• International and Out-of-Province Students are guaranteed residence. An application must be completed by each student to receive their guaranteed spot. Instructions can be found in Step 2, below; applications submitted after the 4:00 p.m. ET on June 1, 2026 deadline will be placed on the wait-list.
• First-Year undergraduate students who are out-of-province and international based on their admission status determined by the Admission’s Office.
• Students are notified of their residence status on their offer of admission from McMaster University through the offer letter from the Admissions Office. This letter is viewable on Mosaic.

• Students with a residence guarantee are required to submit an application and make a $600 payment by June 1 at 4:00 p.m. ET. This payment includes a $500 deposit applied towards your first residence charge and a $100 nonrefundable application fee.
• After you submit your application, check your email for confirmation
• Students will receive a 50% refund of the $500 residence deposit if they cancel their residence application through the Housing Portal by July 22, 2026. The $100 non‑refundable application fee is not eligible for refund.
• Students who miss this deadline will forfeit their residence guarantee and may apply to the wait-list.

• Residence rooms are determined by the Room Self-Selection process. Visit our Room Self-Selection page for more information.
• All students who submit an application and make a $600 CAD payment before 4:00 p.m. ET on June 1, 2026 will be placed in a time slot lottery. Your time slot will be emailed to you a week before room self-selection begins. This time slot determines the date and time you can log-in to the Housing Portal to make your room selection from the available spaces.
• Meal Plan selection will follow the room self-selection process. Visit Hospitality Services for more information.
• Students will move in based on their assigned building. More information about move-in will be provided later in the summer.

If you have any questions about your transition to McMaster/Canada, we encourage you to email International and Exchange Student Experience (IESE) team at iese@mcmaster.ca. The IESE team facilitates helpful webinars and services to support your transition to Canada, visit their New International and Exchange Students page for more information.

Guidelines for travelers from the Government of Canada can be found here.

Details about travelling from the airport to McMaster can be found on the iCent app.

More information and reservation instructions will be shared on iCent and via email through the IESE Team.

If you know your residence mailing address (must include your room number and building name) you can order bed linens, towels, laundry bags and other room supplies online through stores, such as Ikea, Amazon, Canadian Tire and more. Try to schedule any deliveries to be made to residence on the day of your arrival.

Find a convenient packing list for residence here.

If your parent wants to visit you on-campus, McMaster University currently offers three luxurious options on-campus within our Signature Suites accommodations. The availability of these rooms are limited, so book early by emailing reserve@mcmaster.ca.

Hospitality Services on-campus is here for all of your dining needs. When you live in residence you are required to purchase a meal plan for on-campus dining, which you will select in your residence application. You can also indicate any dietary restrictions or allergies you have in your residence application on the Accommodations Request page.

You can learn more about meal plan fees and food on campus by visiting the Hospitality Services website or by emailing express@mcmaster.ca

To support your transition, you will have a Community Advisor and Residence Life Area Coordinator who are there to answer your questions, and will help you build a memorable residence community through planned activities and events.

Your health and well-being are very important to us. The Student Wellness Centre on campus provides confidential medical care as well as supports to help students who are experiencing stress, homesickness, anxiety or other wellness concerns.

The Residence Case Manager is also available to listen to concerns or questions students have. They will directly connect students with the resources and services at McMaster that give them the tools they need to succeed.

Residence Life provides many opportunities to meet students through residence community events, such as hiking, bonfires, socials and more! Some events can be found on the International Student Centre page or OSCARplus.

UHIP is a mandatory health insurance plan that provides health coverage for international, incoming exchange and visiting students. UHIP covers medically necessary doctors and hospital visits within Ontario.

Students will receive an email from Cowan (UHIP provider) to their McMaster email in early to mid-September with instructions on creating an account on UHIP’s portal and printing their UHIP card. Your McMaster email must be activated. Be sure to check your junk and spam folders for your emails.

Learn more about UHIP and how to receive your card.

You can learn about available bursaries and scholarships for international undergraduate students in all faculties on the Registrar Office’s website.

If a student is required to cancel their residence reservation due to exceptional circumstances beyond their control (such as proof of delayed study permits), they may submit an appeal to resadmissions@mcmaster.ca with supporting documentation to be considered for a 50% refund of the $500 residence deposit. The $100 non‑refundable application fee is not eligible for refund.