A student-focused Ontario university known for its business and economics programme, strong co-op options and tight-knit campus community.
Wilfrid Laurier University is a public university in Waterloo, Ontario, with a reputation for personal attention, student engagement and career-focused learning. It began as a Lutheran seminary and grew into a comprehensive university offering undergraduate, graduate and professional programs.
Laurier is especially well known for its Lazaridis School of Business and Economics, as well as for strengths in music, social work, science, communication studies and the social sciences. Many programs offer co-operative education or experiential learning, giving students paid work experience before they graduate.
Students often describe the school as friendly and spirited, with a strong sense of belonging. Its Waterloo campus sits in a compact, walkable part of the city, while its Brantford campus offers a smaller, community-oriented setting.
Tuition in CA$, 2026-2027
Students who live in Ontario apply for student aid through OSAP (the Ontario Student Assistance Program); students from other provinces apply through their own province’s program. A provincial application also covers the federal Canada Student Grants and Loans.
Laurier offers entrance scholarships, in-course awards and need-based bursaries to eligible students.
Tuition for 2026-27 from the school’s own published fees, for a typical first-year arts program, rounded. Ancillary fees, books and housing are extra. Confirm the current figure on Wilfrid Laurier University’s fee page.
Scholarship names and amounts are estimates and change every year; confirm them with Wilfrid Laurier University.
Applications to Wilfrid Laurier University go through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC).
Applicants usually need an Ontario secondary school diploma with six 4U or 4M courses, including English, plus any program-specific prerequisites. Some programs, such as music and business, require additional components like an audition or a supplementary application.
Ontario secondary school students apply through the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC), listing Laurier programs among their choices. Other applicants also apply through the OUAC, using the application route for their situation.
The admission average and deadline are estimates; confirm them with Wilfrid Laurier University and OUAC.
The main campus is in Waterloo, a mid-sized city in southwestern Ontario with a strong technology sector and a large student population. The Waterloo campus is compact and walkable, with easy access to shops, restaurants and public transit.
Laurier is known for a friendly, spirited campus where students take part in clubs, events and community activities. The Waterloo location offers a lively student atmosphere with plenty of places to eat, study and socialize nearby.
Laurier's varsity teams compete in Ontario University Athletics and U Sports.
Figures are estimates for exploration — verify current costs, deadlines, and requirements on the school’s official website.