The University of Windsor's Bachelor of Applied Science in Mechanical/Automotive Engineering sits at the center of one of Canada's most distinctive engineering-industry pipelines: a decades-long research partnership between Windsor's Faculty of Engineering and Chrysler/Stellantis, anchored by the university's location directly across the river from Detroit, Michigan. For applicants who already hold a bachelor's degree, Windsor also offers a one-year Master of Engineering (Automotive Option) — a professional, course-based graduate program rather than a research degree. Both routes give Windsor's automotive engineering applicants something few mid-sized Canadian universities can match: a geographically-anchored connection to the actual auto industry, not just an engineering curriculum with an automotive elective.
Acceptance Rate
The University of Windsor does not publish a single official acceptance rate for Automotive Engineering or any other program — standard practice across Canadian universities, including most research-intensive schools. Directionally, Windsor sits in Maclean's "Comprehensive" ranking category (14th in Canada for 2025), positioning it as a moderately accessible university relative to Canada's most selective U15 research-intensive flagships. Admission is driven by meeting the Faculty of Engineering's minimum academic average for direct entry rather than competing against a fixed low admit-rate ceiling.
Fees and Cost of Attendance
Approximate costs for international students, based on the University of Windsor's published fee structure (2025-2026):
| Cost Item | Amount (CAD) |
|---|---|
| International tuition — BASc Mechanical/Automotive Engineering (undergraduate) | ~$33,000/year |
| International tuition — Master of Engineering, Automotive Option (graduate) | ~$20,500/year |
| IRCC minimum required proof of funds (living costs, single applicant) | $20,635/year |
| Approximate total cost per year (undergraduate) | ~$53,635 |
| Application fee | ~$125 |
For the four-year undergraduate BASc, total cost of attendance runs roughly in the $210,000-$215,000 CAD range before scholarships. Windsor's Tuition Guarantee locks in your base tuition rate for the normal duration of your program at the rate in effect when you're admitted — a meaningful protection against the year-over-year tuition increases that apply at many other Ontario universities, worth factoring into any multi-year cost comparison.
Admission Requirements
Undergraduate (BASc Mechanical/Automotive Engineering):
- Online application via OUAC (Ontario) or Windsor's international application portal
- Official secondary school transcripts, including required math and science prerequisites
- Proof of English language proficiency, or eligibility for the English Language Improvement Program (ELIP)
- Proof of funds and passport for study permit purposes
Graduate (Master of Engineering, Automotive Option):
- Online graduate application
- Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended, showing a completed bachelor's degree
- Statement of interest
- Proof of English language proficiency, or ELIP eligibility
- Resume/CV
- GRE/GMAT: not required for the Master of Engineering
Windsor does not publish a single minimum GPA for undergraduate Engineering admission; most master's programs, including the Master of Engineering, expect a minimum B average (roughly 73%) on a four-year bachelor's degree.
How to Get Into Windsor's Automotive Engineering Program
-
Meet the math and science prerequisites cleanly for undergraduate entry. Windsor's Faculty of Engineering evaluates applicants against specific Grade 12 (or equivalent) prerequisite courses, so gaps in required math or physics coursework are a more common rejection reason than a borderline overall average.
-
If you already hold a bachelor's degree, weigh the one-year Master of Engineering (Automotive Option) against the four-year BASc. The Master of Engineering is a faster, course-based route into the same Chrysler/Stellantis-linked research and industry ecosystem, at roughly a third of the annual tuition of the undergraduate program.
-
Use ELIP deliberately if your English score is close but not quite there. Windsor's English Language Improvement Program conditionally admits academically admissible applicants who fall short of the direct-entry English bar, rather than requiring a full reapplication cycle.
-
Apply to the May intake for the Master of Engineering if you need extra time. Unlike most undergraduate programs, which run primarily on a September intake, the Master of Engineering also offers a Spring/Summer start.
-
Factor the Tuition Guarantee into your multi-year budget, especially if comparing Windsor's automotive engineering programs against a school with a similar year-one sticker price but no cap on annual increases.
English Proficiency Requirement (IELTS/TOEFL)
| Test | Minimum (Undergraduate) | Minimum (Graduate) |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 overall, no band below 6.0 | 6.5 overall |
| TOEFL iBT | 83 | 88 |
| PTE Academic | 60 | 60 |
| Duolingo English Test | 110 | 115 |
Engineering programs at Windsor sometimes set slightly higher section expectations than the university-wide minimum, given the writing-heavy nature of lab reports and technical documentation from first year onward — confirm the exact current figure on the Faculty of Engineering's program page. Applicants who fall short of the minimum can be conditionally admitted through ELIP rather than rejected outright. For the full breakdown of Windsor's English-proficiency policy, see University of Windsor's full admissions guide.
Career Outcomes
The University of Windsor does not publish a program-level graduate employment rate or average starting salary specifically for Automotive Engineering. What's well documented qualitatively:
- Automotive Engineering graduates benefit directly from Windsor's long-standing research partnership with Chrysler/Stellantis and the broader Windsor-Detroit auto-parts and manufacturing corridor — a structural, geographically-anchored employer base that few other Canadian engineering programs can offer.
- Both the undergraduate BASc and the graduate Master of Engineering are full degree programs, so neither is subject to IRCC's November 2024 field-of-study restriction on Post-Graduation Work Permit eligibility — that restriction applies to college-level and non-degree university programs, not to bachelor's or master's degrees.
- Programs of 2 years or longer (which covers the four-year BASc) qualify for the maximum-length PGWP of up to 3 years; the one-year Master of Engineering qualifies for a PGWP roughly equal to its program length.
FAQ
Does the University of Windsor publish an acceptance rate for Automotive Engineering? No. Windsor doesn't disclose a program-level or university-wide admit percentage; admission is based on meeting the Faculty of Engineering's minimum academic average and prerequisite coursework rather than a fixed admit-rate ceiling.
What's the difference between the BASc and the Master of Engineering, Automotive Option? The BASc is a four-year undergraduate degree for students entering after secondary school; the Master of Engineering (Automotive Option) is a one-year, course-based professional graduate program for applicants who already hold a bachelor's degree — it is not a thesis-based research master's.
How much does Windsor's Automotive Engineering program cost? Undergraduate international tuition runs approximately CAD $33,000/year (roughly $210,000-$215,000 over four years including living costs); the graduate Master of Engineering runs approximately CAD $20,500/year.
Is the GRE required for the Master of Engineering? No. Windsor's Master of Engineering (Automotive Option) does not require the GRE or GMAT.
Does this program qualify for the full 3-year PGWP? The four-year BASc does, as a degree program of 2+ years. The one-year Master of Engineering qualifies for a PGWP roughly equal to its one-year length rather than the full 3-year maximum, since PGWP length scales with program duration.
What happens if my IELTS score is below 6.5? You may still be admitted conditionally through the English Language Improvement Program (ELIP), provided you're otherwise academically admissible, rather than being rejected outright.