#217
Tie
Best Global Universities
Address
University Avenue W
Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1
Canada
Website
uwaterloo.caSummary
The University of Waterloo is a public institution that was founded in 1957. The Canadian university's main campus is in Waterloo, Ontario, not far from several of the Great Lakes and the U.S. border. The university also has satellite campuses in nearby Cambridge, Kitchener and Stratford. More than 30,000 students attend the university. Tuition is generally higher for international students, though a handful of graduate programs charge domestic and international students the same rate. University housing is available for both undergraduate and graduate students.
The university has six main academic divisions: applied health sciences, arts, engineering, environment, math and science. The main campus has four affiliated university colleges – Conrad Grebel University College, Renison University College, St. Jerome’s University and St. Paul's University College – where students can pursue a Waterloo degree in a smaller academic community. The language of instruction is English, and the university's academic calendar consists of three terms. Many of the university's students participate in a co-op program that allows them to alternate academic terms with terms spent in in the workforce. More than 120 of Waterloo's undergraduate programs offer a co-op option. The university also offers joint degree programs with global universities in several countries, including China's Tsinghua University, Taiwan's National Chiao Tung University and the U.K.'s University of Warwick. A sampling of the university's research institutions includes the Water Institute, the Waterloo Centre for Automotive Research and the Mike & Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Centre.
The university has six main academic divisions: applied health sciences, arts, engineering, environment, math and science. The main campus has four affiliated university colleges – Conrad Grebel University College, Renison University College, St. Jerome’s University and St. Paul's University College – where students can pursue a Waterloo degree in a smaller academic community. The language of instruction is English, and the university's academic calendar consists of three terms. Many of the university's students participate in a co-op program that allows them to alternate academic terms with terms spent in in the workforce. More than 120 of Waterloo's undergraduate programs offer a co-op option. The university also offers joint degree programs with global universities in several countries, including China's Tsinghua University, Taiwan's National Chiao Tung University and the U.K.'s University of Warwick. A sampling of the university's research institutions includes the Water Institute, the Waterloo Centre for Automotive Research and the Mike & Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Centre.
33,519
Total number of students
6,603
Number of international students
1,420
Total number of academic staff
494
Number of international staff
5,741
Number of undergraduate degrees awarded
1,606
Number of master's degrees awarded
332
Number of doctoral degrees awarded
315
Number of research only staff
7,024
Number of new undergraduate students
1,733
Number of new master's students
350
Number of new doctoral students
2020 Indicator Rankings
Thirteen indicators were used to calculate this institution's overall Best Global Universities rank. Here is a breakdown of how this institution ranked relative to other schools for each indicator.
See the methodology »
61.1
Global score
#144
Global research reputation
#61
Regional research reputation
#205
Publications
#118
Books
#103
Conferences
#543
Normalized citation impact
#218
Total citations
#212
Number of publications that are among the 10 percent most cited
#466
Percentage of total publications that are among the 10 percent most cited
#559
International collaboration - relative to country
#374
International collaboration
#244
Number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1 percent most cited
#554
Percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1 percent most cited
Subject Rankings
#214
Arts and Humanities
Show Arts and Humanities indicator rankings
40.0
Arts and Humanities overall score
#278
Arts and Humanities global research reputation
#107
Arts and Humanities regional research reputation
#196
Arts and Humanities publications
#200
Arts and Humanities books
#179
Arts and Humanities conferences
#43
Arts and Humanities normalized citation impact
#131
Arts and Humanities total citations
#147
Arts and Humanities number of publications that are among the 10 percent most cited
#75
Arts and Humanities percentage of total publications that are among the 10 percent most cited
#148
Arts and Humanities international collaboration - relative to country
#109
Arts and Humanities international collaboration
#340Tie
Biology and Biochemistry
Show Biology and Biochemistry indicator rankings
34.3
Biology and Biochemistry overall score
#370
Biology and Biochemistry global research reputation
#75
Biology and Biochemistry regional research reputation
#377
Biology and Biochemistry publications
#241
Biology and Biochemistry normalized citation impact
#329
Biology and Biochemistry total citations
#315
Biology and Biochemistry number of publications that are among the 10 percent most cited
#234
Biology and Biochemistry percentage of total publications that are among the 10 percent most cited
#515
Biology and Biochemistry international collaboration - relative to country
#283
Biology and Biochemistry international collaboration
#248
Biology and Biochemistry number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1 percent most cited
#176
Biology and Biochemistry percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1 percent most cited
#110
Chemistry
Show Chemistry indicator rankings
65.6
Chemistry overall score
#96
Chemistry global research reputation
#37
Chemistry regional research reputation
#182
Chemistry publications
#168
Chemistry normalized citation impact
#154
Chemistry total citations
#148
Chemistry number of publications that are among the 10 percent most cited
#209
Chemistry percentage of total publications that are among the 10 percent most cited
#309
Chemistry international collaboration - relative to country
#298
Chemistry international collaboration
#119
Chemistry number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1 percent most cited
#143
Chemistry percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1 percent most cited
Show Civil Engineering indicator rankings
44.4
Civil Engineering overall score
#44
Civil Engineering publications
#115
Civil Engineering conferences
#76
Civil Engineering normalized citation impact
#55
Civil Engineering total citations
#58
Civil Engineering number of publications that are among the 10 percent most cited
#75
Civil Engineering percentage of total publications that are among the 10 percent most cited
#35
Civil Engineering international collaboration - relative to country
#50
Civil Engineering international collaboration
#53
Civil Engineering number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1 percent most cited
#87
Civil Engineering percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1 percent most cited
#425Tie
Clinical Medicine
Show Clinical Medicine indicator rankings
44.7
Clinical Medicine overall score
#259
Clinical Medicine global research reputation
#81
Clinical Medicine regional research reputation
#527
Clinical Medicine publications
#475
Clinical Medicine normalized citation impact
#517
Clinical Medicine total citations
#467
Clinical Medicine number of publications that are among the 10 percent most cited
#441
Clinical Medicine percentage of total publications that are among the 10 percent most cited
#731
Clinical Medicine international collaboration - relative to country
#308
Clinical Medicine international collaboration
#527
Clinical Medicine number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1 percent most cited
#538
Clinical Medicine percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1 percent most cited
#20
Computer Science
Show Computer Science indicator rankings
78.6
Computer Science overall score
#32
Computer Science global research reputation
#21
Computer Science regional research reputation
#23
Computer Science publications
#44
Computer Science conferences
#88
Computer Science normalized citation impact
#24
Computer Science total citations
#19
Computer Science number of publications that are among the 10 percent most cited
#59
Computer Science percentage of total publications that are among the 10 percent most cited
#70
Computer Science international collaboration - relative to country
#27
Computer Science international collaboration
#41
Computer Science number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1 percent most cited
#95
Computer Science percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1 percent most cited
Show Economics and Business indicator rankings
30.5
Economics and Business overall score
#139
Economics and Business global research reputation
#58
Economics and Business regional research reputation
#187
Economics and Business publications
#213
Economics and Business normalized citation impact
#224
Economics and Business total citations
#230
Economics and Business number of publications that are among the 10 percent most cited
#223
Economics and Business percentage of total publications that are among the 10 percent most cited
#136
Economics and Business international collaboration - relative to country
#69
Economics and Business international collaboration
#207
Economics and Business number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1 percent most cited
#216
Economics and Business percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1 percent most cited
Show Electrical and Electronic Engineering indicator rankings
79.1
Electrical and Electronic Engineering overall score
#32
Electrical and Electronic Engineering publications
#79
Electrical and Electronic Engineering conferences
#67
Electrical and Electronic Engineering normalized citation impact
#24
Electrical and Electronic Engineering total citations
#16
Electrical and Electronic Engineering number of publications that are among the 10 percent most cited
#40
Electrical and Electronic Engineering percentage of total publications that are among the 10 percent most cited
#115
Electrical and Electronic Engineering international collaboration - relative to country
#53
Electrical and Electronic Engineering international collaboration
#42
Electrical and Electronic Engineering number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1 percent most cited
#125
Electrical and Electronic Engineering percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1 percent most cited
#58
Engineering
Show Engineering indicator rankings
72.3
Engineering overall score
#102
Engineering global research reputation
#45
Engineering regional research reputation
#68
Engineering publications
#93
Engineering conferences
#213
Engineering normalized citation impact
#58
Engineering total citations
#58
Engineering number of publications that are among the 10 percent most cited
#235
Engineering percentage of total publications that are among the 10 percent most cited
#238
Engineering international collaboration - relative to country
#162
Engineering international collaboration
#70
Engineering number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1 percent most cited
#257
Engineering percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1 percent most cited
#188Tie
Environment/Ecology
Show Environment/Ecology indicator rankings
54.0
Environment/Ecology overall score
#103
Environment/Ecology global research reputation
#41
Environment/Ecology regional research reputation
#114
Environment/Ecology publications
#386
Environment/Ecology normalized citation impact
#189
Environment/Ecology total citations
#229
Environment/Ecology number of publications that are among the 10 percent most cited
#388
Environment/Ecology percentage of total publications that are among the 10 percent most cited
#336
Environment/Ecology international collaboration - relative to country
#251
Environment/Ecology international collaboration
#240
Environment/Ecology number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1 percent most cited
#348
Environment/Ecology percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1 percent most cited
#182Tie
Geosciences
Show Geosciences indicator rankings
50.2
Geosciences overall score
#94
Geosciences global research reputation
#59
Geosciences regional research reputation
#199
Geosciences publications
#216
Geosciences normalized citation impact
#210
Geosciences total citations
#202
Geosciences number of publications that are among the 10 percent most cited
#199
Geosciences percentage of total publications that are among the 10 percent most cited
#92
Geosciences international collaboration - relative to country
#129
Geosciences international collaboration
#219
Geosciences number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1 percent most cited
#227
Geosciences percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1 percent most cited
#81Tie
Materials Science
Show Materials Science indicator rankings
60.5
Materials Science overall score
#178
Materials Science global research reputation
#41
Materials Science regional research reputation
#134
Materials Science publications
#105
Materials Science normalized citation impact
#106
Materials Science total citations
#91
Materials Science number of publications that are among the 10 percent most cited
#89
Materials Science percentage of total publications that are among the 10 percent most cited
#187
Materials Science international collaboration - relative to country
#153
Materials Science international collaboration
#86
Materials Science number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1 percent most cited
#94
Materials Science percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1 percent most cited
#86
Mathematics
Show Mathematics indicator rankings
59.7
Mathematics overall score
#55
Mathematics global research reputation
#28
Mathematics regional research reputation
#59
Mathematics publications
#286
Mathematics normalized citation impact
#99
Mathematics total citations
#131
Mathematics number of publications that are among the 10 percent most cited
#296
Mathematics percentage of total publications that are among the 10 percent most cited
#218
Mathematics international collaboration - relative to country
#62
Mathematics international collaboration
#193
Mathematics number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1 percent most cited
#272
Mathematics percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1 percent most cited
Show Mechanical Engineering indicator rankings
45.6
Mechanical Engineering overall score
#118
Mechanical Engineering publications
#89
Mechanical Engineering conferences
#37
Mechanical Engineering normalized citation impact
#99
Mechanical Engineering total citations
#91
Mechanical Engineering number of publications that are among the 10 percent most cited
#57
Mechanical Engineering percentage of total publications that are among the 10 percent most cited
#53
Mechanical Engineering international collaboration - relative to country
#36
Mechanical Engineering international collaboration
#37
Mechanical Engineering number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1 percent most cited
#17
Mechanical Engineering percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1 percent most cited
#226Tie
Physics
Show Physics indicator rankings
62.0
Physics overall score
#128
Physics global research reputation
#40
Physics regional research reputation
#172
Physics publications
#443
Physics normalized citation impact
#271
Physics total citations
#226
Physics number of publications that are among the 10 percent most cited
#390
Physics percentage of total publications that are among the 10 percent most cited
#583
Physics international collaboration - relative to country
#462
Physics international collaboration
#292
Physics number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1 percent most cited
#401
Physics percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1 percent most cited
#130Tie
Psychiatry/Psychology
Show Psychiatry/Psychology indicator rankings
47.2
Psychiatry/Psychology overall score
#108
Psychiatry/Psychology global research reputation
#61
Psychiatry/Psychology regional research reputation
#148
Psychiatry/Psychology publications
#119
Psychiatry/Psychology normalized citation impact
#131
Psychiatry/Psychology total citations
#139
Psychiatry/Psychology number of publications that are among the 10 percent most cited
#152
Psychiatry/Psychology percentage of total publications that are among the 10 percent most cited
#299
Psychiatry/Psychology international collaboration - relative to country
#223
Psychiatry/Psychology international collaboration
#179
Psychiatry/Psychology number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1 percent most cited
#222
Psychiatry/Psychology percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1 percent most cited
Show Social Sciences and Public Health indicator rankings
53.4
Social Sciences and Public Health overall score
#378
Social Sciences and Public Health global research reputation
#120
Social Sciences and Public Health regional research reputation
#121
Social Sciences and Public Health publications
#100
Social Sciences and Public Health normalized citation impact
#105
Social Sciences and Public Health total citations
#93
Social Sciences and Public Health number of publications that are among the 10 percent most cited
#92
Social Sciences and Public Health percentage of total publications that are among the 10 percent most cited
#128
Social Sciences and Public Health international collaboration - relative to country
#129
Social Sciences and Public Health international collaboration
#107
Social Sciences and Public Health number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1 percent most cited
#176
Social Sciences and Public Health percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1 percent most cited
#205Tie
Space Science
Show Space Science indicator rankings
27.8
Space Science overall score
#127
Space Science global research reputation
#45
Space Science regional research reputation
#230
Space Science publications
#154
Space Science normalized citation impact
#214
Space Science total citations
#167
Space Science number of publications that are among the 10 percent most cited
#51
Space Science percentage of total publications that are among the 10 percent most cited
#131
Space Science international collaboration - relative to country
#109
Space Science international collaboration
#200
Space Science number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1 percent most cited
#158
Space Science percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1 percent most cited
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