To help students navigate the extraordinary circumstances caused by COVID-19, one-term deferrals to winter 2021 may be granted to students who were admitted to the fall 2020 term. The winter term starts in January.

Not all programs are available for winter deferrals due to their progression requirements. For these programs, you cannot begin studying in January because you would not be able to obtain all the necessary prerequisite courses to enrol in subsequent terms. Please see the deferral webpage to determine if your program accepts deferral requests for winter.

You must apply to defer by Aug. 1, 2020. We will email you if your deferral request has been approved or denied in early to mid-August. Please note that deferrals are not guaranteed.

Please see our deferral webpage for instructions and the rules of deferring.

We understand that circumstances may lead you to defer your offer of admission. The deadline to request a deferral for one year is Aug. 1, 2020. 

You can find Laurier’s deferral policy on our Admitted Students’ website. You must confirm your offer of admission before you can submit a request to defer. Please note that deferral requests are not guaranteed.

You should register in courses because deferrals are not guaranteed. Deferral requests for the fall 2020 and winter 2021 terms will not be reviewed until after the Aug. 1 deferral request deadline.

Course registration for incoming first-year students opens June 15, 2020 at 3 p.m. 

Laurier continues to assess applications.

Admission decisions are sent on a rolling basis and students will have a minimum of seven days to confirm their offer of admission. If more time is needed, please contact the Recruitment and Admissions office. Please ensure you have submitted all supporting documents so that we can assess your application.

We know there will be some circumstances that prevent applicants from providing updated grade information, which could result in a delayed offer of admission. In these cases, we will use what grade information is available and assess the applications on a case-by-case basis.

Laurier is still accepting applications for Fall 2020 admission. You are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, as programs are subject to close at any time on the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC) website.

We will continue to review key dates and deadlines to offer flexibility throughout the admission cycle to minimize the impact on your application. View a complete list of important dates and deadlines.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has created web resources on how COVID-19 is affecting visitors and students. Please see their website for ongoing updates.

Please also read our web resource on international study permits and COVID-19.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has created new provisions for international students who are applying for a Canadian study permit.

Please read the international study permits and COVID-19 web resource for important updates, including what to do if you are experiencing difficulty obtaining important documents for your study permit application due to COVID-19 closures.

We understand that you are facing many unknowns, such as when your school will re-open and how they will assess and determine your final grades. Laurier will make every effort to accommodate applicants.

We will accept what schools, institutions and other governing bodies (i.e. standardized testing services) provide as your final, official grades to ensure that students are able to enrol at Laurier. Consult our comprehensive resource on transcript delays and exam cancellations for curriculum-specific information and next steps.

If you have received an offer of admission:

We will accept what your institution sends us as your final, official grades in order to clear the conditions listed on your offer of admission.

If you haven’t received an admission decision:

We will accept what your institution sends us as your final, official grades in order to determine your eligibility for admission to Laurier.

If you receive any updated or midterm grades, please upload an unofficial copy in your LORIS account.

Submitting final transcripts:

You must ensure your school or institution sends us final, official copies of your documents by July 15, 2020; however, Laurier will provide flexibility if you require an extension. You should email chooselaurier@wlu.ca or international@wlu.ca if you are concerned your documents will be late. Then arrange to have your school or institution email us a digital copy to documentsubmission@wlu.ca. Documents received through this email address must come directly from a school official (the admissions team will review to verify that the email address is an official school email address) and these documents will be considered official.

Laurier will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and update key dates and deadlines. 

We will accept what schools, institutions and other governing bodies (i.e. standardized testing services) provide as your final, official grades in order to satisfy the conditions listed on your offer of admission.

For curriculum-specific updates, consult our comprehensive resource on transcript delays and exam cancellations.

If you are worried that your final, official transcripts will not arrive by the deadline stated in your offer letter, please email chooselaurier@wlu.ca. 

We understand that the COVID-19 situation affects applicants differently and that you may be experiencing prolonged difficulties. The well-being of future students is important to Laurier and we want to help students achieve their goal of attending university.

Laurier has a ‘Special Cases or Extenuating Circumstances’ review process. If recent or present circumstances have impacted your ability to achieve a strong academic standing, submit a personal statement to chooselaurier@wlu.ca or international@wlu.ca. It is your decision to disclose any supporting details.

Laurier’s undergraduate Recruitment and Admissions office is committed to assisting applicants whose ability to take an English proficiency test has been impacted by the closures of English language testing centres due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

If your first language is not English, you must provide evidence of your English proficiency to our Recruitment and Admissions office.

The following initiatives have been created to help applicants meet our English proficiency requirement.

• Students who are academically eligible for their program will receive an offer of admission that is conditional upon meeting Laurier’s English proficiency requirements.
• Laurier has extended the deadline for students to provide evidence of their English proficiency to Aug. 15, 2020.
• Laurier will accept the Duolingo English Test for fall 2020 admissions only. Visit their website to learn about the test and how to prepare. You must arrange to have your results sent directly by Duolingo to the Recruitment and Admissions office. The minimum DET score required is 115.

Continue to check this FAQ for ongoing updates.

How to Meet Laurier’s English Proficiency Requirement

• Submit a minimum score from a test of English proficiency.
• Take the Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL) Test online.
• Show proof of study in an English-language school system for at least three years.
• Register for the Laurier English and Academic Foundation (LEAF) program.

Current Ontario High School Applicants

Your grade information is completed by Ontario high school officials. If your grades have not been updated by the end of April, you should contact your guidance counsellor and ask them to update your grades. Your school and teachers should be communicating with you about how to update those marks as well.  

If you are taking courses at a school outside your “home” school, you are responsible for ensuring that this school submits the course information and all updates to your “home” school and to the OUAC. 

If the course information is missing from your application, you must contact that school and request that they submit the missing information to your “home” school and to the OUAC.

This information has been taken from the OUAC website.

All Other Applicants

LORIS is the official means to confirm if we have received your required documents. Please follow the online instructions that are outlined on our Required Documents webpage.

Any university credits that you received in winter 2020 with a grade of ‘pass’, ‘credit' or 'credit received’ will be assessed for transfer credit to Laurier. This transfer credit policy applies to winter 2020 only.

For all other terms, a minimum grade of 60% (equivalent to a Laurier C-) in the course is needed in order for transfer credit to count towards the course requirements for your Laurier major.

The Recruitment and Admissions office is still receiving mail. However, receipt of documents may be delayed. We recommend that you arrange to have your school or educational institution email us a digital copy of your mailed documents to documentsubmission@wlu.ca. Documents received through this email address must come directly from a school official (the admissions team will review to verify that the email address is an official school email address) and these documents will be considered official.

You are able to upload electronic copies of your transcripts or coursework electronically through your LORIS account. If you have the ability to submit an electronic copy, this will allow the admissions team to review your application in a more timely manner. Documents submitted through LORIS are considered unofficial.

Most courses will be offered online and virtually this fall. Laurier staff and faculty are working to identify aspects of programs and activities that can be delivered in person in accordance with public health requirements.

First-year students will not be required to be on campus in order to complete their fall term.

Staff and faculty are working on specific details of how this will look. We will keep future students informed of updates and continue to update incoming students.

Laurier is committed to offering access to students who are unable to travel to our campuses.

The Laurier 101 transition program is designed to support your needs as our incoming class. Before the fall term, we’ll provide help with course registration and access to our high-quality remote academic support services, including consultations and online workshops, to help you develop your academic skills. We’ll make sure that you have the information you need to stay connected with our supportive remote learning environment throughout your first year.

We are helping our faculty transform our online learning experience to support you with high-quality teaching that keeps you engaged and excited about the content you're learning. We have staff and advisors dedicated to supporting your academic needs as you adjust to remote learning. And for traditionally challenging courses that are now being offered fully online, we will offer appointments, workshops, and resources to support students.

We've created a resource hub filled with support services and golden ideas to help make your journey a little easier. Check out the top 5 ways you can prepare for a virtual fall term. 

Not only will you meet your classmates during virtual Laurier 101 activities, you will meet other students, faculty, and staff through social events and by accessing campus services.

Residence services will be offered for the fall and winter terms. We are working within public health guidelines to provide on-campus residential housing that meets social distancing standards, along with Residence Life and Education programming to support student learning transition, personal growth and success.

Laurier partnered with regional hospitals to offer temporary housing to healthcare workers and patients by utilizing campus residence buildings. Residences and rooms will be cleaned and sanitized before new students move in.

We will aim to offer an exceptional residence experience with the health and safety of our students being the top priority. We are still confirming details with public health and we will provide specific information as soon as it is confirmed. We know this information is critical for future students and we will update you as soon as possible.

The Department of Residence is accepting applications to live in residence on our Brantford and Waterloo campuses for the September 2020 – April 2021 academic year. The deadline to apply to live in residence is June 1, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Wilfrid Laurier University continues to respond to directives from Public Health related to the COVID-19 pandemic and is currently planning for the fall term. In the event that a request is made by the province to modify our service delivery model for a portion of the academic year, we will promptly notify all applicants and make any necessary adjustments to your application.

To ease the financial pressures felt by many at this time, Laurier’s Department of Residence is waiving the mandatory $600 residence deposit that we typically require when completing the residence application before the deadline of June 1, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

If you cancel your residence application after June 9, 2020 at 4 p.m., a $600 charge will be placed directly in your student account. This amount represents the residence deposit that is typically required when students apply for residence, but was waived during the initial application process.

Laurier guarantees residence to all undergraduate students attending a postsecondary institution for the first time. In the event that the university is instructed to implement physical distancing measures that significantly decrease our allowable occupant load in residence, we may be required to modify our residence guarantee policy to ensure that residents are living in a safe environment. We will promptly notify all applicants if there are changes to our service delivery model. Please note we cannot guarantee residence to students who defer their offer to January.

Students who decide to cancel their residence application for fall will be notified when the residence application for winter is open. An application for winter residence will open early this fall for students to apply. Please note we cannot guarantee residence to students who defer their offer to January.

Your well-being is foundational to a meaningful university experience. We will help you to build strong health and wellness habits through supports:

• Participate in wellness education workshops.
• Access virtual and in-person medical and personal care through the Student Wellness Centres.
• Engage in year-long mental health promotion activities and events and access support services. 

Laurier has an active community environment and we're working hard to ensure you feel connected to your university community from day one. 

Not only will you meet your classmates during virtual Laurier 101 activities, you will meet students, faculty and staff through social events and campus services.

Some initiatives include:

• A virtual gaming program for students to connect with each other and learn about the many ways to get involved and engaged at Laurier.
• Online social and academic connection opportunities including ‘new student chats,’ ‘Ask a Prof’ nights, mock lectures and ‘Ask a Hawk’ sessions.
• Community and Laurier spirit-building initiatives including the ‘It’s Great to Be a Laurier Golden Hawk’ video project.
• A bi-weekly newsletter to keep you updated with new and emerging information.
• Resources to help keep you active, including fitness classes you can do at home.

More updates will be made on an ongoing basis as new initiatives are planned.

The Laurier 101 transition programs are designed to engage and support your needs as our incoming class. More than that, you will experience a supportive academic learning environment throughout the year.

• Virtual Laurier 101 events and sessions focus on academic success strategies, connections with classmates, course registration support and information for parents/supporters.
• We offer help with course registration. Participate in a live registration webinar specific to your faculty and then have your course registration checked by an academic advisor (to ensure you are enrolled in the courses you need).
• Learn strategies for academic success. We will use all avenues of virtual delivery to ensure that you get the high-quality academic support you need, including workshops to help you develop your academic skills.
• Change to remote delivery for existing academic supports, including math and writing support, academic advising and accessible learning.

Laurier is actively planning for the fall term and the Laurier Deans of Students have a message for incoming students. We encourage you to watch their video to new Golden Hawks and hear Laurier's student experience promise.

As announced by Ontario University Athletics (OUA), OUA-sanctioned sport programming and championships up to Dec. 31, 2020 are cancelled. Learn more about the cancellation on the OUA website.

For the latest updates from Laurier's Department of Athletics and Recreation, see the athletics COVID-19 Update page.

Due to the unfolding situation regarding COVID-19, and our concern for the well-being of our visitors, campus tours and events have been cancelled. Campus buildings are closed to visitors until further notice.

Laurier will monitor the situation and post updates to the Tours and Events webpage.

We launched a virtual Laurier experience to bring our campuses to you! And it’s much more than just tours (but we have those, too!). Access these resources from anywhere at any time.

Highlights include:

• virtual reality tours
• weekly video podcasts episodes
• opportunities to talk to current students
• webinars on admissions
• and more!

Sign up for upcoming webinars and access past webinar recordings on our Laurier @Home Webinars webpage. Select a webinar that interests you to access the video recordings.

Laurier's student life specialists are creating weekly podcast episodes on student life at Laurier. Access the recordings on our Laurier @Home webpage.