Renison University College

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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

Feb. 20, 2019Renison Associate Professor Trish Van Katwyk empowers young people to explore resilience through collaborative art making
In a project that is described by a group leader as “empowering,” Renison Associate Professor Trish Van Katwyk recently published a study that explores the way that youth see themselves in the term ‘resilience.’ “Resilience Beyond Risk: Youth Re-defining Resilience Through Collective Art-Making,” used art-making and conversation to explore the ways in which labels that are often applied to young people are understood by young people themselves.
Jan. 11, 2019Director of Confucius Institute in Waterloo receives national Chinese award for literary work

The director of the Confucius Institute in Waterloo, based at Renison, has been recognized with two awards for her outstanding works of literature.

In December, Prof. Yan Li travelled to China to receive the People's Literature Award (Best Creative Non-Fiction for 2018) for her work Green Mountains Everywhere.
Nov. 23, 2018New book by Douglas Cowan explores the dark and religious imagination of Stephen King
On November 7, Douglas Cowan, a professor of Religious Studies at Renison University College, launched his latest book America's Dark Theologian: The Relgious Imagination of Stephen King here at the College.

King, a prolific author that has sold over 300 million copies of his 70 books, is best known for his horror fiction, including IT, The Shining, Pet Cemetery, and Carrie.