Western University — Admissions FAQ
A London, Ontario university home to the Ivey Business School and BMOS. Strong campus culture and student life.
General Admissions
What average do I need to get into Western University?
It depends heavily on the program — Ivey Business (via BMOS) and Engineering are Western's most competitive programs, typically requiring averages in the low-to-mid 90s, while many other Arts, Science, and Social Science programs admit at meaningfully lower averages. Western also weighs personal statements more heavily than a grades-first school like UofT for several of its programs.
Does Western require a personal statement or supplementary application?
Yes, for many programs — Western has applicants complete a personal statement covering their experiences, activities, and interest in their program, which is reviewed alongside grades for most direct-entry programs. This makes Western more holistic in practice than a grades-only school, even though a strong average remains important.
When is the Western application deadline?
Western generally follows the province-wide OUAC deadline of January 15 for most programs, though the personal statement is typically also due around this time and some competitive programs (like Engineering or BMOS) may have specific supplementary deadlines, so check the exact current-year dates.
What scholarships does Western offer to incoming students?
Western offers automatic entrance scholarships based on your admission average, generally starting in the low-90s range and increasing at higher thresholds, along with a set of larger, more competitive named scholarships that require separate applications or nominations.
What is Western known for academically and socially?
Western is known for the Ivey Business School (accessed via the BMOS undergraduate route), a strong Engineering program, and a particularly vibrant campus culture and student experience — like Queen's, Western has a reputation for strong school spirit and an active residence and social life alongside its academics.
Is Western harder to get into than other Ontario schools?
It depends on the specific program being compared — Ivey Business and Western Engineering are quite competitive, comparable to or exceeding several programs at other Ontario schools, while many of Western's other programs have more accessible admitted ranges. Compare specific programs rather than judging the schools overall.
Business & Commerce
What average do I need to get into Ivey Business at Western?
Ivey uses a two-year model — you first apply to and are admitted into BMOS (Business Management and Organizational Studies) or another eligible first-year program with a competitive admitted average typically in the low-to-mid 90s, and then apply competitively into Ivey itself (HBA) after completing your first year, based on your first-year performance and a separate Ivey-specific application.
How is getting into Ivey different from a direct-entry business program like Rotman Commerce or Sauder?
Unlike Rotman Commerce (UofT) or Sauder (UBC), which admit students directly into their four-year business degree from high school, Ivey requires a two-stage process: direct high school admission into BMOS, followed by a second, internal competitive application into the Ivey HBA program after first year, based on your university grades and Ivey's own application components.
What does the Ivey HBA application require beyond first-year grades?
The Ivey HBA application typically includes a written application component and factors in your first-year academic performance, extracurricular involvement, and sometimes interviews or additional assessments — check Ivey's current admissions page for the exact components, since specifics can be updated year to year.
Does Ivey/Western Business have co-op or internship opportunities?
Ivey doesn't use a mandatory alternating co-op structure, but it has an extensive recruiting pipeline into finance, consulting, and corporate roles through its career services and student network, and many students complete self-arranged summer internships that feed directly into full-time recruiting.
What are career outcomes like for Ivey HBA graduates?
Ivey has one of the strongest recruiting reputations among Canadian business schools, particularly in finance, consulting, and general management, with a large and active alumni network frequently cited as a major asset for graduates entering competitive industries.
Engineering
What average do I need to get into Western Engineering?
Western Engineering is competitive, with admitted averages generally in the high-80s to low-90s depending on specific discipline and cycle, requiring strong marks in prerequisite math and science courses.
Do I choose my specific engineering discipline at Western, or later?
Western generally has students enter through a common first-year engineering program before choosing a specific discipline, similar to the model used at UBC, Queen's, and McMaster.
Does Western Engineering require a personal statement?
Yes, generally — like most Western programs, Engineering applicants typically complete a personal statement reviewed alongside grades, which differs from grades-only engineering admissions at schools like UofT.
Does Western Engineering have co-op or internship options?
Western offers internship and co-op options for engineering students who want work experience during their degree, though it isn't structured as the fully mandatory alternating model used at Waterloo.
What are career outcomes like for Western Engineering graduates?
Western Engineering has a solid reputation and graduates go into a range of engineering disciplines and industries, with the university's strong overall alumni network and campus community often supporting career connections alongside formal career services.
Health Sciences
What average do I need for Western Health Sciences?
Western Health Sciences is competitive, with admitted averages typically in the high-80s to low-90s, and like most Western programs, a personal statement is generally reviewed alongside grades as part of the decision.
Is Western Health Sciences a good pre-med path?
Yes, many students use it as pre-med preparation, and Western has its own well-regarded medical school (Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry), though admission to any medical school, including Western's own, is a separate, highly competitive process based on GPA, MCAT, and other factors.
Does Western Health Sciences require a supplementary application?
Generally yes — like most Western direct-entry programs, a personal statement is typically part of the application, reviewed alongside your academic average.
What can I do with a Western Health Sciences degree besides medical school?
Graduates pursue a wide range of paths including other health professions (nursing, physiotherapy, dentistry), graduate studies in health-related fields, public health, and health administration roles, since the program provides a broad health sciences foundation rather than being pre-med-only.
Are there research opportunities for undergraduates in Western Health Sciences?
Yes, Western has meaningful research infrastructure connected to its health sciences and medical school, giving students opportunities to get involved in labs and research projects, though positions are competitive and typically require proactively reaching out to faculty or applying to structured research programs.
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