms|publisher=University of Waterloo|access-date=9 February 2012}}</ref> Undergraduate programs comprise the majority of the school's enrolment, made up of 24,377 full-time and part-time undergraduate students. The university conferred 5,741 bachelor's degrees and [[first professional degree]]s, 1,605 master's degrees, 332 doctoral degrees, during the 2016–2017 academic school year.<ref>{{cite web |title=Common University Data Ontario (CUDO) 2017 |url=https://uwaterloo.ca/institutional-analysis-planning/university-data-and-statistics/common-university-data-ontario-cudo-0/common-university-data-ontario-cudo-2017 |website=Institutional Analysis & Planning |publisher=University of Waterloo |access-date=14 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223025806/https://uwaterloo.ca/institutional-analysis-planning/university-data-and-statistics/common-university-data-ontario-cudo-0/common-university-data-ontario-cudo-2017 |archive-date=23 December 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The university is organized into six faculties, which operate a combined total of thirteen schools and over fifty academic departments.
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; width:100%; border:0; text-align:center; line-height:120%;"
|-
! colspan="14" |Faculties and Schools of the University of Waterloo
|-
!Faculty
| colspan="1" |[[University of Waterloo Faculty of Health|Health]]
| colspan="4" |[[University of Waterloo Faculty of Arts|Arts]]<br />
| colspan="2" |[[University of Waterloo Faculty of Engineering|Engineering]]
| colspan="3" |[[University of Waterloo Faculty of Environment|Environment]]
| colspan="1" |[[University of Waterloo Faculty of Mathematics|Mathematics]]
| colspan="2" |[[University of Waterloo Faculty of Science|Science]]
|-
!School
|[[University of Waterloo School of Public Health and Health Systems|School of Public Health and Health Systems]]
|[[University of Waterloo School of Accounting and Finance|School of Accounting and Finance]]
|[[University of Waterloo Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business|Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business]]
|[[Balsillie School of International Affairs]]{{efn|name=bsia|Partnership with the [[Centre for International Governance Innovation]], and [[Wilfrid Laurier University]].}}
|[[Renison University College#School of Social Work|Renison School of Social Work]]{{efn|Operated by [[Renison University College]]}}
|[[University of Waterloo School of Architecture|School of Architecture]]
|[[University of Waterloo Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business|Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business]]
|[[University of Waterloo School of Environment, Enterprise and Development|School of Environment, Enterprise and Development]]
|[[University of Waterloo School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability|School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability]]
|[[University of Waterloo School of Planning|School of Planning]]
|[[David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science]]
|[[University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science|School of Optometry and Vision Science]]
|[[University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy|School of Pharmacy]]
|}
[[File:University of Waterloo William G. Davis Computer Research Center.jpg|alt=|thumb|The William G. Davis Computer Research Centre houses teaching facilities and a library for engineering, mathematics and science.|left]]
Financial aid available to students includes the [[Ontario Student Assistance Program]] and [[Student loans in Canada|Canada Student Loans and Grants]] through the federal and provincial governments. The financial aid provided may come in the form of loans, grants, bursaries, scholarships, fellowships, debt reduction, interest relief, and work programs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://safa.uwaterloo.ca/loanprograms/osap.html|title=What is OSAP?|publisher=University of Waterloo|access-date=9 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317011309/http://safa.uwaterloo.ca/loanprograms/osap.html|archive-date=17 March 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The university has also partnered with other institutions for the purposes of jointly operating a graduate program. The [[Balsillie School of International Affairs]] (BSIA) is a graduate school and research centre operated in partnership with the [[Centre for International Governance Innovation]] and Wilfrid Laurier University. The Perimeter's Scholar International program is another graduate program operated in partnership with the [[Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics]], in which its graduates receive a [[Master of Science]] from the University of Waterloo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.perimeterinstitute.ca/training/about-psi|title=PSI Master's Program|year=2012|access-date=17 July 2020|publisher=Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics|website=perimeterinstitute.ca}}</ref> The university also offers its students the opportunity to earn credits towards their degree while studying abroad through [[student exchange]] and international internship programs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://uwaterloo.ca/student-success/exchange-and-study-abroad|title=Exchange and study abroad|publisher=University of Waterloo|access-date=10 June 2020|year=2020|website=uwaterloo.ca|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610061102/https://uwaterloo.ca/student-success/exchange-and-study-abroad|archive-date=10 June 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref> The university has exchange agreements with over 100 institutions outside Canada.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://uwaterloo.ca/student-success/study-abroad-and-exchanges/come-waterloo|title=Come to Waterloo|publisher=University of Waterloo|website=uwaterloo.ca|access-date=10 June 2020|year=2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610061100/https://uwaterloo.ca/student-success/study-abroad-and-exchanges/come-waterloo|archive-date=10 June 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Co-operative education ===
The university operates the largest post-secondary [[cooperative education|co-operative education]] (co-op) program in the world with over 20,000 undergraduate students.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://uwaterloo.ca/co-operative-education/about-co-operative-education|title=About Co-operative Education|website=University of Waterloo|access-date=20 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.macleans.ca/schools/university-of-waterloo/|title=University of Waterloo: Rankings|website=Maclean's|publisher=Rogers Media.|access-date=20 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://ontariosuniversities.ca/stories/the-worlds-largest-co-op-program/|title=The world's largest co-op program|website=Ontario Universities|date=10 November 2017 |publisher=Council of Ontario Universities|access-date=20 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.canadian-universities.net/Campus/Cooperative-Education.html|title=Cooperative Education in Canadian Universities|website=canadian-universities.net|publisher=Hecterra Publishing Inc.|access-date=20 January 2019}}</ref> For co-op students, each term acts as either a study term or a work term depending on their co-op sequencing, typically for the entire length of their degree.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://uwaterloo.ca/future-students/co-op/study-work-sequences|title=Co-op work/study sequences|date=27 February 2013|website=Undergraduate Programs|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref> Co-op work terms are mandatory for all undergraduate engineering programs, as well as several arts and mathematics programs. Engineering students are required to complete five out their six scheduled work terms to graduate from their program, while students from other faculties typically need to complete four work terms.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://uwaterloo.ca/future-students/co-op|title=Co-op|date=26 February 2013|website=Undergraduate Programs|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref> Engineering students alternate between school and work terms, completing a total of eight study terms and six work terms in the span of four and two-thirds years.<ref name=":1" /> However, some programs have unique co-op streams where consecutive school and work terms are scheduled near the end of the program, giving the students the opportunity to apply for eight-month positions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://uwaterloo.ca/engineering/future-undergraduate-students/co-op-experience/co-op-studywork-sequences|title=Co-op study/work sequences|date=11 January 2012|website=Engineering|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref>

[[File:Tatham Centre UWaterloo.jpg|alt=|thumb|The William M. Tatham Centre, home to the Centre for Career Action, and where employers visit campus to conduct interviews with co-op students]]

Students are responsible for securing their work placement for each of their co-op terms.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://uwaterloo.ca/co-operative-education/about-co-op|title=About co-op|date=4 February 2019|website=Co-operative Education|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref> This includes applying for positions and attending interviews during their study terms. Scheduling conflicts between interviews and exams are actively avoided but still possible, in which case one or the other are rescheduled, with the examination taking precedence.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://uwaterloo.ca/co-operative-education/find-your-co-op-job/find-job-waterlooworks/interview/interview-conflicts|title=Interview conflicts|date=20 March 2019|website=Co-operative Education|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref> In order for the student to receive their co-op credit, their work term must meet a number of conditions. This includes being full-time, that it is related to the student's field of study, that it lasts for the full 16-week duration, and that it is compensated with at least the minimum wage in the location of work.<ref name="Co-op roles and responsibilities">{{cite web|url=https://uwaterloo.ca/co-operative-education/supports-and-resources/co-op-rights-and-responsibilities|title=Co-op roles and responsibilities|date=5 April 2018|website=Co-operative Education|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref> Exceptions can be made for some of these conditions; for example, first work terms often do not have to be related to the student's field of study, especially if the student has had difficulty securing a position.

At the end of the work term, the employer submits a performance evaluation for the student which is presented to the student's future employers during their next application stage.<ref name="Co-op roles and responsibilities" /> {{as of|2018|post=,}} the university reports that its co-op students earn an average of {{CAD|12,100}} per work term when working in Canada.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://uwaterloo.ca/co-operative-education/about-co-op/co-op-earnings|title=Co-op earnings|date=30 January 2012|website=Co-operative Education|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref> However, co-op earnings vary greatly depending on field of study, how many work terms the student has already completed, and where the work term takes place. The university's highest earning undergraduate co-op students in 2018 were mathematics undergraduates (including computer science and computing and financial management) on their sixth work term and were working in the United States, who made an average of [[United States dollar|US$]]28,600 (C$38,000) per four-month work term.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://uwaterloo.ca/co-operative-education/about-co-op/co-op-earnings/earnings-united-states-work-terms|title=Earnings for United States Work Terms|date=25 March 2019|website=Co-operative Education|access-date=18 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190818045750/https://uwaterloo.ca/co-operative-education/about-co-op/co-op-earnings/earnings-united-states-work-terms|archive-date=18 August 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> Several programs where co-op is mandatory report high levels of employment from their graduation, with 98 percent of graduates from the Accounting and Financial Management, Math/[[Chartered Professional Accountant|CPA]], Biotech/CPA, and [[Master of Accounting]] programs reporting that they found employment within six months after graduating.<ref name="coopstat">{{cite web|title=School of Accounting and Finance annual reports|url=https://uwaterloo.ca/school-of-accounting-and-finance/sites/ca.school-of-accounting-and-finance/files/uploads/files/c015268_saf_coop_career_launch_report_print_lr_accessible-s.pdf|website=School of Accounting & Finance|publisher=University of Waterloo|access-date=15 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015232240/https://uwaterloo.ca/school-of-accounting-and-finance/sites/ca.school-of-accounting-and-finance/files/uploads/files/c015268_saf_coop_career_launch_report_print_lr_accessible-s.pdf|archive-date=15 October 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the same year, the graduates of the university's [[Master of Taxation]] co-op program reported that 100 percent of its students secured full-time employment prior to graduating.<ref name="coopstat" />

The William M. Tatham Centre is the home of the Centre for Career Action office, where resources such as resume critiques, mock interviews, and networking advice are available.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/College---University/UWaterlooCentreforCareerAction/about/|title=UWaterloo Centre for Career Action|website=Facebook |access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref>

WaterlooWorks is the university's official job board,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://uwaterloo.ca/co-operative-education/find-your-co-op-job/find-job-waterlooworks|title=Find a job on WaterlooWorks|date=13 December 2017|website=Co-operative Education|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref> on which over 7000 employers post available positions.<ref name=":0" /> Most positions on WaterlooWorks are in Canada, although international job listings from employers based in the United States, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, and other countries have also been placed on WaterlooWorks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://uwaterloo.ca/co-operative-education/working-abroad|title=Working abroad|access-date=25 September 2015|date=30 January 2012}}</ref> The United States is the most common destination for international work terms. In addition to using WaterlooWorks, students may pursue their own external job search, or found their own company, to receive their co-op credit.

=== Rankings and reputation ===
{{Canadian university rankings
| UniName = University of Waterloo
| ARWU_W = 151–200
| ARWU_CAN = 6–8
| QS_W = 115
| QS_N = 5
| THES_W = =163
| THES_N = 7
| THES_GEUR = 190
| USNWR_GU = =192
| USNWR_N = 7
| MAC_comp = 3
| MAC_rep = 4
}}

The 2024 [[QS World University Rankings]] ranked the university 115th in the world and fifth in Canada.<ref name="QS" />{{efn|name=pubdate}} The 2024 [[Times Higher Education World University Rankings]] placed Waterloo 158 in the world and 7 in Canada, and between 126 and 150 in its 2023 World Reputation Rankings.{{efn|name=pubdate}}<ref name="USUnivRankings_THES_W" /> In the ''[[U.S. News & World Report]]'' 2022–23 ranking, the university placed 191st in the world, and eighth in Canada, tied with the [[University of Ottawa]].{{efn|name=pubdate|Although the title of these annual ranking includes the year 2023, the following was published in 2022.}}<ref name="USNWR Best Global Universities" /> In the 2022 [[Academic Ranking of World Universities]], the university ranked 151–200 in the world and 7–8 in Canada.<ref name="USUnivRankings_ARWU_W" />

In terms of national rankings, ''[[Maclean's]]'' 2023 university rankings ranked Waterloo third in the magazine's comprehensive university category.<ref name="Macdocc" /> The university also placed second in ''Maclean's'' 2023 reputational survey of Canadian universities.<ref name="Macrep"/>

The university also placed in a number of rankings that evaluated a graduate's employment prospects. In QS's 2022 graduate employability ranking, Waterloo ranked 24th in the world, and second in Canada.<ref name="QS_GEUR"/> In the Times Higher Education 2022 graduate employability ranking, Waterloo was ranked 191st in the world, and ninth in Canada.<ref name="UnivRankings_THES_GEUR"/> In an employability survey published by ''[[The New York Times]]'' in October 2011, when CEOs and chairpersons were asked to select the top universities which they recruited from, the university placed 108th in the world, and seventh in Canada.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2011/10/20/education/20iht-SReducEmploy20-graphic.html?ref=education|title=What business leaders say|work=The New York Times|date=20 October 2011|access-date=8 March 2012}}</ref> In 2014, a study from Riviera Partners found that the University of Waterloo had the third-most hired undergraduate candidates in [[Silicon Valley]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.inc.com/laura-montini/infographic/the-software-engineer-marketplace.html|title=What It Takes to Hire a Silicon Valley Software Engineer|last=Montini|first=Laura|date=26 August 2014|website=Inc.com|access-date=27 October 2019}}</ref> In 2016, Startup Compass found that University of Waterloo alumni were the second-most frequently hired in small and medium-sized companies in Silicon Valley.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-silicon-valley-recruiters-are-flocking-to-ontario-1462385408|title=Why Silicon Valley Recruiters Are Flocking to Ontario|last=Gellman|first=Lindsay|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|date=4 May 2016 |language=en-US|access-date=27 October 2019}}</ref> Dr. Steven Woods, engineering director at [[Google]] in Canada, said in 2013 that "the University of Waterloo is one of Google's largest three or four recruiting universities year-over-year [worldwide], along with [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology|MIT]] and [[Carnegie Mellon University|Carnegie Mellon]]."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.universityaffairs.ca/news/news-article/a-conversation-with-steven-woods-google-canada/|title=A conversation with Google Canada|website=University Affairs|language=en-US|access-date=27 October 2019}}</ref> In 2014, ''Business Insider'' found via LinkedIn data that the University of Waterloo has the fourth-most alumni working at [[Facebook]], and the third-most alumni working at [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/best-schools-to-get-a-job-at-facebook-2014-10|title=The 20 Schools with the Most Grads at Facebook|last=Baer|first=Drake|website=Business Insider|access-date=27 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/best-schools-to-get-a-job-at-amazon-2014-10|title=The 20 Schools with the Most Grads at Amazon|last=Baer|first=Drake|website=Business Insider|access-date=27 October 2019}}</ref>

=== Research ===
[[File:Mike-and-Ophelia-Lazaridis-Quantum-Nano-Centre.png|thumb|The university's institutes for both [[Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology|nanotechnology]] and [[Institute for Quantum Computing|quantum computing]] are in the [[Mike & Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Centre]].<ref>{{cite web|date=11 May 2012|title=Mike and Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum Nano Centre|url=https://uwaterloo.ca/institute-nanotechnology/research-waterloo-institute-nanotechnology/facilities-equipment/quantum-nano-centre|access-date=20 November 2012|publisher=University of Waterloo}}</ref>]]
The University of Waterloo is a member of the [[U15 Group of Canadian Research Universities|U15]], a group that represents 15 Canadian research universities. In 2018, Research Infosource ranked Waterloo 12th on their list of top 50 Canadian research universities, with a sponsored research income (external sources of funding) of $189.333 million in 2017.<ref name="resinf">{{cite web|url=https://researchinfosource.com/top-50-research-universities/2018/list|title=Canada's Top 50 Research Universities 2018|publisher=Re$earch Infosource|year=2018|access-date=10 March 2019}}</ref> In the same year, the university's faculty averaged a sponsored research income of $163,100, while graduate students averaged a sponsored research income of $34,700.<ref name="resinf" /> Research funds comes from private, and public sources. In 2019, the university has received over C$15 million in research funding from [[Huawei]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/huawei-academic-funding-in-canada-1.5372310|title=Huawei funds $56M in academic research in Canada. That has some experts concerned|last=Armstrong|first=Peter|date=29 November 2019|publisher=CBC News|access-date=1 December 2019}}</ref>

Waterloo's research performance has been noted several [[bibliometric]] university rankings, which uses [[citation analysis]] to evaluates the [[impact factor|impact]] a university has on academic publications. In 2019, the [[Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers for World Universities]] ranked Waterloo 242nd in the world, and 10th in Canada.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nturanking.lis.ntu.edu.tw/ranking/ByCountry/2019/CA|title=World University Rankings By 2019|publisher=NTU Rankings|year=2019|access-date=8 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708041729/http://nturanking.lis.ntu.edu.tw/ranking/ByCountry/2019/CA|archive-date=8 July 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[University Ranking by Academic Performance]] 2018–19 rankings placed the university 191st in the world, and 10th in Canada.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.urapcenter.org/2018/country.php?ccode=CA|title=2018–2019 RANKING BY COUNTRY|publisher=Informatics Institute of Middle East Technical University|year=2018|access-date=3 November 2018|archive-date=4 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104050258/http://www.urapcenter.org/2018/country.php?ccode=CA|url-status=dead}}</ref>[[File:Centre for International Governance Innovation 2.jpg|thumb|The [[Balsillie School of International Affairs]] at the [[CIGI Campus]]. The institution is a graduate school and research centre established in partnership with Waterloo.{{efn|name=bsia}}]]The university operates and manages 41 research centres and institutes, including the [[Centre for Applied Cryptographic Research]], the [[Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology]], the [[Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing]], the [[Institute for Quantum Computing]], and the [[Centre for Theoretical Neuroscience]]. Official recognition and designation of all centres and institutes requires the approval of the university's Senate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://research.uwaterloo.ca/fullspectrum/SenateApprovedCentresandInstitute.htm|title=The Full Spectrum of Research|publisher=University of Waterloo|access-date=19 July 2012|date=24 January 2012}}</ref> On 6 April 2018, the University of Waterloo announced the launching of its [[Artificial intelligence|Artificial Intelligence]] [[Research institute|Institute]].<ref>{{cite news |title=UW to open AI research institute |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/artificial-intelligence-institute-university-waterloo-ai-1.4608522 |publisher=CBC News |access-date=12 April 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref>

The university has undertaken several research partnerships with other institutions. In 2007, the Balsillie School of International Affairs (BSIA) was established as a graduate school and research centre in partnership with the University of Waterloo.{{efn|name=bsia}} BSIA operates three research centres relating to public governance and public policy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.balsillieschool.ca/research/|title=Research|publisher=Balsillie School of International Affairs|access-date=10 July 2020|website=www.balsillieschool.ca|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717134845/https://www.balsillieschool.ca/research/|archive-date=17 July 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2016, [[Facebook]] hardware development division announced a partnership with Waterloo, along with 16 other post-secondary institutions, as Facebook explores new revenue streams in virtual reality, cybersecurity, and other areas of research.<ref>{{cite web|title=Facebook partners with 17 top high-tech universities, including University of Waterloo|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/facebook-partners-with-17-top-high-tech-universities-including-university-of-waterloo-1.3908648|publisher=CBC News}}</ref> In 2019, [[Microsoft]] announced a partnership with Waterloo's Artificial Intelligence Institute worth $115 million over five years as part of Microsoft's broader AI For Good Initiative. Waterloo's Artificial Intelligence Institute is an interdisciplinary initiative involving the researchers from faculties of arts, engineering, mathematics, and computer science.<ref>{{cite web|title=Microsoft partners with the University of Waterloo's Artificial Intelligence Institute to address society's greatest challenges|date=25 June 2019 |url=https://news.microsoft.com/en-ca/2019/06/25/microsoft-partners-with-the-university-of-waterloos-artificial-intelligence-institute-to-address-societys-greatest-challenges/}}</ref>

During the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], researchers at the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology worked in collaboration with SiO2 Innovation Labs to develop a coating that kills the virus upon impact. The antiviral coating could be applied to all personal protective equipment and high-touch surfaces. This research was supported by both the [[Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council|Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada]] and [[Mitacs]].<ref>{{cite web|date=2020-07-14|title=New research aims to create a surface coating that will kill COVID-19 on contact|url=https://uwaterloo.ca/stories/news/new-research-aims-create-surface-coating-will-kill-covid-19|access-date=2020-07-16|website=Waterloo Stories}}</ref> The school also received a $499,935 grant from the [[Public Health Agency of Canada]]'s Immunization Partnership Fund to engage health care professionals and community leaders to combat [[COVID-19 misinformation]] and increase acceptance of [[COVID-19 vaccine]]s.<ref>{{cite web |last=[[Public Health Agency of Canada]] |date=2022-10-12 |title=Immunization Partnership Fund |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/immunization-vaccine-priorities/immunization-partnership-fund.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221104154209/https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/immunization-vaccine-priorities/immunization-partnership-fund.html |archive-date=2022-11-04 |access-date=2022-11-04 |website=[[Government of Canada]]}}</ref>

=== Admission ===
The requirements for admission differ between students from Ontario, students from other provinces in Canada, and international students, due to the lack of uniformity in marking schemes. The minimum averages required for these programs are determined each year based on the number and qualification of applicants and the number of available spaces.<ref>{{cite web |title=Admission FAQs |url=https://uwaterloo.ca/future-students/admissions/faqs-admissions |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=19 November 2024 |website=University of Waterloo Undergraduate Programs |publisher=University of Waterloo}}</ref> As of 2021, the secondary school average for first year, full-time students at the University of Waterloo was at 92.7 percent.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CUDO – B3 :: Secondary School Averages of Full-Time, First Year Students |url=https://cudo.ouac.on.ca/page.php?id=7&table=49#univ=2&y=2021 |access-date=19 November 2024 |website=cudo.ouac.on.ca}}</ref> In 2023, 65 percent of new students at Waterloo had a high school average equal to or greater than 90 percent, and 33.2 percent had an average equal to or greater than 95 percent.<ref>{{cite web |date=23 December 2023 |title=Quality |url=https://uwaterloo.ca/performance-indicators/students/entering-averages |access-date=19 November 2024 |website=Performance Indicators}}</ref> However, this proportion varies greatly between programs at the university.

In the case of admission into the Engineering and Math faculties, there is a large weighting given to the applicant's supplementary application, extracurricular involvement, adjustment factors for individual high schools, and an admissions video interview. Thus, it is possible to receive an offer with an average much lower than the mean admission average.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://scholartree.ca/blog/how-to-get-into-waterloo-engineering|title=How to Get into Waterloo Engineering|date=15 October 2018|website=ScholarTree|language=en-US|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref> The retention rate of the university's first-time, full-time first-year students in 2022 was 93.6 percent.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://uwaterloo.ca/performance-indicators/students/retention|title=Retention|date=23 October 2014|website=Performance Indicators|access-date=19 November 2024}}</ref>