Hi there Warriors!
Welcome to the University of Waterloo and we are excited to support you through your graduate studies. The Graduate Student Association (better known as the GSA) is the official representative of graduate students at UW and we are your one stop shop for everything grad-related – from kicking back at Graduate House to diving into deep discussions about your thesis over a cup of coffee. Whether you’re an international student coming to Canada for the first time or a Waterloo local who grew up just down the road, we’re here to make your graduate experience unforgettable. From organizing engaging events to offering invaluable resources, we’re all about fostering connections, sharing laughter, and standing tall together.
our commitment
Mission
We serve the graduate students of the University of Waterloo with dedication and commitment to enhance the quality of their academic and social experience and promote their well-being.
Vision
We envision a University where the interests of graduate students are protected, and their voices are heard; where graduate students are able to realize themselves optimally free from social, financial, academic, environmental, and physiological barriers.
values
Transparency: The commitment to being open, honest, and accountable in all actions and communications, promoting trust and clarity within an organization.
Inclusivity: The principle of welcoming and valuing diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and identities, ensuring that everyone feels a sense of belonging and can fully participate.
Integrity: The quality of having strong moral principles, honesty, and ethical consistency in one’s actions, choices, and decisions.
Self-Improvement: The ongoing process of developing one’s skills, knowledge, and personal qualities to achieve growth, advancement, and a better version of oneself.
strategic plan
The GSA Strategic Plan is an overarching document that helps to guide the organization over the upcoming years. It focuses on enhancing academic support, fostering a sense of community, and advocating for policies that promote student well-being. By prioritizing inclusive initiatives, amplifying student voices, and forging strong university partnerships, we aim to create an environment where every graduate student thrives academically, socially, and personally.
Our Role
The Graduate Student Association-University of Waterloo (GSA-UW) is the official representative of graduate students at the University of Waterloo.
The GSA actively promotes and represents graduate student interests to the university administration and all levels of government.
The GSA provides a number of services for graduate students, such as legal aid, income tax aid, supplementary health and dental plans, GRT bus pass, and student advising.
The GSA operates a club-house featuring food and bar service, supporting local suppliers, graduate student space, and entertainment.
We host on- and off-campus events, including family-friendly events. We also offer financial support for events organised by graduate student clubs and associations.
The GSA and the University of Waterloo have a Memorandum of Agreement that recognizes the GSA as the sole representative of graduate students and outlines the working relationship between the GSA and University of Waterloo.
We acknowledge that we work on the traditional territory of the Attawandaron (Neutral), Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. The University of Waterloo is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land promised to the Six Nations that includes ten kilometers on each side of the Grand River. We acknowledge that we work on these territories as beneficiaries of settler colonialism. We also acknowledge that members of our UWaterloo community live on Indigenous territories around the world.
This statement is only a small step in the process of reconciliation. Decolonization requires systemic change. The GSA-UW is committed to this effort.
fees
In order to provide optimal service to our graduate students, the GSA administers a variety of fees that are charged to your Quest account. This page outlines the list of fees that you will find on your Quest account in addition to a description of how that fee is used to support your experience.