Living in residences means becoming part of a great community, with support to help make your transition to University life as smooth as possible. You have the choice of living in one of Waterloo Residences 5 first-year residences, or at one of Waterloo’s University Colleges.
At Waterloo, residence is guaranteed for all incoming first-year students. What do you need to do?
Incoming first-year students that missed the 100% Guarantee that would like to live with us for the 2019/20 academic year can still apply for housing through the fall 2019 Vacancy Application. We will assign incoming first-year students on the vacancy list to residences starting in August. First-year vacancy list students will either be matched with students seeking contract replacement or to any vacancies that we have in residence at the time of assignment. Vacancy list students are not guaranteed a residence assignment, but we will try our best to assign as many as we can based on available space. Apply for fall 2019 vacancy application here.
Download our printable checklist to stay on top of key dates, then apply below.
Congratulations! You’re on your way to becoming a Waterloo Warrior.
Research the difference between Waterloo Residences, St. Jerome's, Renison, and St. Paul's. Check out available meal plans, Living-Learning Communities, life in residence through our Residence Storyteller blogs, and visit us during March Break Open House on March 9 or You @ Waterloo Day on May 25.
The online form (RCRF) opens Friday, February 1 and closes on Monday June 10 at 9AM EDT.
On this form, you are only selecting which on-campus residence community you'd like to live with and which living-learning community you would like to join.
If you have a housing accommodation request, you must complete the Housing Disability Verification Form and submit it by the extended June 10 deadline.
To complete your form submission, you must make a $500 CAD non-refundable deposit. Payments can be made online by credit card or INTERAC® Online to ensure the deposit is received by the deadline.
Check your email on Thursday, June 13 to see where you have been placed. If you are in Waterloo Residences, you will receive a confirmation from Waterloo Residences with next steps.
Students in University College Residences will receive next steps directly from the colleges through email.
Visit our residences page and check out your residence options. Now is the time to think about which residence you want to live in, the room styles, meal plan options, and who you'd like to live with.
Want to live with a friend? You can! The preference form allows you to request to live with one roommate in any style residence. Read more about roommates and how rooms are assigned here.
Form opens Thursday, June 13. Closes Thursday, June 20 at 11:59 p.m. EDT.
On this form you indicate your preferred roommate, residence, room style, and meal plan (if applicable).
Your residence room assignment offer and contract will be sent to your UWaterloo email address beginning the week of July 9.
Note: Offers will continue to be sent out to students throughout the summer. So if you don't get an assignment right away, no worries! You're still guaranteed a room in residence.
Our housing allocation process assigns you a number and then places you in a room assignment based on your residence preferences, roommate selection, and personality traits. This process may run several times until we maximize the number of students in one of their top choices. Learn more about how we assign rooms.
Be sure to accept your offer before the expiry date! If you do not accept your residence offer by the deadline you will lose your $500 deposit and your room assignment. Note that we will be sending out room assignment offers and contracts throughout July and August. If you don’t get an offer immediately, don’t worry. Check your UWaterloo email account every few days to make sure you don’t miss the deadline.
Visit our move-in page to find out your move-in day, locations to pick up your keys, and download directional maps to find your way home.
Get excited! Follow our blog and social channels to get a glimpse into what's to come. Check out videos or even tune in to our Spotify playlist as you make your way to your new home.
Wondering what to bring? Check out our packing list. Start thinking about decorating your room with our printable swag!
If you have any questions, need assistance or would like to apply for first-year residence, please contact us:
Facebook Messenger: https://www.facebook.com/uwhousing
Phone: 519-888-4567, ext. 32679
Fax: 519-746-8152.
Email: housing@uwaterloo.ca
We are open Monday - Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EDT, and are happy to advise you on next steps.
