Political Science at Laurier: Admission Average
Wilfrid Laurier University · Waterloo, ON
What average do you need for Political Science at Laurier?
Political Science at Wilfrid Laurier University typically admits students with averages in the high 70s-80s, roughly 78–89%. It ranks #7 of 11 Laurier programs by admission average.
Good for law school and public policy careers.
How competitive is it?
Of the 21 universities we track that offer it, 17 ask for a higher average and 1 asks for a lower average.
As a rough guide, 89% or higher is above the typical range, 78% up to 89% is inside it, and 74% up to 78% is a reach. Cut-offs move every year, so apply to a mix of schools.
Ontario applicants are assessed on their top six Grade 12 U/M courses, including the program's prerequisites. Work out yours with the Best 6 calculator.
Political Science at other universities
- McGill University – high 80s
- Carleton University – mid 80s
- Brock University – mid 80s
- University of Windsor – mid-to-high 80s
- University of British Columbia – mid-to-high 80s (BC) / high 80s (OOP)
- Simon Fraser University – mid-to-high 80s
- University of Victoria – mid-to-high 80s
- University of Northern BC – mid 80s
- Concordia University – mid 80s
- Université de Montréal – mid-to-high 80s
- Bishop's University – mid 80s
- Dalhousie University – mid-to-high 80s
- Acadia University – mid-to-high 80s
- St. Francis Xavier University – mid-to-high 80s
- University of Winnipeg – mid-to-high 80s
- University of New Brunswick – mid 80s
- Mount Allison University – mid-to-high 80s
- Western University – high 70s-80s
- University of Ottawa – high 70s-low 80s
- York University – high 70s
Typical high school prerequisites
- English
- One additional U/M course
- History or Law (recommended)
First-year courses
- Introduction to Politics
- Canadian Government
- Comparative Politics
- Research Methods
- International Relations
These are typical for Political Science programs across Canada. About the Political Science degree
After a Political Science degree
Political Science usually takes 4 years.
- Lawyer – $70,000 to $300,000+
- Policy Analyst / Public Servant – $65,000 to $130,000
- Diplomat / Foreign Service Officer – $75,000 to $160,000
- Crown Attorney / Prosecutor – $75,000 to $160,000
- Political science does not determine law school admission - your GPA and LSAT score are what matter.
- Ottawa and Queen's are particularly strong for students wanting federal government careers.
- Model UN, debate, and student government are the most relevant extracurriculars for this degree.
Applying to Laurier
What Political Science asks for besides your marks
- Applicant Background Summary (ABS) form (optional): due April 25, 2027. Optional but highly recommended extracurricular form in the Laurier applicant portal, submitted once for all programs. Official page
From Laurier's admissions pages, checked October 2026.
Wilfrid Laurier University shares the city of Waterloo with the University of Waterloo, which creates a unique dual-university ecosystem. Laurier is known for its Lazaridis School of Business, one of Ontario's more respected business programs, and for an excellent music program. The campus has a notably close-knit community feel and strong school spirit.
Wilfrid Laurier University is in Waterloo, ON, was founded in 1911 and has about 21,000 students. Domestic tuition is about $6,100 a year, co-op is available and first-year residence is guaranteed.
Deadlines: OUAC (Ontario) January 15.
- The Laurier/Waterloo Double Degree (BBA/BMath) is one of the most sought-after dual degrees in Canadian business - very competitive.
- Laurier's tight community feel is a genuine differentiator from larger schools - students consistently cite belonging as a strength.
- Being in Waterloo means co-op placements benefit from one of Canada's densest tech ecosystems.
Other Laurier programs
- Business Administration (BBA) – high 80s
- Business & Computing (BBA/CS) – high 80s-low 90s
- Computer Science – high 80s
- Financial Mathematics – high 80s
- Music – Audition-based
- Psychology – high 80s
- Social Work (BSW) – high 70s-80s
- Communication Studies – high 70s-80s
- Criminology – high 70s-80s
- Kinesiology – high 80s
- Education (BEd) – mid 70s