Top Application Questions

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First things first: our undergraduate admissions website contains all the information you need to know about applying to Laurier. Below, you'll find answers to our most popular questions about applying to Laurier.

If you have any questions, email us at chooselaurier@wlu.ca or call 548.889.8888.

Application Questions

How and when do I apply to Laurier?

Once you’ve picked the program you want to apply to, apply through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC).

Ontario high school students receive instructions from their schools about using the OUAC Undergraduate Application.
For all other students, the OUAC Undergraduate Application is available by early October each year. If you are interested in applying only to Laurier for part-time studies, we offer an application specifically for you.

Apply by the deadline posted on the Deadlines and Dates page.

Can I apply to more than one program?

You can apply to up to three programs at Laurier. Each program application is reviewed separately and you will receive an admission decision for each program.

I can't find my program on the OUAC application?

Here's a link to all our Laurier programs on the OUAC Undergraduate Application.

There are a few programs that can be hard to find because they are "nested" underneath a different program.

The following programs are grouped together underneath "Honours Arts" at the Waterloo campus: Ancient Studies, Anthropology, Archaeology and Heritage Studies, Cultural Studies, English, Film Studies, French, Global Studies, History, Languages, Medieval and Medievalism Studies, North American Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Religion and Culture, Sociology, Spanish, Women and Gender Studies. (Note that English and History are also available at the Brantford campus, and have their own application code in OUAC).
Economics, Economics and Accounting, and Economics and Financial Management are grouped together under "Economics."

Why should I submit the Applicant Background Summary (ABS) form?

It’s always a good idea to submit the ABS form when you apply to Laurier, even if you have an average at or above the minimum admission range (minimum overall average required for admission). Students applying to the Faculty of Music do not need to fill out the ABS form, as this information is collected during the audition process.

Does it matter how I rank programs on the OUAC application?

How you rank programs/universities on your OUAC application does not affect how we assess your application for admission. You will receive an admission decision on each application you submit to Laurier, up to a maximum of three programs.

How do I apply to co-op?

Applying to co-op is not part of the admissions process at Laurier, but more than two-thirds of our programs are available with co-op.

How you enrol depends on your program:

For most programs that offer co-op, you apply at the end of your first year at Laurier.
If you are accepted to the Business Technology Management program, or to a double-degree program where both degrees are offered at Laurier, you are automatically admitted to the co-op program.
If you’re offered admission to a double-degree program with the University of Waterloo, you’re automatically enrolled in co-op because it’s a mandatory component of the program.

How do I know if my application was received?

The OUAC will send you an email immediately after you submit your application. Once your application information is sent to us, we'll email you to confirm that we've received your application from the OUAC.

You should add chooselaurier@wlu.ca to your list of safe senders or contacts to ensure that our emails reach you. If you do not receive your confirmation of application email, check your junk or spam folders first.

You should also make sure the email address you submitted to OUAC is up-to-date – that’s how we will communicate with you about your application.

Can I change the program I applied to on OUAC?

If you haven't received an offer of admission on your application and want to be considered for a different Laurier program, you can amend your program choice on the OUAC website.

If you have received an offer of admission and want to be considered for another program, you can either add another program to your OUAC application or decline your Laurier offer to add a new program in its place. We recommend adding another program in case you are not eligible for admission to your new program choice.

Can I change programs once I begin studying at Laurier?

In many instances, students are able to change their program after starting at Laurier, but it’s never a guarantee. If you want to enrol in a new program at Laurier once you enrol, you will still need to meet the minimum admission requirements for the new program.

Ideally, you will change your program before you arrive to ensure you qualify for admission or talk to an academic advisor to explore your options once you arrive on campus.

Admission Requirements Questions

How do I find my admission requirements?

Visit the program page and scroll down to "Admission Requirements" for Ontario high school admission requirements.

If you’re a high school student outside of Ontario, you will also need to refer to your province-specific course equivalencies.

If you are a transfer student, review our requirements for transfer students.

If you’re an international applicant, review the international admission requirements and curriculums.

What average do I need to get into Laurier?

Visit the program page and scroll to "Admission Requirements". You will find the minimum and competitive admission range for your program. The minimum admission range is the minimum overall average required for admission. The competitive admission range is the mean entrance average of last year’s admitted students.

The minimum admission range varies from year to year depending on the number of applications we receive, the number of spaces available in each program and the grades of students who apply.

How do I calculate my admission average?

Your average is calculated using your top six 4U or 4M (or equivalent) courses. For some programs, your required courses are included as part of your admission average. If your program includes required courses as part of your admission average, it is stated in the admission requirements section on your program page. For all other programs, we use your top six grades, regardless of whether or not your prerequisites are a part of your top six.

All programs require:

a 4U English at a minimum of 60% (or higher for some programs).
a minimum of 60% in any required courses (or higher for some programs).

For the following programs, all prerequisite courses are included in your admission average:

all Business Administration (BBA) double-degree programs
Business Administration (BBA)
all Economics programs
Community Health (BASc)
Policing and Psychology (BA)*
all Faculty of Science programs*

*The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Bachelor of Arts in Policing and Psychology, and the Bachelor of Kinesiology programs do not include the required math course when calculating the admission average.

For example, if you applied to the Bachelor of Business Administration program, your admission average would be calculated as follows:

Admission average = English mark + Advanced Functions mark + Calculus and Vectors mark or Data Management mark + three other courses with top grades.

Does Laurier accept online high school credits?

If you’re enrolled in an online high school, the credit(s) earned do count towards your average grade that Laurier will calculate.

Tip: Make sure you list the online high school as a current or previous school on your OUAC application and submit a copy of your transcript showing your course registration and midterm or final grades, as applicable. Ontario online high school students should ensure their school submits their course registration and grades on their behalf to the OUAC.

If I repeat a course, will Laurier adjust my average?

If you are applying to a program in the Faculty of Science or the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics, we consider repeated courses when calculating your admission average.

We use a weighted average of your first and latest course attempts for required courses only. If you repeat a course that isn't required for admission, we use your highest grade.

For all other programs and faculties, we use your highest grade in any repeated courses.

If I take a non-day school course, will Laurier adjust my average?

Courses completed previously through summer school, night school or correspondence are counted equally in determining your admission average. These courses must be completed at an accredited institution. If you intend on taking a summer school course to meet the conditions of your offer before arriving at Laurier in September, you must let us know. Final official documentation must be submitted by Aug. 12, 2024.

Does an SAT score help support my application?

SAT scores are not required when Laurier makes admission decisions.

What documents do I need to submit? When and how do I submit them?

In order for us to assess your eligibility for admission, Laurier requires some documentation to supplement your application. We may also request additional supporting documents at the discretion of the Recruitment and Admissions office, including academic or English language tests.

In your applicant portal account, you will be able to see a list of documents we require for your application, as well as confirmation that we have received them.

You should submit your documents electronically as soon as possible and no later than May 12, 2024. Review our required documents webpage for instructions on how to view your list of required documents and instructions on how to submit them electronically to the Recruitment and Admissions office.

Admission Decisions Questions

How does Laurier make admission decisions?

You will receive an admission decision on each application you submit to Laurier (up to a maximum of three programs).

If you are not eligible for admission into your program of choice, we automatically assess your application to see if you qualify for admission into another program.

We reserve the right to consider additional academic information, which may impact the status of your application, including but not limited to: repeated courses, consistency of academic performance, and when and where courses and/or tests were completed.

Laurier may utilize wait lists for competitive programs. If you’re placed on a wait list, you will also receive an offer of admission to an alternate program.

Where can I check the status of my application? What’s the applicant portal?

You can check your application status on your applicant portal.

Log in using your Laurier network username and password. You will find your login and temporary password in the confirmation of application email we sent you; please check your email.

If you have trouble accessing your portal account, contact support@mylaurier.ca.

When will I receive an admission decision?

Admission decisions are made on an ongoing basis between December and May using available grade information. All offers of admission are conditional until final grades are received by the Recruitment and Admissions office in July.

How will I know if I receive an offer of admission?

Notification of an offer of admission will be sent to you through email, where you will be directed to your applicant portal to view and save your offer letter. You will not receive an offer of admission in the mail.

When you receive an offer of admission, don’t forget to share your excitement on social media and tag us so we can say hello!

How do I accept an offer of admission?

You must accept your offer of admission through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) website.

There are several types of OUAC applications. Follow our instructions to help you accept your offer. If you need further assistance, please email chooselaurier@wlu.ca.

What if I don’t meet the conditions of my offer?

It is your responsibility to make sure that you meet the conditions of your offer. If needed, you may be able to enrol in summer school to upgrade your marks in an attempt to try to meet the conditions of your offer. You must let us know if you are planning to upgrade.

If you’re concerned that you may not meet the conditions, contact the Recruitment and Admissions office immediately to see what options exist. Students not meeting the conditions outlined in their offer letter will have their offer of admission revised to another program or rescinded.

Can I defer an offer of admission?

Sometimes circumstances arise that prevent you from enrolling at Laurier, in that case, a deferral of admission may be warranted. Deferrals are not guaranteed and may be granted for up to one full academic year.

Admissions Top Questions Video Series Application Process Parents of Prospective Students

Recruitment and Admissions

E: chooselaurier@wlu.ca
T: 548.889.8888
F: 519.884.0618