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University of Waterloo AI Policy for College Applications

General Policy:L3Brainstorming onlyD0 No disclosure requiredE0 No enforcement stated
Permission
L3
Ideas only
Disclosure
D0
None required
Enforcement
E0
None stated

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)

L3 Brainstorming onlyD0 No disclosure requiredE2 Uses screening tools

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

ProgramAI Allowed?DisclosureEnforcement
General/UndergraduateBrainstorming onlyNo disclosure requiredE0 No enforcement stated
Undergraduate Admissions — Admission Information Form (AIF)Brainstorming onlyNo disclosure requiredE2 Uses screening tools

Sources Verified

All sources checked (2)
Confidence: MediumLast verified: 2026-07-29

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?
University of Waterloo only allows AI for brainstorming and basic mechanics. You can use AI to generate ideas or check spelling/grammar, but cannot use it to write or rewrite any sentences.
Do I need to disclose AI use to University of Waterloo?
University of Waterloo does not require disclosure of AI use in admissions materials.
How does University of Waterloo check for AI?
University of Waterloo has not indicated how they check for AI use in admissions essays.
Which University of Waterloo programs have different AI policies?
Undergraduate Admissions — Admission Information Form (AIF) have specific policies that differ from the general university policy.

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