Live in residence, 100% guaranteed
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?
Transfer student? Apply by June 3 to guarantee a spot in one of our upper-year residences.
Printable checklist
Download our printable checklist to stay on top of key dates, then apply below.
The Road Home
Part 1 - Residence Community Ranking Form
Accept your offer to the University of Waterloo
Congratulations! You’re on your way to becoming a Waterloo Warrior.
Prepare to apply for Residence
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.
Go online and complete the Residence Community Ranking Form
The online form (RCRF) opens Friday, February 1 and closes on Monday June 3 at 11:59 p.m. 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 3 deadline.
Pay your non-refundable $500 deposit
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.
Accepted to Waterloo Residences
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.
Accepted to a University College Residence
Students in University College Residences will receive next steps directly from the colleges through email.
Part 2 - Waterloo Residences Preference Form
Get to know your options
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.
Complete the Waterloo Residences Preference Form
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).
Part 3 - Accept Your Residence Contract
Set up your UWaterloo email
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.
Room allocation
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.
Accept your residence contract offer
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.
Part 4 - Get Ready for Residence!
Prepare to arrive
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 connected with us
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.
Checklists & Printable swag
Wondering what to bring? Check out our packing list. Start thinking about decorating your room with our printable swag!
Contact us
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.
