Guelph Campus Guide: Main Campus, Ridgetown and Bus Pass

The University of Guelph has three campuses. Most degree students study at the main campus in the city of Guelph. Ridgetown Campus in southwestern Ontario focuses on applied agriculture, animal science and environmental sciences, mostly through diploma programs. The University of Guelph-Humber in Toronto is run with Humber and pairs a degree with a college diploma. If you take in-person courses in Guelph, your fees include a Guelph Transit bus pass, and your student card works as the pass.

Sources checked September 30, 2026. View sources

Which campus is yours

Your offer letter names your campus and program. Each campus has its own student services, so check that a guide applies to your campus before relying on it.

Which campus is yours
Campus	Where	What it offers	Good to know
Main campus	City of Guelph	Most undergraduate degree programs, residences and the main library	The university's central hub
Ridgetown Campus	Southwestern Ontario	Mostly diploma programs, most finished in under two years, in agriculture, environment, equine, horticulture, veterinary technology, veterinary assistant and office administration, and dairy herdsperson	About 550 full-time students. Equine Care and Management students spend first year at REACH-Huron in Clinton.
University of Guelph-Humber	Toronto	Programs that combine a university degree with a college diploma, offered with Humber	Uses WebAdvisor, with its own Student Planning help pages

University of Guelph: about the university and its three campuses University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus: programs University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus: about Ridgetown University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus: visit REACH-Huron in Clinton University of Guelph: WebAdvisor for Guelph, Ridgetown and Guelph-Humber

Getting around the main campus

Guelph says every residence is an 8 to 10-minute walk from the heart of campus. The University Centre holds UC Chef's Hall and the Central Student Association office in Room 274. McLaughlin Library is the main study building. The Guelph Gryphons Athletics Centre sits on East Ring Road, and Creelman Hall dining is at the north end of campus.

Johnston Hall, with its stone clock tower, is both a residence and a landmark. CourseLink Support is in its basement, in Room 064. Use the university's interactive campus map for walking, cycling, transit and driving directions between buildings.

Open paved Branion Plaza on Guelph's main campus with low concrete planters, mature trees and multi-storey concrete buildings behind — Branion Plaza on the main campus, photographed on September 3, 2026. JFVoll / Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized to 1,600 pixels wide and converted to WebP; no crop. Shared under the same licence.

University of Guelph: compare residence communities University of Guelph Hospitality Services: dining halls Central Student Association: student bus pass Guelph Fitness and Recreation: Guelph Gryphons Athletics Centre University of Guelph: Johnston Hall CourseLink Support, University of Guelph University of Guelph: interactive campus map

What your student card does

Every student gets a Campus Card. For fall 2026 entrants, Guelph accepted photo submissions until July 24, 2026. Guelph is a cashless campus, and the card replaces cash for most things you'll do on campus.

Pays for meals from your meal plan, and textbooks if you add a Textbook Plan.
Works as your library card.
Gets you into athletics and wellness facilities.
Opens your residence building.
Acts as your Guelph Transit bus pass.
Serves as ID at exams, so bring it to every one.

University of Guelph Hospitality Services: Campus Card uses University of Guelph: registration guide for new students Central Student Association: student bus pass

The bus pass (UPASS) and late-night bus

The Central Student Association and Graduate Student Association negotiate the pass with Guelph Transit. It gives unlimited rides on Guelph Transit. The registrar's 2026-27 fee schedule lists the bus pass at $166.35 a semester and the Late Night Bus Service at $7.25 for fall and winter. The CSA's own page quotes $166.25, so check your WebAdvisor account for the exact charge.

If you take in-person courses, you're charged automatically, and the pass becomes active on your student card on September 1. If you only take designated Distance Education courses, you aren't charged. Students in DE-only courses or on a co-op work term in fall 2026 could buy a fall pass from the CSA office, in cash only, until November 19. It's a preloaded OnYourWay card valid September 1 to December 31.

Register your card with Guelph Transit so a lost pass can be replaced. Guelph Transit's own post-secondary fare registration excludes U of G students, who get passes through their student association instead.

University of Guelph: undergraduate tuition and compulsory fees, Fall 2026 to Summer 2027 University of Guelph: compulsory fee descriptions (Bus Pass UPASS)Central Student Association: student bus pass City of Guelph: Guelph Transit fares and passes

GO Transit discounts for trips home

Full-time students can apply online for an electronic GO Transit Student ID. Once approved, a GO station attendant or ticket agency sets your PRESTO card to the post-secondary fare. Carry the ID and your PRESTO card whenever you ride at the student fare, because GO staff check them.

University of Guelph: GO Transit Student ID application

Keep exploring

University of Guelph student life →Guelph residences compared →Guelph gym and recreation guide →Accepting university offers in Ontario →

Sources and updates

This independent guide summarizes the official information linked below. Availability, access rules and application cycles can change; check the relevant university page before making a decision.