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Housing & Conference Services

Living At McMaster

Residence Cancellation Policy

If you are thinking of leaving residence or cancelling your application, there is some important information you should know before you make your decision.

How to Cancel Your Application After Move-In

If you plan on leaving residence, please reach out to your Community Advisor or Residence Life Area Coordinators as they may be able to accommodate for you to remain in residence. Many situations which cause students to leave residence can often be resolved allowing you to continue participating in the residence community.

Students living in residence who plan to cancel their residence for any reason whatsoever during the academic year must:

  • Complete the Residence Cancellation process online on the Residence Portal
  • Check out at their Service Centre and return their residence keys/access card.
  • Log into the Residence Application Portal and select your term.
  • Go to the “Residence Assignment Page” and click on “If you would like to cancel your application, please click here.”
  • This will take you to the “Cancelling Your Booking” page.
  • On this page, we will ask your reason for cancelling, and you will enter your student number to confirm cancellation.
  • Then you will be taken to the “Confirmation of Cancellation” page.

Failure to do these steps will result in being charged as outlined in section 25 of the Residence Agreement Contract. The date of cancellation will be recorded as the date the Residence Cancellation paperwork is completed or when the residence keys/access card is returned, whichever is later.

You (the student) are financially responsible for your full year’s fee and is placed on a refund waiting list in order of date of cancellation.

Students together

How Does the Refund Waiting List Work?

When a new student is admitted to residence, a refund is processed for the next student on the refund waiting list. This is not dependent upon filling the vacated residence space, rather it is based on filling the vacancy in the residence system created by your cancellation.

Eligible refunds of residence fees are calculated on a pro-rated daily basis and are credited to the student’s university account, less a $330 administration fee. If the student has no outstanding university accounts, the residence refund will be issued to the student.

Residence Cancellation Fee Appeal

A student who cancels their residence due to exceptional circumstances beyond their control may submit a written appeal with supporting documentation to Residence Admissions. The deadline to submit an appeal for consideration is within fifteen days as of the date the Residence Cancellation paperwork is provided by the Residence Admissions Office.

If the appeal is successful, the student will receive a pro-rated refund of his/her residence fees as of the date of cancellation. The date of cancellation is the date the Residence Cancellation paperwork is completed and the residence key/access card is returned, whichever is later. This student remains responsible for the administrative fee.

Students gathering together

How to Cancel Your Application Before Move-In

  • Log into the Housing Portal and select your term.
  • Go to the “Residence Application Status Page” and click on “If you would like to cancel your application, please click here.”
  • This will take you to the “Cancelling Your Application” page
  • On this page, we will ask your reason for cancelling, and you will enter your student number to confirm cancellation.
  • Then you will be taken to the “Confirmation of Cancellation Application” page

Typically, the refund will be processed back to the credit card within 5 business days and you will receive a confirmation email.

You will receive an e-mail from our residence system notifying you that the cancellation was successfully completed.

Receiving a Refund on Your Deposit

If you have submitted a completed residence application, paid the deposit, and you are guaranteed residence, you are defined as being in residence. If you wish to cancel your residence before move-in, you will forfeit all or part of the residence deposit depending on the date the written notice of cancellation is received in the Residence Admissions Office.

Date of Cancellation Received Deposit Refund
For September Admissions: If notice of cancellation is received on or before July 24, 2024 Applicant receives a 50% refund
For September Admissions: If notice of cancellation is received after July 24, 2024 Applicant receives no refund
For January Admissions: if notice of cancellation is received on or before December 12, 2024 Applicant receives a 50% refund
For January Admissions: If notice of cancellation is received after December 12, 2024 Applicant receives no refund

A forfeited residence deposit cannot be applied to other outstanding university accounts or transferred to the residence account of another student.