Resources and services | Current Graduate Students

There are many resources and services available to you to provide information or support for your academic, professional, financial, and personal needs.

Graduate student wellness

Your well-being is key. There are many resources to support you in making choices that enhance your wellness as you complete your graduate studies at Waterloo.

Your academic community is eager to support you during your graduate studies at the University of Waterloo. Information about the specific roles and responsibilities of all partners in graduate education can be found within the Guide for graduate research and supervision.

If you find yourself in a challenging situation, we encourage you to connect with those individuals who can support you. These suggested pathways are intended to connect you with the support and resources you need.

While those nearest to your academics – your supervisor, program director or graduate officer – are often best prepared to understand your unique circumstances in relation to your academic programming, if you are uncomfortable with discussing your situation with them, you may choose to contact your Associate Dean or GSPA.

For graduate students in research-based programs

Supervisor → Graduate Officer/Chair → Associate Dean, Graduate Studies → Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs

For students in course-based programs

Graduate Officer/Chair → Associate Dean, Graduate Studies → Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs

Academic supports

Support units

AccessAbility Services: For students who have a known or suspected disability, condition, or illness, AccessAbility Services can help develop individualized accommodation plans.
Graduate Students Association (GSA): A student-run group that offers the official representation of graduate students at Waterloo.
Library: Providing services to support graduate student academics and research, including: borrowing privileges, interlibrary loans, equipment loans, study spaces, research guides, and more.
Office of Academic Integrity: Offering information for students about academic integrity, including the Academic Integrity Module (AIM).
Student Success Office: Provides academic and personal development services.
Statistical Consulting and Survey Research Unit: Provides statistical advice to those working on research problems, including advising on survey methodology, questionnaire design, programming, data collection, and more.
Writing and Communication Centre (WCC): Offering writing services and support to help tackle research papers, articles, presentations, thesis, and dissertation.

Programs

Dissertation boost camp: A four-day program that combines workshops with individual writing time and individual consultations.
Rock your thesis: A three-part program that guides graduate students through the phases of planning and writing a thesis or dissertation.
Starting independent research: An online module geared towards master's students to support graduate students who are new to conducting research.
WaterlooWrites: A writing community for graduate students hosted by graduate student volunteers.
Writing Cafés: Weekly sessions here graduate students, postdocs, and faculty can meet to write together.

Policies and guidelines

Wellness supports

Campus wellness supports

Health services: A medical clinic providing walk-in and booked appointments.
Counselling Services: A team of professionals providing counselling appointments to students.
Family health clinic: A medical clinic available to dependents, parents, and visiting family of graduate students.
EmpowerMe: A virtual mental health and wellness service that connects students with counsellors, consultants, and life coaches, that can be accessed 24/7.

Health resources

Athletics and recreation: Offering many ways for students to stay active, including drop-in fitness classes, instructional classes, intramurals, clubs, and more.
Campus dentist: Located in the basement of the Student Life Centre.
Campus physio: Physio and athletic therapists located in the basement of the Student Life Centre.
Nutrition services: An online resource to help with helping eating strategies, and an opportunity to meet with a registered dietitian with a referral from health services.
Optometry clinic: Offering comprehensive vision care through eye exams, glasses and contact lenses dispensing, treatment of ocular disease, and more.
Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office: Supporting all members of the University of Waterloo community who have experienced or been impacted by sexual violence.
Student care health and dental plan: A health and dental plan offered through the Graduate Student Association (GSA).
Student Health Pharmacy: Located in the basement of the Student Life Centre.

Mental health supports

Fck Perfect: A community-building workshop to empower students to speak back to the pressure to be perfect.
FunkBucket: An interactive and accessible drumming workshop.
Grad circle drop-in: A drop-in group for graduate students to discuss concerns related to graduate studies.
Mental health training: A collection of workshops to raise mental health awareness, reduce stigma, and support early intervention.
Mind Body Run: An all-level running/walking group that focuses on mindfulness.
NeuroMinds: A collective of neurodiverse students including ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, and more.
Skills for safer living: A support group for students who have had thoughts of suicide.
Substance harm reduction: A support group for students who would like to address problematic substance use.

International student supports

Immigration supports

Immigration consulting: A dedicated team of Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants are available to provide consultations on study permits, working on and off campus, post-graduation work permits, and more.
Immigration Waterloo region: A collection of supports for those immigrating to Waterloo region, including immigration consulting, conversation circles, housing support, and more.

International student supports

International Experience Centre: A hub for all things relating to international students including support, programming, immigration consulting, and more.
International student breakfast seminars: A program where international students can gather and learn more about campus and community services and resources.
International student collective: A space to center resources and foster a sense of community in international graduate students.
International student guide: A comprehensive guide for international students who are new to Canada and the University of Waterloo.
International peer community: A peer support program to help new international students feel at home at Waterloo.
Scholarships for international students: A list of external scholarships for international students coming to Canada.

Family supports

Documents for your family: A guide to the documents you need to invite your family to visit.
International spouses group: A community for those interested in meeting other spouses of international students and professors.

Equity supports

Support units

AccessAbility Services: For students who have a known or suspected disability, condition, or illness, AccessAbility Services can help develop individualized accommodation plans.
Conflict Management & Human Rights Office: Provides services and managing conflict, including group facilitation, mediation, coaching, and more.
Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism: Working with students, faculty, and staff, to advance equity through evidence-based policies, practices, and programs.
Office of Indigenous Relations: A central hub for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis within the Waterloo community, hosting events and gatherings, and providing spaces for learning and reflection.

Groups and communities

BIPOC Student Collective: A virtual space that centres the experiences of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color graduate students.
Glow Centre for Sexual and Gender Diversity: A student-run group promoting a healthy attitude towards all sexual orientations and gender identities by providing a wide variety of peer support, social events, advocacy work, and resources.
Queer and Trans Graduate Students Wellness (QTWELL): An open, drop-in group for anyone who identifies as part of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
Racial Advocacy for Inclusion, Solidarity, and Equity (RAISE): A group working to acknowledge and address the impacts of racism and xenophobia.
Roots: A drop-in group for any Black student to connect with other Black students.
SPECTRUM: A support group for members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals in the Waterloo region.
Waterloo Indigenous Student Centre (WISC): A space on campus where you can connect with other First Nations, Inuit, and Métis individuals at Waterloo.
Women's Centre: A volunteer-run group that holds workshops, film screenings, and guest lectures to provide a supportive environment on campus for women and trans folx.

Programs and other resources

Confronting Anti-Black Racism: A self-directed course that explores the historical roots of anti-Black racism and white supremacy in the Americas.
Inclusive washroom map: An interactive map of all inclusive washroom locations on campus.

Family and caregiver supports

Supports on campus

Breast milk storage: The Equity Offive is available to arrange breastmilk storage on campus.
Family housing: Columbia Lake Village North offers on-campus housing for graduate students and their families.
FamilyPsycle: A psychology lab at the University of Waterloo that manages a list of community resources.

Daycares on campus

Note: Waiting lists for childcare in the Waterloo area can be long. Children's names should be added to waiting lists and registered for childcare and day care as soon as you arrive in Waterloo.

Bright Starts Co-operative Early Learning Centre: Located on North Campus and provides priority enrolment to children of faculty, staff, and students at Waterloo.
Early Childhood Education Centre: Located in the PAS building and provides programs for children 30 months to 4 years of age.
Kids & Company, TechTown location: Located in the David Johnston Research & Technology Park and offering infant, toddler, and preschool programs.

Supports in Waterloo and Wellington

Caregiver support resource list: A list of resources for people who are acting as caregivers in a variety of circumstance (e.g., Alzheimers).

Professional development supports

Accelerator Centre: Providing entrepreneurs and new companies with access to coaching, mentoring, professional management advice, and even services, such as accounting, IP management, high-speed internet access and vital business networks.
Centre for Career Development: Supporting career management techniques, work search methods, resume and CV help, and more, via workshops, drop-ins, and appointments.
Centre for Teaching Excellence: Supporting teaching through certificate programs, workshops, and one-on-one consultations about teaching dossiers.
GreenHouse: A social impact incubator that offers programs and opportunities for students to develop problem-solving skills, form innovative ideas, and make new forms of sustainable impact around social or environmental change.
LinkedinLearning: A repository of web-based training with over 13,000 courses to help you learn software, creative, IT, and business skills.
Mitacs: Providing professional development courses for graduate students designed to complement research skills and experience.
Problem Lab: Designed to help innovators create ventures of significant economic and social consequence.
Professional Skills Foundations: A professional skills credential that focuses on career preparation, communication, leadership, and personal effectiveness.
Velocity: An incubator for early-stage, pre-seed tech startups that combines expertise, tools, business advisory, and product development services in one program.

Graduate Student Association

The Graduate Student Association (GSA) is the official representative of graduate students at Waterloo and provides a number of supports and services, including:

Academic support
Mental and physical health supports
Legal aid
Advocacy and representation
Community and social events

Additionally, GSA promotes and represents graduate student interests to the university administration and all levels of government, and overall enhances the academic and social experience of graduate students at Waterloo through their work and social community.