Get ready to move in or out of Campus Housing!
Find out everything you need to know about undergraduate move-in dates, what you need to do before you move-out, and what you need to know about moving at end of each term (whether your living with Campus Housing the next term or moving out entirely)!
Moving in for the fall term? Check out our Fall Move-In Guide.
Jump to: Move-in information| Move-out information
Move-in
Students moving into residence for the winter 2026 term can move into residence starting at 8 a.m. on Saturday, January 3, 2026.
Reminders:
- 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 in December - please monitor your email address for further details and instructions.
- Campus Housing will not be able to accommodate early move-in for the winter 2026 term. Please visit our short term accommodations page if you need somewhere to stay before the earliest move-in date.
Move-out
First year
- Must move-out within 24 hours of final academic commitment. If you don’t move out within 24 hours of your last exam or academic commitment, you may be charged $100 for every additional day you are in residence.
- Complete an extension request form for extenuating circumstances – we cannot guarantee your request will be approved
- Students must be moved out by Friday December 19 at 10 a.m.
- Approved extension requests and co-op students have until Saturday December 20 at 10 a.m. to move out.
Upper year
- Must move out by Friday December 19 at 10 a.m.
- Approved extension requests and co-op students must move out by Saturday December 20 at 10 a.m.
Note: Until the final examination schedule is released, students are expected to be available to write their final examination(s) for the entirety of the Final Examination Period, including the scheduled emergency days in case of inclement weather or other emergency events. It is important not to make any travel, employment, or other commitments for the duration of Final Examination Period. Once the final examination schedule is released, students are required to make arrangements to vacate residence within 24 hours of their last final examination. However, if during the Final Examination Period a final examination has been rescheduled to an emergency day, students are permitted to stay in their residence until the end of the Final Examination Period. If an extension would cause undue hardship due to the combination of the residence rule and already booked travel arrangements, students should reach out to their instructor to determine their options.
Reminders for all undergraduate students
- There will be limited trollies to move your belongings
- Failure to return your keys to your residence front desk will result in a $100 charge to pay for a lock change.
- You will receive additional reminders closer to the last day of the term if you have not returned your key
- Campus Housing staff will be entering all rooms to ensure everyone has left before the buildings are locked for the break. Please refer to your student type above for your move-out requirements. If you are still in residence past your move-out requirements, you will be charged $100 on the spot for every additional day you have not left.
- Mail:
- If you are not moving back into residence until the spring term or if you will be in a different room in the winter term, 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. Leave your mailbox keys in your room.
- If you are moving back into the same room for the winter term, we encourage you not to order items to be mailed to your room over the break as most desks will be closed. Note: if your mail/package is delivered before we close in December, but you have already moved out for the term, your package will be held for you over the break, and you can collect it from your residence Front Desk when you pick-up your keys in January.
- Any items left behind will be disposed of which will result in a charge to your account.
- Reminder to remove your bicycle or hockey equipment (if applicable) from the storage room when moving out.
- Residence buildings will be closed/locked from Saturday, December 20 at 10 a.m. to Saturday, January 3 at 8 a.m.
End of term actions
Cleaning checklist (all students)
-
Use the correct designated bins to discard remaining garbage and recycling from your room/suite. If you’re throwing out large items in the bins, please only throw garbage in the garbage bins and keep the recycling streams cleaned by properly recycling items in the correct recycling bins.
- Turn off all appliances except your fridge.
- Shut all windows in your room/suite.
- Remove or discard any food remaining in your room, fridge, or freezer.
- Please ensure the furniture configuration of your room is put back the way you found it on move-in day.
- Thoroughly look through your room before you lock up to double check you do not forget anything. Once you return your keys, you will not be given them back.
Not completing this checklist may result in a $100 cleaning fee.
Living in residence in the winter term?
If you are returning into the same room:
- You can keep your belongings in your room
- You must return your keys to the front desk and pick them up when you move back in
- You may be getting a new roommate or suitemate in the winter term if your current roommate/suitemate is not returning in the winter term and there is a vacant bed or room
- If you live in a double room:
- Make sure your room is in good condition and your belongings are kept to your side of the room to help your new roommate have a positive move-in experience.
- Campus Housing staff will be entering your room after your previous roommate has moved out to make sure the space is ready for your new roommate
- If you live in a suite:
- Make sure the common area, kitchen and washroom are clean and in good condition to help your new suitemate have a positive move-in experience. Please make sure the toilet, sink, shower and floors are clean and dirt-free, and that your items in the shared living spaces like the living room and kitchen are maintained to one area so your new suitemate has a spot to put their belongings.
- Label any items in the kitchen/shared spaces (including items in the fridge, cupboards, washroom, vanity, lounge/living room and entrance) or store them in your room before the cleaning/inspections takes place to ensure your personal belongings are not accidentally moved or disposed of during any inspection or cleaning.
- Campus Housing staff will be entering to clean the room your new roommate is moving into. They will not be cleaning common spaces or occupied rooms.
- If we determine the shared spaces are not clean enough for new suitemates and require additional cleaning by our staff, a $100 cleaning fee charge will apply.
- If you have noticed any issues with your room, please contact your residence’s maintenance team. We also encourage you to do your part in welcoming your new roommate/suitemate when you return in the winter term. This may be their first time on campus and living in residence.
- If you live in a double room:
If you are moving into a different room:
- You must completely move out your belongings and clean your space
- You must return your keys to the front desk and can pick up your winter keys when you return next term
Living in residence in the spring term?
- If you are not returning to the same room until the spring 2026 term, you must fully move out your belongings and return your key to your front desk as another student may be living there in the winter 2026 term.
- If you are changing to a different residence or room for the spring 2026 term, you must fully move out your belongings and return your key to your front desk as another student may be living there in the winter 2026 term.