Systems Design Engineering at Waterloo: Admission Average
University of Waterloo · Waterloo, ON
What average do you need for Systems Design Engineering at Waterloo?
Systems Design Engineering at University of Waterloo typically admits students with averages in the low-to-mid 90s, roughly 88–94%. It ranks #3 of 18 Waterloo programs by admission average.
Interdisciplinary engineering, design-focused. Very unique program.
How competitive is it?
Waterloo is the only university we track that offers Systems Design Engineering under this name.
As a rough guide, 94% or higher is above the typical range, 88% up to 94% is inside it, and 84% up to 88% 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.
Typical high school prerequisites
- English
- Advanced Functions
- Calculus & Vectors
- Physics
- Chemistry
First-year courses
- Calculus
- Linear Algebra
- Physics
- Programming
- Engineering Design
These are typical for Systems Design Engineering programs across Canada. About the Systems Design Engineering degree
After a Systems Design Engineering degree
Systems Design Engineering usually takes 4 years.
- Software Engineer – $85,000 to $180,000+
- Mechanical Engineer – $70,000 to $140,000
- AI / Machine Learning Engineer – $95,000 to $200,000+
- SysDE is one of the most unique engineering programs in the world - it genuinely can't be replicated at other schools.
- Strong for product design, UX engineering, and autonomous systems roles.
- The breadth of the degree sometimes means less depth than specialised programs - know what you want.
Applying to Waterloo
What Systems Design Engineering asks for besides your marks
- Admission Information Form (AIF), Engineering: due February 1, 2027. Required; five questions of up to 150 words each, completed once in the Waterloo applicant portal after you apply through OUAC. Official page
- Engineering online video interview: due February 1, 2027. Waterloo's admissions pages list it as required for all Engineering programs; the link appears in your portal checklist within 24 hours of first logging in. Official page
From Waterloo's admissions pages, checked October 2026.
The University of Waterloo is Canada's most respected technology and engineering university, and operates the world's largest post-secondary co-op program. It places more graduates at top global tech companies than any other Canadian school. Admission is highly selective, and the academic culture is intensely demanding - Waterloo attracts and produces some of Canada's sharpest technical minds. The AIF (Admission Information Form) is a critical part of every application and is read carefully.
University of Waterloo is in Waterloo, ON, was founded in 1957 and has about 42,000 students. Domestic tuition is about $6,300 a year, co-op is available and first-year residence is guaranteed.
Deadlines: OUAC (Ontario) January 15.
- The AIF (Admission Information Form) is extremely important - Waterloo reads every word. Be specific and genuine.
- A strong CCC score (especially Senior) meaningfully improves CS/Math admission chances.
- Euclid contest scores are reviewed for Math and CS applicants.
Other Waterloo programs
- Computer Science – high 90s (95-98%+)
- Software Engineering – high 90s (94-97%+)
- Computer Engineering – low-to-mid 90s
- Electrical Engineering – low-to-mid 90s
- Mechanical Engineering – low 90s
- Management Engineering – low 90s
- Biomedical Engineering – high 90s
- Nanotechnology Engineering – low-to-mid 90s
- Mathematics – high 80s-low 90s
- Computing & Financial Management – mid-to-high 90s
- Actuarial Science – high 80s-low 90s
- Statistics – high 80s
- Accounting & Financial Mgmt – low 90s
- Honours Economics – high 80s
- Kinesiology – high 80s
- Environmental Engineering – low 90s
- Architecture – high 80s