Frequently asked questions

There are 142 beds in the Grebel residence, which is as big as we would like it. We don’t want you to become just a face in the crowd, lost among the craziness of university. At Grebel, we get to know one another by name. Open doors allow for the flow of conversation and relationship building. Trust is built and strong friendships are made. Grebel may be a small residence but it quickly starts to feel like a big family and there are plenty of perks to that! It starts to feel a lot more like a home.

Hear what Zoe says about that.

Grebel is a close knit and personable community, so naturally we want to get to know you! Your interests, personality, activities, beliefs and values are all important to us. We want you to have a chance to ask all your questions and assure that Grebel is the right fit!  Most students find that they enjoy their interview, and that it gives them insight into what living at Grebel is like. Don’t be nervous - we really just want to meet you!

Listen to Ananya speak about the interview and what to expect.

At Grebel we try our best to assure you stay healthy; mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally. There are a lot of people here who care about you.

DONS - There are five student dons hired by the college to care for the well-being of the residents, as well as to help maintain a high quality of residence life. They live in the residence and are available for assistance and support.

CAMPUS HOSTS - A married couple called Campus Hosts also live on campus and provide additional support to the Dons and students in residence.

STUDENT SERVICES - A dedicated team of four staff found just steps away from the residence floors are attentive to student needs. They practice beginning of term check in conversations and end of term check out conversations and are the ones to conduct the interviews. You meet them even before you get here so we hope you will feel comfortable going to them for help.  

UPPER YEARS – Having older students in the residence who have done it all before is invaluable! Grebel is about 50% upper year and 50% first year. See the questions below to get the inside scoop on these fine folk!

Madeleine gives some insight into some of the ways you can stay healthy at Grebel.

Grebel encourages students to live in residence past first year, and usually about half of the residents are in their upper years. These students are great mentors and will help you adjust to University! Upper year students help make life at Grebel AMAZING. In fact, we love them so much that we have tons of award money available to help them stay in residence. Maybe that will be you someday.

“Having a welcoming group of upper-year students made me feel like I belonged here in no time”. See what else Micah has to say about life in a multi-year residence!

Grebel is supported and influenced by the Mennonite church, an Anabaptist church denomination. Due to our Mennonite roots, Grebel promotes emotional, spiritual and intellectual growth. It strives for integration of reason and imagination, faith and action, veracity and personal commitment. Grebel is a place where the student body is nurtured to think beyond themselves and think broadly about the world while learning how to live communally. Skills are built and passions are ignited to pursue a stronger healthier world.

Having a diversity of backgrounds and perspectives is important to us here at Grebel. Each one of us brings insight and knowledge and whether you subscribe to a religion or not we welcome you. Come willing to share your ideas and/or learn from the ideas of others. Grebel provides a unique space to wrestle some of life’s biggest questions alongside your friends and peers.

Yes! There are chapel services held on Wednesday’s at 4:30.

Suomi describes the Grebel Chapel services very well. They are different each week, quite interactive, student planned and often student-led.

On Wednesdays at 5:30 – 6:30 pm we all join together to share a meal.  Community Supper is a very important part of community life and we ask that all of our residents attend.

At Community supper there is fresh homemade bread on the table, and a delicious buffet meal. Student announcements make us aware of all of the Grebel events coming up and guest speakers from a variety of backgrounds prepare a talk to encourage, challenge and inspire current Grebelites. Our Community Supper guest speakers come from all walks of life, and include activists, business owners, professors, musicians, politicians - the list goes on.

Abi can give you a better sense of what community supper is!

Grebel food is cooked fresh each day in-house. There are 21 all-you-can-eat meals per week and snack nights. Students enjoy homemade bread, delicious baking, salad bar, deli bar, vegetarian options, and much more. This is not your typical residence meal plan! Meals are cooked by Grebel Kitchen Staff who are passionate about food - you can taste the difference!

Don’t take our word for it - check out what Lorena has to say about food at Grebel!

Grebel is a traditional style residence, meaning it has double rooms. We believe having a roommate is an important part of the University experience. A roommate can help you make valuable connections, combat loneliness, transition to University life and they help you to learn how to live communally. Having a roommate is a once in a lifetime experience.

Here at Grebel, even with a roommate, you will have a lot of personal space. Grebel dorm rooms are some of the largest on campus with huge windows and modular furniture, which helps you customize your room. You will be provided with a single bed, mattress, study desk with bookshelves, desk chair, wardrobe and window drapes. Two sheets, a pillow case and one blanket can be provided if required.

Let Piper and Elaina show you what the rooms are like!

In first year, roommates are chosen for you. Grebel is an opportunity for you to branch out and get to know new people. Remember – even if you don’t live with your best friend, he or she is right down the hall!

We take matching roommates very seriously. Each student completes a questionnaire outlining his or her living preferences, such as study habits, personality, bedtime, etc. Roommates are carefully matched based on these questionnaires and other information obtained through the application and interview process. You will find out who your roommate is on move-in day - it’s exciting!

Hear a little about Jacob and Josh’s roommate experience!

Residents are welcome to have day and overnight guests. An overnight stay of one or two nights is an appropriate length. Please note that male guests must be billeted in men’s rooms and female guests in women’s rooms.

At Grebel, we are very intentional about assuring that we have a blend of students living here from all six faculties. Why?

1. It’s important to learn from the unique perspectives of others and be able to collaborate and learn from one another. Engineers need artists, writers need mathematicians, scientists need environmentalists. We all think a little differently but can learn to collaborate and even depend on each other to have a positive impact on the world around us.
2. At Grebel, you will also find a supportive group of peers, both in first year and beyond, who are in your program and faculty. You can help each other get through the not-so-easy assignments.

Sarah talks about the benefits of living with people from other faculties!

Grebel is not just a residence - it is also an academic community. What’s that mean for you? Well, if you have an interest in music you will be at the heart of it all. Attend a concert, jam out in the practice rooms, and go to class just steps away! If you have an interest in Peace or Social Justice, connect to the Center for Peace Advancement, attend special peace-related events, and engage in big, peace related topics with your peers, professors, and staff in the building.

No matter what program you are in you will be able to interact with our PACS, Music and Theological Studies staff and faculty.  In fact, each resident is encouraged to take a Grebel course or two while living at the College. This helps to build a relationship between Grebel faculty and students living in residence. Some programs have very restricted elective space making enrolment in a Grebel course challenging and sometimes not feasible. Don't worry about that. Exceptions are regularly accommodated by the Director of Student Services. Don't hesitate to e-mail about this.

Andrew is an Environment student who benefited from Grebel’s Music program - hear a little more about his life at Grebel!

Grebel is located right on campus! Depending on the class and building, your walk could range from 1 minute to 15 minutes. As a Grebelite, walking to class can be fun! You may be walking to and from class with other Grebelites or waving to all the Grebelites you meet along the path.

There are tons of ways to get involved! And if there’s something you want to do that doesn’t exist yet, feel free to start something new!

This list could go on and on! But go ahead and hear what Charlotte says about ways to get involved!

And watch Abby talk about the many things there are to do here!

Sure Grebel is a lot of fun, and there is a ton to do, but you are here to get a degree. It is very important to us that you succeed academically, and it’s all about finding the balance between extracurriculars and school. Thankfully, at Grebel you have a large support network of people who want to help you find that balance!

When you need to hit the books there are a lot of study space options here apart from your room. There is a silent study room and group study room open all hours, and a beautiful library attached to the residence floors. Some Grebel students prefer to study in the games lounge surrounded by friends, in the dining hall close to the food, or in the atrium looking out the wall to ceiling windows. It’s all about figuring out how you study best!

Elora can tell you a little more about what it’s like to live at Grebel and study hard!

Should you receive an offer to live at Grebel your residence contract will match your University of Waterloo Co-op streaming and whether you live at Grebel for the Fall, Winter or Spring you are in for a treat. Grebel is awesome year round! While Co-op has plenty of perks, it can get exhausting moving from city to city and always feeling like you are starting fresh. As a Co-op student you can connect to Grebel during your academic terms whenever you come back; whether it's as a resident or an associate you will always find familiar faces and a friendly, home-like atmosphere. You can even live or associate at Grebel during your Co-op term!

Listen to MacKenzie talk about how having Grebel as a home base impacted his university experience!

No. When applying for Fall you are required to sign a Fall and Winter or a Fall and Spring two-term contract. You can, however, apply to live at Grebel for just the Winter or just the Spring.

Yes! There are many generous donors connected to Grebel who want to make the Grebel residence experience possible for you. Thanks to their support Grebel has several entrance awards and need-based financial aid. Please see our financial aid and awards page for more detailed information.

Joseph was the recipient of the Peace Works Technology Solutions Award. Check out what he has to say!

So glad you asked! We believe a tight-knit community is important for anyone who is moving away from home for the first time but when moving from across the country or across the globe it is especially important! If you are an International or Out-of-Province student, you are not going to be able to go home on the weekends, maybe not even for the major holidays. You are not only adjusting to University life - you are adjusting to life in Ontario, Canada. Grebel is a supportive community where you can feel comfortable asking questions. Your peers will be there for you and you will quickly find yourself feeling at home here.

Caitlin joined our community from British Columbia - hear about her transition!

Associates are non-residents who enjoy all the same privileges as any resident student, including full participation in the college’s academic, spiritual, musical, athletic and social life. On-campus associates are upper year students who live in the 32-person apartment building next to the residences, and off-campus associates live at home or in houses, most likely with friends they met at Grebel!

As a first-year, associates might host you and your roommate at their place for a meal, they might organize homework help nights, or be on your intramural sports team. These are students who still love Grebel and want to continue making it an awesome place to live.

Yes! We would love to have you connect to our community. If you are commuting from home or living off-campus you can benefit greatly from the tight-knit community offered at Grebel. Grebel can be your home base between classes, participate in as many Grebel events as you like and make a ton of connections here. To become an associate you will have to fill out the New to Grebel Associate Application Form.

Rebekah DeJong would be happy to answer your questions.