ME 303Advanced Engineering Mathematics
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Engineering
- Subject
- Mechanical Engineering
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 4 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
A continuation of ME 201 and ME 203 in which both classical calculus techniques and the computer implementation of numerical methods are discussed. Partial differential equations of mathematical physics: wave, diffusion, Laplace, Poisson equations. Boundary and initial conditions. Separation of variables. Numerical methods for ordinary and partial differential equations. Applications will emphasize the role of ordinary and partial differential equations in understanding the behaviour of physical systems.
Prerequisites
- Complete all of the following
- Must have completed the following:
- Students must be in level 3A
- Enrolled in H-Mechanical Engineering
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 4414 | 0 / 120 | TTh 15:00–16:20 |
| LEC 701 | 1803 | 93 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
| TUT 101 | 4415 | 0 / 120 | W 10:30–11:20 |
Reviewed on UW Flow
56% liked it34% easy75% useful
From 62 ratings and 23 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
The course itself is helpful and interesting, as it does show some basic real life applications. However, good luck if you get zhao pan as it he doesn't really do examples and give practice.
Midterms are reused, and projects can be fun but lengthy, plan accordingly.Aug 2025 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
One of the harder courses in 3A due to the workload from the projects. The content itself is not too much advanced and builds off of previous math courses, but it is taught in a weird way. If you have Zhao Pan, he covers concepts but almost never gives us any examples in class, which makes it hard to fully grasp what we are learning and why. He reuses midterm and final questions from previous years so make sure you have an upper-year buddy who will give you their past exam questions to put on your cheat sheet. The MATLAB projects were interesting applications of the analytical and numerical ODE and PDE solving methods. But for god's sake, make sure you get a competent group because carrying…
May 2025 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Lots of self learning in this course. The two projects are interesting and apply the concepts taught well, although they require knowledge of MATLAB and in the case of project 2, content that was not taught until the last week of class. The midterm was fairly straight forward, but the final was tough. Lots of content on the final is meant to be performed by a computer (hence the projects) and that makes studying for this final lots of fun.
Apr 2025 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
The course is pretty well organized with slides divided into topics and project instructions clear. However both projects are after the midterms making it difficult to balance with other classes. The tutorials are also not very helpful.
Apr 2025 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
The class is polarizing, interesting if you are into simulations. Two projects started after midterms will sap up your time, both are MATLAB heavy, prepare for them. The midterm is very hard but they're only worth 15%, highly recommend doing the mock exam.
Mar 2024 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
5 posts and comments in 5 threads mention ME 303, August 2015 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Winter 2023
What Math Courses do Mech Eng Majors take? 1 point, 2 comments
u/astarawa: “MATH 115 - linear algebra xx MATH 116 - basic calculus MATH 118 - basic integrals, ugh infinite series ME 201 - lil more spicy calculus ME 202 - statistics ME 203 - ODEs ME 303 - PDEs rip Most courses are pretty math heavy but for lots it’s just algebra. …”
Fall 2021
What are your favourite classes at UW 56 points, 87 comments
u/loryk_zarr: “ME219 and ME303.”
Spring 2021
Mechanical engineering undergrad retrospective 201 points, 42 comments
u/doAbr00talroll: “… 3A, uh oh fluids is here • ME303: Premidterm content is super easy, one of my highest midterm grades ever. DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE POST MIDTERM. When I wrote the final I left several questions effectively blank but apparently so many people did poorly that he curved. …”
Spring 2020
Alumni of UW, looking back— what was your favourite classes/memories from your uni life? Do you miss any of it? 45 points, 19 comments
u/two88: “Still here but I don't think anything will top ME 303 when first time Prof whipped out a pretty folder and said 'I found this in the trash!' (he meant recycling) and when he opened it was printed ID pictures of our class. I still think about that moment.”
Spring 2015
Upper Mechanical Engineers (3A+)? 5 points, 3 comments
u/H2oloo1: “I wanted more practice for upcoming finals and was wondering if any upper mechanical engineering students had any past exams for courses including ME 303, ME 340, ME 354 for more practice. I can't find much on the exam bank. Thanks!”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2026–27The official entry
- Requirements for Fall 2026Waterloo’s requisite checker
- Schedule of Classes, Fall 2026Instructors, rooms, live seats
- Quest Class SearchWhere you enrol
- Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
- UW FlowStudent ratings and reviews
- WClassesPast sections back to 2004, and who taught them