Housing decision · University of Ottawa
Build a realistic first-year living plan
- 1EligibilityGuarantee and application rules
- 2OptionsBuildings, rooms, communities
- 3Full costResidence, meals, deposits
- 4CommitDeadlines and backup housing
uOttawa Residences & Student Housing: Fees and Options
Ottawa, Ontario
Compare University of Ottawa residence fees, the $950 deposit, and meal-plan costs, or search off-campus student apartments in Ottawa through uOttawa's Assignment and Off-campus Housing team.
Reviewed August 14, 2026 · Information checked against official university sources · How we review guides
University of Ottawa Residence and Campus Housing
2026–2027 campus housing guide and Fall 2027 planning
University of Ottawa residence costs, guarantee, and application
Students searching for U of O campus housing can compare 11 uOttawa residences across traditional, Traditional Plus, suite, studio, and apartment styles. The right total depends on the room, eight- or twelve-month agreement, and whether the five-day meal plan is mandatory. This guide separates those costs and explains the housing guarantee, $950 deposit, application, room preferences, roommates, and off-campus backup planning.
Current deposit
$950
The application is complete only when uOttawa receives both the form and deposit.
Housing inventory
11 residences
Compare room style, bathroom, kitchen, meal plan, agreement length, and distance from campus.
Mandatory meal plan
$7,125
The 2026–2027 five-day plan is included where mandatory; the seven-day upgrade costs $7,850.
Fall 2026 latest available
First-year guarantee for Canadian students
For the 2026–27 cycle, residence was guaranteed to Canadian citizens and permanent residents entering first year — including CEGEP or college students admitted directly into second year — who had completed no more than five university courses and applied with the deposit by the payment deadline. Professional-program admits were excluded, guaranteed offers expired June 1, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET, and the guarantee covered housing, not a preferred building or room.
Fall 2027 guarantee dates are unpublished; treat December application opening and a June guarantee deadline as the working pattern to verify.
uOttawa Housing and Residence Life: Apply for residence and first-year guarantees · Verified August 14, 2026
Fall 2026 latest available
First-year guarantee for international students
For Fall 2026, residence was guaranteed to newly admitted international students in a full-time undergraduate or graduate diploma program who received a provincial attestation letter for the study permit, accepted the admission offer and paid the admission deposit by the date in the offer, and completed the residence application and deposit by the payment deadline.
uOttawa Housing and Residence Life: Apply for residence and first-year guarantees · Verified August 14, 2026
uOttawa residence fees for 2026–2027
Room costs are per student for the stated agreement. The University includes $156 for student resident insurance. Totals below include the five-day plan only where it is mandatory; optional-plan rooms need a separate food budget. The $950 deposit is deducted from the residence balance.
| Residence | Agreement | Room | Room cost | Meal plan | Published total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LeBlanc, Marchand, Stanton, or Thompson | 8 months | Traditional double | $9,278 | $7,125 mandatory 5-day plan | $16,403 |
| LeBlanc, Marchand, Stanton, or Thompson | 8 months | Traditional single | $11,608 | $7,125 mandatory 5-day plan | $18,733 |
| 90 University | 8 months | Double occupancy, 20th floor | $13,590 | $7,125 mandatory 5-day plan | $20,715 |
| 90 University | 8 months | Suite with two single bedrooms | $15,448 | $7,125 mandatory 5-day plan | $22,573 |
| Henderson | 8 months | Connected single | $14,996 | $7,125 mandatory 5-day plan | $22,121 |
| Rideau | 8 months | Traditional Plus double | $10,934 | Optional | $10,934 before an optional meal plan |
| Friel | 8 months | Double studio without kitchenette | $10,814 | Optional | $10,814 before an optional meal plan |
| Hyman Soloway | 12 months | Room in a four-bedroom apartment | $15,601 | Optional | $15,601 before an optional meal plan |
| Annex | 12 months | Room in a five-bedroom apartment | $15,940 | Optional | $15,940 before an optional meal plan |
| 45 Mann | 12 months | Room in a four-bedroom apartment | $16,600 | Optional | $16,600 before an optional meal plan |
These representative rows are not every room configuration. The official schedule also lists Friel suites and studios, Rideau singles, apartment studios, and one- to five-bedroom apartment layouts. Recheck live availability and rates before choosing.
2026–27
2026–27 meal plans
The unlimited 5-day plan costs $7,125 and is mandatory at LeBlanc, Marchand, Stanton, Thompson, 90U, and Henderson; it can be upgraded to the $7,850 unlimited 7-day plan. Optional-plan residences can add the $4,850 pay-as-you-go plan or Dining Hall block plans of 50, 75, or 100 entries at $1,041, $1,602, or $1,919.
uOttawa Campus Life: 2026–2027 meal plans and mandatory residences · Verified August 14, 2026
2026–27
Deposit, refunds, and instalments
The reservation deposit is $950 and the application counts as complete only when uOttawa has both the form and the deposit. For 2026–27 fall reservations, the 100% deposit refund (minus $105 administrative fees) ended June 15, 2026, the 50% refund ended June 30, 2026, and no refund applied after that. Residence instalments were due October 2, 2026 for fall and January 29, 2027 for winter.
uOttawa Housing and Residence Life: Residence dates, deadlines, and refund schedule · Verified August 14, 2026
Is uOttawa residence guaranteed for first year?
For Fall 2026, the Canadian guarantee covered eligible citizens and permanent residents entering a full-time undergraduate program who had completed no more than five university courses, applied, and paid the deposit by June 1 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Students entering from CEGEP or college directly into second year could also qualify. Professional-program students and four-month agreements were excluded.
Eligible newly admitted international students had a separate guarantee requiring a provincial attestation letter, acceptance of the admission offer, the admission deposit by the date in the offer, and a completed residence application and deposit. A guarantee covers housing, not a preferred building, room type, or roommate.
Compare uOttawa residences and room styles
Traditional
LeBlanc, Marchand, Stanton, and Thompson
Single or double rooms with bathrooms shared with floormates. The five-day meal plan is mandatory.
Traditional Plus
Henderson and Rideau
Bedrooms with an ensuite bathroom shared with a roommate. Henderson requires the five-day meal plan; Rideau does not.
Suites and studios
90 University and Friel
Single or double occupancy layouts with shared ensuite bathrooms and in-unit kitchenettes. 90U requires the five-day meal plan; Friel makes it optional.
Apartments
Annex, Hyman Soloway, and 45 Mann
Twelve-month agreements with private bedrooms, a kitchenette or kitchen, and shared living space. Meal plans are optional.
Meal plans and the true housing total
LeBlanc, Marchand, Stanton, Thompson, 90U, and Henderson require the unlimited five-day plan, which covers Dining Hall access Monday through Friday. Students can upgrade to the seven-day plan. Friel, Rideau, Annex, Hyman Soloway, and 45 Mann have optional plans, so compare groceries, kitchen access, campus food, and time as well as the lower room-only price.
Room preferences and roommate requests
The Housing Portal can offer Book Now selection or ask for three to seven ranked preferences. uOttawa cannot guarantee a preferred residence or a single room. Roommate requests receive high priority when both admitted students name each other, but the pairing is still not guaranteed and may take priority over the preferred room type.
Off-campus University of Ottawa student housing
Students without a guarantee are considered after guaranteed applicants, generally in first-come, first-served order when space is available. uOttawa recommends exploring other housing if no offer has arrived by mid-July. Compare residence and an Ottawa rental over the same number of months, including utilities, food, internet, furnishings, insurance, deposits, transit, summer rent, roommate liability, and subletting risk.
Verify the landlord, listing, lease, and unit before paying. The University's off-campus page links to the Ontario Standard Lease, Landlord and Tenant Board, Community Legal Clinic, tenant-rights information, and housing-scam guidance.
uOttawa's off-campus housing support
uOttawa's Assignment and Off-campus Housing team (90 University Private, Room 145) offers free orientation, guidance, and advice for the off-campus search. It does not list or guarantee private rentals.
Call 613-562-5885 or 1-888-564-4545, email residence@uOttawa.ca, or book a Resource Centre appointment online.
Average Ottawa/Gatineau apartment rents
| Unit | Ottawa | Gatineau |
|---|---|---|
| One-bedroom apartment | $1,994 | $1,754 |
| Two-bedroom apartment | $2,559 | $2,084 |
Published by the University of Ottawa from the Student Housing Billboard, online billboards, local newspapers, and magazine ads, dated May 2025. Telephone, internet, cable, electricity, meals, and transportation are not included.
Official University of Ottawa housing sources
- Residence application and first-year guarantee
- 2026–2027 residence dates and deadlines
- 2026–2027 residence fees and payment information
- Official uOttawa residence comparison
- 2026–2027 meal plans and mandatory residences
- Room assignment, preferences, and roommates
- Official off-campus housing resources
- Residence accessibility, safety, and student support
Housing and Location Questions
| Campus Setting | Major-city campus environment |
|---|---|
| Residence | Check residence guarantee rules, first-year room styles, meal plans, deposit deadlines, and off-campus housing pressure. |
| City Fit | Students should compare transit, weather, cost of living, safety, and community feel in Ottawa. |
| Commuting | If living off campus, map commute time to classes, labs, placements, and evening activities before committing. |
University of Ottawa Residence & Housing FAQs
Quick answers about residence & housing at University of Ottawa.
Official Sources and Next Steps
Stellar keeps this guide structured for comparison, but official university pages remain the source of truth for program requirements, tuition, residence, scholarships, deadlines, and policy changes.
Prepared by Stellar Advisers Editorial Team · Reviewed August 14, 2026 · Editorial, corrections, and source methodology