Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA)
Needles Hall, second floor, room 2201
The well-being of our graduate community is key. There are resources to support you in making choices that enhance your wellness as you engage with your graduate studies at Waterloo. Below, we list a number of units and services on campus, provided under the themes of mental and emotional wellness, social wellness, and physical wellness.
As well, please note that your academic community is eager to support you during your graduate training 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.
For graduate students in research-based programs: supervisor -> Departmental or Program Graduate Officer/Chair -> Associate Dean, Graduate Studies -> Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA);
For graduate students in course-based programs: Program Director -> Graduate Officer/Chair -> Associate Dean, Graduate Studies -> GSPA.
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.
Mental & emotional wellness
A number of resources on campus support the mental and emotional wellness of students, including those students in graduate studies.
Social wellness
Connect with others while you are at UW for your graduate training. There are a number of resources that facilitate the creation of inclusive graduate student communities.
Physical wellness
Campus resources are available to support you in maintaining/enhancing your physical health & wellness, such as medical clinics & information related to exercise & nutrition.
Additional wellness resources
There are important resources that span across different types of wellness, including those related to graduate student representation, accommodations, inclusion and financial support.
Supporting wellness
A number of opportunities and resources exist for graduate students to support wellness on campus and accrue training in supporting the well-being of others.
Urgent help
There are immediate resources available if you are in crisis, feeling unsafe, or worried that you might hurt yourself or others. The Campus Wellness website contains both on-campus & after-hours contacts.
Mental and emotional wellness
A number of resources on campus support the mental and emotional wellness of students, including those students in graduate studies (e.g., counselling, workshops, spaces).
| Name of unit or service |
Brief description |
|---|---|
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Campus wellness provides information on a variety of physical, mental and emotional wellness matters relevant for graduate students. They maintain pages on wellness topics and information, as well as mental health, including advice and resources on self-care, imposter phenomenon, and resilience. |
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| Counselling Services |
Counselling Services is a team of professionals that provides programming and services to help you lead a healthy and balanced life. Counselling Services strives to provide a secure, supportive environment for students of all orientations and backgrounds. Services include individual appointments, group therapy, seminars (including pre-recorded sessions), workshops, and online resources. Students in urgent need should refer to the Campus Wellness page: Get mental health and support when you need it. |
| Empower Me |
Empower Me is a mental health and wellness service that connects students with counsellors, consultants, and life coaches. Students can access this service 24/7 by calling 1-833-628-5589 from Canada/US (see Empower Me website for contact from other locations). |
| Faith and spirituality |
Chaplains: The UWaterloo chaplains represent eleven different faith traditions, and strives to be a dynamic presence on campus, providing support to students, faculty, staff and the community. Multi-faith spaces: The university provides a listing of multi-faith spaces on campus that can be used by students for prayer, reflection and other faith-based activities. |
| Grad Students Community & Conversation Circle | Hosted weekly through Counselling Services, this group offers a safe, confidential space for all graduate students to talk about the stressors in graduate school and life, emotions (including problems with anxiety and depression), and relationships. This group can be attended on a drop-in basis, attendance at each session is not required. |
| Hosted every second Wednesday through Counselling Services, QTWELL is an open, drop-in group, for any graduate student is who a sexual and gender minority or identifies as part of the 2SLGBTQ+ communities. This is a safe, supportive space to discuss topics such as navigating intersectional identities, relationships, self, and many others. | |
| Study spaces |
There are plenty of quiet study spaces across campus as well as spaces that have natural lighting, outlets or other amenities to boost your productivity and wellbeing while working. Both the Writing and Communication Centre (WCC) and the Library have listings of favourite study spaces. |
Social wellness
Connect with others while you are at UW for your graduate training. There are a number of resources that facilitate the creation of inclusive graduate student communities.
| Name of unit or service | Brief description |
|---|---|
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The GSA runs the BIPOC Student Collective, a virtual space that aims to centre the academic and social experiences and needs of Black, Indigenous, People of Colour Graduate students. This is a safe space that facilitates peer-to-peer support, mentorship between faculty and students, and professional and academic development. |
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Recognized by the Graduate Student Association, Departmental GSA’s often organize and promote social events for graduate students within individual departments. |
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The Graduate Student Association (GSA) is a student-run not-for-profit and the official representation of graduate students at UW. The GSA hosts a number of social events for graduate students. |
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Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA) events |
GSPA hosts programming and events that bring our graduate community together to showcase the amazing research of our graduate students and support graduate student professional skills development. Regularly offered programming includes GRADflix and the Professional Skills Conference. |
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Operated by the Graduate Student Association, the Graduate House is a hub for graduate students and their guests in a relaxed social space. Graduate students may also reserve space for social events, and events are often hosted here by the Graduate Student Association. |
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| International Student Breakfast Seminars (Student Success Office) |
Hosted by the Student Success Office, the Breakfast Seminar is a program where international students can gather in a leisurely, friendly setting to learn more about campus and community services and resources. Each seminar focuses on a different topic, and is a chance to meet new people, share experiences, get tips on academic and personal success, and enjoy a light breakfast! |
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W3+ is a community of womxn and nonbinary grad students, postdocs, staff and faculty. The purpose of W3+ is to foster a social and support network among womxn and nonbinary members of the UW community. The group offers a safe space to discuss ideas, present research, and raise awareness about gender and sexuality at the university. |
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Writing Communities |
Social habits have been shown to be an important factor in maintaining accountability and motivation while writing. Build structure into your day with social writing communities. The Writing and Communication Centre (WCC) offers the following writing communities:
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Physical wellness
Campus resources are available to support you in maintaining/enhancing your physical health and wellness, such as medical clinics and information related to exercise and nutrition.
| Name of unit or service |
Brief description |
|---|---|
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Warrior Athletics offers many ways for students to stay active, including drop-in fitness classes, instructional classes, intramurals, clubs, and more. They also maintain a resource page for physical activity at home. |
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Updates regarding COVID-19 are provided to the university community through the COVID-19 Information page. Information regarding health and safety, including for a COVID hotline and on-campus COVID testing centres are found on the COVID Health and Safety webpage. |
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| Health Services Clinics |
There are a number of campus clinics provided by Health Services:
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Health Resources on Campus |
Beyond Health Services, there are also many other health and wellness resources on campus, including:
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Move Your Mind aims to help students experience the physical, emotional, mental, and cognitive benefits of physical activity by helping to break down any barriers that might be in their way of participating. |
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Graduate students registered in full-time or part-time "regular" classified programs are automatically included in the Health and Dental Plans through the Graduate Student Association. |
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The Clinics offer comprehensive vision care for patients aged 6 months and up. Services include eye exams, glasses and contact lens fitting and dispensing, treatment of ocular disease, vision rehabilitation, low vision services and more. Clinics are located on the Waterloo and Health Sciences (Kitchener) campuses. |
Additional wellness resources
There are important resources that span across different types of wellness, including those related to graduate student representation, accommodations, inclusion and financial support.
| Name of unit or service | Brief description |
|---|---|
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For students how have a known or unknown disability, illness, or condition, AccessAbility Services (AAS) can help develop individualized academic accommodation plans for all components of an academic career. This includes services for those students who may need accommodations at the graduate level. |
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Campus Wellness | Wellness Topics and Information |
Through their Wellness Topics and Information, Campus Wellness provides information on a variety of wellness matters relevant for graduate students, including stress management, physical health and activity, nutrition and sleep tips, social and spiritual health, and more! |
| Conflict Management & Human Rights Office (CMHRO) |
The CMHRO provides services for working through and managing conflict and are customized to meet the needs of the parties. These services include: group facilitation, meeting facilitation, mediation, coaching and more. During an initial meeting, staff will listen to your concerns and provide information on possible options and resources. In partnership with GSA, they offer asynchronous Managing Workplace Conflict learning modules, to help support graduate student TAs, RAs and sessional instructors. They now offer Difficult Conversation Wednesdays, setting aside the day especially to support those who are having, have had, or need to have difficult conversations with friends, family, peers, colleagues, supervisors, etc. A great opportunity to discuss difficult conversations and get feedback. Email l3long@uwaterloo.ca to set up a time. |
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There are a number of opportunities to help support graduate students in funding their graduate studies through awards and scholarships, in addition to minimum funding, where applicable. There are also bursaries available to support students who have children or demonstrate financial need: |
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The Graduate Student Association (GSA) is a student-run not-for-profit and the official representation of graduate students at UW. They provide graduate students with academic support, a social community, mental and physical health supports, legal aid, as well as advocacy and representation. |
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| Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism | The Equity Office works with students, faculty, and staff across campus to advance equity through evidence-based policies, practices and programs. This support includes assisting students from underrepresented groups navigate solutions to equity-related barriers. |
| Office of Indigenous Relations | The Office of Indigenous Relations is a central hub for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis researchers, faculty, and staff along with allies within the Waterloo campus community. They host events and gatherings throughout the year, providing spaces for learning and reflection. |
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The Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office (SVPRO) supports all members of the University of Waterloo campus community who have experienced, or been impacted, by sexual violence. The SVPRO can help you get support, using anti-oppressive, survivor-centered, intersectional, trauma-informed, evidence-based, and collaborative approaches. They offer:
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Supporting wellness on campus
A number of opportunities and resources exist for graduate students to support wellness on campus and accrue training in supporting the well-being of others.
| Name of unit or service |
Brief description |
|---|---|
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Equity education and training |
A number of campus units work to educate and bring together members of the UW campus community to facilitate understanding, address discrimination and harm, influence, and advance systemic changes toward making UW and equitable and safe(r) place where everyone can thrive. HREI training and workshops aim to create space and opportunity for conversation, learning and exchange.
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Counselling Services offers a broad range of suicide intervention and mental health training programs open to faculty, staff and students. The goals of the training is to raise campus mental health awareness, reduce mental health stigma, and support early intervention for those in need within our Waterloo campus community. |
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Student volunteers are needed to accompany these referred students to their on-campus recreation activity. Activities can include Intramurals, Shoe Tag classes, Instructional classes, Strength and Conditioning, open recreation, and clubs. Volunteers will help a peer: feel comfortable trying a new activity, be motivated to continue, and help them reach their goals. |
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The Wellness Collaborative is committed to continual improvement upon health and wellness at UW. The Wellness Collaborative wants to ensure that everyone in the university community understands and feels welcome to engage with their initiative. There are several ways for graduate students to get involved in the Wellness Collaborative. |