Housing

Explore resources for first-year student housing on and off-campus.

On-campus housing

First-year students who apply for the New Student Residence Application will begin receiving updates in June regarding their residence placement. Residence communities include:

Conrad Grebel is not included in the first year residence guarantee and students must apply through a separate application process.

The University of Waterloo guarantees residence for all incoming first-year students who accept their academic offer, submit their residence application and pay the residence deposit by the deadline.

Campus move-in

In August, your student will receive an email to confirm their move-in date. Review the Campus Housing move-in guide to learn more about what to expect.

On your student's move-in day:

When you arrive on campus, volunteers will direct you as you drive up to your student’s residence building. You will most likely enter ;a queue of cars leading to your student’s building

Once you pull-up in front of their building, volunteers will help you unload your student’s belongings from your car and bring everything into their assigned room. Plan to have someone stay in the car until it is emptied.

After your student and the volunteers have unloaded all belongings from the car, you will be directed to a free parking lot. Please note this parking lot is not in the same area as the residence halls. We encourage wearing comfortable walking shoes. Make sure to arrange a meeting spot with your student before you leave to park.

After your student moves their belongings into their room, they’ll have an opportunity to get their room key and student card.

Off-campus housing

Many students choose to live off-campus in the Waterloo area or to live at home and commute.

Off-Campus Housing provides a step-by-step guide for renting off-campus housing in the area.

Whether your student is living at home or independently off-campus, encourage them to spend time on campus and connect with their Waterloo community. Off-campus students have access to recreational facilities, clubs and events and are encouraged to get involved.

Off-Campus Community is a student-run service specifically for students living off campus. They provide events throughout the school year to connect off-campus students and offer upper-year dons with experience living off campus.

Supporting your student's move-in experience

Whether they're moving to a new place on or off-campus, you may want to help your student feel settled before you leave.

Here are some ways you can help on move-in day:

Ask your student what they would like your help with on their move-in day. Let them take the lead unpacking and deciding where things should go.
Encourage your student to introduce themselves to their roommate, if they have one, and to other new students moving in on their floor or in their building.

Make a list together of extra things your student may need for their room. You may have time to make a trip to nearby stores.
Floor communities have a student-only meeting on the Sunday of move-in weekend that marks the start of Orientation. Plan to say goodbye before this meeting.