University of Waterloo AI Policy for College Applications
Note: This policy classification has medium confidence. We recommend verifying directly with University of Waterloo's admissions office.
Quick Answer: Can you use AI at University of Waterloo?
It depends on your program:
- •General/Undergraduate: Brainstorming only
- •Undergraduate Admissions — Admission Information Form (AIF): Brainstorming only
Last verified: 2026-07-29 • Confidence: Medium
What This Means For Your Application
✓Generally Safe
- Brainstorming essay topics with AI
- Spell-check and basic grammar tools
✗Avoid
- Any AI rewriting or paraphrasing of your sentences
- Using AI-suggested phrasing in your final draft
Policy Evidence
University General Policy
“You must complete and submit the AIF on your own.”
— Admission Information Form | Undergraduate Programs(Verified: Jul 2026)
“You're responsible for the answers you provide. If you use AI to create answers that are untrue, incorrect, or plagiarized, we reserve the right to deny admission or withdraw your Offer of Admission.”
— Admission Information Form | Undergraduate Programs(Verified: Jul 2026)
Program-Specific Policies
Undergraduate Admissions — Admission Information Form (AIF)
“An AI system is used alongside human scorers and if the AIF scores differ significantly, a second human scorer reviews the submission.”
— View source(Verified: Jul 2026)
Applies to: Admission Information Form,supplementary forms
Policy Summary by Program
| Program | AI Allowed? | Disclosure | Enforcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| General/Undergraduate | Brainstorming only | No disclosure required | E0 • No enforcement stated |
| Undergraduate Admissions — Admission Information Form (AIF) | Brainstorming only | No disclosure required | E2 • Uses screening tools |
Sources Verified
All sources checked (2)
Additional Sources Checked:
Additional Context
Waterloo's undergraduate admissions AIF page publishes an explicit AI question ('Can I use AI to write my responses?') and an explicit authorship rule ('Can I have someone else complete my AIF?'), so the record is not silent. L3 records an authorship boundary: the applicant must complete and submit the form themselves, and Waterloo reserves the right to deny or revoke admission for AI-created answers that are untrue, incorrect, or plagiarized. It is not a flat prohibition, and the page does not publish a complete matrix of permitted AI assistance, so confidence stays Medium and no allowed use should be inferred. E2 is program-specific and records Waterloo's disclosed automated-plus-human AIF scoring process; it is not an AI-authorship detector or permission for applicant AI use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does University of Waterloo allow ChatGPT for essays?
Do I need to disclose AI use to University of Waterloo?
How does University of Waterloo check for AI?
Which University of Waterloo programs have different AI policies?
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