Waterloo AIF Q5: count your 2026 hours

Only hours between January 1 and December 31, 2026. If you have done an activity for more than 12 months, Waterloo asks for details from 2026 only.

Waterloo’s FAQ asks you to list your activities and “a time estimate spent on the activity”. Most people estimate from a weekly routine: hours per week, times the weeks it ran, minus breaks. Be honest, and keep a note of how you counted.

Waterloo counts January 1 to December 31, 2026, and gives no rule on hours you plan to do after you submit. You cannot edit the AIF after you submit. So this calculator counts only the hours you have done so far. If you would rather list the whole year, you can wait and submit in January 2027, before the deadline (February 1 for Engineering, February 15 for Math, CS and CFM).

Last cycle’s title box fit about 11 words, and there was no box for a description. A pattern that fits: “Role @ Organization”, for example “Cashier @ Grocery store”. Waterloo publishes no exact limit, so check your portal preview. Keep the details for Questions 1 to 4 and the interview.

Yes. The question covers activities in school, in the community and at home. Waterloo Engineering also says a part-time or summer job, or a volunteer role, can strengthen an application.

There is no separate awards section. Waterloo says you can put contests and awards in the activities chart or in your other answers. Links to awards or portfolios are not reviewed.