Written by Jacqueline (she/her), student
Applied to university? Check. Received your university acceptance (congrats!)? Check. Accepted your offer to Waterloo? Check. Now all that’s left on the to-do list is to figure out which residence you want to live in.
With so many residences available to you, knowing which one will best meet your needs can be a bit tricky. But you're in luck! Here’s the rundown on each residence at Waterloo to help you differentiate them and figure out the right place for you.
Campus Housing
Campus Housing has a lot to offer. Whether you're looking for quiet study spaces and a room to call your own, or to maximize shared space and social opportunities, you'll have the chance to live independently while building meaningful connections that could last a lifetime.
Village 1 (V1)
Village 1 is a traditional dorm-style residence, with single, double, and single interconnecting rooms. Village 1 has a front desk that is available to students 24/7, a gaming center, pink pong tables and a basketball court.
Floors in Village 1 are assigned by gender and have shared washrooms, a shared tv-lounge complete with a fridge. Plus, in the warmer months, you can study in the sun on the V1 roof.
V1 provides you with the perfect opportunity to find a space that is suitable for your personality. I like it because there's a unique balance of being able to socialize with everyone on your floor, but to equally have a space that only belongs to you.
Ron Eydt Village (REV)
REV is another traditional residence. Every room in REV is a double room, that students share a room with a roommate — meaning plenty of opportunity to make a close friend and create lasting memories. REVelation cafeteria is in the residence and open from 7:30am to 10:30pm offering a range of hot and cold breakfast, lunch and dinner options.
Within REV, you can find a multiple freshly renovated study rooms, a Great Hall, a gym, music room and even a hockey storage room. A new outdoor basketball court was built in 2025 if you want to shoot some hoops and bike racks are on site.
REV is fun for those who like to get more involved with the community and activities that go on. The structure, environment, and student demographics make it easy to have fun.
Mackenzie King Village (MKV)
Suite style residences are like apartments. At MKV, all suites have 4-single bedrooms and two washrooms. The four students in a suite will share the common living area and full kitchen. You will also find a lounge area on every floor of MKV should you want to venture out of your suite and meet other residents.
In suite-style residences, meal plans are optional so if you're on a budget, this could be a good option for you in first year.
MKV is great for students who enjoy cooking and managing their space, and/or being social while still having their own space to go to!
Claudette Millar Hall (CMH)
CMH, Campus Housing's newest residence, is a traditional-style dorm with single and semi-private rooms.
A semi-private room is a double room that offers you and your roommate extra privacy as there is a half wall dividing the room.
Outside your room at CMH are bathrooms that are shared by 3 students. Each floor has open study rooms and a big lounge with a complete kitchen, tv and tons of seating.
CMH has an eatery called The Market which features a local grill, customizable wood-stone pizza, customizable burritos, the biggest salad bar on campus, and a Booster Juice.
The experience of living in CMH was something I didn't even know I wanted until I got it, and I couldn't be happier!
UW Place (UWP)
UWP is another suite-style residence with two, three, or four-bedroom suites. Like Mackenzie King Village, each UWP suite has its own kitchen, making meal plans optional. Suite-style residences are assigned a don (an upper-year student) on every floor so your social life will extend outside your suite, bringing you together with other students in your building.
One really great thing about living at UWP is that you have your own space. Since it's suite style, you get your own bedroom, plus a shared living space for you and your roommates. I liked that I was able to choose when I wanted to be social and just how social I wanted to be.
University Colleges
Looking for a smaller community to live in your first year? The University Colleges could be the perfect fit for you! Located right on campus, these close-knit communities also offer leadership opportunities and support, as well as excellent amenities and academic specializations.
Conrad Grebel (CGR)
Conrad Grebel is a traditional style residence with floor-to-ceiling windows you'll share with your roommate. It’s the smallest residence on campus where you'll get to know everyone by name, engage in fascinating conversations, and participate in lots of events and activities. Grebel boasts home-cooked meals and has ample space for recreation, snack prep, studying, and music making!
Grebel is the only residence on campus that has a separate application and a group interview for admission. Applying by the end of April is encouraged — you'll find out about your Grebel residence offer before the deadline for the 100% housing guarantee.
I enjoy the food at Grebel. But I also I love how I always find myself staying in the dining hall well past finishing my meal, and never eating alone or being bored.
Renison (REN)
Renison offers single and double room accommodations in a close-knit residence, located close to main campus. With the lowest don to student ratio, Renison prides itself on providing students a supportive environment as they transition to university life.
Renison celebrates diversity by housing students from all six Waterloo faculties that come from many different countries. You may enjoy a diverse, all-you-can-eat meal plan or refine your cooking skills in My Pantry — a fully stocked cooking area on site. You’ll also have access to over 100 paid leadership positions through Renison’s vibrant residence and student life!
As an international student, I loved how Renison felt so welcoming and I appreciated all the support the residence staff offered. It really helped me build community and set me up for success.
St. Jerome's (STJ)
The St. Jerome's residences have either single or double rooms that are modern and spacious and have modular furniture, air conditioning and shared washroom facilities. Our residences are centrally located on the Waterloo campus, and students from all six faculties are welcome.
Our residences include on-site laundry, a gymnasium and fitness space, movie and games rooms, indoor bike storage and dedicated spaces for music, creativity, studying and socializing. Our all-you-can-eat meal plan includes nutritious, freshly prepared meals in a space designed to promote community, well-being, and sustainability.
I feel very lucky to have found the St. Jerome's community in my first year! The best resource was an upper-year student who guided me through co-op procedures, course selection, community involvement, and accessing essential supports.
United College (UC)
United College has a variety of rooms to fit your personality and needs. Choose a double room with privacy barriers or an en-suite washroom, or a traditional single room. All rooms have individual temperature control (heating and air conditioning), and an all-you-can-eat meal plan.
You can hang out with friends in one of (or all of!) United's common areas: Watson’s Eatery, the games room, and television lounge (with a fireplace!).
United College has been a home to me throughout my undergrad. It has introduced me to so many incredible people who have helped make my university experience special!
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