First-year students

Welcome to the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering!

While starting out in a new place, with new people, courses and living accommodations, can feel overwhelming, we want to help make your transition as easy as possible. These links, resources and to-dos are designed to get you settled in and to help you find everything you need.

If you have any questions or have an issue these links haven’t addressed, don’t hesitate to contact the First Year Engineering Office.

The First Year Office can help you manage the transition from high school, providing one-stop shopping for academic counselling, personal counselling, tutors to help you with courses, and other resources within the department, faculty and university.

Before you arrive:

Familiarize yourself with important dates – This comprehensive calendar has all the key dates you need to know for fee payment, course enrollment and even exam and holiday dates for once you begin your studies.

First-year students are invited to attended Student Life 101, a two-day on-campus experience that takes place in July and August. The program is designed to make you feel at home on campus – you’ll have the opportunity to meet other first years, attend a lecture and tutorial and get to know your way around campus. There’s even a one-day program for parents.

Housing – First-year students are guaranteed a spot in our on-campus residences, provided you accept your offer of admission and submit the necessary documentation on time. Find out about the residence application process and important dates for first years on the housing website.

Class enrollment – As a first-year student in the Faculty of Engineering, you’ll be enrolled in your core classes automatically. The Registar's Office website contains information about course registration for new students. You can view your class schedule on Quest.

Once you arrive on campus:

New students arriving at the University of Waterloo receive a comprehensive welcome package, explaining all of the steps to making our campus your home. Still have questions? These key information sources will point you in the right direction.

Administration

Administration for all first-year engineering students begins in the First Year Engineering Office. If you have a question and are uncertain where to go, the staff in the first year office (Room CPH 1320) will be happy to direct you.

They can connect you with Academic advisors. An academic advisor assists students who have questions about:

Course selection
Timetable concerns
Regulations, policies, and procedures
Grade appeal and petitions

You can also contact the Civil and Environmental Engineering Administrative Office for Undergraduate Studies by dropping by the office (E2-2333) or calling ext. 36336.

Registrar's Office

The Registrar's Office they are responsible for tracking student academic information from admission through graduation. Visit the Registrar's Office web site for information on final exams, services available to students, and more. If you require access to printable forms such as letter of permission requests, plan modifications, official transcript requests, petitions, and more you can find those on the Undergraduate Studies Forms website. If you require help in person you can visit The Centre, located on the first floor of in Needles Hall. Students interested in scholarship and bursaries information can visit the Student Awards and Financial Aid (SAFA) website.

Undergraduate Calendar

The University of Waterloo Undergraduate Calendar is your main source of information about courses, degree requirements, and regulations. The Undergraduate Calendar describes:

University policies and regulations
Academic plan requirements
Faculty regulations
Course descriptions/prerequisites

Your schedule of classes

The Schedule of Classes is a complete list of classes offered each academic term at University of Waterloo.

Your computer account

All students are given a University of Waterloo email address. Visit the Civil Engineering Computing website for a full list of computing services, IT contacts and more.

Computer Requirements

Updating your contact information

You are responsible for ensuring your address, phone number, and email are current. Please review and update your personal information each term using Quest so advisors and professors can reach you.

Failure by the University of Waterloo to make contact with a student due to incorrect information on a student's record does not excuse a student from academic accountability.