Laurier traces its roots to the opening of the Evangelical Lutheran Seminary in Waterloo more than 100 years ago in 1911. It has gone through several changes since then, and in 1973 its name changed from Waterloo Lutheran University to Wilfrid Laurier University.

The university offers an exceptional range and depth of study. Students can choose from more than 100 academic programs, taught by award-winning faculty. Faculty at the university 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. Most of them are leaders, innovators and trendsetters who work to actively engage their students, helping them to find their passion, connect with their learning material, and focus on their personal growth. With more than 20 different clubs available so that student can participate in a wide variety of competitive and recreational sports and activities, including men’s lacrosse, karate, ball hockey, equestrian and dragon boat racing.


Laurier’s two biggest campuses are in Waterloo and Brantford, but it also has a Faculty of Social Work in Kitchener and a weekend MBA program in Toronto. All its campuses and locations are about an hour's drive (or less) away from Toronto, Canada’s biggest city.

Waterloo campus is in the thriving, culturally diverse community of Kitchener-Waterloo (KW), located one-hour west of Toronto with a population of about 365,000. With two universities and a college, this university town is a vibrant and student-friendly city with plenty of off-campus housing, entertainment, dining and recreational opportunities. And a new light rail transit system will make it easier than ever to get around. Shaped by its location on the historic Grand River and proximity to the major industrial and consumer markets of North America, Brantford has a thriving business community that is home to several global business operations, but people are drawn to the region for so much more. A healthy arts and culture scene, world-class trails system for walking and biking, and a strong slate of festivals and events make Brantford a vibrant place to call home for residents and students alike.