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Housing & Conference Services

Living At McMaster

How to Apply – International Students

Moving to a new country is a big transition and we’re here to support you. Please scroll through this page to find out the conditions of your guaranteed residence as an international student and learn about important steps you need to take for a successful move.

The residence application for the 2024-2025 academic year will open April 23, 2024. Scroll down to learn about your eligibility for residence.

Eligibility Types

First-year international students applying to McMaster directly from high school are eligible to apply for a guaranteed or conditionally guaranteed space in residence until the application deadline on June 1, 2023, 4 p.m. EST. 

Note: Students must be registered in at least 9 units per term to be considered full-time. If students accept an offer to residence, they are required to follow Residence Expectations.

Canadian citizens or permanent residents studying in an Ontario high school with a 90% admission average or higher receive an offer of guaranteed residence.

  • Students are required to complete application and make a $600 deposit before a deadline (to be determined, usually in June).
  • Students will receive a 50% refund if they cancel by a deadline (to be determined, usually early July).
  • Students who miss this deadline will forfeit their residence guarantee and may apply to the waitlist.

Canadian citizens or permanent residents studying in an Ontario high school who do not meet the 90% admission average requirement will not be guaranteed residence.

  • Non-guaranteed students may apply to the waitlist.
  • Students who apply to the waitlist before a deadline (to be determined, typically early June), will be ordered according to their admission average.
  • Students who apply after this deadline will be placed on the existing waitlist in order of date and time of application submission (first-come, first-served).

Students who have applied to the MELD program are guaranteed residence.

  • Students are required to complete the application and make a $600 deposit before (to be determined, typically early June) at 4 p.m. EST. to secure their guaranteed residence offer.
  • Students will receive a 50% refund if they cancel on or before (to be determined, typically early July).
  • Students who miss this deadline will forfeit their residence guarantee and may apply to the wait list.

If you’re a first-year international student applying directly from high school, we know moving to a new country is a big step and we’re offering a residence guarantee to make the transition as smooth as possible.

  • First-year international 105 Visa students who apply directly from high school are offered guaranteed residence.
  • Students are required to complete a residence application and submit a $600 deposit before a deadline (to be determined, typically early June). Deposits are only accepted through the online residence application using Visa, Mastercard or Amex.
  • Students will receive a 50% refund if they cancel on or before a deadline (to be determined, typically early July)
  • Students who miss the deadline to secure their guarantee or students receiving offers to McMaster after a deadline (to be determined, typically early June) may apply to the waitlist.

If you’re a first-year out-of-province student applying directly from high school, we know moving to a new province is a big step and we’re offering a residence guarantee to make the transition as smooth as possible.

  • First-year Out-of-Province Students applying directly from high school are offered guaranteed residence.
  • Students are required to complete a residence application and submit a $600 deposit before a deadline (to be determined, typically early June). Deposits are only accepted through the online residence application using Visa, Mastercard or Amex.
  • Students will receive a 50% refund if they cancel on or before a deadline (to be determined, typically early July).
  • Students who miss the deadline to secure their guarantee or students receiving offers to McMaster after a deadline (to be determined, typically early June) may apply to the waitlist.

Housing and Conference Services reserves 40 residence bed spaces for exchange students. Exchange students are defined as incoming students who are admitted from another University and enrolled through the McMaster Exchange Program.

Residence spaces will be offered to exchange students based on lottery and priority will be given to exchange students enrolled in the full academic year (fall and winter term).

  1. Exchange students interested in residence may apply through the Residence Portal by a deadline to be determined (typically early June).
  2. All exchange students who applied by the deadline will be included in a lottery to secure a residence space.
  3. Students will receive an email after the deadline with their status for residence.
  4. Students who receive an offer of residence will have 48 hours to confirm their spot in residence with a $600 CDN residence deposit made payable through the Residence Portal.
  5. Students who secure their offer with a deposit will receive another email after the deposit deadline with their time slot for room self-selection.
  6. Reserved spaces for exchange students are typically private spaces such as apartment style, suite style, or single rooms (see room types here).
  7. Students who miss the deadline to make their deposit will forfeit their guaranteed space and they may reapply to the bottom of the waiting list.
  8. Students who do not receive an offer of residence will be placed on a waiting list in order of their lottery number.
  9. If space becomes available through cancellations, we will send wait list offers on a rolling basis.

For more information about residence please visit these commonly viewed pages:

  1. Room types
  2. Residence fees 
  3. Room self-selection

Sign up for the iCent App Before Arriving

International undergraduate students are encouraged to sign up for the iCent app. This ensures that we have the proper information to support you and help you make the most of your time at McMaster.

  1. Download the iCent app (available at the Apple Store and Google Play Store). If you’re unable to download the app, visit the iCent web version.
  2. Select “Canada” as your institution country.
  3. Select “McMaster Undergrad Programs” as your institution name.
  4. Follow the “email and PIN” button.
  5. Enter your McMaster (@mcmaster.ca) email ID. You will receive an email with a secured PIN to log in.
  6. Enter the secured PIN and go to “continue.”

Learn more on the International Student Services website.

Pre-Arrival FAQs

If you have any questions about your transition to McMaster/Canada, we encourage you to email International Student Services at iss@mcmaster.ca or book an appointment online through OscarPlus > Student Success Centre > Appointments > International Student Services.

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

We recommend you find private transportation using a service such as Airways Transit. Additional details about traveling from the airport to McMaster can be found on the iCent app.

 

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.

There is a Shoppers Drug Mart on Main Street W. just outside of campus where you can get toiletries and snacks.

Find out what you will need in 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.

Post-Arrival FAQs

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.

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 usually receive an email to their McMaster account in mid-September with their UHIP card attached. Your McMaster email must be activated.

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 the 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 $600 refund of their deposit.