# hi finance at University of Guelph Student aid, awards, and budgeting help for University of Guelph students, from OSAP timelines to meal plan math. --- Guelph is a compact campus with big first-year costs: residence paired with a mandatory meal plan, tuition due in mid-September, and optional insurance plans you can opt out of. This is what a year at U of G costs, which deadlines bite, and where the money goes once it lands. ## Student aid program University of Guelph uses [OSAP](https://www.ontario.ca/page/osap-ontario-student-assistance-program). ## The numbers at University of Guelph - **$7,900–$11,100** — Residence room, per year U of G's own range for a residence room. The cheapest traditional doubles start at $9,092, but those require a meal plan — the Minimum plan adds $5,750 a year. Source: https://www.uoguelph.ca/admission/undergraduate/funding - **$5,750–$7,850** — Meal plans 2026–27 Five plans from Minimum to Varsity. Basic dollars get a 25% discount at the register and no HST; flex dollars spend wider but carry no discount. Source: https://www.uoguelph.ca/hospitality-services/campus-meal-plans - **$25,000–$36,000** — Estimated total first-year cost U of G's estimate for an Ontario resident including tuition, compulsory fees, books, and personal expenses. Off-campus housing instead of residence moves you toward the lower end. Source: https://www.uoguelph.ca/admission/undergraduate/funding ## Key deadlines ### Residence application deadline for first-year guarantee (Apr 15) Ontario high-school applicants with an offer by March 1 are guaranteed a residence space if they apply by April 15 and pay the $750 deposit by June 1. Out-of-province and Indigenous applicants get the guarantee by applying and paying the deposit by June 1. [More](https://www.uoguelph.ca/housing/apply) ### Fall 2026 registration deposit $500 (Jun 15) The deposit confirms your registration for the fall term. International students pay a $2,000 deposit on the same date. [More](https://www.uoguelph.ca/registrar/new-student-registration-guide) ### Meal plan selection window (Jul 31 – Aug 25) Returning and incoming residence students pick their plan through Service Selections. Traditional residences (North and South) require a plan; East towers and the apartment-style villages have kitchens and treat the plan as optional. [More](https://www.uoguelph.ca/hospitality-services/campus-meal-plans) ### Fall 2026 tuition payment deadline (Sep 18) Your fall charges must be paid (or covered by confirmed OSAP) by this date. Late payment triggers a late fee, and a $50 financial sanction plus registration holds start September 30. Payment plan instalments fall on Sep 18, Oct 18, and Nov 18. [More](https://www.uoguelph.ca/registrar/finance-fees/dates-deadlines) ### Health and dental opt-out (Late Sep) The Student Medical Plan ($200) and Student Dental Plan ($143) are already in your compulsory fees. If you're covered elsewhere, opt out through mystudentplan.ca before the deadline and the fee comes off your account. [More](https://www.mystudentplan.ca/uofguelph/en/home) ## FAQs ### Does the University of Guelph use OSAP? Yes. U of G is an OSAP-approved Ontario university. Apply through OSAP and complete the application 8–10 weeks before your study period starts, so by early July for September. Out-of-province students apply through their home province's program instead. ### Do I have to live in residence in first year at Guelph? No. Residence isn't mandatory, but first-year students with an offer by March 1 are guaranteed a space if they apply by April 15 and pay the $750 deposit by June 1. Many Guelph students commute or rent off campus from the start. ### Is the meal plan mandatory at Guelph? Only in the traditional residences: North (Johnston, Lambton, Lennox-Addington, Watson, Mills, Maids) and South (Mountain, Prairie, Maritime). The East Residence towers and the apartment-style villages (East Village, West Village, Wellington Woods) have kitchens, so the meal plan there is optional. ### What's the cheapest food on campus at Guelph? The meal plan math works in your favour: Basic dollars carry a 25% discount at Hospitality locations and no HST, so a $12 purchase draws only $9 from the plan. If money is tight, the Guelph Student FoodBank gives registered students up to 30 items per visit, twice a month, and every undergrad already paid the $3.10 FoodBank fee in compulsory charges. ### How do I get around Guelph without a car? The Guelph Transit U-Pass ($163.10) is part of your compulsory fees, so city buses are included with your student card. Campus is compact enough to walk, and Late Night Bus service is covered too.