Four Year Housing Guarantee for International First-Year Students
Guaranteed Housing for Your McMaster Journey
Students who come to McMaster directly from high school and are required to pay international tuition fees are eligible to live in McMaster’s university-managed housing for up to four years of undergraduate study.
This opportunity also applies to students in the McMaster English Language Development (MELD) program.
To be eligible for the Four Year Housing Guarantee, students must submit a residence application and $600 payment by 4:00 p.m. ET on June 1, 2026.
This payment includes a $500 deposit applied towards your first residence charge and a $100 non-refundable application fee.
Applications or payments received after this deadline will not qualify for the guarantee and will be placed on a waitlist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Students who are entering McMaster University directly from high school, are considered international students, and are paying international tuition fees may be eligible for a conditional Four Year Housing Guarantee.
This opportunity also applies to students in the McMaster English Language Development (MELD) program. To confirm your eligibility, please review your Offer of Admission from McMaster.
Eligible students can live in on‑campus residence during their first year. On‑campus residence offers a traditional, fully furnished living experience on McMaster’s main campus. A mandatory meal plan is required.
After your first year, residence options are reviewed each year based on space availability and are offered within designated upper‑year living communities.
Important: If you cancel or withdraw from residence at any time, you will lose your Four Year Housing Guarantee.
Yes. To keep your eligibility for residence, you must complete a Declaration of Intent to let us know your housing plans for each upcoming year and submit a residence application annually. Students will be contacted with instructions on how to submit a Declaration of Intent.
To remain eligible, you must also meet the following conditions:
- You lived in residence in the previous academic year
- You remain in good academic standing
- You have no outstanding fees or conduct concerns
Housing & Conference Services will stay in touch with you throughout the year to help guide you through the reapplication process.
If you cancel or withdraw from residence at any time, you will lose your eligibility for the Four Year Housing Guarantee. Future residence placements will no longer be guaranteed.
However, you may still apply to live at 10 Bay Residence in your upper years, depending on availability.
You can also explore off-campus housing options:
- Visit the McMaster Off-Campus Housing website (MacID required)
- Use the McMatch tool in the Housing Portal to connect with potential housemates
McMaster’s Off-Campus Resource Centre is available to help you transition to housing in the Hamilton community.
The McMaster English Language Development (MELD) Diploma is an academic bridging program designed for international students whose primary language is not English and are looking to improve their communication skills in order to succeed in a McMaster University undergraduate program.
Students in the MELD program qualify for the four-year housing guarantee. If a student is new to the MELD program and McMaster University, they qualify for residence either in our main campus residences or at 10 Bay Residence.
Students who are currently in the MELD program qualify for this offer at 10 Bay Residence only.
If you have further questions about the Four Year Residence Guarantee at McMaster University, contact Residence Admissions at resadmissions@mcmaster.ca.