Life at Guelph | Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies

The Office of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies will be closed from December 16 to 20. In-person services will be available only by appointment. We will continue to be available online. To book an appointment please refer to our Contact Us directory.

Document submissions: please use the drop-box located outside our office.

Life at Guelph

Whether you are searching for a quiet place to read before a lecture or trying to locate the nearest coffee shop to your lab, we encourage you to explore our campus and community.

Johnston Green on the University of Guelph campus

Explore our Beautiful Campus

Our beautiful campus is located on 350 hectares of land in the heart of Guelph, Ontario. The self-contained campus is made up of charming traditional buildings and new facilities set amidst spectacularly landscaped grounds, phenomenal green space and the Arboretum creating an inspiring backdrop to complement your graduate experience.  You can book a campus tour, in-person or virtual, using the Interactive Campus Map below.

Living at Guelph Interactive Campus Map Resources

Learn About the City of Guelph

Located in the heart of Southwestern Ontario (100km west of Toronto), the City of Guelph offers the perfect setting to complement your graduate or postdoctoral studies. Commonly ranked as one of the best places to live in Canada, Guelph prides itself on maintaining its small-town charm while providing urban amenities for families and single adults alike. The City of Guelph provides a perfect balance of academics and community. With a population of just over 121,000 people, Guelph is a vibrant community and home to a lively downtown core, a thriving cultural community, diverse recreational activities, numerous shopping facilities and a variety of special events.

Getting Around

Eligible Guelph students have unlimited access to City of Guelph Transit.  Go Transit Bus/Train connects students to the Greater Toronto Area and Mississauga. 

Things to See and Do

 

Map of Ontario, highlighting Guelph Ontario, which is located in the South West of the province, outside of Toronto
The City of Guelph is located in the province of Ontario, approximately 1 hour West of Toronto. 
Downtown Guelph

Guelph has been rated as one of the 10 best places to live in Canada.

Living in Ontario

Weather

Like most other provinces in Canada, Ontario has a continental climate consisting of four seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. January is generally the coldest month while July is the warmest.

 

Typical weather in Guelph based on season. Spring is from March to May with temperatures from 10 to 20 Celcius. Summer is from June to August with temperatures from 20 to 30 Celcius. Fall is from September to November with temperatures from 7 to 20 Celcius. Winter is from December to March with temperatures from -15 to 2 Celcius.

Driving in Ontario

International students are considered residents of Ontario for driver licensing purposes. If you have a valid driver's license from another country or an International Driving Permit, you may drive with this license for up to sixty days. After this initial period, you must obtain an Ontario driver's license.

If you are bringing a car into Ontario, you must obtain Ontario license plates for it within thirty days of your arrival. You will also need appropriate insurance that is valid in Ontario. This can be fairly expensive.

Please see the Ministry of Transportation website if you have any questions concerning insurance regulations or driver or vehicle licensing.

Purchase Taxes

The sale price of an item or service usually does not include the taxes, which are added on when you make your purchase. The Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) in Ontario is 13%.  For more information on tax, please see the Government of Ontario website.

Alcohol

You must be 19 years of age or older to purchase alcohol and go into some establishments that serve alcohol. In Ontario, you will need to present photo ID to get served you will need to present government issued photo ID.  

Cannabis

Cannabis, also known as marijuana, became legal in Canada as of October 17, 2018.  In Ontario, you must be 19 years of age or older to buy, use, possess and grow recreational cannabis. Find more information regarding Cannabis Laws on the Government of Ontario website, or view the U of G Statement On Cannabis Use.