First Year Moving Information | Campus Housing

Move-In

Fall 2024

The move-in period is from Thursday, August 29, 2024 to Sunday, September 1, 2024. Students are required to book a move-in time slot. The August 31 to September 1 move-in period will be supported by campus volunteers who will help you find where you need to go!  A physical piece of your government issued photo ID or your WatCard (not a photo of your ID) is required when picking up your keys. A friend or family member cannot pick up your keys for you.

International students are encouraged to arrive on Thursday August 29. Move-in appointments are required. 

If you are unable to arrive during the main move-in period (August 29- September 1), you will be required to book a move-in time slot on the day you intend to arrive. Please see our Campus Housing Residence Front Desk hours to ensure our desk is open to support your key pick up. Please note that move-in support will not be available on these days but you can bring people to help you move in. Regardless of when you are moving in, you must book your move-in time slot by September 5.  

We cannot accommodate early move-in for the fall 2024 term. Please visit our Short Term Accommodations page for more information if you need to arrive before August 29. 

Further details about move-in, including move-in time slots, will be shared via email in early August.

The chart below explains what you can expect on each move-in day

 If you have any questions related to move-in please email movein@uwaterloo.ca

Move-in period explained in a graphic reiterating the information in the above paragraph.

Download the Village 1 Move-in Map

Download the UW Place/Claudette Millar Hall Move-in Map

Download the Mackenzie King Village Move-in Map

Download the Columbia Lake Village Move-in Map

Download the Ron Eydt Village Move-in Map

Download the Minota Hagey Move-in Map

Winter 2025

You can move into residence starting on Thursday January 2, 2025 at noon and up until Monday January 6, 2025 any time your residence’s front desk is open.

If you will not arrive by January 6, you can move in between January 7 - 24, and you must book a late arrival appointment . If you do not move in by January 24, your contract will be cancelled.  Students with a winter 2025 contract will be emailed a link to complete the late arrival form.

Please remember to have a physical copy of your government issued photo ID or your WatCard when picking up your keys. We cannot give you your keys without proper identification. A friend or family member cannot pick up your keys for you.

Move-in details will be provided by email to your @uwaterloo.ca email address. Campus Housing will not be able to accommodate early move-in for the winter 2025 term. Please visit our short term accommodations page if you need somewhere to stay before the earliest move-in date.

Frequently Asked Questions

HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO MOVE IN?

You will have a 30-minute time slot to pick up your keys, but you have as much time as you need to move in all your belongings! We ask that you try to be the most efficient with your time as we have many students moving in so don’t want to hold them up.

CAN I BRING A MOVE-IN COMPANION?

Yes, you are allowed as many companions as you need to help you move in.

WHERE DO I PICK UP MY KEYS?

Your keys will be available for pick up at your residence front desk. Please refer to the contact and hours page for desk hours and location. You will need a physical piece of government ID and your student number when you go to move in.  

CAN I PURCHASE/PICK UP MY PARKING PERMIT WHEN I MOVE IN?

Parking permits can be purchased prior to moving in and picked up at Parking Services during their office hours: https://uwaterloo.ca/parking/apply-student-permit

WHAT SHOULD I BRING?

Not sure what you should pack and what is best left at home during your studies? Refer to What Should I Pack list, with a printable checklist of what to bring (and what not to bring) whether you’re living in a traditional room or a suite.

WHAT IF I NEED TO MOVE IN EARLIER?

Campus Housing is not able to accommodate early move-in. Please see our short term accommodations options if you need to arrive before the first day of move-in.

WHAT IF I NEED TO ARRIVE AFTER MY ASSIGNED DATE?

Students who need to arrive after the first day of classes must complete a Late Arrival form or their contract will be cancelled. Instructions on how to complete a late arrival form will be provided in your move-in email. 

Students who do not pick up their keys by the date stated in the email, will be assumed to not be coming and your contract will be cancelled. By cancelling your contract, you will lose your $500 non-refundable deposit and be held financially responsible for your booking.  Review our Withdrawals and Cancellations page for more information on contract cancellations.

HOW DO I FIND LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS?

Need extra time before moving in or have family and friends visiting? Our short term accommodations list has plenty of local options!

Students who are travelling to campus and need to self isolate as per Public Health guidelines will need to do so prior to moving into residence.  Residence space can not be offered to students for this purpose. A list of options and resources can be found on the short term accommodations page that can help you find a place to stay during this time. 

Students can then make their own decision of the best accommodation option before moving into residence.  Students will be required to plan their own activities and make payment directly with the accommodation provider.

How can I pick up my WatCard?

Your WatCard is your comprehensive photo ID at Waterloo. It’s needed for many services around campus, including access to residence buildings, your meal plan, laundry, athletics facilities, UPASS, library, and many more. 

Apply and upload your photo by August 19 and you can pick up your card along with your keys when you move in. 

This special residence pick-up option has been added for your convenience – your card in your hands upon arrival, no waiting or extra line ups. Students who miss the August 19 deadline can still upload a photo, however you will need to add one business day for processing, and you will have to go to The Centre, in Needles Hall, to get your WatCard.  

Move-out

Move out requirements for undergraduate students on work term and study term:

Study term: students must move out within 24 hours of their last exam. All students must completely move out and return your keys by 10:00 am on Friday, December 20, 2024.
- If you are returning to the same room in January 2025, you may leave your belongings but you still must return your keys.
- If you are returning to the same room in May 2025, you must remove all of your belongings and return your keys.
Work term: all students on a co-op work term must completely move out and return your keys by 10:00 am on Saturday, December 21, 2024.

Reminder: Please be sure to change your mailing address or set up a mail forwarding service through Canada Post to ensure you can still receive your mail.

End-of-Term Procedures and Move-out

If you decide to leave residence prior to the last day of classes, please keep the following information in mind:

We are now within 30 days of the end of term. This means that you will not receive a prorated refund according to your residence contract terms and conditions. However, if you are moving out early, you need to complete the following steps:

Submit a cancellation request form, indicating your reason for leaving and expected departure date
Clean out your room according to the guidelines in your move-out email
Remove all personal belongings from the room
Return your keys to the front desk

Move-out Policies

Any student found to be residing in their room beyond the 24-hour policy will be charged $100 for every additional day.
Failure to return your keys to your residence front desk will result in a $100 charge to pay for a lock change.
Any items left behind will be disposed of which will result in a charge to your account.