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Transfer Student Requirements

Transfer Student Requirements

If you already attended or currently attend a postsecondary institution before applying to Laurier, you are considered a transfer student.

Your previous education experience is evaluated on:

  • The applicability of your previous program to your chosen Laurier program.
  • The relevance of the courses you’ve taken.
  • Your academic achievement.

Transfer Credits

Transfer credits are granted by the university in recognition of the work you’ve completed at another postsecondary institution. Review the requirements for transfer credit eligibility.

Basic Academic Requirements

  • Completion of the required high school courses or an approved college or university equivalent. Program admission requirements are listed on each program page.
  • Present the minimum overall average found in the charts below, from your most recently completed postsecondary education.
  • If you do not have the right high school prerequisite for your program, we may be able to use a college course that covers the same content as the prerequisite. To have your college courses evaluated for this, after you have submitted your application via the OUAC, please email your course outline to chooselaurier@wlu.ca. Minimum grade requirements will still need to be met. 

Transferring from College

Minimum Admission Average

  • All programs require a Grade 12 university-level English at a minimum of 60% (some programs may require a higher grade). In many cases, Canadian College Diplomas include a course equivalent to Grade 12 university-level English.
Requirements for College Transfer Students

Highest Education Obtained

Minimum Admission Average1

Completed first year of a college program.
  • 70% for part-time studies in a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) or Bachelor of Design (BDes) program;
  • 75% for part-time studies in a Bachelor of Science (BSc) program;
  • 75% for full-time studies in a BA, BASc or BDes program;
  • 80% for all other programs (excluding competitive programs listed below).
  • 80% for studies in Economics (BA) programs, LLB (Sussex) + BA programs and LLB (Sussex + BSc programs)

Completed a two-year diploma, two years in a three-year advanced diploma, or a three-year advanced diploma.
  • 70% for all Brantford campus programs; or
  • 75% for all Waterloo campus programs
  • 80% for studies in Economics (BA) programs, LLB (Sussex) + BA programs and LLB (Sussex + BSc programs)

1. Possession of the minimum admission average does not guarantee admission. Unless otherwise noted, you are considered for admission into full-time studies.

College Pathways and Articulations

If you are applying from an Ontario college, you may qualify for admission through a pathway or articulation agreement between Laurier and your college. Depending on your program, you could receive up to 10 credits (approximately two years of study) towards your degree.

Competitive Programs

The following programs are considered competitive and require outstanding academic achievement in college courses and the required high school courses to be admissible. Space for transfer students is subject to availability based on the number and calibre of applicants. All applications will be reviewed by the Admission Committee.

Admission Requirements for Competitive Programs

Laurier Program

Minimum Overall Average of College Courses

High School Requirements or Equivalents

Additional Admission Notes

Business Administration (BBA)

Low 90s
  • Overall high school average of high 80s.
  • 70% in a 4U English.
  • 70% in 4U Advanced Functions.
  • 60% in one of 4U Calculus and Vectors or 4U Data Management.
  • Required courses included in admission average.
  • September entry only, to first year.
  • Faculty review for admission.

Business Administration (BBA) and Computer Science (BSc)*

Low 90s
  • Overall high school average of low 90s.
  • English at 70%.
  • Advanced Functions at 75%.
  • Calculus and Vectors at 75%.
  • All prerequisite courses calculated in admissions average.
  • September entry only, to first year.
  • Faculty review for admission.

Business Administration (BBA) and Financial Math (BA)*

Low 90s
  • Overall high school average of low 90s.
  • English at 70%.
  • Advanced Functions at 80%.
  • Calculus and Vectors at 80%.
  • All prerequisite courses calculated in admissions average.
  • September entry only, to first year.
  • Faculty review for admission.

Business Technology Management (BBTM)

Low 80s
  • Overall high school average of high 80s.
  • 70% in a 4U English.
  • 70% in either 4U Advanced Functions or 4U Calculus & Vector.
  • Faculty review for admission.

Health Sciences (BSc)

Low 80s
  • Overall high school average of mid 80s.
  • 60% in a 4U English.
  • 60% in 4U Biology.
  • 60% in 4U Chemistry.
  • 60% in 4U Advanced Functions.
  • Required courses included in admission average.
  • September entry only.
  • Faculty review for admission.

Kinesiology (BKin)

Low 80s
  • Overall high school average of mid 80s.
  • 60% in a 4U English.
  • 70% in 4U Biology.
  • 60% in one of 3U/M Functions and Relations or a 4U Math.
  • English and Biology included in admission average.
  • September entry only.
  • Faculty review for admission.

Music (BMus)

Low 70s
  • Overall high school average of 75%.
  • English at 60%.
  • Audition.
  • Theory and ear-training test.
  • Interview and reference letters.
  • September entry only.
  • Faculty review for admission.

Social Work (BSW)

Mid-High 80s
  • 60% in a 4U English.
  • September entry only.
  • Faculty review for admission.
  • Pathways exist for graduates of the Social Service Work (SSW) and Child and Youth Care (CYC) programs, from accredited Canadian colleges. Visit our Social Work program page for more information.

*Transfer students are eligible for the Laurier-only double degree programs. They are ineligible for admission to the Laurier and University of Waterloo (UW) double degree programs. You must be attending postsecondary for the first time to be eligible for admission to the double degree programs with UW.

Transferring from University

Minimum Admission Average

  • Minimum overall average for admission to full time studies is 70%.
  • A higher admission average is required for some programs.
  • Applicants with an average of 69% and below can be considered for part-time studies.
  • If you have been required to withdraw from a university, specific admissions criteria applies. Review the "Students Required to Withdraw from Another University" section of our admission requirements.

Competitive Programs

Space for transfer students is limited in the following competitive-entry programs and admission is based on the number of competitive applications and available spaces in the program. It is likely that a higher grade than stated is required for admission.

Admission Requirements for Competitive Programs

Laurier Program

Minimum Overall Average of University Courses

High School Requirements

Additional Admission Notes

Business Administration (BBA)

Low 80s
  • Overall high school average of high 80s.
  • 70% in a 4U English.
  • 70% in 4U Advanced Functions.
  • 60% in one of 4U Calculus and Vectors or 4U Data Management.
  • Required courses included in admission average.
  • September entry only, to first year.
  • Faculty review for admission.
  • Students who have already completed an undergraduate degree are not eligible for this program.

Business Administration (BBA) and Computer Science (BSc)*

Low 90s
  • Overall high school average of low 90s.
  • English at 70%.
  • Advanced Functions at 75%.
  • Calculus and Vectors at 75%.
  • All prerequisite courses calculated in admissions average.
  • September entry only, to first year.
  • Faculty review for admission.

Business Administration (BBA) and Financial Math (BA)*

Low 90s
  • Overall high school average of low 90s.
  • English at 70%.
  • Advanced Functions at 80%.
  • Calculus and Vectors at 80%.
  • All prerequisite courses calculated in admissions average.
  • September entry only, to first year.
  • Faculty review for admission.

Business Technology Management (BBTM)

Low 70s
  • Overall high school average of high 80s.
  • 70% in a 4U English.
  • 70% in either 4U Advanced Functions or 4U Calculus & Vector.
  • Faculty review for admission.

Health Sciences (BSc)

Low 80s
  • Overall high school average of mid 80s.
  • 60% in a 4U English.
  • 60% in 4U Biology.
  • 60% in 4U Chemistry.
  • 60% in 4U Advanced Functions.
  • Required courses included in admission average.
  • September entry only.
  • Faculty review for admission.

Kinesiology (BKin)

Low 80s
  • Overall high school average of mid 80s.
  • 60% in a 4U English.
  • 70% in 4U Biology.
  • 60% in one of 3U/M Functions and Relations or a 4U Math.
  • English and Biology included in admission average.
  • September entry only.
  • Faculty review for admission.

Music (BMus)

Low 70s
  • Overall high school average of 75%.
  • English at 60%.
  • Audition.
  • Theory and ear-training test.
  • Interview and reference letters.
  • September entry only.
  • Faculty review for admission.

Social Work (BSW)

High 80s
  • 60% in a 4U English.
  • September entry only.
  • Faculty review for admission.
  • Students who have already completed an undergraduate degree are not eligible for this program.

*Transfer students are eligible for the Laurier-only double degree programs. They are ineligible for admission to the Laurier and University of Waterloo (UW) double degree programs. You must be attending postsecondary for the first time to be eligible for admission to the double degree programs with UW.

Contact Us:

Recruitment and Admissions

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

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