New for 2025: Indigenous Students Can Have $500 Residence Deposit Waived

Incoming first-year students who complete the Indigenous citizenship/membership verification process are now eligible for the First Year Residence Guarantee Application, with the $500 deposit waived for those choosing to live on campus in September. 

To participate, students must declare their Indigenous citizenship/membership (First Nation, Inuit, or Métis) on Quest after applying to the University. Detailed instructions on updating personal information via Quest are available online. 

It is recommended that students complete this process by April 15 to allow enough time to apply by the June 10 residence guarantee deadline. Eligible students will receive an email in mid-May with further instructions on bypassing the deposit and securing on-campus housing.  

“The Office of Indigenous Relations is pleased to see this action implemented, which directly advances inclusion for Indigenous students at the University of Waterloo," said Melissa Ireland, Director of Indigenous Relations. "Building strong partnerships, as exemplified by our collaboration with Campus Housing, fosters mutually beneficial inclusion and aligns with Goal 3: Services and Supports of our Indigenous Strategic Plan." 

For any questions regarding the deposit waiver or eligibility, students are encouraged to contact housing@uwaterloo.ca. For any questions regarding the Indigenous citizenship/membership verification process, you may email indigenousrelations@uwaterloo.ca.