Named in honour of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the seventh Prime Minister of Canada, Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU) has been around for over 100 years. Founded in 1911, Laurier began as a seminary for theological studies. Today, it has over 15,000 full-time students and was ranked #1 for overall student satisfaction in Maclean’s 2019 annual university rankings.
To help give a better idea of what WLU offers, today we’re answering some of the most common questions we’ve been asked about Laurier. It’s our hope these answers will give international students what they need to decide if Laurier is the right school for them!
Where is Wilfrid Laurier University?
Laurier’s largest campus is in Waterloo, Ontario. In fact, 16,000 of Laurier’s 19,000 graduate and undergraduate students are enrolled at this campus! The Waterloo campus is where you will find the Faculties of Arts, Music, Science, Education, and Graduate Studies. The Lazaridis School of Business and Economics is also located at the Waterloo campus.
Wilfrid Laurier University’s other major campus is located in Brantford, about an hour’s drive from Waterloo. Laurier Brantford enrols about 3,000 students and specializes in Liberal Arts and Human and Social Sciences. Both campuses are located in or near downtown cores, with quick access to many trails, restaurants, and other services.
Additionally, Laurier has several smaller locations spread around Ontario:
- Kitchener: Lyle S. Hallman Faculty of Social Work
- Milton: Laurier and Conestoga College have partnered on the Milton campus, with classes beginning in 2019.
- Toronto: Find Laurier on the ground floor of The Exchange Tower at King and York Streets. It’s a connector between the Greater Toronto Region (GTA) and the other Laurier campuses.
- The Lazaridis School also offers graduate programming in Toronto’s financial district. More than 250 MBA and MFin students enrol at “part-time alternate weekend programs” at Vantage Venues.
How much does it cost to study there?
Tuition costs vary by program, but in 2019, international students paid an average of C$24,132 per year for undergraduate studies.
Can international students work while they study at Laurier?
Yes! The International Student Work Experience Program is available to students who meet the eligibility criteria. This program offers on-campus work experience for international students at Laurier’s Waterloo and Brantford campuses. Through the program, you will develop skills and gain work experience to help with your future career development.
To find out if you qualify, check out the list of requirements on Laurier’s official website.
Does Laurier offer financial aid?
You bet! Laurier has several forms of financial aid for international students. The first are entrance scholarships, which range from C$1,000 to C$2,000, depending on your academic standing. If eligible, you’ll receive this scholarship when you receive an offer of admission. Entrance scholarships are based solely on your grades. Students are automatically considered for entrance scholarships, so there’s no need to apply separately.
Starting in year two of your undergrad, you can also qualify for in-course scholarships. These are valued at C$500 to C$1,500 annually and can be earned each year until you finish your degree. Students with outstanding marks can also receive the President’s Gold Scholarship. This award’s value is C$5,000, but you need an average of 95% or higher to qualify.
Interested in studying in Ontario? Check out scholarships open to international students on our blog.
Is their football team any good?
Wilfrid Laurier’s football team, the Golden Hawks, have had a bitter rivalry with Western University’s Mustangs for many years. Western ends up beating Laurier most years, but the Golden Hawks did beat the Mustangs in the 2016 Yates Cup.
In short, Laurier has a pretty good football team … but they’re not quite as good as Western’s.
Image Credit: LeonV, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
What other services are available for international students?
Laurier recognizes the struggles international students face while living in a new country with unfamiliar surroundings. This is why the university has set up a resource centre to help you adjust to life in Canada. Laurier International’s offices are open Monday to Friday, from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. They can help you with any questions you may have about life in Canada, immigration rules and regulations, your studies, and much more.
Laurier’s Department of International Student Support also offers a wide range of resources. The First-Language Tutoring program is set up to help you with course work, while SPEAK assists with developing presentation and speaking skills. Other on-campus clubs and activities are available, where you can meet other students.
What programs does Laurier specialize in?
Laurier’s business and music programs are some of the best in Canada. The state-of-the-art Lazaridis School of Business and Economics also has some of the highest student satisfaction rates in Canada. Plus, it has the country’s largest business degree co-op program.
Laurier also has respected faculties in Arts, Science, Education, and Graduate Studies.
If you’d like to know more about Wilfrid Laurier University, get in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Nick Steinberg, Content Marketing Specialist, ApplyBoard
