Renison University College

Come experience the University of Waterloo with Renison University College in a supportive academic community where everyone can follow their passion. You will also have the opportunity to experience the uniqueness of each individual that walks through our halls as being part of a close-knit residence community consisting of 207 people.

Discover why studying at Renison is such a rewarding experience. You can check out the credit programs on offer for undergraduate, postgraduate, and graduate programs. You can also look into our Community and Professional Education programming.

This site contains information on course prerequisites, residence, and a variety of supports Renison offers to students such as course selection and accommodation. We aim to make studying at Renison a great learning experience as well as one in which you’ll make new friends and enjoy a great lifestyle in a great city, Waterloo.

If you have other questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

What is a University College?

The University Colleges are located on Waterloo's main campus and offer courses as well as residences. All 4 are much smaller than Waterloo Residences, which means you'll get to know almost everyone!

You'll study or live in a smaller community, have access to all services and facilities on the main campus, and earn a valuable University of Waterloo degree.

What makes Renison unique?

If you're looking for a smaller, close-knit residence or academic home base that is a five-minute walk to most buildings at Waterloo, then Renison University College (Renison) may be for you!

Renison is a smaller community with its own character and distinctive programs where you can get involved and contribute.

Students in any program can take classes or live at a University College – or both!
Smaller community with residence rooms for 220 students with the lowest Don to student ratio on campus (1:20).
Most spaces for first-year students are in traditional-style rooms.
A five swipe per day meal plan (largest meal plan at Waterloo) rather than the declining-debit WatCard dollars used by Waterloo Residences.

Territorial acknowledgement

Renison University College acknowledges that we live and work on the traditional territory of ‎the Attawandaron (Neutral), Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. The University of Waterloo is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land promised to the Six Nations that includes ten kilometers on each side of the Grand River.

News

May 1, 2018Important Parking Notice
Reconstruction of our parking lot has been approved. The project has been tendered and awarded to Kieswetter Excavating/Schorn Consulting.

The benefits of the reconstructed parking lot will be: improved lighting, drainage, aesthetics and additional parking for our guests.

The first phase, geological testing, is already underway. The second phase is scheduled to start May 1 and achieve substantial completion August 15. There will be nearly no on-site parking May 1 through August 15. No access to the current lot is planned as of May 1.
May 15, 2018Three of eight LITE grants awarded to Renison faculty for innovative teaching projects
The Office of the Associate Vice President, Academic and the Centre for Teaching Excellence have announced the recipients of the latest round of Learning Innovation and Teaching Enhancement (LITE) seed grants. Three of the eight grants were awarded to Renison University College faculty.
May 11, 2018Renison students dominate Chinese Proficiency Competition once again
At this year’s Ontario-Manitoba University Students Chinese Proficiency Competition, Hannah Gardiner and Daniel Afzal, students in Renison’s Culture and Language Studies department, won the First Prize and Excellency Award respectively.