Wilfrid Laurier University is a mid-sized university located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, and for more than 110 years, has premier destination for students from around the world. Every year, we are proud to welcome international students into our inclusive, friendly community that celebrates culture and diversity. Our commitment to purposeful learning ensures you will graduate with the academic knowledge and hands-on experience you need to leave your mark on the world. In our campus communities, the communities we live, learn and work in, and our global community, Laurier builds meaningful connections that have a lasting impact.

Our programs in business and economics, arts, science, liberal arts, human and social sciences, and social work will help you launch your career by giving you real-world experience as part of your studies. You’ll grow culturally, too: There are dozens of student clubs and groups on campus, and you’ll meet other students from Canada and around the world who share your interests and experiences. Laurier offers a truly Canadian experience in a community that inspires a world of difference.

You can download a digital copy of Laurier’s international student viewbook (available in English and Chinese) or submit a request to have a printed copy mailed to you.

Open House: In-Person and Virtual Events
Join us for our fall Open House, where we’re hosting in-person events on our campuses as well as virtual events throughout the fall.

Waterloo Campus Open House is on Saturday, Nov. 5. Brantford Campus Open House is on Saturday, Nov. 12. Our virtual Open House event is on Wednesday, Nov. 2. See our Open House page for more information on in-person and virtual events, including how to register.

Laurier offers a unique blend of traditional and innovative undergraduate programs on our Waterloo campus. Students studying in Waterloo can take programs from the following faculties: Arts, Science, Music, Education, and the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics. We are committed to academic excellence and our approach to teaching brings classroom learning into the outside world, providing you with both the theory and experience you need for success.

At Laurier, our community culture is at the core of who we are and what we do. From day one, you will feel welcomed and encouraged to find your place in the many faculties, clubs, teams and associations we have to offer.

We also offer our students the Laurier Experience Record, the first of its kind in Canada. The experience record is an interactive, shareable and official record of your hands-on learning opportunities, both in and out of the classroom, that you can share with potential employers to show the skills and experience you gained by engaging in Laurier’s student life activities on campus and in the community.

Laurier has 17 residence buildings on the Waterloo campus and six residence buildings on the Brantford campus. In Waterloo, residences are either dormitory-style or apartment-style and in Brantford, residences are all apartment-style. Residence is guaranteed for first-year students who submit their application and deposit by the deadline. You can see tours of our residence buildings on our YouTube channel and find more information on residence buildings, residence living and application deadlines at wlu.ca/residence.

Students looking to live off campus can view rental listings at places4students.com, an off-campus housing website that specializes in providing students, schools and landlords with a quality rental property listing service.

To help with the transition to university, Laurier offers Laurier 101, a collection of programs specifically tailored to incoming international students, to provide support from the time students accept their offer until their first week of classes and beyond. Online programming includes course registration webinars, International Headstart and Online Summer Orientation. In-person programming includes International Orientation and Orientation Week, which consist of social activities, academic information sessions, opportunities to talk to campus staff and engagement with other incoming Laurier students.

The Career Development Centre provides assistance and guidance to all Laurier students and alumni, and has programming tailored to the specific needs of international students, including a career consultant dedicated to supporting international students. Through the Career Centre, students can get help with resumés, cover letters and interview skills; learn job search tips and techniques; attend workshops on career development; attend networking events with professionals and alumni; and attend various career and job fairs, including the largest career fair in Canada.

On the Waterloo campus, fitness and recreation facilities are available to all students, and access to the campus fitness centres is included in tuition. The Athletic Complex facilities include weights and cardio equipment; an Olympic-length pool; a rock-climbing wall; squash courts; a triple gym; and four dance and fitness studios. Alumni Field has a FIFA-certified artificial surface for intramural sports and club teams, while University Stadium is home to football, soccer, rugby and lacrosse.At the varsity sports level, there are 13 different varsity sports, for men and women, and every team (except football) holds open tryouts each year.

On the Brantford campus, students have the option of participating in extramural sports, offered through Ontario Collegiate Recreation, playing alongside other colleges and universities. Current extramural sports include: co-ed dodgeball; co-ed volleyball; men’s basketball; women’s basketball; men’s hockey; and women’s hockey.

In Waterloo, our intramural program offers a variety of sports and athletes of all levels are welcome to participate. You can sign up for intramural sports each semester and games are played throughout the semester. Our intramural teams can be men’s, women’s or co-ed teams, and you can register as part of a team or as a free agent, available to play on any team. Club sports are run by students for students, and there are more than 20 different club sports available.

In Brantford, fitness and recreation facilities are available to students at the Laurier Brantford YMCA, a new 120,000-square-foot complex, which includes: an aquatics centre; a fitness centre; large studios for group fitness classes; strength-training equipment; a student lounge; and multipurpose spaces for social, educational and cultural programming. Access to the YMCA is included in student fees.

Laurier offers more than 250 student-led clubs and associations, with 5,000 active members, as well as faculty and program associations, which consist of student representatives of the faculties and programs offered on campus. The wide variety of clubs and associations provide endless opportunities for student engagement, and if a certain club does not exist, students are able to start one themselves.

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) offer online services to help make student life at Laurier easier. All registered students are assigned a MyLaurier email address, which will be used for all official communication with the university. Wifi is available on both campuses and internet services are available in all residence buildings. Computer labs on both campuses are available to all registered students, with some faculties and departments maintaining computer labs exclusively for their own students. The Laptop Loaner Program gives students access to a loaner laptop (either a PC or Mac) for up to 14 days.

In Waterloo, the Robert Langen Art Gallery is the university’s visual arts centre and develops exhibitions, artist lectures and arts-related events with a variety of practitioners. The Maureen Forrester Recital Hall is the main performance space for Laurier’s Faculty of Music and regularly presents performances and concerts for the Laurier community. Laurier International provides a variety of cultural programming and events, such as Diwali and Lunar New Year celebrations. The various student-led clubs and associations also offer a variety of social and cultural activities.

In the community, you can explore one of Waterloo Region’s many museums, visit historical buildings each September during Doors Open, take part in a historic tour or visit the St. Jacob’s Market, home of the country’s largest farmers’ market.

In Brantford, there are a variety of culturally focused student-led clubs and organizations active on the Brantford campus, as well as cultural celebrations such as Diwali, Lunar New Year and the annual Multicultural Gala. Students are encouraged to share and celebrate their culture and support is available from a variety of departments.

Advising and support services are available to all students at Laurier. Student success programs include assistance with mathematics, study skills and writing development, and are delivered in small group settings or through one-on-one consultations. Academic advising is available to help students navigate their program, overcome academic challenges and to help plan for the future, both academically and professionally. The Accessible Learning Centre provides support to students with documented disabilities to help them reach their full academic potential. Through Laurier International, International Student Advisors are available to assist students with immigration needs, academic transition, and cultural transition and engagement.

The Student Wellness Centre provides all students with physical, mental and emotional wellness support, and offers programs that focus on overall student wellbeing, including nutrition, exercise and sleep. The Special Constable Service prioritizes student safety with 24-hour campus patrols and video surveillance of many campus buildings. The Foot Patrol program, offered on both campuses, is provided by student volunteers and ensures students get home safely. The SAFEHawk app connects students with Special Constables and Foot Patrol, as well as provides other safety and wellness information.

Martin Luther University College, located in Waterloo.

Laurier has exchange agreements with 70 institutions in 25 countries around the world, and students can study abroad for a semester or a year. Students can also study abroad through faculty-led programs abroad, which are short-term international excursions led by Laurier faculty. Other international opportunities include the Alternative Reading Week, where students spend the winter reading week on a build in El Salvador, and the Summer Leadership Experience in China. The Laurier-Ghana Partnership sees Laurier students spend a summer in Ghana on an internship, while scholars from Ghana come to Laurier to study.

Visitors are always welcome to Laurier, and our Welcome Centres and ambassadors would be happy to share more about our campuses and community.

To arrange a campus tour in Waterloo, contact the Welcome Centre at 519.884.0710 x2157 or email waterlootours@wlu.ca.

To arrange a campus tour in Brantford, contact the Welcome Centre at 519.756.8228 x5693 or email brantfordtours@wlu.ca.

You can also view our campuses with our Virtual Reality tours.