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Applying to engineering programs in Ontario is more than just achieving good grades. Many universities require engineering supplementary applications to assess your skills, experiences, and personal attributes beyond academics. These additional steps help universities understand who you are as a person, how well you fit their program, and whether you have the problem-solving mindset needed to succeed in a rigorous technical field. Think of engineering supplementary applications as your opportunity to bring your candidacy to life beyond the numbers on your transcript.
Because each university structures its engineering supplementary applications differently, planning ahead is not optional. Missing a deadline or misunderstanding the format can cost you a spot in a program you have worked years to reach. Below is a detailed breakdown of the Ontario universities that require engineering supplementary applications, what each one involves, and how to approach it strategically.
Why Universities in Ontario Use Engineering Supplementary Applications
Ontario engineering programs are among the most competitive in the country. Grade cutoffs for top programs regularly sit above 90%, which means that grade point averages alone cannot meaningfully differentiate between thousands of qualified applicants. Engineering supplementary applications allow admissions teams to evaluate qualities that academic records simply cannot capture: how you communicate under pressure, how you approach an unfamiliar problem, what you have built or contributed outside the classroom, and whether you have the drive and curiosity that engineering demands. Taking engineering supplementary applications seriously is one of the most impactful things you can do to strengthen your chances of admission.
1. McMaster University: Mandatory Engineering Supplementary Applications
McMaster University’s Faculty of Engineering requires all applicants to complete engineering supplementary applications. This is not optional, and it carries real weight in the admissions decision. McMaster explicitly does not base admission decisions solely on grades, which means a student with a slightly lower average who performs exceptionally on their engineering supplementary applications can outcompete a student with higher grades who submits a weak one.
What Does the McMaster Engineering Supplementary Application Include?
The application consists of four questions: three require video responses and one requires a written response. The total time to complete the application is approximately 20 minutes. You will receive an email within 10 business days of applying through OUAC inviting you to complete it.
The video questions are designed to evaluate how you think and communicate in real time. You will not have unlimited time to prepare a scripted answer, so your ability to organize your thoughts quickly and speak clearly matters. Common themes include your interest in engineering, how you approach challenges, and situations where you demonstrated problem-solving or teamwork. The written question gives you more time to be deliberate, so treat it like a short essay and revise it carefully.
How to Prepare
Practice answering engineering-related questions on camera before your submission window opens. Record yourself, watch the playback critically, and work on eliminating filler words and nervous habits. Structure each video response with a clear beginning, middle, and end. For the written response, have someone proofread it before you submit.
More information can be found here.
2. University of Waterloo Engineering: Admission Information Form and Optional Interview
Waterloo Engineering is consistently ranked among the most competitive engineering programs in Canada. Admission is highly selective, and the engineering supplementary applications process at Waterloo reflects that standard. There are two components applicants need to be aware of.
The Admission Information Form
The Admission Information Form, commonly called the AIF, is the primary component of Waterloo’s engineering supplementary applications. It is a structured form where you provide details about your extracurricular activities, work experience, awards, competitions, and engineering-related interests. Waterloo uses the AIF to assess whether you are the kind of student who pursues learning beyond the classroom.
When filling out the AIF, be specific. Instead of listing that you were a member of a robotics club, describe what your role involved, what challenges the team faced, and what you contributed to solving them. Waterloo admissions readers review thousands of forms, and vague or generic answers blend together. Concrete examples, measurable achievements, and honest reflections on what you learned will distinguish your application.
The Optional Online Interview
Some applicants will receive an invitation to complete an optional online interview as an additional part of the engineering supplementary applications process. Despite being labeled optional, accepting this invitation is strongly recommended if you receive one. The interview gives you a chance to elaborate on your interest in engineering and demonstrate your communication and reasoning skills in a format that goes beyond what a form can capture. Declining it removes a potential advantage from your application.
More information can be found here.
3. Western University Engineering: CASPer Test
Western Engineering takes a different approach to engineering supplementary applications. Rather than a form or interview, Western requires applicants to complete the CASPer test, an online situational judgment assessment developed by Altus Suite.
What is CASPer?
CASPer is Western’s approach to engineering supplementary applications, and it evaluates non-academic qualities that are difficult to assess through grades alone: your judgment in ethically complex situations, your ability to communicate your reasoning under time pressure, your approach to conflict and collaboration, and your general critical thinking. The test presents a series of video-based and text-based scenarios, and you are asked to respond to questions about how you would handle each situation. Responses are typed, and the test is strictly timed.
Unlike traditional engineering supplementary applications where you can revise your answers, CASPer captures your instinctive reasoning. There is no single correct answer to most scenarios. What evaluators look for is whether your reasoning is thoughtful, balanced, and demonstrates awareness of how your decisions affect others.
How to Prepare
Practicing with sample scenarios before your test date is worthwhile because it helps you become comfortable with the format and pacing. Focus on writing responses that consider multiple perspectives, acknowledge complexity, and avoid absolutist conclusions. Good answers tend to show empathy, situational awareness, and a calm approach to ambiguity.
More information can be found here.
4. Queen’s University Engineering: Personal Statement of Experience
Queen’s Engineering requires applicants to complete a Personal Statement of Experience, commonly referred to as the PSE. This written component serves as the core of Queen’s engineering supplementary applications and gives you the most open-ended format of any school on this list.
What is the PSE?
The PSE is a written statement where you describe your personal experiences, extracurricular activities, leadership roles, and volunteer work. Some engineering-specific streams may also include an additional essay question. Among engineering supplementary applications in Ontario, the PSE gives the admissions committee the fullest picture of who you are and what you will contribute to the Queen’s community.
How to Approach the PSE
The PSE rewards genuine reflection more than polished credentials. You do not need to have founded a startup or won a national competition. What matters is that you can connect your experiences to your identity, your values, and your interest in engineering in a way that feels authentic. Consider discussing what drew you to engineering in the first place, an experience where you worked through a difficult problem, a leadership role and what it taught you about yourself, or a challenge you faced and how you grew from it. Write with specificity and in your own voice. Admissions readers can tell when a statement has been heavily templated or written to check boxes rather than to genuinely communicate.
More information can be found here.
5. University of Toronto Engineering: Online Student Profile
The University of Toronto’s Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering is one of the largest and most research-intensive engineering schools in Canada, and its engineering supplementary applications reflect that standard. All applicants to U of T Engineering are required to complete the Online Student Profile, commonly referred to as the OSP.
What is the Online Student Profile?
The OSP is U of T’s approach to engineering supplementary applications, and it gives you the opportunity to tell the Admissions Committee about your abilities, strengths, and interests, with a particular focus on activities and achievements that demonstrate leadership, dedication, and overall excellence. It is completed through the Engineering Applicant Portal, which is separate from the general U of T applicant portal used by other faculties. The Engineering Applicant Portal is where you will complete your Online Student Profile, submit documents, and receive all updates to your application, including admissions decisions.
The OSP is due on January 15, though applicants seeking early consideration should aim to submit by December 2. This applies to both domestic and international students. Submitting your engineering supplementary applications early does not guarantee an earlier decision, but it ensures your application is eligible for the February review round.
How to Approach the OSP
The OSP typically includes written and video response questions covering your extracurricular involvement, personal achievements, and interest in engineering. U of T Engineering receives thousands of applications each year, so the admissions committee is looking for responses that go beyond surface-level answers. Be deliberate about which experiences you highlight, focus on what you specifically contributed and learned, and make a genuine case for why engineering at U of T is the right fit for you.
Applicants should check the Engineering Applicant Portal regularly, as it is the primary channel through which U of T Engineering will contact you throughout the admissions process. Missing a message in the portal could put your application at risk.
More information can be found here.
6. Toronto Metropolitan University Engineering: Supplementary Form
Toronto Metropolitan University, formerly known as Ryerson University, offers a range of engineering and architectural science programs through its Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science. TMU’s engineering supplementary applications take a slightly different approach compared to other Ontario schools.
What Do the TMU Engineering Supplementary Applications Require?
The TMU supplementary form provides applicants with an opportunity to share more about themselves, their academic history, and why they are interested in the programs they have selected. It is completed through the ChooseTMU Applicant Portal after you submit your OUAC application. Like all engineering supplementary applications, this one is recommended to be submitted as early as possible so it can be considered during the assessment of your file.
It is worth noting that current Grade 12 students in an Ontario secondary school are not required to complete the TMU engineering supplementary applications, though all other applicants are encouraged to do so. That said, even if you are a current Ontario high school student, submitting the form voluntarily gives you a chance to contextualize your application and stand out in a competitive applicant pool.
How to Approach the TMU Supplementary Form
Because the form asks you to explain your interest in your chosen programs, treat it as an opportunity to make a specific and sincere case for your fit with engineering at TMU. Avoid generic answers about always loving math and science. Instead, connect your experiences and goals directly to what TMU’s engineering programs offer, whether that is co-op opportunities, specific disciplines, industry partnerships, or the school’s location in the heart of Toronto.
More information can be found here.
Final Tips for Engineering Supplementary Applications
Start Early
The single most common mistake applicants make is underestimating how much time strong engineering supplementary applications require. Video responses need practice, written statements need multiple drafts, and forms like the AIF require you to reflect carefully on experiences you may not have thought about in a structured way before. Give yourself several weeks, not several days.
Know What Each School Values
Engineering supplementary applications are designed around what each specific program values most. McMaster emphasizes communication and personality. Waterloo looks for evidence of genuine engineering curiosity and hands-on involvement outside the classroom. Western is evaluating your judgment and interpersonal reasoning through CASPer. Queen’s wants a reflective, honest picture of who you are. U of T and TMU both look for depth of engagement and a clear sense of direction. Tailor your preparation accordingly rather than using one generic approach for every school.
Show Depth, Not Just Breadth
A long list of activities is far less compelling than two or three experiences you can speak about with real depth. Focus on what you actually did, what it meant to you, and what you took away from it. That is what sticks with an admissions reader.
Proofread Everything
For the written components of engineering supplementary applications, careless spelling errors and unclear sentence structure create a poor impression. Have a teacher, parent, or trusted mentor review your written materials before you submit. A fresh set of eyes will catch things you have stopped seeing after repeated revisions.
Conclusion
If you are serious about getting into an Ontario engineering program, grades are the foundation but they are not the full picture. Engineering supplementary applications are your opportunity to make your case for admission on your own terms. Understanding what each program is looking for, preparing thoughtfully, and giving yourself enough time to revise will put you in the strongest possible position heading into application season.
Start early, be specific, and let your genuine interest in engineering come through in every one of your engineering supplementary applications.
