base is a 4- or 8-month program that allows students to improve their english reading, writing, and oral skills in a university setting while earning credit towards their university of waterloo degree. for students who meet the university of waterloo's academic admission requirements, but don’t meet the english language requirement, they may be admitted to the bridge to academic success in english (base) program. once they have successfully completed base, students can begin studying full-time towards their degree. the undergraduate credit course(s) students take during base count toward their degree. there’s also ibase, a 7-week intensive base program that takes place before students’ first year begins, in july and august. 

whether students are admitted into the shorter or longer program, base is an opportunity to strengthen their english language skills before starting university, which increases their future academic and career successes. it’s also a way to guarantee a smooth transition to full-time university studies in canada, making their time at waterloo more enjoyable.

in base language courses, students will:

benefits of base