Becoming a Golden Hawk means more than just cheering on our (really good) varsity teams – it means being a student who cares about your community, who works hard in the classroom, and who takes advantage of all the learning opportunities that can happen outside the classroom, too.
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To be admissible to Laurier, you must meet both the basic requirements for admission and your program’s specific admission requirements. Program admission requirements are listed on each program page.
Possession of the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. After you apply, find out how you can strengthen your application.
How we calculate your admission average depends on the program to which you are applying. All Science programs, BBA programs (including Double Degrees), and Economics programs include required courses as a part of your admission average. All other programs calculate your admission average using your top six 4U/M courses (or equivalent).
If your program includes required courses as part of your admission average, it is stated in the admission requirements section on the program page.
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. (Required courses are listed in your program's admission requirements). 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.
Laurier accepts courses taken online and outside of day school for admission consideration. These courses must be accredited by your governing ministry of education.
If recent or present circumstances have impacted your ability to achieve a strong academic standing, you may submit a personal statement to the Recruitment and Admissions office.
Laurier ranked #1 for course instructors in Maclean's University Rankings (2018, 2017).
Review our Canadian course equivalents chart to find approved course equivalents for the Ontario curriculum.
If you are completing an International Baccalaureate diploma, review our international curriculums section for your requirements.
If you are taking IB courses along with another curriculum, your application is assessed using your entire academic record.
You may receive transfer credits (up to the equivalent of six courses), depending on your program.
To be eligible for transfer credits:
If you are taking AP courses along with another curriculum, your application is assessed using your entire academic record.
You may receive transfer credits (up to the equivalent of six courses), depending on your program.
To be eligible for transfer credits:
Laurier accepts all curriculums for admission consideration. If you do not see your curriculum listed on this page, review our international curriculum admission requirements by region.
If you have ever attended a postsecondary institution, you are considered a transfer student. Review admission requirements specifically for transfer students.
Courses you have satisfactorily completed at another accredited institution are considered for transfer credits if they meet the minimum grade requirements.
You can declare that you have an Indigenous background, heritage or ancestry when you apply to university.
This information is confidential. If you self-identify as an Indigenous student, the Office of Indigenous Initiatives will contact you about the services available to you specifically as an Indigenous student.
If your admission average is below the minimum admission average required for your program (to a minimum of 70%), you may be eligible for admission through Laurier’s Undergraduate Indigenous Admission Policy. To be considered for admission, provide a written personal statement outlining your work experience, achievements, educational goals and why you believe you will be successful in postsecondary studies.
After you apply, email your personal statement, which can be written in essay format, to indigenous@wlu.ca.
Laurier has an admissions policy specifically for adult students who do not meet the minimum requirements for admission and who have never attended a postsecondary institution. If you have ever attended a postsecondary institution before applying to Laurier, you are considered a transfer student.
You are considered for admission as an adult student if you meet one of the following conditions:
Adult students are normally admitted to part-time studies into a general Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BSc) program without designation (no subject of major interest). You will be required to maintain a minimum C- average (a 4.0-grade point average) in your first eight courses (or 4.0 credits) to continue at the university.
You can register in a maximum of two courses (1.0 credit) per term at the start of your studies. After you complete your first term, you can apply to register in more than 1.0 credit by contacting Service Laurier.
If you would like to be considered for full-time studies in the future, upon completion of 2.0 credits (equivalent to 4 courses), you must submit a Request for Full-Time Studies form. Minimum progression requirements must be met, and some programs may require a higher academic standing.
You will be considered for admission at the discretion of the faculties. You must submit satisfactory documentation of independent evidence of academic achievement.
You must submit transcripts from your homeschool program and a second assessment from one of the following:
In addition to the above assessments, you must submit a personal statement outlining your volunteer experience, extracurricular activities and why you are interested in attending Laurier.
If you are 60 years old or older, you can be admitted to part-time studies regardless of your previous academic background. You can register in courses for credit or register as an audit student. As an audit student, you take courses without receiving academic credit.
Applications for full-time studies are assessed on an individual basis.
Your tuition fees will be waived if you’re 60 years of age by the start date of lectures. Incidental fees are still required to be paid.
The Laurier Association for Lifelong Learning (LALL) is a unique option for adult learning. Courses are non-credit and are intended for personal interest and self-education. The distinction between a LALL course and a university course is that LALL courses have no exams, no grading and no prerequisites.
If you’ve been required to withdraw from another postsecondary institution, you can apply for admission to Laurier one year (12 months) after the date you were asked to withdraw. Admission is at the discretion of the Admissions office and is not guaranteed.
You must complete academic upgrading to be considered for admission:
If admitted, you can enrol in part-time studies on academic probation.
Laurier has partnered with World Education Services (WES) to offer the Gateway Program to international student applicants who don’t have standard proof of their academic achievement due to adverse circumstances in their country of education.
Through the Gateway Program, WES can reliably assess and validate the education of international applicants who have been displaced by political unrest, conflict or natural disasters, and who don’t have complete, verified documents.
As a partner with WES, Laurier recognizes credential evaluation completed through the WES Gateway Program.
To participate in the program, you will need to be referred by a designated partner insitution. Laurier is a designated partner institution and can refer you.
If you have received your education in one of the following countries, you are eligible for credential evaluation through the Gateway Program:
You will need to have been issued at least one piece of credible evidence by your education institution, such as:
Once WES receives the request for credential evaluation, it will take approximately 15 business days to complete. Business days run from Monday to Friday.
To participate in the program, you will need to be referred by a designated partner institution. Laurier is a designated partner institution and can refer you.
For more information or for next steps, contact Jennifer Williams, Admissions Coordinator, at jennwilliams@wlu.ca.
Contact Us:
Recruitment and Admissions
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