Letters of Permission (Outgoing)
A Letter of Permission allows a student to take courses at another university that may be considered for credit towards their degree at their home university, subject to faculty or program approval and regulations.
Waterloo students looking to take course(s) at another university should complete the outgoing Letter of Permission Application and obtain approval from their academic advisor in advance of the application deadline at the host institution. See faculty sections for specific information regarding courses taken on Letter of Permission.
Cross-Registration with Wilfrid Laurier University
Undergraduate degree students enrolled in a degree program at the University of Waterloo may take advantage of courses offered by Wilfrid Laurier University through a process called cross-registration. Post- and non-degree students are normally not eligible to enrol and should consult with the Office of the Registrar before proceeding.
Waterloo students who are registered in an academic plan that routinely uses courses at Laurier will be able to enrol in those courses via Quest. Students in other plans, or who wish to cross-register in other courses, must carefully follow the instructions on the Undergraduate Studies Cross-Registration Form before submitting their request to the Office of the Registrar. All cross-registration requests are subject to the approval of the student's academic advisor and space availability. Normally, approval will not be given to requests where the equivalent course is available at the home university.
Students must pay all fees at Waterloo regardless of the number of courses taken by cross-registration. The prerequisites for courses and grading system of Laurier apply. Grades are reported to Waterloo based on the Laurier grading system and are combined with the results of the student's other courses to complete their academic record. A student's overall academic standing is determined solely by Waterloo. See faculty sections for specific information regarding courses taken by cross-registration at Laurier.
For cross-registered students: Regulations concerning the dates for adding a course are governed by the host institution; regulations concerning the dates for dropping a course, as well as petitions, are governed by the student's home institution. Students should be careful to note the grading system, drop/add deadlines, and examination schedules of each university as they may not coincide. Detailed instructions are available on the cross-registration form.
Student Exchange Programs (Outgoing)
The University of Waterloo offers students opportunities for academic and personal growth in different cultural environments through numerous student exchange programs in over 25 countries. These programs permit students to live and study at participating universities for one or two terms and have their academic credits count toward their University of Waterloo degree.
Waterloo students who wish to be considered for a Waterloo-approved exchange program are normally required to be enrolled in full-time studies, have at least second-year standing, and be in good academic standing. Approval of both the academic advisor and appropriate exchange program co-ordinator is required.
Under the terms of most student exchanges, Waterloo students pay tuition fees to the University of Waterloo, exempting students from fees at the host institution. Some exchange programs are faculty or department specific, while others are open to students in all faculties. Students who qualify for financial assistance while studying in Canada will normally maintain eligibility while studying abroad. Application deadlines vary.
Find out more about exchange programs.