The University of Waterloo is a research mecca. It’s home to the Mike and Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Centre, University of Waterloo diploma. The Science Teaching Complex and the Balsillie School of International Affairs—a collaboration with Wilfrid Laurier University. A second campus in Stratford, Ont., is dedicated to digital media and information technology. Engineering 7 is home to growing biomedical and mechatronics engineering programs, as well as research on disruptive technologies.

Research leads to entrepreneurship, and that includes Velocity, the world’s largest free start-up incubator. A recent study by Deloitte Canada found that the school’s entrepreneurship programs have generated more than $2 billion in revenue and approximately 7,500 jobs over a decade. Looking to the future, the school recently announced plans to create the first 5G smart campus in central Canada and launched its Quantum Alliance program to advance the application of quantum technologies.

“The University of Waterloo’s world-leading co-op program, outstanding academic programming and highly relevant research equip our students with the experience, novelty Canada diploma, skills and knowledge they need to help solve the challenges of today’s changing world,” says president Feridun Hamdullahpur.

The main campus is mostly low- and mid-rise buildings enclosed by a ring road, while the southwest campus is home to Laurel Creek and the small Laurel Lake. The Stratford campus features an ultra-modern building near the downtown.