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International

The University of Windsor is one of Canada’s most diverse Universities and over 60 countries are represented within our residence communites.

We know that choosing where to live is an important decision.

We encourage you to live on campus where you're only a few minutes away from your classes, academic support services, fitness center, library and dining areas. It will be easy for you to take part in activities designed to support your academic success and transition to Canadian life. You will be exposed to Canadian customs while respecting your culture and beliefs.

What is it like to live in a University residence
Residence is different than living in off campus housing
Getting involved while you're living in Residence
Safety and Security
What is your Residence contract?
Residence Fees
Meal Plans
International Student Centre located in the Residence Hall
You can live in Residence when there are no classes
Studying in Residence
Can you live in Residence for more than 1 year?
Move In or Move Out
Multi-Faith Space
Smoking in Residence

What is it like to live in a University residence

Living in residence is very different than living at home and can be very different from a residence experience in another country. We have a set of expectations and rules for students called Community Standards. To ensure our residence communities don't feel like a hotel with people coming and going all of the time, we work at creating a sense of community with the students who live with us. The Community Standards help keep you safe in our community and ensure the best possible experience for everyone. Our international students may find the following to be different from residences in their country:

  • Guest Sign Ins - in the evenings all guests must show identification at the front desk and get signed in for the time they are here, you are limited to 2 guests at any one time

  • Alcohol use - the legal age for alcohol use in Ontario is 19 years and you have to be of age to consume alcohol in residence, you are also restricted to using alcohol in specified locations and cannot walk around the residence buildings with open alcohol

  • Fire Safety - if you hear the fire alarm you are required to leave your building, if safe to do so, except during scheduled fire alarm tests where you are notified ahead of time

Residence is different than living in off campus housing

There are residence staff on campus to help you. Most residence halls have a Resident Assistant (RA) who lives on the floor with students. They are typically senior students who provide support for those living in their community. They are responsible for helping you to build connections with other students and keep you informed on what's going on throughout the university. There are Residence Life Coordinators (RLC's) who are full-time staff who live in the residence halls and supervise the Resident Assistants (RA's). What's most important is that we have staff available through the day and night and on weekends for help, if you need it.

Getting involved while you're living in Residence

There are many clubs in residence and on campus that students can get involved in, from faculty students associations, environmental groups, arts clubs, fraternities and sororities to religious groups. There are also several ways to get involved in your residence hall. Talk with your resident assistant (RA) about your interest and they can help connect you to residents who share the same interests and activities on your floor, building and neighbourhood. You can also follow what's going on in your residence by following the Residence Facebook page.

Safety and Security

Your safety is very important to us and that's why entrance doors of residence buildings are locked and only those living in the building are given access. At night, visitors entering the residence must sign in with desk staff, with other residence staff doing rounds of the building. Our residences also have security cameras in the lobbies and throughout the buildings.
More Information on safety tips.

What is your Residence contract?

Living in a Canadian university residence is not the same as living in a hotel. It is not considered "short term accommodation" where you can stay for a few nights or for a few weeks. When you apply to live in a University of Windsor residence, you are agreeing to live there for 8 months (September to April) or for 4 months if you arrive in January for the winter semester. You can live on campus in the summer months as well, from 4 weeks to 16 weeks, depending on the Inter/Summer course offerings.

Some students choose to live off campus and if so, they may have to sign a "lease agreement". A lease is a contract between you and the owner of the property that you are renting. Many off campus rental properties require you to commit to a lease for 12 months. You are required to pay rent for the full 12 months unless you rent the room to another occupant who then pays the remainder of the monthly fees until your lease expires.

Residence Fees

If you live in residence on campus, you pay your residence fees in two (2) payments, mid-August for the fall semester and mid-December for the winter semester. Things like furniture, internet, cable TV, telephone service and fridge rental are included in your residence fees. If you live off campus, you will be paying your rent each month. You will also have to pay additional costs for furniture, utilites, cable TV and/or internet.

Meal Plans

Food Services is happy to provide you with a meal plan while you're living on campus. That means you can focus on your studies and not have to buy groceries or cook. You must choose 1 of 4 meal plans, where halal, vegan options are available. When you're living in residence, the funds are added to your UwinCARD in August for the fall semester and in December for the winter semester. You use your UwinCARD to pay for meals so there is no need to have cash.

International Student Centre located in the Residence Hall

No matter where you choose to live on campus, you will be close to the International Student Centre. If you are living in Laurier Hall, you'll only be steps away from the Centre which is found on the second (2nd) floor. From help with your arrival to planning social events, to setting you up with medical insurance, staff in the Centre will help you with your transition to Canada and to the campus.

You can live in residence when there are no classes

You may choose to explore other parts of Canada during Canadian holidays or during study breaks when there are no classes on campus. You're not required to move out of your residence room during these breaks and there are no additional fees to stay. During the Christmas holiday break we do require you to let us know if you're staying on campus (in your residence room). This is done for safety so we know who is living on campus while the University is closed. There are limited services during holiday breaks but there are some food outlets that remain open for residence students and you are able to use your meal plan for off campus partners.

Studying in residence

Studying while you're living in residence will be different than studying at home and you will need to find the place that works best for you. That is true for anywhere you will choose to live. In many of the residence buildings, there are study rooms on each floor. Quiet hours are enforced during certain times of the day with 24 hour quiet hours enforced during exams. Where first year students live, there is also a Resident Assistant - Academic whose responsibility is to provide academic support for students in that community.

You can live in residence when there are no classes

You can continue to live in residence as long as you are a registered student. On other Canadian university campuses, students can only live in residence for their first year.

Moving in or Moving out

You can live in residence between academic terms but to do so, you need to submit a Request for Extension on-line form. If approved, additional fees will be charged to your student account. Weekly fees will be advertised when you apply.

Multi-Faith Space

A Multi-Faith Space intended for prayer, meditation or contemplation is located in the CAW Student Centre just steps away from your residence building. (www.uwindsor.ca/interfaith)

Smoking in Residence

Canadian laws do not allow smoking inside buildings and this includes residence halls. Students who do not respect this policy will be subject to a fine and/or educational sanction.