Laurier traces its roots to the opening of the Evangelical Lutheran Seminary in Waterloo more than 100 years ago in 1911. We’ve gone through several changes since then, and in 1973 our name changed from Waterloo Lutheran University to Wilfrid Laurier University. In 1999, we opened our campus in Brantford and we welcomed our first Laurier Milton students in September 2024.
Laurier offers an exceptional range and depth of study. Our students can choose from more than 100 academic programs, taught by award-winning faculty.
Our faculty are not just people who stand in front of a lecture hall. They explore student-centred learning and collaborative teaching in active learning classrooms, taking learning beyond the classroom walls into the community. They are leaders, innovators and trendsetters who work to actively engage their students – helping you to find your passion, connect with your learning material, and focus on your personal growth.
Laurier offers plenty of opportunities to do hands-on research, whether you want to work with nanomaterials or disadvantaged children. Our faculty members pride themselves on their mentoring skills and it’s not unusual to see world-class professors working closely with motivated students, both undergraduate and graduate.
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Studyportals ranking look at the scores of the most used ranking systems and present you with one number of how well this University performs.
By U.S. News & World Report
Dropped 52 places compared to 2026
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report presents all the top universities from the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world. They measure the rate of students going to their second year of studies, as well as the rate of students who graduate. It also asks university representatives on the performance of universities, and evaluates university resources, teacher salaries, graduation rates, student academic achievements and satisfaction. After calculating and comparing these criteria, U.S. News ranks the top international universities accordingly.
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 1310 | 1507 | 1559 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
By Times Higher Education
This university doesn’t have a ranking for 2027 yet. Rankings are updated yearly, so check back later for the latest info.
World University Rankings is a vital resource that provides the definitive list of the world's best universities. They look at how often they're producing new ideas, what their reputation is around the world, and how much they're contributing to science and academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, THE ranks the universities accordingly.
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 801 | 1201 | - |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
The Centre for Student Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (CSEDI) works to cultivate a culture on campus that respects and promotes equity, diversity, inclusion (EDI) and social justice in all aspects of Laurier – from classrooms to residence communities.
On our Waterloo and Brantford campuses, residence is a key way first-year Golden Hawks connect, grow and settle into university life. Immerse yourself in a community of support from your first day at Laurier, where staff and upper-year students are committed to your personal growth, development and safety. Our residence buildings are more than just a place to sleep and study. Living in residence gives you lots of opportunities to get involved, both across campus and within your building, which can support a quicker, easier transition to university.
The Laurier Library of the 21st century is the intellectual and cultural heart of Laurier, bringing together resources, research and scholarly publishing and an experiential place for community, creative expression and making. We continue to provide the digital resources, books, instruction sessions and study spaces that inspire our users to achieve excellence in their research, work and lives.
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) collaborates with departments from across the Laurier community to offer online services that help make student life at Laurier easier.
We use a circle of care model that incorporates specialties from a diverse, multidisciplinary team. Students who use the Student Wellness Centre have access to a number of wellness professionals to enhance their health and wellbeing while they are here at Laurier:
Wilfrid Laurier University’s two biggest campuses are in Waterloo and Brantford, but we also have a Faculty of Social Work in Kitchener, and a new campus in Milton. All of our campuses and locations are about 90 minutes drive (or less!) away from Toronto, Canada’s biggest city.
Laurier's Waterloo, Brantford and Milton campuses are located on the shared traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishnaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples.
The Athletic Complex in Waterloo includes an Olympic-size pool, a triple gymnasium, dance studios, and a large fitness centre. Outside, Alumni Field offers a full-sized, FIFA-certified, artificial surface for both intramurals and club teams. University Stadium is home to Golden Hawk football, soccer, rugby and lacrosse.The Laurier Brantford YMCA has an aquatics centre with a two-tank pool, a double and a single gym, a fitness centre with state-of-the-art equipment and Wi-Fi capabilities for fitness programs, three studios, multi-purpose spaces, and a lounge for Laurier students.
There are several student-run organizations at Laurier, including the Laurier Students' Union, the Graduate Students' Association (GSA) and Student Publications, the latter of which is home to the students papers The Cord (Waterloo) and The Sputnik (Brantford), Radio Laurier and more.
AACSB, CPA
Based on 43 reviews
It’s the of the best school in the world, the learning curve and the practical experience is what makes it so special to me. My experience is the most valuable in the whole, I would recommend the school a million times to applicants who are interested in acquiring great knowledge and skills. It remains the best
Passion to study maritime environment studies outside Nigeria
Personally, Wilfrid Laurier University is a school best known for its business program. It tends to stand out because of the co-op and shouldn't be understated that the options are limitless, as well as the fact that there's countless opportunities to grow and connect with others. This goes without saying the amount of case competitions readily available for all students to join into.
The Global Student Satisfaction Awards empower students across the globe to determine the best universities of 2025. Universities with a score above 4.0 (out of 5) in any of the 7 award categories, receive Badges of Excellence. Congratulations!
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