FAQ

Q. Am I eligible to live in Residence?

A. McGill is pleased to guarantee residence accommodation to all newly admitted undergraduate students who are:

• 22 years of age or under (on Sept 1), and
• starting their first year of university studies, and
• admitted to McGill University and have accepted that offer of admission prior to the residence confirmation deadline

All renewable and one-year McGill Entrance Scholarship awardees entering university in September will be guaranteed one of their top two choices of residence buildings, provided they apply by the residence application deadline. Should one of the smaller residence buildings fill up before all scholarship winners are placed in their first choice, scholarship awardees will be guaranteed their second choice.

Please note: students with guaranteed residence admission, including scholarship students, must have already paid the required residence deposit along with a $30 residence application fee by the application deadline usually around June in order to confirm their space in residence.

Q. How do I apply for Residence?

A. Review the step by step process depending on if you are a first year Undergrad, Upper year, Graduate or Exchange student.

Q. If I don’t respond to my Letter of Offer, what happens?

A. You will not be charged.

Q. If I cancel my Residence application, am I eligible for a refund?

A. No. If you have already confirmed that you are staying in residence, you will be subject to cancellation penalties as per the dates stipulated in our cancellation policy.

Q. If I want to leave Residence after I have moved in, what happens?

A. Email the housing office at housing.residences [at] mcgill.ca to inform us. You will be subject to cancellation penalties as per the dates stipulated in our cancellation policy.

Q. I am an International Student and my Visa Application was denied, am I eligible for a refund?

A. We will assess all situations on an individual basis.

Q. Will I have a roommate?

A. Some of our residences offer single occupancy. Click through the residence options to see which buildings offer single or double occupancy. The residence comparison chart summarizes all the first year residences halls.

Q. What are some tips for getting along with my roommate?

A. Be sure to discuss this roommate agreement form together with your roommate.

Q. Can I request a room/building change?

A. You can make a room/residence hall change as of September 15, 2023 by filing out this form.  However, give yourself enough time to adjust and adapt to your new environment and/or roommate before making that request. 

Q. Can I request a roommate?

A. Yes, you can make a roommate request here. 

Q. Am I required to bring my own furniture?

A. No need to bring furniture. The rooms are fully furnished with a bed, mattress, desk, chair, a mini-fridge (check your specific residence), a dresser, and a closet. View this list to see what to pack.

Q. What size are the beds?

A. Visit the residence options pages for bed sizes and to see complete information on what’s included in your residence room.

Q. When is the rent due?

A. Rent is billed monthly and will appear on your e-bill.

Q. Where do I find my mailing address?

A. The addresses for all buildings can be found on the contact page.

Q. How do I receive mail and packages?

A. In most cases you can pick up packages from your front desk. Detailed information for specific residences will be included in your move-in memo.

Q. Can I have guests stay overnight?

A. Guests are limited to two per resident. Yes, they can stay overnight but you are responsible for your guest. If you have a roommate, be sure to discuss it with them beforehand.

Q. How much does laundry cost in residence?

A. New for Fall 2023 at the downtown residences- There is no additional cost to do laundry in residences. The use of the laundry machines in your hall is included in your rent.

At Mac campus a washer load and dryer load is $2 each.

Q. How do I report maintenance problems or concerns?

A. You can either go to your front desk or fill out our maintenance request form. At Mac campus visit the Campus Housing Office to report an issue.

Q. I have special housing needs due to a medical condition– who do I contact?

A. Please fill out our Accessibility Request Form to let us know about your condition so we can properly assign you to a more suitable room.

A. View this list to see what to pack.

Q. How does the transit system work? (STM)

Reduced-Fare Public Transit Card | Student Records - McGill University

There are several bus routes to take you to local grocery stores, malls, tourist attractions, etc.

211 Bord-du-Lac direction WEST | Société de transport de Montréal (stm.info)

411 Express Lionel-Groulx direction WEST | Société de transport de Montréal (stm.info)

405 Express Bord-du-Lac direction WEST | Société de transport de Montréal (stm.info)

There is also a shuttle between the downtown campus and the Macdonald campus. On weekends, DriveSafe is available to offer free rides to students in between campuses.

Inter-campus Shuttles | Transport - McGill University

SSMU DRIVESAFE – We drive you home safe for free.

Q. Will I receive a parking stall while living in Residence?

A. You must contact security for a parking pass.

Q. How much does laundry cost in residence?

A. New for Fall 2024, the use of laundry facilities is now included in the rent.

Q. Is additional storage available?

A. No, not during the academic year.

Q. Can I rent storage space over the summer if I am returning in the Fall?

A. Yes, for a fee.

Q. Are meals included with my rent?

A. No, Laird hall has communal kitchens (1 per floor) and Eco Residence has private kitchens (1 per unit)

Q.Where do I find the exact amount of rent, fees and charges?

A. On the Applying and Fees page.

Q. When is the first month’s rent due?

A. First month’s rent is due at the end of September. Rent is charged monthly and the meal plan is charged in two installments, once in September, once in January. View your e-bills on Minerva.

Q. How can I make my payments?

A. Visit the student account page regarding making payments.